BMW E34 518i... to Romania?

[garthalgar]

Well, i'll try and make a long story short here. Last year, as some may know, I drove to Rome in a Vauxhall Carlton estate with Rust2Rome and raised a heap of money for charity, which all in all was just incredible...




And this year my girlfriend has said that she wants to go! This does represent some more challenges as she hasn't been driving for long and only drives a 1.4 automatic civic, but I think I underestimate her sometimes . Basically this year (2016) I have decided to take part in 'Rust2Romania'. Yeah you read it correct. I'll be driving to Romania and visiting places like Vienna, Venice and Athens on the way! Last years Guinea pigs really enjoyed it, so this coming year should be even better. Once again we will be raising money for charity!

I wanted to get a car in early. For me the perfect car is big, comfy and retro. For some reason though Aberdeen and the surrounding area seem to think that anything old is gold, so i'd come to terms with the fact that i'd have to travel for the right thing. I'd actually originally wanted another Carlton but I had been looking for a while and not been able to find the 'right' one. I had bought a peugeot 206 gti because it came up cheap. I fixed it up and made £500 profit, meaning my next car was effectively free! I ended up spying an E39 523i for sale in East Lothian. It was a dealer but they sell their part ex's quite cheap. The two brothers that run the dealer, KAR Automotive, are incredibly honest and genuine. They are both BMW enthusiasts and actually have a passion for a cars as opposed to stirling. Anyway, enough plugging, I was told that they had sold the 523, and informed me that they had literally just had an E34 518I SE manual as a PX, that they were about to MOT, and could sell me within budget! Ideal. It passed its mot after needing some bulbs (that was literally it) and I went to pick it up sight unseen on Saturday. Well.... Here she is.... £500 of Grandad spec BMW and I absolutely love it...






















I have just about fallen in love with this thing. Its not fast by any means but the driving is SOOOO smooth and relaxed its ridiculous. I've driven cars a 1/4 of its age that havent been this smooth.

Its a 518I SE and has been specced with a sports steering wheel, all electric everything, front folding arm rests and 'TD' alloys. It has 137,000 miles and unfortunately no history. When you check the MOT history however the car has never ever wanted for anything and I can tell clearly by the condition that it has been incredibly well looked after. Its done 1000 miles a year and last year it only did 300 between MOTs! Its dead smooth though and super comfortable. Cruised all the way home at 65-70 and did 170 miles to a quarter tank. I don't think i've ever been so relaxed while driving I absolutely love the wooden trim and the armrests. I am also in love with the bonnet. Just everything. I love being dead comfy in my 20 year old company car BMW. Its awesome!

Obviously the car has a few issues. Central locking only works on the drivers side of the car, and the passengers side window has come off the runners. Theres a small gap between the seal which whistles in the wind, so I'll sort this soon. I have a few spare central locking solenoids in the garage so i'll switch these over too when I'm sorting the window. It needs a service but I have enough oil in the garage for that so only need a filter. There is a bit of vibration at 60-70 through the steering wheel so i'll get them all balanced up easy enough as my mate works at BMW. The passenger mirror has also had a knock so is bent and missing the cover. I'll just buy a spare one from ebay or something.
The only other thing is that the temp gauge is constantly reading cold. Strange though, as when you've driven the car for a while, turn it off, and turn the key to ignition, the temp gauge reads normal. As soon as you start the car it immediately creeps down to cold and stays there. I'm sure this is more of an electrical issue than it not having a thermostat or something of the like which was my original thought! 

Anyway, this thread is to follow the work i'm going to do on the car and watch me decorate it like an idiot. The carlton had some lovely poundland wood vinyl to turn it into an oldsmobile woody. Havent really thought of a theme for the E34 yet but for now i'm just loving driving it around!

[07lilredwagon]

do those thermostats fail open?

nice looking car....its very clean inside and out it appears...

JP

[garthalgar]

Dec 13, 2015 22:27:51 GMT 07lilredwagon said:

do those thermostats fail open?

nice looking car....its very clean inside and out it appears...

JP

Yes! Apparently. That's what I've read now anyway. My mate has a spare thermo and housing that I'll be able to fit up when I get time so I'll find out then!

The photos make it look a bit better than it actually is haha. A few bigger scrapes and dents, but in general it's okay!

[neil79]

That is an absolute bargain. I recently picked up an E34 520, which although very tidy, has a number of issues. Looks the same colour too!
I had a 318i E36 saloon and as you say, although it was underpowered it was well geared, nippy in 0-30 around town and surprisinly smooth.
So, i take it you are Aberdeen too then?

