E34 TD Talk to me

[murdock]

I've been fancying an E34 for a long time now, there seems to be a large variety of engines available but I think for practicality it'll need to be a diesel if I do buy one.

Obviously there are two types with the E34, the TDS and the TD. I know the TDS is the better one to go for, but they do seem to be much more expensive and turn up infrequently.

I'm currently eyeing up a tidy looking TD which is also a manual, but was wondering what people's experience of these are in the real world. Any issues with the engine, servicing costs, but most importsntly for me, real world MPG. I currently run a diesel Xantia as my daily hack and get about 50 MPG overall.

Any light you lovely people can shed on them would be most helpful, it's always good to learn more.

Thanks,

Ian

[THE_Liam]

A mate of mine had an E36 TDS, that was pretty good. With a chip it gave 166bhp and 250lb ft, but it wasn't amazing on juice really, 44mpg on a 350 mile run at 70 to Cornwall, the 328 he had before it managed 38mpg on the same run. 28mpg round town. Sounded great though, and was really grunty, felt more powerful than the figures suggest.

[BenzBoy]

I used to have a 525 TD. I wasn't blown away by the mpg figures - they weren't terrible, but only on a par with a modernish 2.0 petrol really. You can still chip the TD, but the extra poke of the intercooled TDS makes a difference.
Nice cars on the whole, I was disappointed when I had to break mine - the auto box had gone. The TD had the weaker GM box whereas the TDS had the ZF 5-speed. Seeing as yours is a manual that won't make any odds though!
I wouldn't discount the TD over the TDS - there's extra power from the TDS but if that doesn't bother you it's still a lively car. I think the fuel figures are about the same.

They're reasonably speedy vehicles and nice on a motorway cruise, but don't expect to save anything on fuel (unless you run it on veg...). Good looking car too, the e34.

[THE_Liam]

I'm pretty sure the only engine difference between the TD and TDS is a slightly bigger turbo on the TDS, and the TDS is intercooled. Find someone breaking a TDS, get the turbo and cooler, chip it, job done.

[murdock]

Thanks for the feedback guys. After some searching I think I have closed a deal to buy a E34 TDS manual with upratings done by BMW Motorsport, should be picking it up this weekend, I'll let the board know how it goes.....

Ian