Price: SOLD
Mileage: 247,600 Kilometers (153,400 Miles)
Engine: 2.5-liter M50B25 Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual Transmission
Exterior color: Granit Silver Metallic Exterior (L0237)
Interior: Anthracite Cloth Interior (P0411)
Additional features:
Wood Trim
Sport iX E34 Springs
Rear SLS Delete
M-Tech 2 Steering Wheel
Manual Sport Seats
Continental TRT7412UB-OR Stereo
Outside Air Temp Display
Leather Shifter Surround
Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
Fold Down Rear Seats
Rear Pass Through
Rear Headrests
Rear Sunshades
Cargo Cover
Coco Floor Mats
Bosch Smiley Headlights
Fog Lights
Sicktop (No Sunroof)
Rear Trailer Hitch
17-Inch Alpina Maxilite Replica Wheels
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Tires
16-Inch Original Wheels w/ Snowtires
European Market Import
The E34 was the third generation of the BMW 5 Series, and the most advanced of the traditional BMW’s, both in form and function. Its form is made up of iconic BMW 3-box design language, square kidney grills, double headlights, and tidy lines that were smooth and sleek in comparison to its E28 predecessor and smaller E30 3 Series sibling. At its release, BMW accurately described it as “Sophisticated styling that is aerodynamic while in motion, and admired when parked.” For function, the E34 525i was the first BMW to get the M50 2.5-liter inline 6-cylinder engine in 1992, what I consider the first of the “modern era” engines. It is one of the most reliable BMW power plants ever produced, which earned the late model 525i the reputation as one of the most reliable luxury cars of all time. One of the rarest E34s was the 525iX Touring, the first all-wheel drive 5 Series and the only all-wheel drive E34. The 525iX was also the first 5 Series to feature the tighter feeling rack and pinion steering over the steering box. Having been a Euro-only model, finding a nice E34 525iX Touring is extremely difficult in the U.S. market.
This 1992 E34 525iX Touring is one of those few examples that made it to the United States. It was a worthy example of trip as well, being finished in Granit Silver over an Anthracite cloth sport interior with manual seats and a slicktop. Outside of not having that problematic sunroof, it is nicely optioned for a European Market 525i including power windows, door locks, front armrests, outside air temp display, rear headrests, rear sunshade, and the Euro trailer hitch. Upgrades include a retro Continental stereo, M Tech 2 steering wheel, sport iX 525i springs, and 17-inch Alpina replica wheels. It was originally a Switzerland market car and remained there until 2017 when it moved to the Netherlands. In 2020 one of our best clients imported to the United States and gave it a thorough mechanical and cosmetic run-through. The mechanical work was performed by independent BMW specialist Slimmers Automotive Service in Lawrence, Kansas and included replacing dated fuel hoses, an oxygen sensor, front ball joints, front struts and springs, fan shroud, brake fluid, engine oil and driveline fluids, valve cover gasket, spark plugs and coil packs, and replacing many burned out cluster bulbs. He also added the M Tech 2 steering wheel, replaced the headliner, driver’s door striker, and a front window regulator. In preparation for sale we checked all of the above work and didn’t much that needed attention. We headed off some future potential rust issues in the rear shock towers, and repaired the driver’s seat forward and aft adjustment cable. Most E34s were used and enjoyed; non-M survivors are rare and even more so with an iX Touring. This example stands out as a rare example that was clearly cherished to its previous owners, and has survived and then made it to the United States. It isn’t perfect, but that allows it to be used and enjoyed without guilt. We’d like to find a new owner who will continue to care for it and enjoy it for the next chapter of its story.
The exterior of this E34 presents very nicely and looks fantastic in the Granite Silver. The paint is very glossy and presents well; it is a decent quality repaint, with few notable imperfections. We included a paint gauge report in the records binder. The front fenders have been replaced. The bumpers are in excellent condition; the rear has some minor scuffing below the trim. It does have the typical corrosion that would be expected of an alpine European market car, but it is better than most. There is visible corrosion on the undercarriage components and evidence of previous rust repair in the lower body panels. The most evident is a patch on the driver’s floorboard and visible rust in the rear rocker panels. We preventatively addressed areas in the rear shock towers; pictures of everything are included in the gallery. The troublesome E34 door trim is relatively clean. All trim is present and in good condition; it has some UV fade but is still plenty presentable. The fog lights, turn signals, and taillights are clear and crack free, with the exception of a small hairline crack in the driver’s side outer taillight. The headlights are Bosch “smileys” that are in great shape with minor pitting. The wheels are Maxilite Alpina style wheels; they have no curb rash and are wrapped in fresh Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus tires with 2020 DOT dates. The exterior of this E34 presents very nicely and looks fantastic in the Granite Silver. The paint is very glossy and presents well; it is a decent quality repaint, with few notable imperfections. We included a paint gauge report in the records binder. The front fenders have been replaced. The bumpers are in excellent condition; the rear has some minor scuffing below the trim. It does have the typical corrosion that would be expected of an alpine European market car, but it is better than most. There is visible corrosion on the undercarriage components and evidence of previous rust repair in the lower body panels. The most evident is a patch on the driver’s floorboard and visible rust in the rear rocker panels. We preventatively addressed areas in the rear shock towers; pictures of everything are included in the gallery. The troublesome E34 door trim is relatively clean. All trim is present and in good condition; it has some UV fade but is still plenty presentable. The fog lights, turn signals, and taillights are clear and crack free, with the exception of a small hairline crack in the driver’s side outer taillight. The headlights are Bosch “smileys” that are in great shape with minor pitting. The wheels are Maxilite Alpina style wheels; they have no curb rash and are wrapped in fresh Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus tires with 2020 DOT dates.
The interior is a highlight of this car and is overall in very good condition. The anthracite sport seats are excellent, with only minor wear on the driver’s outside bolster. The rear seats are in equally good condition. The dashboard has no cracks, only some minor warping near the windshield. The headliner has been recovered; it is a bit lumpy, but still plenty presentable. Extra headliner material is included with the sale. All instrument cluster functions work, and no bulb are burned out; the airbag light is illuminated. The A/C is INOP, as are the rear windows. The head unit has been replaced with a visually period-correct Continental TR7412UB-OR unit that sounds great. The OBC has no burned out bulbs and works as it should. The shifter surround and center console are in good condition. The carpet is not worn and free of any notable tears or stains and is protected by Coco Mats.
Overall the mechanical condition is very good, not the basket-case that some E34s become if maintenance is not kept up on. The extensive maintenance list outlined in the summary paragraph certainly helped with this. The M50 engine fires on command, idles smoothly, and pulls strongly to redline. There are some typical weeps and seeps, but no glaring fluid leaks. The transmission shifts smoothly and the clutch take-up is correct. The all-wheel drive system functions correctly. There are no driveline or wheel bearing vibrations. The suspension is compliant, with no excessive bushing play. The SLS system appears to have been deleted some time ago, and it could have been done in a neater fashion, but it’s only a nitpick when you see it on the lift. The brakes have plenty of life left and the Continental ExtremeContact tires only have a few hundred miles on them.
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