Topic: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

I'm looking at 1990 BMW 5 Series that I can get for $400 with an automatic transmission.  The car has about 250,000 miles on it.  Is this a good Lemons Car?  I want something that will last the whole race.  Anybody raced one of these cars in a Lemons race?

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

No, no one has ever raced an E34 before, because OBVIOUSLY that would be hella cheating!

Especially if it happens to be a "$400" 535i. A 530i is pushing it, too.

As far as lasting the entire race -- you best spend that remaining $100 on a transmission cooler. Or, rip a 5-speed out of the junkyard.

But let's be real for a moment -- E34? Good luck!

"This is the scene where I get shot," Bronson said. "I have these little squibs that explode to make it look like bullets are hitting." "Fascinating," said Bergman. "I never knew how they did that." "You mean," asked Bronson, "you don't use machine guns in your movies?"

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

This used to be an e28 535:

http://jalopnik.com/315370/the-24-hours … acings-bmw

http://jalopnik.com/assets/images/gallery/12/2007/10/medium_1754699386_ef2c37c790_o.jpg

Incidentally, the car was sold and paid for, but the new owner never showed up to take it. So I believe it is back on the market at a stupid cheap price.

http://jalopnik.com/5135960/nice-price- … 5i-for-433

The same team ran an identical 535 with an auto trans in the very first Altamont race and placed 9th...

http://evilengineering.com/Lemons/

http://evilengineering.com/Lemons/images/img_1096.jpg

There have been a number of e28s raced, and they tend to do very well. Often better than their e30 bretheren. Perhaps its from their slightly beefier components.

Just another crappy BMW and moto-powered MR2: http://www.facebook.com/BlackIronRacing
Gnome money, Gnome problems. (RIP) http://www.facebook.com/MetroGnomeRacing

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

oh, '90 = e34. My bad. Well the above team has switched to an e34 540! for the Buttonwillow race. The car was rear ended and the rear suspension ripped out of the unibody. I think they paid well under $500 for it.

282hp. Not too shabby!

Just another crappy BMW and moto-powered MR2: http://www.facebook.com/BlackIronRacing
Gnome money, Gnome problems. (RIP) http://www.facebook.com/MetroGnomeRacing

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

An E34 525i or 535i will do well.  The 525 has an M20 motor (same as an E30) up through 1990 and an M50 motor in 1991 and later.  The 535i has an M30 motor like any E28 533 or 535.  Any of these motors will work well in a Lemons environment.  Avoid the 530i with its M60 V8.  BMW V8s are pieces of crap with fragile cooling systems and electronics.

Any BMW slush box should be treated like a hand grenade with the pin pulled.

http://www.ducttapemotorsports.com/
http://www.teamdfl.com
"I can see it now, a pile of nickels and all the glory of being a real race car driver."
Prepping the Red wReck for the 24 Hours of Lemons

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

BMW slushboxes are really GM slushboxes, so I hear. At least on the E36.

Josh Poage
Poage Ma Thoin Racing - 1981 Fiat Brava #09 - 2009 Yee-haw It's Texas
Prison Break Racing - 1986 325e #27 - 2010 Gator-o-Rama
Poage Ma Thoin Racing - 1981 Fiat Brava #09 - 2011 Heaps in the Heart of Texas

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

We've seen a handful of E34s, including this famous one: http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v688/188/124/36766739494/n36766739494_1157130_6845.jpg

They seem pretty tough, especially the 535i models, but they are also big, heavy cars that tend to be hard on tires and suspension bits in a race environment. Also, replacement parts aren't as cheap as older Bimmers--if you find one for $500 (they are out there), chances are it needs at least that in repairs to make it LeMons-worthy.

8 (edited by bam2002 2009-05-29 08:44 AM)

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

The  transmission and front suspension are the weak points. the E34s usually get a bad 55 mph shake due to the front end being worn out. Its about $300 for the parts to fix,

I would Run away from a Auto. in 1990 they are probably not GM transmissions. Usually the Autos last about 120-140k.  So Id bet it has a rebuilt transmssion and its about time for that one to go.

the 1990 should be a M20 engine. So a 5 speed out of a E30  325 will fit. But Im pretty sure the driveshaft will be to short. Also you would need to get a 5 speed petal assembly for a 5 series.

