Well, I may be entering the E34 scene again.

I found a '92 535i/5 w/ 108k miles for a decent price, schwarz on that standard light leather (forget what it's called...not natur, I don't think). Options are LSD, heated front seats, and Alpine alarm (more on that later) as well as "Full VPC/radio" or something.

Couple questions/concerns:

1) In the options list it says it has "wood trim." However, in looking at the small pic I have, it clearly doesn't have wood trim on the glovebox:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e71/robertgeller/535_interior.jpg

I was almost 100% sure all 535's had all wood trim like the 93+ 525's did, and this one clearly has it on the shifter console, so what gives about the rest of it? It also says it has it in the color combo list...

2) It has 525 webbed wheels:

http://shutter04.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/12/003/77/47/4A/5B/h-c7XY3yqs9hXY+KZSC-jhQeXdAbgOwk0232.jpg

Did any 535i come with these wheels? Or are they indicative of the car having been in an accident?

3) What's up with the Alpine alarm? Anyone know anything about that? Did it come with keyless entry as well?

4) Price for me is $4,000, though he raised it for some reason for the general public to $4,500. Is this decent?



Thoughts? TIA.

Just spoke to the seller on the phone. He buys cars for friends from dealer auctions and sells them for a profit, so this was one of those. He drove it back down from PA last Friday but hasn't really driven it since.

He said it probably needs shocks, but even so he'd only drop to about $3,900 ($3,800 might be feasible). Still, that isn't a bad deal for a 535i/5, although obviously there are no records that I know of and no character reference since it's an auction car. But, he said it passed MD state/emissions inspection this week with flying colors and passed the post-auction sale inspection that they always conduct.

A/C blows ice-cold, he says, and everything seems to work.

Feedback, please, in addition to the above questions. TIA!

Dude, when are you going to buy a car and actually keep it?

Based on the last one, it might be smart to get a PPI done.

Price is right for a '92, assuming it's an original 5 speed car. Early cars did not have wood trim ('89). It looks like that car has had an interior change, at least some of the parts have been replaced. The bottlecaps could be had on a 535, think it was only very early '89s -- could be wrong on that.

The Alpine system is the factory, late RF keyless + alarm setup. Good for what it is.

'Full VPC" means that the car was inspected and prepped when it came off of the boat in NJ, standard for any car imported to the US as new by BMW NA.

P.S. If this guy is buying cars for his friends and making a profit off of them, I'd hate to be considered one of his buddies...

Like I said, get a PPI. A dealer will charge an A/C system before showing the car just to say, "Hey, it's got cold A/C!" Which dies the second you get it off the lot....Their response? "You must have put a hole through the condenser"

Looks like some parts were replaced.

Or it's not really a 535i. Are you sure it's M30 powered?

Pop the hood and make sure it's a M30. If it is, get a PPI. We can only offer so much advice without seeing the car in person.

Hey man,

I just bought a 1997 Stratus for dirt cheap. I also got it from a guy who buys cars at auctions and then sells them. I did a carfax, but it didn't show anything. So I boughth it. Then, my Bill of Sale stated it needed a Salvage inspection. Here in Alberta, that means you need pictures, before during, and after the car was in the bodyshop for accident repairs. I didn't have any of them. I thought I got screwed over (or screwed myself for not doing the research) so I told the lady at the insurance that it was a theft recovery (which I was told it was) and there obviously wouldn't be any pictures, etc. etc. So she said I could just get a normal mechanical inspection done. I did and I'm going to insure it and then sell it for profit.... So You might wanna be careful because you don't wanna buy a car that you can't insure, or doesn't have the right info to get it through an inspection if you need one.

Sorry for the long post, :)

JB

lol @ this thread

Thanks for all the info, guys.

It's definitely a little suspicious. I'll probably pass. The VIN is for a 535 but something doesn't add up... wrong wheels + no glovebox wood trim = fishy?

I think maybe it was in an accident or something. But I have no clue. That's just a feeling... nothing he said hinted at that. :dunno

Does anyone here know of any 535s without wood trim and/or the basketweaves?