[SmokeEm]

Nice buy! Did you also buy Pistonpoppers Carlton Estate?

[markgenesis]

Cracking buy, E34's are superb, had my 525i a few months and love it, prefer it to the E38's i've had in previous years.



If balancing the wheels doesn't cure the steering shake try changing the front thrust arms, they eat the bushes in these for breakfast (same with E38's)

I have a set of 16" wheels here with good 225 50 16 tyres you can have if you don't want to run with the Metric Wheels, Metric tyres are very expensive and hard to find these days.

[garthalgar]

Dec 14, 2015 9:00:20 GMT neil79 said:

That is an absolute bargain. I recently picked up an E34 520, which although very tidy, has a number of issues. Looks the same colour too!
I had a 318i E36 saloon and as you say, although it was underpowered it was well geared, nippy in 0-30 around town and surprisinly smooth.
So, i take it you are Aberdeen too then?

Certainly feel like it was a bargain after driving it home! Wasn't too sure to begin with but it was definitely the right choice. It's oriental blue apparently... not that this makes any difference as it'll probably be getting a much 'better' paintjob closer to the trip haha. Yeah you're right around town its exceptionally well geared for pulling the weight. And aye Aberdeen!

Dec 14, 2015 10:21:26 GMT SmokeEm said:

Nice buy! Did you also buy Pistonpoppers Carlton Estate?

Cheers! No I didnt end up buying it unfortunately. The next car was going to be used for taking to Romania and I had quite a strict budget of £500. Would never have expected him to sell it to me for that, especially with all the interest! 

Dec 14, 2015 10:45:07 GMT markgenesis said:

Cracking buy, E34's are superb, had my 525i a few months and love it, prefer it to the E38's i've had in previous years.



If balancing the wheels doesn't cure the steering shake try changing the front thrust arms, they eat the bushes in these for breakfast (same with E38's)

I have a set of 16" wheels here with good 225 50 16 tyres you can have if you don't want to run with the Metric Wheels, Metric tyres are very expensive and hard to find these days.

Aha! I was actually reading your E34 thread on the run up to the weekend to get some E34 mojo flowing. I'm pretty positive its wheels to be honest but i'll check the thrust arms too if i'm having a rake around under there! 

Yeah I didnt realise that I had the metric wheels until yesterday. The tyres are all legal but if I start using it every day they will be gone pretty quickly. Thanks for the offer! I'll message you once I know whats happening on the wheels side of things.

Basically Andrew (who is driving the Carlton in the top photo) has just bought an E38 735 which he is using every day. It came with 16" style 7's which are the same spec as my style 60s but 16". They had brand new tyres before he bought it and hes now away to buy a set of 18" ones off of a modern 7 series so I should get them from him cheap and sell the style 60s! As long as I can get them cheap enough then I should be quids in for a new set of tyres. Not really fussed what the wheels look like to be honest Otherwise I'll be in touch. Metric wheels are far too much hassle unless you are dead set on staying original.

This is both our cars at work... we have very similar car taste! Not even a foot of length between the two barges.

[neil79]

What's your bonnet like mate? My bonnet isn't quite perfect and if yours was mint and was erm getting otherwise decorated, a cash swap may be of interest? Mine is also orient.

[garthalgar]

Dec 14, 2015 23:06:41 GMT neil79 said:

What's your bonnet like mate? My bonnet isn't quite perfect and if yours was mint and was erm getting otherwise decorated, a cash swap may be of interest? Mine is also orient.

No dents or anything at all. From what I remember it really only has a small chip above the drivers side headlight. Apart from that it's actually really good! Message me if you're keen I could get some photos at some point.

[Deleted]

Wasnt the 518i e34 named the MOST reliable BMW ever made or something? The one i had had been standing for like 7 years, all it needed was a new clutch main cylinder (the reason it got parked) All faults fixed themselves after using it a while. My friend who bought it has even said that he likes it more than his newish Passat, because on the BMW, things seem to fix themselves, while on the VW, things just break endlessly ;D

[garthalgar]

Dec 15, 2015 0:04:06 GMT @madmaxx said:

Wasnt the 518i e34 named the MOST reliable BMW ever made or something? The one i had had been standing for like 7 years, all it needed was a new clutch main cylinder (the reason it got parked) All faults fixed themselves after using it a while. My friend who bought it has even said that he likes it more than his newish Passat, because on the BMW, things seem to fix themselves, while on the VW, things just break endlessly ;D

So they say! I can see why. The M43 is practically maintenance free anyway being chain driven. Add a really well geared box and not too much power and it should float around forever! I keep seeing Russian youtube videos of these with the clocks up at 350,000Km etc. haha!

