Proud to be a BMW owner

A few months ago I bought my first BMW, a 1990 525i. I set about to bring the car back to its former glory, starting off with engine work. The car over all isn't perfect, clear coat has burnt off, leather has some rips, and in need of a new fuel gauge and AFM. Yesterday I went out and picked up a compression tester because, just due to age, I expected there to be leakage. I did previously do a head gasket but the block is original and the head is untouched, and when I tested the compression each cylinder read out a solid 175 (156 minimum according to Bentley). After 22 years and over 249,000 miles and no compression loss, now that's German quality.

Agree on love for my E34.

Ive owned the following vehicles:

1990 Toyota Camry
2008 Holden Commodore HSV SS
1970's Alfa Romeo GTV
1992 Toyota Landcruiser
2003 Subaru WRX STI
2009 Nissan Navara 4X4
2004 Jeep Wrangler Sport
1989 BMW 535i

Out of all of the above vehicles, the Bimmer is my favorite, I have loved restoring it to its current condition and it has given back in spades compared to my other vehicles.

Quite the list suss

1985 Pontiac 6000
1989 Chrysler conquest
1989 535

Well, since we’re listing, my previous cars (from first to now as best as I can recall):

63 Jeep CJ6
75 VW Rabbit
78 Pontiac Sunfire
73 Olds Cutlass Supreme
73 MG Midget
81 Datsun 210 MPG
76 Jeep Grand Cherokee
87 Toyota Corolla
83 Toyota Pickup (purchased new)
79Mercedes 300D
78 (? exact year) Mercedes 230 sedan
93 Plymouth Grand Voyager (purchased new)
93 Geo Metro (purchased new)
85 Mercedes 300D
91 BMW 735i
96 Chevy Suburban (still have)
92 BMW 525i
95 BMW 325is
00 BMW 528i
92 BMW 525i (current car)
09 Kia Rondo (wife’s current car– purchased new)
91 Isuzu 4x4 pickup (just totaled by my son last month)

Still love the BMWs the best BY FAR

Sir, you just sold your e34 and bought another ? Hey, theres surely a good story there. Do share

Originally Posted by Microtesties

A few months ago I bought my first BMW, a 1990 525i. I set about to bring the car back to its former glory, starting off with engine work. The car over all isn't perfect, clear coat has burnt off, leather has some rips, and in need of a new fuel gauge and AFM. Yesterday I went out and picked up a compression tester because, just due to age, I expected there to be leakage. I did previously do a head gasket but the block is original and the head is untouched, and when I tested the compression each cylinder read out a solid 175 (156 minimum according to Bentley). After 22 years and over 249,000 miles and no compression loss, now that's German quality.

Hi MT,

Mind sharing exactly how you did your compression tests ? Just the best of three cranks or did you crank until you reached 175 and if so how many cranks did it take per cylinder? What was the variation across all the cylinders ? Thanks.

Originally Posted by robertobaggio20

Sir, you just sold your e34 and bought another ? Hey, theres surely a good story there. Do share

Reverse went out in the previous 92 E34 at 256K miles and it needed a new aux fan. It was prior to my days of wrenching on BMWs so I sold it for salvage. I never lost my love for the E34. While driving my E39, I continued to yearn for the E34. Found my current E34 with 85K miles by original owner and snatched it up and sold the E39. I've never looked back

Nice list BMR LVR. My list gest a little more exotic in places, most of it from my past life where I had some decent disposable income

'72 Ford Ranch Wagon, circa 1984
'75 Volvo 164E
'77 Pontiac Trans Am, 455
'86 Bronco 2
'85 Honda Accord
'89 Ford F250
'89 Nissan PU
'72 Chev Monte Carlo
'81 ChevMonte Carlo turbo
'88 Honda Accord
'89 Isuzu Trooper
'84 BMW 318i circa 1994
'90 Chev Suburban
'87 BMW 325
'96 Chev Suburban
'95 740il
'90 MB 300GE
'01 Volvo V70 T5 (new)
'98 BMW 750il
'95 MB G320
'84 MB 280GE
'71 MB 416 UNIMOG
'86 Porsche 944T
'01 MB S600 (new)
'90 BMW 325ix
'89 Porsche 928GT
'71 Buick GS455
'72 Chev Nova 383
'04 Porsche Cayenne S (new)
'90 BMW 535i
I also had trucks, but they aren't as exciting on a car list.
'99 F350 new
'01 Chev 2500hd new
'03 Chev 3500hd new
'03 Dodge 3500 x2 new
'05 Dodge 3500 new
'06 Dodge 3500 new
'06 Dodge 3500
'04 Jeep GC
'99 Ford Expedition

Looking to go all German, adding UNIMOG, and G-Wagen to 535 soon but, Porsche would be my favorite followed by MB and BMW.

Originally Posted by BMR_LVR

Reverse went out in the previous 92 E34 at 256K miles and it needed a new aux fan. It was prior to my days of wrenching on BMWs so I sold it for salvage. I never lost my love for the E34. While driving my E39, I continued to yearn for the E34. Found my current E34 with 85K miles by original owner and snatched it up and sold the E39. I've never looked back

That's a rare find sir. 85k miles indeed. Are you sure its real ? Forum members who know how to fiddle with the mileage indicators may appear as sweet innocent little old ladies as well.

Originally Posted by snowsled7

Nice list BMR LVR. My list gest a little more exotic in places, most of it from my past life where I had some decent disposable income

'72 Ford Ranch Wagon, circa 1984
'75 Volvo 164E
'77 Pontiac Trans Am, 455
'86 Bronco 2
'85 Honda Accord
'89 Ford F250
'89 Nissan PU
'72 Chev Monte Carlo
'81 ChevMonte Carlo turbo
'88 Honda Accord
'89 Isuzu Trooper
'84 BMW 318i circa 1994
'90 Chev Suburban
'87 BMW 325
'96 Chev Suburban
'95 740il
'90 MB 300GE
'01 Volvo V70 T5 (new)
'98 BMW 750il
'95 MB G320
'84 MB 280GE
'71 MB 416 UNIMOG
'86 Porsche 944T
'01 MB S600 (new)
'90 BMW 325ix
'89 Porsche 928GT
'71 Buick GS455
'72 Chev Nova 383
'04 Porsche Cayenne S (new)
'90 BMW 535i
I also had trucks, but they aren't as exciting on a car list.
'99 F350 new
'01 Chev 2500hd new
'03 Chev 3500hd new
'03 Dodge 3500 x2 new
'05 Dodge 3500 new
'06 Dodge 3500 new
'06 Dodge 3500
'04 Jeep GC
'99 Ford Expedition

Looking to go all German, adding UNIMOG, and G-Wagen to 535 soon but, Porsche would be my favorite followed by MB and BMW.

Originally Posted by robertobaggio20

That's a rare find sir. 85k miles indeed. Are you sure its real ? Forum members who know how to fiddle with the mileage indicators may appear as sweet innocent little old ladies as well.

Yep. It was a legit one owner. Had records to prove too