Should I just go check it out while I'm up at my relative's house on Saturday (they live 5 mins away from the seller)? Guess I won't lose much. :dunno

$100 says it's a 525.

I highly doubt someone would go through all the trouble of switching that much exterior/interior stuff.

$100 says it's a 525.

I highly doubt someone would go through all the trouble of switching that much exterior/interior stuff.

So the VIN is the wrong one?

The thing is, if you look at the far right-hand corner of the interior pic, you can see what looks like wood trim. Or maybe it's just a vent--is there a vent there?

So maybe the wood trim on the glovebox just fell off? But I thought there was also supposed to be wood trim directly next to the steering wheel.

So the VIN is the wrong one?

The thing is, if you look at the far right-hand corner of the interior pic, you can see what looks like wood trim. Or maybe it's just a vent--is there a vent there?

So maybe the wood trim on the glovebox just fell off? But I thought there was also supposed to be wood trim directly next to the steering wheel.

The wood trim is actually inset into each panel, not just stuck on. So the 535 panels/glovebox are different that what I'm seeing there. That beige dash is throwing me, too, but that could be a newer model year thing for the E34. My 535 hasa black dash and tan lower part with wood trim.

The wood trim is actually inset into each panel, not just stuck on. So the 535 panels/glovebox are different that what I'm seeing there. That beige dash is throwing me, too, but that could be a newer model year thing for the E34. My 535 hasa black dash and tan lower part with wood trim.

Yeah.

Something's not right here. Maybe it was previously salvaged. :dunno

Picture of the engine bay and carfax will easily solve this problem -.-

Is it possible that the VIN got switched on the car to make it look like a 535?

huh?
my 535 dosent have the wood trim...

huh?
my 535 dosent have the wood trim...

Canadian version maybe?

Canada may be different but I believe the wood trim was standard on the 535's starting for the 1990 models. I know that none of the '89 535i's I've seen have the wood.

oh i see

Canada may be different but I believe the wood trim was standard on the 535's starting for the 1990 models. I know that none of the '89 535i's I've seen have the wood.

Mine is a 1/1990 build and it has wood. Others?

My '89 525i came with basketweaves, and black trim. It's very plausible that the wheels just got switched recently. Think about how many people upgrade and sell their old basketweaves or bottlecaps with practically brand new tires on them. You can pick up used ones for a steal, and that is likely what happened.

My '89 525i came with basketweaves, and black trim. It's very plausible that the wheels just got switched recently. Think about how many people upgrade and sell their old basketweaves or bottlecaps with practically brand new tires on them. You can pick up used ones for a steal, and that is likely what happened.

Good point.

But what explains the lack of wood trim on the interior?

1989 535i's didn't come standard with wood trim. I know... mine doesn't and it's a US spec car. If it's a 1990 or newer 535i, then the interior was replaced. I also don't THINK those wheels came on a 535i. If this is the case, I would bet moeny it's a flood car. Are all or some of the lights new, too?

It's also possible the dash was replaced with a 535i dash and they never switched the vin plate. And the car might be 525. Have him check the other vins and make sure they all match......

But if I had to take a guess..... I would bet it's a flood car.....

1989 535i's didn't come standard with wood trim. I know... mine doesn't and it's a US spec car. If it's a 1990 or newer 535i, then the interior was replaced. I also don't THINK those wheels came on a 535i. If this is the case, I would bet moeny it's a flood car. Are all or some of the lights new, too?

It's also possible the dash was replaced with a 535i dash and they never switched the vin plate. And the car might be 525. Have him check the other vins and make sure they all match......

But if I had to take a guess..... I would bet it's a flood car.....

Good point... Is that a 535i dash? I am not learned enough to know the difference.

Dunno about the lights. Will ask all this stuff.

It's got the wood shifter surround though, which I think is 535i specific (and super easy to replace, so that's not a big deal I guess).

It's got the wood shifter surround though, which I think is 535i specific (and super easy to replace, so that's not a big deal I guess).

I thought some 525's had that, too. :dunno

Forget about the VIN - ask the seller if the intake is on the left or right of the engine (facing forward).

