With the 5 Series now a well-established range from previous generation 5 Series, the E34 is now BMW’s third generation. Launched in 1988 with a much sleeker body than its predecessor and with improved handling being a touch firmer, yet still, it retaines the comfort you were accustomed to from BMW. 

This lovely example has just 47,737 miles covered and is in pretty much as original condition as you would find for a vehicle of this age. The BMW has had just three previous keepers and looks to have been well maintained. It has been with the vendor for three years, but due to relocation is being sold as the car won’t be getting a tremendous amount of use, and storage is an issue.

  

The BMW comes with the original owner's manuals, including the service book, which has been stamped accordingly. In addition, there is a large selection of previous MOT certificates dating back to 1995. Finally, two keys are present, one being the valet key. 

Recently the car has been given a full service and a new alternator fitted by a local garage. There is currently an MOT, which is valid until 27th June 2023, and it passed the test with no advisories. 

Just like stepping back into 1991, the 5 Series interior is in excellent condition for the age of the vehicle and is certainly in keeping with the low mileage. The blue fabric material on the seats is in excellent order, with just a small amount of bobbling to the edge of the bolster. The rear seat is excellent and doesn’t seem to have had much use over the years. The door cards are also in good order with no scuffs; the only thing to mention is the material part of the panel on the rear passenger door, which has come unstuck a little. 

The dashboard is in good order, and the instruments are working as they should, with no warning lights displayed. The odometer shows a reading of 47,737 miles, which tallies up with the MOT history. The switchgear in the car all looks in good order with no notable wear to the lettering on the buttons. Nice to see is the car has retained the dealer upgraded Pioneer snatch plate head unit, which is said to be working as it should, although there were no cassette tapes to test it. The vendor mentioned that the rear passenger window is intermittent and sometimes quite slow in operation, but this has not been investigated.

The carpets are in excellent condition and have no apparent signs of excessive wear. Above and the headlining is in good condition with no sagging, and the sunroof operates as it should. Inside the boot, the floor is nice and clean. Lifting the floor reveals a spare alloy wheel with a good tyre in good condition. There is also the original glass cleaning kit and a genuine touch-up set.  

  

Finished in the original colour Gletscherblau Metallic, the 525i presents well, with just the odd general light scratch here and there, which have been picked up over its 31 year existence. 

Starting at the front of the car, stone chips are minimal; there is a crack to the passenger side fog light, but the rest of the lights are in good condition with no cracks. 

Moving to the sides, looking down each side, the car is nice and straight with no dings or dents. There is a small scrape on the driver's side rear arch, and the passenger side quarter has received some paintwork at some point in its life. The doors all align as they should, with an equal panel gap. The windows look free from any noticeable scratches, and the seals appear in good order with no shrinkage. 

Around to the rear, there are no scuffs to the bumper, and the BMW badge has a small amount of age-related tarnishing. The light clusters are in good order, and the car has retained its BMW dealer numberplate and rear window sticker, although they are ready to replace. 

The BBS wheels are in excellent condition for the age, with just a small amount of surface corrosion on some of the spokes. The waffle plate centre caps are present and correct and also in good condition. The tyres are different makes but have a good amount of tread remaining.

Fitted with BMW’s M50B25 engine, the 2.5 litre straight-six produced approximately 189hp and 180lb-ft or torque with a 0-62mph time of 9.1 seconds and a top speed of 143mph. 

The car has recently seen a full service and new alternator fitted by the vendor's local specialist. The 5 series fires up as it should with no untoward noises coming from the engine; in fact, the engine is exceptionally smooth when idling. It is reported to pull well through the gears, and the change is smooth, as you would expect from this German cruiser. The brakes are said to bring the car to a stop in a straight line with no juddering through the pedal.

A very usable and practical German cruiser capable of giving you plenty of service. It's a fantastic car to take ownership of. It's a classic on the up and quite rare to see one in this condition. This is sure to draw a lot of attention as it is essentially all original and has such low mileage.

Notice to bidders

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*