Prime example of that actually is that during the test drive and the drive home the brakes juddered as though the discs were warped! I budgeted for it, but after driving it around for a while it appears to have cleared so I can save a bit of money there! I think they like just being used. I don't even drive it fast... I find it more amusing driving it like a lazy old man.

Managed to do an oil change this morning for £2.99. Had 5L of spare ASDA 10w40 Semi synth in the garage from when we serviced the Carlton. I bought far too much to bring with us just in case (I way overthink things ), so kept it in the garage as spare. Eurocarparts had a filter and o-ring kit for sale at £2.99. Did it all this morning and it was a breeze. Although the oil I drained was absolutely pitch black and there was only 3.5 litres of it! Dumped in 4L of asda syrup with the new filter and the things like a sewing machine.

Also, for those of you who don't know, I found this wee trick out after I changed the oil. If you go into the round diagnostics plug in the engine bay, and use a jumper wire to earth pin 7 for 10 seconds it resets the service light gauge on the dash Maybe this is old news? I though it was cool.

[meinhoney]

That's a well-timed post: I've just bought a 518i touring, same spec, same colour, as my daily now I've sold the 635CSi. I have absolutely fallen in love with it. Just like you say, veeeeeerrry slow, not enough power to go up hills without dropping down a couple of gears, but possessed with incredible smoothness and a strange sense of well-being every time I get in it!

My wife's daily is an E36 318i which is geared very differently for zippiness around town, as well as being so much lighter. I like the E36, but I absolutely love the E34.

Got mine for a bargain price too, just needing a radiator (actually not needing a radiator at all, just the expansion tank re-sealing, but you live and learn!)

I think it will be the perfect antidote to the M635 when that's up and running - that's a car that I don't want to be relaxing.

Cheers,

Rob

[garthalgar]

Dec 18, 2015 14:01:19 GMT meinhoney said:

That's a well-timed post: I've just bought a 518i touring, same spec, same colour, as my daily now I've sold the 635CSi. I have absolutely fallen in love with it. Just like you say, veeeeeerrry slow, not enough power to go up hills without dropping down a couple of gears, but possessed with incredible smoothness and a strange sense of well-being every time I get in it!

My wife's daily is an E36 318i which is geared very differently for zippiness around town, as well as being so much lighter. I like the E36, but I absolutely love the E34.

Got mine for a bargain price too, just needing a radiator (actually not needing a radiator at all, just the expansion tank re-sealing, but you live and learn!)

I think it will be the perfect antidote to the M635 when that's up and running - that's a car that I don't want to be relaxing.

Cheers,

Rob

Chances of that eh? I'm glad somebody else agrees with me haha! I think the problem is that people giving advice on the 518 normally either have or used to own something like a 525 or a 528 or something, so give a bit of a jaded opinion. If, like us, you buy it knowing that it wont set the world on fire then its brilliant Much smoothness and many mpgs! I've heard that pretty much all bmw expansion tanks split down the seam. Not so big a deal... better than a new rad anyway!

I definitely agree with you in the antidote respect. The 6 series is an absolutely incredible looking car, probably by far my favourite thing bmw have ever come away with to be honest. My 944 isnt lightning quick but I drive it like it should be driven. I quite like how in the 518 I pretty much just float about everywhere doing 30-40. It's definitely a license saver

[garthalgar]

Spent the weekend tackling a fuel leak.. right after i'd swapped the insurance over too!



Basically I took my dad out for a run in it and I filled the tank a little over half beforehand. We got to one of his friends houses and it was stinking of petrol. Quick look underneath revealed a puddle with fuel dribbling off the tank. Hooray. Thankfully as I have a plastic tank it was only the front vent/breather line that was overdue. Apparently these only have fuel in the when the tank is over half fuel so it makes sense. You can see where it was leaking here..




I managed to move the rubber hose further down the fuel pipe and hose clip it there, but it was still leaking. Turns out the 3 clips on the front of the tank that hold the line had obviously trapped curse word over the years and rotted the lines. Bought some hose from halfords and chopped the pipe again but all the way back passed the clips. New hose back on and sorted. Plan now is to buy some copper pipe and when I get a chance drop the tank and redo both front and rear lines with that. For now i'll keep it below half a tank to remove the chance of any more leaks occurring!

[garthalgar]

Well she's on E38 wheels with fatter tyres. At first I wasnt sure as the rolling diameter is a fair bit bigger, but I think the fat wheels will look pretty cool when I've got my pair of spotlamps mounted on the front and it gets a bit dirty!





