Im in the process of improving a 1995 525i for my best friends sons 1st car.Im not new to BMWs just to the E34.I have a E36 325is,E36 M3 and 740il I also take care of a few others.What do most e34 owners do to improve there cars? Ive got the oil, plugs, radiator fluid, etc. taken care of.Whats everyones recommendations ? Im looking for all types of options weather it be body,engine, suspention...What vendors seem to carry the most E34 parts? TIA:)

Replacing Thrust arm bushings with either 750 or M5 bushings
Replace tie rods
Replace sub frame bushings
Replace flex disc (guibo)
Replace thermostat housing with aluminum one
Replace fan clutch
Replace cabin air filter
Install KMS door brake reinforcement plates

That should get started with the maintenance stuff....

Vendors?
AutohausAZ
BMA
Pelican Parts

are you talking mods?

most practical so far: Euro headlights (some will suggest hid lowbeams as well)
second most practical: e46 electrochromatic rearview mirror
third: window tint

biggest difference:
lowered suspension and larger 17-18inch wheels completely change the character of the car from visual luxo barge to classic sports sedan.

and go 5 speed!!!

http://bmwe34.net/

What Will Break? (http://bmwe34.net/e34main/trouble/what_will_break.htm)
Recipe 4 Power (http://bmwe34.net/e34main/upgrade/Recipe.htm)

Outside of getting it up to par on the maintenance, I would highly suggest upgrading the lights! We basically got a oil latern for light output, so upgrading to 'smilies' will put you in a perfect position for a good HID kit.

So as a list, I would do this:
1) Maintenance!
2) Headlights (Hella smilies!)
3) Performance chip (EAT is the preferred one)
4) Better set of wheels (all personal preference here)
5) Sound system with a new deck/speakers and bypass the factory amps (amps being the #1 problem)
6) Lowered suspension. Lots of options here so look on bmwe34.net
7) A subtle lip or 540i Sport brake ducts for a more aggressive stance
8) Better sounding muffler (again all personal preference)
9) Adding rear headrests (look into e32 headrests)
10) Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance!!!

1) Maintenance
2) 17" Wheels
3) Performance Chip
4) Lowered Suspension
5) M3 Fuel Injectors - great bang for the buck as they can be found very cheaply
6) M3 Cams
7) Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
8) Blackout Trim
9) Window Tint
10) too many others to name, just pick your preference. great cars as is, great cars to mod.

1. EAT Chip
2. Headlight upgrade
3. Lower suspension
4. 17" wheels/tires
5. Paint lowers (don't need it on '95)

You can Google Mark D'Sylva for the EAT chip, look for headlight upgrades on Ebay. Otherwise, my favorite vendor is BMA.
Have Fun...

Replacing Thrust arm bushings with either 750 or M5 bushings Any particular years ?Will this help with the wheel shake problem
Replace tie rods
Replace sub frame bushings Ive done this on a E36 and it was a bitch any better on a e34
Replace flex disc (guibo)
Replace thermostat housing with aluminum one
Replace fan clutch
Replace cabin air filter
Install KMS door brake reinforcement plates I have to do this I may have to do a little welding before on drivers door.

That should get started with the maintenance stuff....

Vendors?
AutohausAZ
BMA
Pelican Parts

are you talking mods?

most practical so far: Euro headlights (some will suggest hid lowbeams as well)
second most practical: e46 electrochromatic rearview mirror
third: window tint

biggest difference:
lowered suspension and larger 17-18inch wheels completely change the character of the car from visual luxo barge to classic sports sedan.

and go 5 speed!!!

http://bmwe34.net/

What Will Break? (http://bmwe34.net/e34main/trouble/what_will_break.htm)
Recipe 4 Power (http://bmwe34.net/e34main/upgrade/Recipe.htm)

Outside of getting it up to par on the maintenance, I would highly suggest upgrading the lights! We basically got a oil latern for light output, so upgrading to 'smilies' will put you in a perfect position for a good HID kit.
The headlights seem to work extremely well for stock headlights
So as a list, I would do this:
1) Maintenance!
2) Headlights (Hella smilies!)
3) Performance chip (EAT is the preferred one)
4) Better set of wheels (all personal preference here)
5) Sound system with a new deck/speakers and bypass the factory amps (amps being the #1 problem)
6) Lowered suspension. Lots of options here so look on bmwe34.net
7) A subtle lip or 540i Sport brake ducts for a more aggressive stance
8) Better sounding muffler (again all personal preference)
9) Adding rear headrests (look into e32 headrests) Cool thanks for the tip
10) Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance!!!Maintence is done a must before starting anything

