4 Star Classics

A superb E34 M5 3.8 with a fully documented history file 

MODEL HISTORY

To many the E34 is the greatest incarnation of the M5. The car it replaced (E28) had been a huge hit and the E34 M5 carried on its success. Its understated body did without the outlandish spoilers of its competitors; instead the engineers had concentrated solely on creating a serious driving machine that just happened to have a few extra seats.

Expectations for the new E34 M5 were high, but by the time it went on sale in September 1988 few where disappointed. At its heart was the largest straight-six the Bavarian Motor Works had yet produced - 3.6 litres of pure muscle that could trace its ancestry back to the M1 supercar of the late 70's. The result was 315bhp and 266lb ft of torque
In keeping with the E28 M5 BMW kept the styling modifications to a minimum, if you look hard you'll notice a pair of extra ducts in the front spoiler, while the wheels on the early E34's where 5 spoke alloys with vented magnesium covers to direct air towards the brakes for increased cooling.

Underneath was a different story. Suspension, steering and brakes were all developed during punishing laps of the Nurburgring, and it shows. The car sits 20mm lower than the 535i on 25% harder springs, huge 315mm ventilated front disks provide incredible stopping power, yet still retain progression and feel. The previous M5 had definite over steer bias, BMW set this new version up with a small amount of under steer to reduce its snappy tendency to put you sideways in the wet. The steering is super sharp with a 15:6:1 direct ratio that is weighted against the engine speed to offer more feel as the cornering load builds.

In 1992 things got even better as the engine was stroked and bored to 3795cc to increase power to 340bhp and torque to 295lb ft at 4750rpm. The engine management system was also upgraded to a Motronic 3.3 system, there where wider inlet and exhaust valves and both water and oil cooling where improved. It all worked beautifully bringing the 0-60 dash down in the sub-6-second supercar zone and the derestricted top speed was in the region of 170mph.

The already impressive suspension was also revised in 1992 with automatically adjusting Bodge dampers to keep the car flatter during cornering, braking and acceleration, known as the Adaptive M Technic Suspension. This was further enhanced with the Nurburgring option that included 9in wide rear wheels, 1mm thicker anti roll bars, and a switch on the dash that allows the driver to set the stiffness of the suspension inside the car.

Equipment

Graduated tinted screen, Auto air conditioning, Nurburgring package, Servotronic power steering De-chroming, Headlight wash system, Sports steering wheel with airbag, Electric seats + Driver memory, Alpine CD player, Electric sliding sunroof, Interior light package

EXTERIOR

This stunning E34 M5 is finished in Diamond Shwartz metallic black with the correct contrasting silver lower sills. Other than a few minor stone chips the paintwork is in excellent order and has a lovely deep shine. All of the trim is in excellent condition free from any marks or fading.

INTERIOR

The cloth and alcantara sports seats are in excellent condition with none of the usual wear to the bolsters, the rear seats are as good as new. The carpets are unmarked and protected with a set of tailored mats.  The dash retains its well engineered German build quality, with all electrics in full working order and the controls feeling solid and reliable. The complete BMW toolkit and jack are still neatly stowed away in the boot.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

This M5 has been meticulously maintained over the years which is evident from the excellent service record. The car runs exactly as it should and still provides breathtaking performance from the renowned S38 straight six engine. The 5 speed gearbox is tight and precise.

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES

Being a later 3.8 M5 the car benefits from the wider 17" throwing star alloys with 255/40/17 rear tyres. The wheels are in excellent condition and the tyres are high quality with plenty of tread.

A common and potentially expensive week spot on these cars can be the suspension so the previous owner has opted to upgrade with an aftermarket suspension kit, this has not made any noticeable difference to the ride height or comfort. The brakes have also been improved with a set of AP Racing 6 pot calipers and disks. These are very powerful and pull the car up quickly in a straight line. 

HISTORY FILE

This M5 was first registered in Germany in 1993 and comes with all its original German service history, there are 14 stamps in the book.

The car was then imported to the UK in 2005 by MCP Motorsport where it was serviced a further 3 times, all of which are documented in the history file and stamped in the service book. All the MOT certificates have been kept to further verify the low mileage and there is a file that contains receipts documenting any other work that has been carried out.

The car also has its original document holder and all the owners manuals. It has had two owners since coming to the UK in 2005.