They do strangely make the car look a lot newer than it is. Vibration is still there though so definitely not the wheels out of balance. To describe it, its a vibration similar to wheel imbalance at about 50-60 then dies down at bit towards 70 although its still there. Then if you brake lightly (sometimes) the steering wheels shakes quite violently. Hammering on the brakes it doesnt vibrate. When I get time i'm going to check the thrust/control arm bushes, as I think my symptoms relate to that. Otherwise i'm not really sure.

[garthalgar]

Well...





Got the bracket for free from a mate and the lights were £5 from an autojumble. Literally had to drill two holes in the bracket and everything lined up with bolts I had in the garage! They bracket is incredibly solid. I was out jumping on it to try and move it but its there to stay. Thankfully on bmws the bumper bar runs right behind the plate, so it is physically bolted to the bar. They aren't wired in yet as the weather has been horrid, but I think they look pretty ace. Need to now decide whether to have a separate switch, or wire them to the fogs/main beam. Thats it for now anyway, next thing will be control arms.

[garthalgar]

Well this happened...



It made a whole, laughable, 76hp at the flywheel. I was supposed to be taking the Porsche but seeing as its off the road I thought this would be funny. In fact, it was well worth it, because I discovered I had a vacuum leak where a jubilee behind the MAF was sucking in air and leaning it out! Fixing that, new air filter, fuel filter and spark plugs saw it right and its now much much better   The butt dyno can confirm this improvement. In fact since mid December i've done about 1100 ish miles. Its been reliable, comfy and gets 35mpg. Had a puncture though which meant paying a whole £60 for a new tyre. Yikes.

So since that i've just been driving, enjoying etc. Still to find the source of the steering judder at 50-60 mph. Still think it's LCAs but i'll check and replace this stuff when I don't need to use it just about every day.

Even cleaned it...

[garthalgar]

Proper actual real work has begun! Was a nice day so my girlfriend and I cracked on removing heaps of kack from the engine bay. Bonnet, radiator, alternator, oil cooler, water pump, thermostat, and next time we attack it the timing chain cover will be coming off since thats the source of the oil leak! Everything was actually pretty easy to come out in all honesty. As expected two of the thermostat bolts snapped but with the radiator out I have room to think about how to tackle them. The water pump was a bloody nightmare! We were at it for ages and it came away in pieces. The plastic impeller was obliterated from trying to get it out. Used both jacking holes and they just snapped the part of the cast off. But its out now. So just need to wait for another nice day and we can remove some more bits





oh, and remember I said it was running lean and a hose clamp was loose. Well this wouldn't have been helping!



Once the engine bay is back together its pretty much LCAs, strip car and go... I think.

[garthalgar]

Well I finally got back into this the other weekend since the weather was excellent. Over the last couple of weeks we finished stripping all the bits off and getting the timing cover seals done, which they are! It then got built back up with a new water pump, thermostat and belt. Unfortunately when I went to get the radiator from the shed one of the bikes had fallen on it putting a hole through it. Got a new one for £39.50 and saved the old bottle as a spare. Tie wrapped the astra fan to it and put it all in. Had to order the intake hose from BMW as I literally couldn't get it anywhere else and it was too crusty/not worth it to bodge. Found a bit of hose to work as a new rocker box breather as the other one was choked with carbon. In fact, the whole engine was pretty carbony so we scrubbed the thing absolutely clean!

She fired up first try and we bled all the air from the water system. The car used to run at below 1/4 temp and it was clearly a thermostat issue as the car runs bang on the line now and the astra fan is an absolute behemoth. You could probably shift the car by just turning the fan on. Since I was wiring relays in I managed to get the lights functional too. Both brake and clutch fluid were black so I bled both them through with fresh stuff. Obviously it got new oil and filter. Oh I also fixed the passenger window! The little alu window grabber/slide jobbies had fallen off so I just squeezed them and pushed them back onto the window. Sorted.

Also, got a set of 15"s from an E32 for Michelin Pilots on for £90, so trying to sell the E38 wheels as they just rubbed and were not fun. Just popped the fundo caps onto the imperial wheels and they fit alright enough. But thats pretty much the story, and its ready to go back on the road. I still have LCAs sitting. I'll do them this week. Gave it a celebratory wash and it looks far too good in photos haha. Paint job is on the cards... and I have something VERY cool in mind

[neil79]

Jun 27, 2016 19:34:02 GMT garthalgar said:

Paint job is on the cards... and I have something VERY cool in mind

Please don't, she's too pretty!