1992 BMW E34 M5 – Project Profile

This year marks the 50th anniversary of BMW’s Motorsport division. As the now iconic ‘M’ badge celebrates its half century what better way to commemorate the occasion than by picking up one of the most revered of all sporty Beemers. Yep, that’s right, you could be the proud new owner of this 1992 BMW E34 M5. But there’s plenty to keep you busy which is why it’s our pick for this week’s Project Profile.

The E34 arrived in 1988 and was BMW’s third iteration of its now legendary 5-series saloon. Following the trend set by the previous E28 model, an M version was also offered featuring a 3.6-litre, six-cylinder engine producing around 310bhp. An engine that was capable of propelling the car to 60 in 5.5 seconds and on to a limited top speed of 155mph. The Germans then outdid themselves in ’92 when they fitted the the E34 M5 with a 3.8-litre version of the six-pot with a more advanced ECU which increased power to 335bhp.

The E34 M5 was the last of BMW’s sporty saloons to feature a six-cylinder engine with the next incarnation, the E39, having a whopping great V8. The E34 is considered by many to be the perfect balance (both figuratively and literally thanks to it’s dynamic chassis) of performance and practicality. With blistering performance, excellent road holding characteristics, four doors and a boot the E34 M5 has it all. It was, and still is, the perfect car. Take it to Sainsbury’s to grab your weekly shop while besting your neighbour’s Ferrari on the way home. BMW really did get it right. Again.

What is it? 

And so onto our feature car. The advert leaves a little to be desired but pictures really do speak a thousand words and so we’re going to base our assessment on the photographs alone. At the time of writing the advert does state that further information will follow and the seller is a Car & Classic verified dealer so we’re sure that will indeed be the case. It’s a 1992 BMW E34 M5 with the later, 3.8-litre engine, which is the one to have because power, obviously. It potentially may have been dragged out of a bush but then this particular example isn’t listed at £30,000, it’s only up for £12,000, which is cheap for an E34 M5 nowadays. It looks complete (albeit with some of the trim in the boot and not actually affixed to the car) and the interior appears to be in excellent condition but before you get too excited there is work to be done here.

Why is it a project? 

Despite what some may believe rust brown was not a factory colour for these cars and it’s clearly obvious that the wings have been replaced without paint and so have a certain level of patination, i.e. they’re covered in surface rust. Not only that but most of the rest of the bodywork has suffered some form of degradation hence our hunch that the car has spent a large portion of time outside. On top of that the advert states that some welding is required but it doesn’t go into any further detail, choosing instead to remain mysterious and only hint at any potential horrors that lie beneath. Mechanically the car also needs some work, most notably a clutch and brake bleed but it is being sold as a running and driving example which is good news.

Five things to look for:

1) Engine

The all-important beating heart and the pièce de résistance of any performance BMW it’s imperative that it has been looked after. The S38 is a reliable powerplant as long as it has been treated to regular fluid changes but overheating and bore wear can occur on neglected or poorly maintained cars so check any history and paperwork for past servicing and maintenance work. We already know that the brakes and clutch require bleeding but what other mechanical work is required?

2) Bodywork
Yes the wings have been replaced and are starting to rust but it only appears to be superficial surface corrosion. The paint on the rest of the panels is delaminating to various degrees too so factor any respray costs into your budget. The rear portion of the sills on both sides have some rather generous speed holes which is where the “requires welding” comment no doubt originates. Being a sunroof model this could be the cause as the drain holes become blocked leading to rotting in those areas. Windscreen bottoms, boot lids and wheel arches can also rust so give it the full inspection.

3) Chassis
With its limited slip differential the BMW E34 M5 will oversteer on command which can be a little too much for novice drivers, especially on wet, slippery roads so get underneath and check the chassis for straightness and any potential repairs. Accident damage is common and a bent car is best avoided. Uneven panel gaps will also give the game away so check them all. The aforementioned welding may extend to the chassis so take a torch and a pokey stick of some description and have a proper look.

4) Interior

It seems as though this is the car’s ace in the hole, so to speak, as the upholstery presents well. The half cloth, half leather seats look to be holding up but we can see some wear to the driver’s bolster but then this is a thirty year old car with 178K on the clock so some degradation is to be expected.

It’s worth inspecting the carpets for any dampness because of any potential sunroof issues and make sure all of the electrics work, including the air con, as chasing gremlins of this nature can be time consuming and costly.

5) Suspension

From the photos the car could be sitting a little low. Whether this is down to after market suspension or mechanical issues is anyone’s guess. Perhaps it’s just our wonky eyes but regardless it’s worth checking all of the bushes and ball joints for wear. Uneven tyre wear will help you to discern where any problems lie. Properly set up steering and suspension is integral to how well these things drive so make sure you know what needs to be replaced or renewed.

What should you do with it? 

While £12K may seem like a bit of a bargain in today’s market for a 3.8-litre BMW E34 M5 there is a big chunk of work required with this particular example to return it back to its best. If it were our money we would get it running right and leave the bodywork as it is, at least for the time being, while refilling the coffers for any bodywork improvements we may choose to do further down the line. Imagine embarrassing far more modern machinery while fully embracing the rusty wings and patinated bodywork. Not only that but we can guarantee there wouldn’t be another M5 like it on the roads.

To review other M5s that might be currently available, take a look at our BMW M5 listings.