With a 5 speed Id say go for it. It is a big car and would need to be lightened so it doesnt eat tires.

EuroTrash E30 - Lemons South 08 (cooling probs) 24th /CMP  Spring 09 (fuel tank damage) one day on track 69th /Lemons South 09 (Hit by an Escort) 27th
MSR Tx, 10 2oth, no issues other than rain. /CHump Homestead Miami 10- 2nd place.

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

gielamonster wrote:

oh, '90 = e34. My bad. Well the above team has switched to an e34 540! for the Buttonwillow race. The car was rear ended and the rear suspension ripped out of the unibody. I think they paid well under $500 for it.

282hp. Not too shabby!

540?

That's hella cheatin'

"This is the scene where I get shot," Bronson said. "I have these little squibs that explode to make it look like bullets are hitting." "Fascinating," said Bergman. "I never knew how they did that." "You mean," asked Bronson, "you don't use machine guns in your movies?"

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

You tell em, Johnny!  Them boys better be bringing the deserving judges some Boons Farm if they're planing on getting that through BS Judging

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

All you need is an actual bill of sale (from the car auction or dealership you bought it from) and all receipts showing what the car cost and what parts you bought, etc, correct?

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

planters49 wrote:

All you need is an actual bill of sale (from the car auction or dealership you bought it from) and all receipts showing what the car cost and what parts you bought, etc, correct?

Oh yeah... that's ALL you need.

Totally.

"This is the scene where I get shot," Bronson said. "I have these little squibs that explode to make it look like bullets are hitting." "Fascinating," said Bergman. "I never knew how they did that." "You mean," asked Bronson, "you don't use machine guns in your movies?"

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

See the People curse.  BMW  7 series..  From the dealer.. all recipts..

EuroTrash E30 - Lemons South 08 (cooling probs) 24th /CMP  Spring 09 (fuel tank damage) one day on track 69th /Lemons South 09 (Hit by an Escort) 27th
MSR Tx, 10 2oth, no issues other than rain. /CHump Homestead Miami 10- 2nd place.

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

bam2002 wrote:

See the People curse.  BMW  7 series..  From the dealer.. all recipts..

Shh!!!

"This is the scene where I get shot," Bronson said. "I have these little squibs that explode to make it look like bullets are hitting." "Fascinating," said Bergman. "I never knew how they did that." "You mean," asked Bronson, "you don't use machine guns in your movies?"

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

Judge Jonny wrote:
gielamonster wrote:

oh, '90 = e34. My bad. Well the above team has switched to an e34 540! for the Buttonwillow race. The car was rear ended and the rear suspension ripped out of the unibody. I think they paid well under $500 for it.

282hp. Not too shabby!

540?

That's hella cheatin'

Cool. I'm racing against them! wink

Actually, they really did get it for $300 or thereabouts. Certainly worth more than that, but that's all they paid.

We paid $360 cash for our turbo AWD Talon TSI. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't hand over the jacksons myself. There's something about un-title-able vehicles in Cali. Owners will practically pay you to take them away.

Just another crappy BMW and moto-powered MR2: http://www.facebook.com/BlackIronRacing
Gnome money, Gnome problems. (RIP) http://www.facebook.com/MetroGnomeRacing

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

The E34 525i did have the GM-Toyota tranny.  It was trash.  The 535i auto had a Getrag that was nearly industructable. I bought my 535i with 140k on it and sold it with 222k on it. The tranny was still perfect.  Engine cooling was another story.  No matter what I did--it was hard to keep that thing cool. Also--the 535i had 189 horses--that ain't much to push all of that weight around.

Captain
Team Ex-Stink Motorsports

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

Judge Jonny wrote:

No, no one has ever raced an E34 before, because OBVIOUSLY that would be hella cheating!

Especially if it happens to be a "$400" 535i. A 530i is pushing it, too.

As far as lasting the entire race -- you best spend that remaining $100 on a transmission cooler. Or, rip a 5-speed out of the junkyard.

But let's be real for a moment -- E34? Good luck!