It's a 535--at least I'm 99.99% sure.

Here's a pic he sent me today:

http://shutter10.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/13/003/77/6F/6F/FE/pDUyoM1PChmRoDH1U00tlcBXfiOyuC-i0280.jpg

So it clearly has wood trim...but what's weird is that in the Craigslist photo it doesn't. Maybe the seller just found a pic of an E34 interior online, posted it, and didn't notice the difference--definitely plausible. :dunno

Anyway, now the only thing up in the air is the wheels, which like you guys (and the seller) said, the previous owner may have used these as winter wheels, gotten a good deal on the tires on them, etc. and just not kept the original ones.

Which sucks, because the webbed wheels are much narrower than the weaves, aren't they? I know the weaves came stock with 225/60 compared with 205/65 for the webbed ones, right? The tires are Pirelli P600s, which are OE replacement summer tires, and they're no longer made except for in one size (235/55 I think).

So I'm really not sure what the deal is with the wheels.

Also, as I mentioned, the car apparently needs shocks soon. So I'd probably want to replace the springs, too, while I'm at it. And probably the wheels, too. I hate those webbed wheels. :mad

It's a 535--at least I'm 99.99% sure.

Here's a pic he sent me today:

http://shutter10.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/13/003/77/6F/6F/FE/pDUyoM1PChmRoDH1U00tlcBXfiOyuC-i0280.jpg

So it clearly has wood trim...but what's weird is that in the Craigslist photo it doesn't. Maybe the seller just found a pic of an E34 interior online, posted it, and didn't notice the difference--definitely plausible. :dunno

Anyway, now the only thing up in the air is the wheels, which like you guys (and the seller) said, the previous owner may have used these as winter wheels, gotten a good deal on the tires on them, etc. and just not kept the original ones.

Which sucks, because the webbed wheels are much narrower than the weaves, aren't they? I know the weaves came stock with 225/60 compared with 205/65 for the webbed ones, right? The tires are Pirelli P600s, which are OE replacement summer tires, and they're no longer made except for in one size (235/55 I think).

So I'm really not sure what the deal is with the wheels.

Also, as I mentioned, the car apparently needs shocks soon. So I'd probably want to replace the springs, too, while I'm at it. And probably the wheels, too. I hate those webbed wheels. :mad

I think you're trying to deduce the number of teeth in the horse's mouth about the trim - just email him both pics and ask which is correct.

As for the wheels, the car probably had aftermarket wheels which were taken off before the previous owner got rid of it, and just threw on whatever he could find.

EDIT: I swear that dash looks grey to me, but maybe it's just the flash.

I think you're trying to deduce the number of teeth in the horse's mouth about the trim - just email him both pics and ask which is correct.

As for the wheels, the car probably had aftermarket wheels which were taken off before the previous owner got rid of it, and just threw on whatever he could find.

Makes sense.

EDIT: I swear that dash looks grey to me, but maybe it's just the flash.

What's wrong/different about a gray dash? Are 535i dashes supposed to be a different color?

Gray dashes don't come with tan interiors. Like I said, I have a black dash with a tan interior.

Gray dashes don't come with tan interiors. Like I said, I have a black dash with a tan interior.

My old E34:

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e71/robertgeller/IMG_0674.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e71/robertgeller/IMG_0670.jpg

Dash isn't gray, I guess, but tan.

Anyway, I think that 535 dash is tan, too, just obscured by the flash/camera. Still, I'm not so sure gray dashes didn't come with tan interiors. Are you sure?

Anyway, I think that 535 dash is tan, too, just obscured by the flash/camera. Still, I'm not so sure gray dashes didn't come with tan interiors. Are you sure?

Your old car is the standard configuration, unless you had the black/tan.

I mean that the second pic looks like light gray to me on the lower plastic, with the darker gray above, rather than tan and darker tan. If you look at your photos of your old car and the second pic you posted of the new car, I can't see how the lighting can account for the difference.

Your old car is the standard configuration, unless you had the black/tan.

