1994 BMW 5 Series 525tds SE review from UK and Ireland

The air conditioning did not work. I have not had this repaired.

The car would stall a few seconds after starting (235000 miles). This was a simple repair - the injector leak off pipes needed replacing.

It has always been difficult to start when warm. The injectors are nearing the end of their useful life.

These cars initially seem slow. This is because they have an immensely long accelerator pedal travel. However, this gives you precise control of the power. Once you learn how the car responds, you can gain a real advantage from it's performance - enough to upset drivers of "warm hatches", especially on the motorway.

The interior on the car is in excellent condition. The leather steering wheel and gear-knob are showing signs of wear. The carpet on the left-foot rest adjacent to the clutch pedal has worn through.

The engine bay is very clean. Unlike most that I saw before buying this one, it had not been steam cleaned. It does not leak ANY oil, anywhere.

Interior noise at lower speeds is higher than on the petrol models, but above 80mph it is amazingly quiet.

Economy is good, considering the way I drive the car. I have had 32mpg minimum and about 40mpg maximum.

These cars are best suited to long distance, high speed cruising - economically!

E34 5-series diesels are comparatively rare, so the cost of engine parts is very high. For all, but the most basic items, dealer parts are the only option.

A full dealer service history is essential. Budget for keeping this up to date. Note that there are two scheduled oil change services between major inspections.

There are no D.I.Y. repair manuals available for the diesel models.