Buy a BMW E34 M5 on a rust-free shell and a quiet, cool-running S38 first. Hand-built Motorsport cars still rot in the usual E34 places, and a tired timing-chain tensioner or overheating story is an expensive surprise.
For this November 5, 2026 guide I read Car Collector International: BMW E34 M5 guide and PistonHeads: BMW E34 M5 used buying guide. The mechanical cautions below come from those pages; the order of checks and the questions for the seller are my own practical recommendations. Any price figures in those sources are market snapshots, not a valuation of the car in front of you. So, compare it with recent sales of the same specification and condition. I also kept the advice to things you can see, hear or ask for on a viewing day.
Confirm S38 capacity and gearbox
Car Collector International lists 3.6 saloons, later 3.8 cars and the rare Touring. PistonHeads notes the S38B36 displaces 3,535 cc and that late 3.8 cars gained a six-speed. Match the engine and gearbox paperwork before you fall for a badge.
Hunt rust in jacking points, sills and arches
PistonHeads wants the underside, jacking points, arches, door bottoms, sills and fuel-filler area checked carefully. Car Collector International also puts body originality ahead of a shiny respray. Bubbling paint is a stop sign until someone lifts the car.
Ask about valve clearances and chain tensioner
PistonHeads wants valve clearances checked about every year or 15,000 miles, and flags a cold-start rattle from a tired timing-chain tensioner. Listen on a cold start. Our compression and leak-down guide pairs well if anything sounds odd.
Watch cooling and traffic temperature
PistonHeads links rising temperature in traffic to a failed viscous fan coupling and warns that overheating an S38 can mean a head gasket. Ask for radiator and water-pump invoices. Our oil-analysis guide can add another data point if the seller agrees.
Test self-levelling and EDC hardware
PistonHeads describes rear self-levelling dampers that leak and, on 3.8 cars, Electronic Damping Control that is costly when dead. Operate any mode switch on the drive and note a sagging rear.
Prefer documented originality
Car Collector International lists matching numbers and continuous Motorsport-specialist history as strengths. PistonHeads wants the M5 cluster with red needles and oil-temperature gauge present. A quiet file beats a loud story.
Know 3.6 versus 3.8 and Touring rarity
Car Collector International dates 3.6 saloons from 1988 to 1992 and 3.8 cars from 1992 to 1995, with 891 Touring estates all left-hand drive. PistonHeads wants the S38 identity and the late six-speed confirmed before any Motorsport premium.
Prove the identity before a deposit
Match the chassis number on the E34 M5 to the title, any import papers and the plate on the car before you order a history report. Our VIN verification guide walks through that match, and imported-car report coverage sets expectations for cars that spent years overseas. Older chassis numbers may sit outside modern report databases, so confirm coverage before paying. NMVTIS covers U.S. title history only; it cannot replace foreign records or a physical inspection.
Get the repair scope in writing first
If the shell or the S38 sounds wrong, get a BMW Motorsport specialist's written estimate before you commit. Look, a seller PDF or a folder of photos is a starting document, not independent proof of condition. Ask the inspector for written findings with local estimates, split into safety work and cosmetic wishes. The NYC consumer-agency used-car guidance tells buyers to have an independent mechanic check the car, and our pre-purchase inspection checklist helps you set the scope. Keep a dated note of the drive, the temperatures and any noises, because a seller who disputes your findings later will ask what you saw and when.
We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Guest reports have been about $5.50, member reports about $4.50 and a two-report bundle about $6.75; confirm the price at checkout because it can change. A report can miss unreported work, so keep the inspection appointment even when the history looks quiet.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Log in to leave a comment.