I mean that the second pic looks like light gray to me on the lower plastic, with the darker gray above, rather than tan and darker tan. If you look at your photos of your old car and the second pic you posted of the new car, I can't see how the lighting can account for the difference.

I'm confused. Could you clarify? You're saying that the second pic of the new car I posted has the glovebox portion in light gray and the dash portion in dark(er) gray, right? And my old E34 was tan and darker tan. Right?

FWIW, I found this pic of an E34 540i Sport:

http://www.kindel.com/bmw/album/Charlie's%20'95%20540i%20Sport/_lowres/540i%20Sport%20Interior%201.jpg

I believe that ^^ is the color combo of this 535. As I said in the OP, it's not natur. It's a lighter leather.

In fact, let me pull up the dealer options report a Bf.c member sent me.

Here's the full report. Interior entry in bold:

Chassis Number:

BF12697

Line Make:

01 - BMW

Model Year:

1992

AG Model Code/Desc:

HD13 - 535i

NA Model Code/Desc:

9252 - 535I

Interior Trim Code:

0451 (SILVER LTH/WOOD)

Exterior Color Code:

086 (SCHWARZ)


New Vehicle Warranty Info



No Coverage As Of:

12/10/1996

Expiration Mileage:

55,000

Vehicle Production Date:

1991/12

Motor Type:

M30

Platform/Engineering Series:

E34

Wholesale Center ID/Loc:

23200 - 1

Wholesale Date:

02/27/1992

Retail Center ID/Loc:

23200 - 1

Retail Date:

09/10/1992

In-Service Date:

09/10/1992

Demo Spec Info


Demo Spec Description:

DEMO

Demo Spec Months:

3

Demo Spec Odometer:

5,000






Open Campaign Information




Campaign Code

Campaign Description

0017050100

SIB #17-01-98 RECALL 98V-178 RADIATOR CA

0032030100

SIB #32-02-96 RECALL 96V-110 AIR BAG LOC

0061014200

SIB #61-08-96 RECALL 96V-111 BRAKE LIGHT





Option Information




Code

Description

Code

Description

0093

FULL VPC/RADIO

0164

535I GROUP

0209

LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL

0494

Heated front seats

0956

ALPINE ALARM





Repair History (Claims)




Center
ID

Loc
ID

Claim
Number

Repair
Order
Number

Repair
Order
Date

Repair
Entry
Date


Mileage

Defect Code/Description


23200

1

261090

0

01-24-1995

00/00/0000

N/A

31,380

6131018000

TURN INDICATOR SWITCH SHORT-CIRCUIT


23200

1

176440

0

05-11-1994

00/00/0000

N/A

12,413

5131024100

TRIM SURROUND/FILLER STRIP, FRONT POOR FIT


23200

1

166240

0

03-29-1994

00/00/0000

N/A

10,467

6135281200

MONITORING FUNCTION MODULE FOR PARKING, LICENCE PLATE AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED


23200

1

509140

0

10-26-1993

00/00/0000

N/A

7,080

5131024100

TRIM SURROUND/FILLER STRIP, FRONT POOR FIT


23200

1

118200

0

10-26-1993

00/00/0000

N/A

7,080

0013012601

SIB #13-06-93 RECALL 94V-066 FEED FUEL HOSE


23200

1

931560

0

10-02-1992

00/00/0000

N/A

0

51910276ER

ROOF DIRT INCLUSIONS


23200

1

894260

0

03-11-1992

00/00/0000

N/A

0

5114003700

BMW BADGES LOOSE

OK....Where'd you get all that info?

OK....Where'd you get all that info?

A contact. Maybe I shouldn't have posted it. :devillook

But seriously, let's get this dash issue sorted.

So as you see, the interior color is not natur/tan, it's more of a lighter, grayish color which BMW called "silver/wood" or just "silver."

Considering this, is a gray dash normal?

BTW, look at all those defects. This thing was in for service a lot for a lot of small things. :( Maybe because it was a DEMO car being test-driven by everyone. :mad

But seriously, let's get this dash issue sorted.

