1990 BMW 525i SE

In completely standard condition bar a replacement head unit, this lovely BMW 525i is showing just over 73,000 miles on the odometer, a figure that the MOT history indicates is almost certainly correct. A large part of the reason it is in such good condition is the guy the vendor bought it from; an RAF mechanic, he seems to have brought the Royal Air Force’s rigorous approach to maintenance to his personal transport during the six years he owned the car.

Having had just four previous keepers in total, it featured in Modern Classics in August of this year. (A copy of the magazine will come with the car.) The owner speaks at length in there about how good his car is, saying “this is the best car I have ever driven.” He told us that, for him, the 525i is the sweet spot in the range, offering the best balance between power and economy.

He is also full of praise for the support he has received from fellow BMW owners in the virtual world, as well as the ready supply of parts that are still available for it, which is always reassuring to hear when it comes to running a classic.

As an SE it comes with the BBS alloy wheels, a metal sunroof, a trip computer, and the switchable automatic gearbox. It is, he says, the sort of car you can “just get in and drive.”

He’s a lovely chap and in the process of working his way through his Bucket List of modern classics; a Mercedes 190 and a BMW E30 325i were in his hands prior to this E34, and he’s just bought a 5 Series E28, which is being recommissioned at the moment. So, having enjoyed a trouble-free year with this one, it’s time for it to make way for the next.

Glacier Blue is a stunning colour, appearing silver at night and blue in the daylight. Colour-shifting aside, it’s a potentially unforgiving colour too, but that’s okay because it shows off this example’s millimeter-perfect shut lines and ripple-free flanks to perfection. It really does look utterly magnificent, being as elegant as it is simple, and it is a credit to the current and previous owners.

The doors all open and close as solidly as you’d expect of a late-eighties/early-noughties 5 Series, and the same can be said of the boot, bonnet, and metal sunroof. The exterior trim is still black and in great shape; remember, these were cars that were still built up to a standard rather than down to a price, and it shows. It still looks amazingly solid and well-crafted after almost thirty years of use.

Of course, there is the odd mark and stonechip, most notably on the rear nearside corner, a scratch near the fuel filler cap, and a tiny rust bubble on the rear nearside wheelarch. However, it is almost three decades old and to be honest, we’d be more suspicious if it didn’t bear the odd mark here and there.

After all, cars are only original once and being left in this original condition leaves the new owner free to take the car in whatever direction he/she feels is most appropriate. Viewing is always encouraged; the car is in St Albans and the owner would be delighted to show it to prospective bidders.

However, that said, we have been told that the front and rear bumpers have been professionally touched up in preparation for this auction, and are now looking great.

The original BBS alloy wheels are in great shape, although if we’re being picky then the centre caps could do with being replaced. To balance that, they’re shod with matching new tyres, which is an infallible sign of an owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount of money keeping his classic car performing at the very peak of its ability.

The blue velour interior is in fine fettle, with firm and supportive front seats that are all but free of any signs of wear; if we told you this was a three-year-old example then you’d believe us.

The rear seat looks to be almost unused, and the headlining, door cards, carpets and dashboard are all in great condition and free of damage, significant wear, and the sort of extraneous holes and fittings that most cars accumulate over the years. Even the trip computer works, as do the electric windows and sunroof and the warning lights remain unlit. It’s not concours, but it wouldn’t take a great deal of time or effort to make it so.

The owner tells us that it is completely standard bar a more modern, remote controlled Sony headunit. However, that has a cassette player, so is almost period correct and gives you an excuse to slot half-a-dozen of your favourite cassettes in the centre console. (It would also give you the perfect excuse to search for a Fischer cassette holder on eBay; remember them?)

The boot is neat and clean and home to the original tool kit (which is complete) and the alloy spare wheel. Oh, and the first aid kit is still present and correct under the passenger’s seat.

There is a mark on the grey plastic outer edge of the front passenger’s seat, and the three-spoke, pre-airbag steering wheel is lightly patinated.

Recent work includes new rear brake discs and pads, a new battery, and new matching tyres. It was also serviced last December. The owner tells us that there are no warning lights on, and that it drives well and is free of the sort of rattles and knocks that indicate a poorly maintained example; he looked long and hard before buying this, and snapped it up on the spot because he was so impressed with the way it had been maintained.

The underbonnet is a bit grubby but that’s not a bad thing; unless it is a show car, we are always wary of daily drivers that sport ultra-clean engine bays just in case they have been recently valeted to hide evidence of oil or coolant leaks. Having said that, we might be tempted to get the aluminium covers polished up just a little; they’re okay but lightly oxidized and are spoiling what is otherwise a nice engine bay.

The car comes with a few spare parts; please see the photograph for details of what is included.

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever bar a slight leak from the exhaust. In fact, you’d have to go back to 2006 to find a serious mechanical problem other than emissions, lights, tyres, wipers/washers or number plates - and that was a perished rubber brake hose. There is no mention whatsoever of any corrosion issues over the years, which would be the thing that would worry us.

The MOT certificate itself expires in December 2019, and while it has a while yet to run if it were ours we’d be tempted to pop another on ASAP; that way, any annual repairs can be undertaken in the warmth of late summer rather than the chill and damp of a pre-Christmas winter.

The car comes with a few expired MOT certificates plus some old invoices and bills in a folder that confirm the work that has been done to it. It also still has its original owner’s handbook and wallet, plus two keys.

Sadly, the service history booklet has been lost at some point and the RAF chap, while meticulous to a fault in his maintenance of the car, doesn’t seem to have been a great one for keeping a paper trail. So, you’ll be bidding on a car based on its current condition rather than one that is accompanied with a thick sheaf of paperwork.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork.

The price of the E34 BMW 5 Series has been slowly rising over the years, and there is a ready demand for good, straight, honest examples like this. No, it’s not perfect but it could be and it could be so at little cost and effort; the owner has shown it at local events and reports that it draws a lot of interest.

As to price, we will leave it you to decide exactly what a nice old Beemer like this is worth!

A versatile one, too; it could easily be run as a daily driver and then shown at the weekends – and the few little bodywork niggles could be sorted out as and when time and funds allow.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in St Albans; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings of any auction, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles we have for sale. While we use our trade experience to assess every car that comes through our hands (and between us we have bought hundreds of classic cars over the years for our personal use…) we are fallible, and our assessment of a car may contrast with that you might form yourself.

This is why we offer a far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange a professional inspection on their behalf of, each vehicle prior to bidding than any traditional car auction, and we will never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this by coming to see it in person.

That said, we do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or those formed as a result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.