1991 BMW M5

Sedan

3.6L 3553CC l6 GAS DOHC Naturally Aspirated

Manual

WBSHD9317MBK05320

Clear

Gasoline

Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE For sale is a US model 1991 BMW M5 (E34), build-date: May 1990. General Owners and Mileage: I have owned the car since the fall of 2009 and am the fifth owner. I drove the car from 163,440 miles until the current mileage of 182,091, covering just under 20k miles over the span of 6 years. The car came to me from southern California, and I would typically drive the car only in the spring and summer (hence the low mileage covered). That being said, the undercarriage of the car has some surface rust developing, especially with regards to the exhaust. Maintenance Records: Before my ownership, the car had lived all of its life in California. The second owner was and remains the car's principal owner: he owned the car for a decade, from 1995 until 2005, and drove it from 42,000 to 138,000 miles. I have inherited two full binders of receipts from the second owner which document all of the work that he had done (see picture of the binders). As these binders show, he did all of his regular maintenance and other work exclusively at Dinan for the entire decade. The car also comes with a small notebook which the second owner initiated and was continued by the third owner and then myself. It documents dates, mileage, and items fixed/worked on (see attached picture). During my ownership I performed all of the maintenance and other work independently with a professional mechanic who works during the day at a Volvo dealership. Typically, I would purchase the necessary parts, fluids, etc. and bring them to him and he would work on the car under my supervision. Regular Maintenance Routine: I perform regular maintenance at intervals suggested by Mike Miller in his article “Old School BMW Maintenance Schedule” which is widely circulated among BMWCCA. Items that I have done at regular intervals include: oil (I’ve used a variety of oils, including Mobil 1, Redline synthetic, Castrol EDGE synthetic, Castrol non-synthetic), oil filter, transmission fluid, coolant (BMW coolant mixed with distilled water), engine air filter, brake fluid, power-steering fluid (Pentosin CHF 11.S), differential fluid, and fuel filter. Accidents and Damages: In the winter of 2015, I had a minor accident with the car. My situation then forced me to use the car for a trip during the winter. The road was icy and the car slid and hit a Toyota RAV4 at around 25 MPH. As you can see from the pictures, the front bumper is damaged and misaligned, the hood shows some dents in the front and is also slightly misaligned (though it does lock shut). To my knowledge this is the only known accident. Cosmetics Paint: the paint is in good overall shape for a car this age. The left-front fender has been repainted (prior to my ownership) and I was told that one of the earlier owners’ bicycles scratched it and he had it repainted. The paint job is showing some cracks underneath the clear coat and this is visible from the pictures (the fender shows up in a slightly different color on the photos). Interior: As the pictures show, the interior is in good condition. The car features a center-console that splits the rear seats making the car a four-seater, an early design by BMW to render the car a kind of modern-day "Grand-Coupe." There are a few issues with the interior, which I outline here: - Headliner: as often is the case with these cars, the glue in the headliner comes undone over time. The previous owners had used pins to pin the sagging parts of the headliner (as can be seen in the pictures).- Shift knob: the original M shift knob which features diagonal M-stripes has been replaced with a more modern design from the 2000s. The LED went out in the original.- The air vent on top of the dash shows a twist and pops out of the dash at the edges. This is a common issue that I have witnessed in other E34 5-series. - The AC and heat work. However, the blower only turns on at the highest setting.- The drawer as part of the rear center console does not close (as the pictures show).- The CD stereo is functional; however, because the battery was reset, it needs a code for it function. Upgrades and Items Worked On Upgrades: The records show that when the second owner acquired the car, he upgraded it with the Dinan Stage I Performance Package. The package, which was available during the early 1990s, included: Dinan performance chip, Bilstein shocks and coils, camber plates (the car has negative camber dialed at both front and rear which add stability during cornering), Brembo brakes (inscription visible on the inside of the black brake calipers). These qualified for the Dinan badge on the trunk lid. Brake Rotors: I changed all four brake rotors in 2010 to cross-drilled and slotted rotors and once again the two front rotors 2 years ago. The rotors develop rust on the inner face very easily in upstate NY weather even when sitting out during the winter months. When this happens, there is shimmy when braking at speed and this can now be felt through the steering wheel. Driveshaft: When I bought the car, the center U-joint and rear CV joint of the driveshaft had gotten loose and showed some play, contributing to clunking noises coming from the center console during shifting (especially while depressing the clutch during harder shifting). I have replaced the drift-shaft with an OEM rebuilt unit. During replacement, I also replaced the transmission mounts and flex-disc (“guibo”), which aligned and tightened the shifter going into first and second gears in addition to reducing the clunking noises. Rear axles and CV joints: I replaced both rear axle output shafts with brand new CV joints. Again, there was some play in the CV joints linking the rear wheels to the differential box. The replacement significantly tightened the initial acceleration and throttle response. Other miscellaneous items (these are smaller items which have been replaced during my ownership): - exhaust brackets - OEM rear pitman/trailing arm support bushings (x2) - oxygen sensor - front crank seal and bolt - intake duct boot - speedometer censor (inside rear differential) - all three serpentine/V belts - ABS relay and electronic module (Bosch) Wheels and tires: The car currently sits on four