1) Maintenance
2) 17" Wheels Does anyone stagger them? Just a waste of $ and time?
3) Performance Chip
4) Lowered Suspension
5) M3 Fuel Injectors - great bang for the buck as they can be found very cheaply.Cool any M3 ?
6) M3 Cams
7) Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
8) Blackout Trim Where can I find this?
9) Window Tint I will 1st have to take off the old purple tint
10) too many others to name, just pick your preference. great cars as is, great cars to mod.

1. EAT Chip
2. Headlight upgrade
3. Lower suspension
4. 17" wheels/tires
5. Paint lowers (don't need it on '95) Its a 95

You can Google Mark D'Sylva for the EAT chip, look for headlight upgrades on Ebay. Otherwise, my favorite vendor is BMA.
Have Fun...
Thanks for all the suggestions any one sell a front plate delete ?

Abraham has some fantastic e34 gear (http://abrahamsmotorsport.com/e34.htm)

Bavarian Auto (http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp#undefined)

Everyone has been spot-on.

I have yet to get an EAT chip but will soon. Rave reviews on it.

About the wheels, definitely 17". Style 5 and Style 19 are the most popular and the best, IMO, out of any 17" wheel.

I have super-rare staggared E34-fit Style 5s. The look is great but it pushes far too much in spirited driving. You have to saw the wheel and pump the gas to get it to break free, just a little bit, on an off-ramp. It does make for easy driving though, even in the wet. Just floor it and it will hook up.

My favorite mod was the UUC lightweight fly wheel with M5 clutch/PP. Goodtimes!

Great 'Fun Mods' would be some things that have been said....but I'll organize them in terms of Best Bang for the Buck.

1) EAT / TMS / whatever M50TU Engine chip. (Or if you can get some M3 cams and injectors, get the M3 performance chip)
2) Racing Dynamics Sway Bars! many great things to say about these. ($450 from BavAuto (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/www.bavauto.com))
3) New shocks and springs. (http://bmw4life.com/shocksSpringsGuide.htm, great e34 site)
4) 17" wheels (most will be 17" x 8" or 9.5" for wider, better gripping tires)
5) Brembo Rotors, new pads (Drilled/Slotted? Hawk pads?)
6) Exhaust and/or headers
7) HID kit for low beams (between 4000K and 8000K looks good, as long as the lenses are ellipsoidal [see sig])
8) Sound System
9) Paint job?
10) Brake Ducts?

I kinda ran out of ideas there at the end, but thats what I'd like to do to mine, so hopefully that helps. A lot of those are common and reliable upgrades, that shouldn't cost too much.

http://bmw4life.com/ -- great info site, similar to bmwe34.net

Its OK to go past 10....If you got moreThanks guys for all your input.Would like to know about the front plate removal or options

Its OK to go past 10....If you got moreThanks guys for all your input.Would like to know about the front plate removal or options

Front plate delete costs about $30. Easy to install yourself.

Any S50 injectors, cams, and headers will work with the M50 engine.

Blackout tape is available, but I would get a professional to apply a spray paint application to the existing chrome trim. Same with the window tint - DIY only if you know what you're doing. Costs about $100 here in NYC.

Front plate delete costs about $30. Easy to install yourself.

Any S50 injectors, cams, and headers will work with the M50 engine.

Blackout tape is available, but I would get a professional to apply a spray paint application to the existing chrome trim. Same with the window tint - DIY only if you know what you're doing. Costs about $100 here in NYC.

S50 injectors are the same as M50 injectors.

You can get the pink top's which are in the OBDII cars although your gas mileage will fall without the correct tuning.

1.What everybody said &
2. Replace all the yellow lights with clears.
3. Do this to the stereo: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=749428&highlight=Headunit

All excellent suggestions so far. Here's my top 5

Suspension
17s (18s use up too much power from a 525)
5speed swap if an auto
EAT chip
Shadowline trim, Euro bumper moldings, Front plate filler and M5 rear license filler
Done.