1991 BMW M5 E34

Finished in the elegant colour combination of Macao Blue coachwork with a Silver leather interior, this 1991 BMW E34 M5 comes to us freshly refurbished following a comprehensive mechanical and bodywork restoration in 2020.

Supplied by Paragon of Hull on the 1st of August 1991 and fitted with the 3.6-litre engine and five-speed manual gearbox, it’s been in the care of the seller since September 2018 and has covered 156,000 miles in total.

With a very well stamped service history booklet and much recent expenditure, this might just be the E34 M5 you’ve been waiting for…

The bodywork restoration of 2020, which was photographed, was a proper job. The first priority was corrosion, starting with the sills where any rot was professionally removed and the rusty metal replaced with new BMW repair panels to the end of the sills on all four corners.

The window glass and windscreen were also removed prior to a full respray using BMW paint – and we are told that no filler was used.

The result is excellent, and it’s stood up to the intervening years well. There’s a great shine to the finish and panel alignment is very good.

The 17-inch Type 32 Alpina alloy wheels, which were fitted to replace the originals, are in great shape with no signs of kerbing, scrapes or other damage. They’re fitted with a matching set of four Continental tyres too, all of which have good tread as they’re fairly recent.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Apart from the usual stonechips and minor marks every car collects, flaws are few. There’s a scratch on the nearside rear wing (#132) but that’s about it.

The Silver leather interior brings an airiness to the cabin that’s lacking in many E34s. It’s bright and vibrant and looks to have received the attentions of a restorer in the not-too-distant past.

This means the heated and electrically adjustable front seats are firm and supportive and look every inch the high-performance jobbies you’d expect to find in a car with the M5’s propensity for high-G cornering.

A Fischer cassette holder, one of the most evocative accessories of the period, sits in the centre console while a JVC radio-cassette player sits in the dashboard. The original torch is still in the glovebox too, and the boot plays host to the tool kit.

The headlining is in a good condition, and the sunroof opens and closes as it should, sealing well.

The leather on the front door cards has gone a bit baggy in places (e.g. #64 and #126) and they, along with the rear cards, show some discolouration and wear to the handles.

There is also a little colour loss to the outer edge of the driver’s seat (#58) and some marks to the rim of the steering wheel (#181).

As you can hear, the M5 isn’t running quite as well as it should. It’s a bit lumpy on tickover and when being revved and this will need further investigation.

The dashboard also shows a fault for the front foglamps, tail lights, and the battery which might need to be repalced. The service indicator also shows the need for routine maintenance soon.

The engine bay is in a decent condition but the presence of a few rusty fasteners and brackets means there’s something to keep you busy during the long winter months when icy roads and salt has scared you off driving it.

Speaking of which, while the underside looks strong another coat of underseal and/or Waxoyl wouldn’t go amiss as some of the areas look to be a bit vulnerable.

The BMW’s MoT certificate is valid until April 2024 and it was gained, like the two before it, with no advisories.

But then that’s no surprise given the work that’s been carried out in the past three years. We are told this included:

· New brake discs, pads, back plates, and brake lines plus refurbished and powdercoated brake calipers including new hoses and nipples, pistons, and rubbers

· Bilstein suspension springs and dampers on all four corners

· New fuel lines end to end

· Full engine service including new plugs, filters, engine oil, hydraulic oils, brake fluid, and coolant

· A new distributor cap, rotor arm and specialist engine tune

· New rear beam bushes, trailing arms, drop links, anti-roll bar bushes, upper and lower control arms, and Bilstein front wheel bearings

· New seals, bushes, and oil to the differential

All of this is in addition to the routine maintenance, which has been meticulously recorded in the service history booklet:

· 6,813 miles – service by Paragon of Hull

· 15,658 miles – service by Paragon of Hull

· 22,586 miles – service by Premier Service Dept., Hull

· 30,223 miles – service by Premier Service Dept., Hull

· 37,320 miles – service by Premier Service Dept., Hull

· 42,972 miles – service by Hartshill (Staffs)

· 50,120 miles – service by Howarth of Staffordshire

· 59,315 miles – service by Chenhalls Ltd.

· 75,471 miles – service by Knowle Garage of Salterton

· 81,373 miles – service by Knowle Garage of Salterton

· 93,078 miles – service by Knowle Garage of Salterton

· 101,968 miles – service by Old Barn Garage of Exmouth

· 112,318 miles – service by Old Barn Garage of Exmouth

· 119,063 miles – service by Old Barn Garage of Exmouth

· 139,216 miles – service by Robbie Miller, Motor Engineer

It also comes with a vast array of old invoices plus the aforementioned photo album.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

The BMW E34 M5 is an iconic car for good reason. Considered by many to be the peak of M5 badassery, this is one looks terrific and comes with a good history.

Being sold with a very sensible reserve, the guide price is just £17,000 to £23,000, a figure that accounts for the need for some mechanical remedial work and tuning.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.