Bridgestone Potenza tires. These were fitted in September 2012 and I have put 9,600 miles on them since. The M-system-I alloy wheels are three-piece units with a magnesium cover and inside it the famous fan construction that cools the brakes when traveling at speed. The actual alloy wheels had been repainted and powder coated when I bought the car (all four except for the spare, which retains its black star center). One of the alloys is not completely round (slight deformation on the rim), which gives rise to a slight shimmy, and I have swapped it as the spare. I believe that the spare tire is still the original Michelin ZR tires that came with the car in 1991. Due to aging of the rubber, it's probably unsafe to use and I have therefore separated it from the spare wheel. Both spare wheel and “period” tire are included in the car/sale. Issues: Self-leveling suspension leak: The car has a SLS delete, replaced with the Dinan/Bilstein units. There is, however, a leak in the line towards the left rear of the car. Over time the power-steering fluid (the power-steering shares the same fluid reservoir as the SLS) will need to be topped up. Engine Oil Leak: Over the course of my ownership, the car has developed oil leaks beyond the normal that one would expect from an engine that was designed before the advent of synthetic oil. I have tried both synthetic and non-synthetic oils. While the car leaks a little less with non-synthetic oils, this is still a major issue that needs to be addressed. My mechanic suspected that the front crank seal was leaking (a common issue), and I have since replaced the front crank seal along with the crank bolt. This did not fix the oil leak problem, however. Throttle: I have reason to believe that the throttle position sensor needs to be replaced. Steering: There is some play in the steering when the wheel is at dead center. The steering box is still the original. Battery: The battery still has life left in it but it needs a jump. (It goes dead when the car has not been driven periodically. Typically, I jump the car at the beginning of each spring season.) Summary This car is not for the buyer looking for a mint condition E34 M5. This car has been well loved and driven spiritedly in the ways it was designed. Despite its various current issues and high mileage, it nonetheless delivers the quintessential E34 M5 experience for both drivers and passengers alike--I have personally driven much lower mileage examples, and the driving experience remains comparable. This car is for the person looking for an affordable way to experience what the E34 M5 is all about with an eye towards eventually giving it the TLC that it needs to return to more glorious days. For those who know, these hand-built S38B36 engines were and remain one of the great naturally aspirated straight-six engines ever built and deserve to be saved and rejuvenated. The way with which it delivers its powers and the accompanying sonic effects are pure art and a great reminder of the automotive achievements of the 1990s. I would love to see the car go to someone who would continue to love and care for this piece of automotive history.Contactmikecylee@yahoo.com(607)-227-7371 On Nov-02-15 at 15:21:01 PST, seller added the following information: NO RESERVE Auction NO But-It-Now price For sale is a US model 1991 BMW M5 (E34), build-date: May 1990. General Owners and Mileage: I have owned the car since the fall of 2009 and am the fifth owner. I drove the car from 163,440 miles until the current mileage of 182,091, covering just under 20k miles over the span of 6 years. The car came to me from southern California, and I would typically drive the car only in the spring and summer (hence the low mileage covered). That being said, the undercarriage of the car has some surface rust developing, especially with regards to the exhaust.Maintenance Records: Before my ownership, the car had lived all of its life in California. The second owner was and remains the car's principal owner: he owned the car for a decade, from 1995 until 2005, and drove it from 42,000 to 138,000 miles. I have inherited two full binders of receipts from the second owner which document all of the work that he had done (see picture of the binders). As these binders show, he did all of his regular maintenance and other work exclusively at Dinan for the entire decade. The car also comes with a small notebook which the second owner initiated and was continued by the third owner and then myself. It documents dates, mileage, and items fixed/worked on (see attached picture).During my ownership I performed all of the maintenance and other work independently with a professional mechanic who works during the day at a Volvo dealership. Typically, I would purchase the necessary parts, fluids, etc. and bring them to him and he would work on the car under my supervision. Regular Maintenance Routine: I perform regular maintenance at intervals suggested by Mike Miller in his article “Old School BMW Maintenance Schedule” which is widely circulated among BMWCCA. Items that I have done at regular intervals include: oil (I’ve used a variety of oils, including Mobil 1, Redline synthetic, Castrol EDGE synthetic, Castrol non-synthetic), oil filter, transmission fluid, coolant (BMW coolant mixed with distilled water), engine air filter, brake fluid, power-steering fluid (Pentosin CHF 11.S), differential fluid, and fuel filter.Accidents and Damages: In the winter of 2015, I had a minor accident with the car. My situation then forced me to use the car for a trip during the winter. The road was icy and the car slid and hit a Toyota RAV4 at around 25 MPH. As you can see from the pictures, the front bumper is damaged and misaligned, the hood shows some dents in the front and is also slightly misaligned (though it does lock shut). To my knowledge this is the only known accident. CosmeticsPaint: the paint is in good overall shape for a car this age. The left-front fender has been repainted (prior to my ownership) and I was told that one of the earlier owners’ bicycles scratched it and he had it repainted. The paint job is showing some cracks underneath the clear coat and this is visible from the pictures (the fender shows up in a slightly different color on the photos). Interior: As the pictures show, the interior is in good condition. The car features a center-console that splits the rear seats making the car a four-seater, an early design by BMW to render the car a kind of modern-day "Grand-Coupe." There are a few issues with the interior, which I outline here:- Headliner: as often is the case with these cars, the glue in the headliner comes undone over time. The previous owners had used pins to pin the sagging parts of the headliner (as can be seen in the pictures).