BTW, look at all those defects. This thing was in for service a lot for a lot of small things. :( Maybe because it was a DEMO car being test-driven by everyone. :mad

You can't be serious, I see two electrial problems, some trim problems, and a hose problem. That's far from "defects". Are you really that worried about the dash? Ask the seller directly instead of speculating.

You can't be serious, I see two electrial problems, some trim problems, and a hose problem. That's far from "defects". Are you really that worried about the dash? Ask the seller directly instead of speculating.

I am willing to wager that those problems had something to do with the fact that the car withstood 3 [documented] months of being a "demo" car and having all of its buttons pushed in and out several times every few hours, its crevices and orifices probed, and its levers and knobs turned a few too many times. :mad :stickoutt

I'm not worried about the dash, but someone brought up the point that it may have been replaced at some point. However, now I believe that is not the case. The seller e-mailed me this afternoon and said he posted the wrong interior pic on Craigslist.

Either way, I will go see the car tomorrow and report back.

Would y'all recommend a 535iM as a second car to my E30?

here is a pic of a 525 i just purchsed its the auction so it has all of the pics, but it has wood trim and it has those same wheels. maybe it will help with somethin.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330134868107&rd=1

here is a pic of a 525 i just purchsed its the auction so it has all of the pics, but it has wood trim and it has those same wheels. maybe it will help with somethin.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330134868107&rd=1

Hmm, I think that leather is "parchment," but it may be "natur." Does anyone know? The dash appears grayish, but it's probably tan. :dunno

This whole thing sounds fishy to me. I would do a VERY thorough inspection/PPI before I considered buying the car. $4k is in the ballpark, IMO.

Both pics of the interior look like Natur leather to me, but it can be hard to tell from a photo. And both 535s I won (10/89 and 1/90 build dates) have natur interior, black top dash and natur bottom dash coloring. I've never seen a 535 that wasn't like that, but there may have been some. PM Mr. Project, he should be able to set you straight.

All early E34 cars have black dashes.

'91 and later cars have interior color coded dashes.

This car has a silber dash because it has silber leather. If the latest picture is actual, I don't particularly see any problem with this car's interior.

My understanding of it is that when a car is used as a demo, it goes through another quality inspection before being sold to a customer. I wouldn't worry about buying a demo car. Lots of people are driving around in them, without any knowledge of it.

The warranty information is standard and normal. Those are few issues for these cars. Lots of people were going to the dealer once every couple of months with an issue. You would have, too, if you had a warranty. The list is longer for a lot of cars (and usually for more serious stuff).

Thanks for the responses.

So I went to the guy's place today, and needless to say, it was pretty ghetto and shady. He has a few other cars there and he literally lives in a shack that he calls his house next to his brother's beautiful and large house.

I was in the area anyway at my aunt's house, and I took my dad's 2003 Acura TL Type-S. That's a very comfy, quick car. I wouldn't mind one myself, but a) it's an Acura, and worse, b) it's FWD. It's a pig in the twisties and understeers like a mother.

He wasn't even there; he was at his mom's surprise birthday party or something. He had left the key in the car for me but I didn't know where it was, and when I called he acted like I should have known it was under the visor. Like that's the standard place to keep keys. :rofl

It idled pretty well, though a little low, but smoothed out when it warmed up. Interior was actually in pretty acceptable shape for the age. Exterior was probably the best part of the car: the schwarz paint had little orange peel and reflected like a mirror. There were some shopping cart dings which, as some of you know, I despise, but meh. I really liked the exterior overall.

Looked in the engine compartment. One of the coolant hoses was bulging in a pompous display of its age. Overall sounded and looked ok.

Then I realized that I couldn't get the car out, because there were cars blocking it, and I literally tried for 30 minutes to squeeze the E34 between them, and I was INFURIATINGLY close but knew I'd just stratch it up because the distances were just not plausible to squeeze through.