What about an '88 E32 735i/auto that I replaced the headgasket on after it ran with oil/water (my favorite kind of salad dressing) in the case for awhile?  My friend now wants to sell it to me for "anything over $200."  It's sitting in my driveway (she can't store it, and now has a 99 323i), taunting me everyday to put a cheap craigslist turbo on it and see if I did the HG job right.  Fuck angle-torquing!

BTW, a junkyard 5 speed and the necessary ancilliary parts to do the manual conversion (E32 or E34) cost a bit more than $500 by themselves, at least according to the internets.  You can't use the driveshaft or diff, for starters.

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

Locall U pull.  Maunal  trans  $100.  Pedal assembly. $55. Icludes used Master and slave. Driveshaft  $50. Fly wheel  $35  So its about 1/2 the buget. since you would want to put in a new Clutch disk.
I see e34 autos for $600 to $800 every month,  The door panels alone are worth $200 for the set. Plus the seats  and glass.  Headlights- tail lights.  You could get the car down to a $0  car.

EuroTrash E30 - Lemons South 08 (cooling probs) 24th /CMP  Spring 09 (fuel tank damage) one day on track 69th /Lemons South 09 (Hit by an Escort) 27th
MSR Tx, 10 2oth, no issues other than rain. /CHump Homestead Miami 10- 2nd place.

19

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

gielamonster wrote:

We paid $360 cash for our turbo AWD Talon TSI. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't hand over the jacksons myself. There's something about un-title-able vehicles in Cali. Owners will practically pay you to take them away.

Man you got that right!  Untitled cars are mega cheap here, too.  Matter of fact it's the best wa to go IMHO.  Who else would buy a car with no title, unless they were using it for parts?  And after you've used the car up, just deposit it anywhere and walk away.  wink

Jer / Schumacher Taxi Service
2010 Spring CMP I.O.E. winner
2010 Sebring overall winner
1996 Miata, 1991 BMW E30, 1987 coROLLa (retired), 1984 Citation (retired), 1993 Miata (retired)

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

GUIBO

Uberbird!

21 (edited by MurileeMartin 2009-07-16 03:43 PM)

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

Turboner wrote:

BTW, a junkyard 5 speed and the necessary ancilliary parts to do the manual conversion (E32 or E34) cost a bit more than $500 by themselves, at least according to the internets.  You can't use the driveshaft or diff, for starters.

Keep in mind that internet-forum BMW guys usually A) don't know shit, and B) can't tolerate the idea of redneck-ass modifications. Through the magic of junkyard engineering, anything is possible! Just start cuttin' and pastin' them parts!

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

your need to check out   http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/index.php

Not only do they work on their cars. They do engine swaps and have it well documented. Putting a M50 engine in a old E30.

However I will agree with Judge Murilee, that some of the BMW owners like to wash them and take photos of their cars. 
I dont see these people doing a Lemons race..

EuroTrash E30 - Lemons South 08 (cooling probs) 24th /CMP  Spring 09 (fuel tank damage) one day on track 69th /Lemons South 09 (Hit by an Escort) 27th
MSR Tx, 10 2oth, no issues other than rain. /CHump Homestead Miami 10- 2nd place.

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

bam2002 wrote:

However I will agree with Judge Murilee, that some of the BMW owners like to wash them and take photos of their cars. 
I dont see these people doing a Lemons race..

I have to say...  I cried when I saw that e34 540i run in Buttonwillow.  I went into my garage and made sure mine was ok.  (yeah, I'm one of those....)

But that's why I'm running a Toyota. ;-)

The Cannonball Bandits | Facebook Fan Page | Unununium Medal Winners 2010
3X Organizer's Choice Winner 2010 - Sears Pointless, Goin' For Broken, Arse Sweat-A-Palooza
1X Organizer's Choice Winner 2011 - Arse Sweat-A-Palooza

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

shush, i am one of those people. our team collectively owns 7 or 8 e30's.

when you can get part cars practically for free, why wouldn't you turn one of those wrecks into a lemon racer?

Re: 1990 BMW 5 Series - Good Lemons Car???

wiglaf wrote:

our team collectively owns 7 or 8 e30's.

The first step is to admit you have a problem.

The Sharks
Home of the E28 Turbo Tuner Fish and the Hammered Head 944 Turbo