- Shift knob: the original M shift knob which features diagonal M-stripes has been replaced with a more modern design from the 2000s. The LED went out in the original.- The air vent on top of the dash shows a twist and pops out of the dash at the edges. This is a common issue that I have witnessed in other E34 5-series. - The AC and heat work. However, the blower only turns on at the highest setting.- The drawer as part of the rear center console does not close (as the pictures show).- The CD stereo is functional; however, because the battery was reset, it needs a code for it function. Upgrades and Items Worked OnUpgrades: The records show that when the second owner acquired the car, he upgraded it with the Dinan Stage I Performance Package. The package, which was available during the early 1990s, included: Dinan performance chip, Bilstein shocks and coils, camber plates (the car has negative camber dialed at both front and rear which add stability during cornering), Brembo brakes (inscription visible on the inside of the black brake calipers). These qualified for the Dinan badge on the trunk lid.Brake Rotors: I changed all four brake rotors in 2010 to cross-drilled and slotted rotors and once again the two front rotors 2 years ago. The rotors develop rust on the inner face very easily in upstate NY weather even when sitting out during the winter months. When this happens, there is shimmy when braking at speed and this can now be felt through the steering wheel.Driveshaft: When I bought the car, the center U-joint and rear CV joint of the driveshaft had gotten loose and showed some play, contributing to clunking noises coming from the center console during shifting (especially while depressing the clutch during harder shifting). I have replaced the drift-shaft with an OEM rebuilt unit. During replacement, I also replaced the transmission mounts and flex-disc (“guibo”), which aligned and tightened the shifter going into first and second gears in addition to reducing the clunking noises. Rear axles and CV joints: I replaced both rear axle output shafts with brand new CV joints. Again, there was some play in the CV joints linking the rear wheels to the differential box. The replacement significantly tightened the initial acceleration and throttle response.Other miscellaneous items (these are smaller items which have been replaced during my ownership): - exhaust brackets - OEM rear pitman/trailing arm support bushings (x2) - oxygen sensor - front crank seal and bolt - intake duct boot - speedometer censor (inside rear differential) - all three serpentine/V belts - ABS relay and electronic module (Bosch)Wheels and tires: The car currently sits on four Bridgestone Potenza tires. These were fitted in September 2012 and I have put 9,600 miles on them since. The M-system-I alloy wheels are three-piece units with a magnesium cover and inside it the famous fan construction that cools the brakes when traveling at speed. The actual alloy wheels had been repainted and powder coated when I bought the car (all four except for the spare, which retains its black star center). One of the alloys is not completely round (slight deformation on the rim), which gives rise to a slight shimmy, and I have swapped it as the spare. I believe that the spare tire is still the original Michelin ZR tires that came with the car in 1991. Due to aging of the rubber, it's probably unsafe to use and I have therefore separated it from the spare wheel. Both spare wheel and “period” tire are included in the car/sale. Issues:Self-leveling suspension leak: The car has a SLS delete, replaced with the Dinan/Bilstein units. There is, however, a leak in the line towards the left rear of the car. Over time the power-steering fluid (the power-steering shares the same fluid reservoir as the SLS) will need to be topped up.Engine Oil Leak: Over the course of my ownership, the car has developed oil leaks beyond the normal that one would expect from an engine that was designed before the advent of synthetic oil. I have tried both synthetic and non-synthetic oils. While the car leaks a little less with non-synthetic oils, this is still a major issue that needs to be addressed. My mechanic suspected that the front crank seal was leaking (a common issue), and I have since replaced the front crank seal along with the crank bolt. This did not fix the oil leak problem, however.Throttle: I have reason to believe that the throttle position sensor needs to be replaced.Steering: There is some play in the steering when the wheel is at dead center. The steering box is still the original.Battery: The battery still has life left in it but it needs a jump. (It goes dead when the car has not been driven periodically. Typically, I jump the car at the beginning of each spring season.) Summary This car is not for the buyer looking for a mint condition E34 M5. This car has been well loved and driven spiritedly in the ways it was designed. Despite its various current issues and high mileage, it nonetheless delivers the quintessential E34 M5 experience for both drivers and passengers alike--I have personally driven much lower mileage examples, and the driving experience remains comparable. This car is for the person looking for an affordable way to experience what the E34 M5 is all about with an eye towards eventually giving it the TLC that it needs to return to more glorious days. For those who know, these hand-built S38B36 engines were and remain one of the great naturally aspirated straight-six engines ever built and deserve to be saved and rejuvenated. The way with which it delivers its powers and the accompanying sonic effects are pure art and a great reminder of the automotive achievements of the 1990s. I would love to see the car go to someone who would continue to love and care for this piece of automotive history.Contactmikecylee@yahoo.com(607)-227-7371