So I called him to ask him if I could just move the newish V70 Volvo station wagon that was one of the cars that was in the way (the other one was an old project Crown Vic that appeared liked it was permanently doomed to be a hillbilly lawn ornament--except that this guy is black). Can you believe this? He actually said "oh, just climb through ma' window, the key's on the fridge. Just try not to step on all the shit like the mattress and stuff that's in there." So completely disregarding all risks of tort, in an act of unequivocal anachronism, he actually suggested that I use a ladder to access this [broken] window and climb through. I wasn't going to do that.

So then I just said "fuck it," moved some wood and other carpentry shit (which he likely built that "shack" he calls his house with) out of the way, and went on his grass around the other cars.

That's when I noticed that it felt like a death trap. Even going down his gravel driveway I felt like I should probably be careful. Brakes felt slightly spongy and it was bouncing like a fucking moonbounce all over the place.

When I got out onto the street, I literally feared for my life. Going over speed bumps resulted in a no gravity-like sensation that I don't really want to repeat. Although obviously illusory--because the tires were still solidly planted on the tarmac--it felt like I was not connected with the road.

Also, the car made a very, [B]VERY weird noise, coming from either the engine compartment or right below it, almost like something was rubbing against something else or something. But it was very disconcerting.

That, combined with the obviously beyond-blown shocks turned me off completely to the car.

So, that's my story. Oh, and interior was definitely that of a 535i. Much nicer than my 525i with its luxurious wood paneling and larger, stitched steering wheel (I could barely get my legs between the seat and the steering wheel--wtf? I even tried adjusting the seat and steering wheel... maybe it's an infamous case of "twisted seat," though it doesn't look it).

What do you all think? What if I talk him down? Overall, the car seems sound, except for the blown shocks and that really disconcerting noise that is probably a loose suspension component or something. And, while I only tested the A/C while idling, not while/after moving, it wasn't ice cold like the seller had guaranteed.

Should I offer $2,500 contingent on a PPI? I love the schwarz color, the mileage is low, and I'd really like a 535i/5. But meh. Guess I shouldn't make decisions emotionally.

Bump. Sorry for the long-winded post... I hope someone still reads and gives me their impressions. :D

Are you serious? Run away. That car sounds like a basket case.

Are you serious? Run away. That car sounds like a basket case.

Yeah... I know. But it's hard to resist at a good price. I keep running it through my head: what if I all it needed were shocks and a minor repair up front (maybe oil pan), and then I'd have a low-mileage, nice example of a 535i/5? :dunno :help

That, combined with the obviously beyond-blown shocks turned me off completely to the car.


The answer you are seeking has already been stated.

Yeah... I know. But it's hard to resist at a good price. I keep running it through my head: what if I all it needed were shocks and a minor repair up front (maybe oil pan), and then I'd have a low-mileage, nice example of a 535i/5? :dunno :help

You can guarantee it will need more than that. It will probably need a lot of the other components that go bad up front as well, tie rods, thrust arms, control arms...at least if I was going to be pulling the whole thing apart I'd replace those bits anyway since you're already there. If the struts/shocks are that bad, the other components probably aren't far behind (as bad struts only help the other items wear that much quicker).

All I'm saying is don't be blinded by the "low" price of the vehicle. If will need more than that.

Definitely get a coolant pressure test. If the gasket near #6 goes like a lot of the others (and mine) you're looking at a head gasket job.

Is this guy a dealer or just an individual seller? I'm not sure I'd want to buy a BMW from a guy that lives in a shack.

Just reread the price... Not sure any seller who correctly priced their car would drop to your offer. Who knows, maybe he need money.

Nah, he won't drop much. But then again, I don't believe he will get anywhere near what he's asking ($4,500, "$4,000 for you" [me]). So, I really have no clue what he will do.

The thing bounces like crazy; there is no way any person in their right mind would pay $4,000 for an E34 with a completely blown suspension. It just indicates that perhaps other things are wrong.

I'll pass... too fishy.

And yes, he's not officially a dealer, but he buys cars occasionally at auctions, sometimes fixes them up, and sells them.

Thanks for the help all! I'm gonna concentrate on making my E30 nice and saving for another car. E34 540i/M5, E36 M3, E46 M3, E39 540i/6 or M5, etc.