BMW’s second generation M5 followed the same recipe as the outgoing E28; manual transmission, rear-drive, howling inline-6 under the hood. But the E34 was far from a copy of the car that was really credited with being the first super sedan. BMW upped with power first with the 3.6 liter version of the S38; though the increase in displacement was a scant 82 ccs, the result was impressive. BMW Motorsport GmbH fit a new cam, a higher compression head, and a new engine management system to yield 311 horsepower at a rev-busting 6,900 rpms. They weren’t done.
In 1992 M upped the capacity again, this time to just 5 cc shy of 3.8 liters. Even higher compression, a further revision in electronic management, and a few other odds and ends now netted 340 horsepower and 300 lb.ft of torque. Again, they weren’t done. Perhaps tired of Audi cornering the go-fast-5-door market with their 200 20V Avant, in 1992 BMW launched the M5 Touring. Production began in March 1992 and ran through 1995. All E34 M5 Tourings were left-hand drive 3.8 models, and a total of 891 were produced.
BMW opted not to bring the enlarged motor or the M Touring model to the United States, as the 540i took over the top rungs of North American production. But now legal for importation, these rare Ms have been trickling in:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1992 BMW M5 Touring on eBay
Year: 1992
Model: M5 Touring
VIN: WBSHJ91020BL01000
Engine: 3.8 liter inline-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 200,000 mi
Location: Tustin, California
Price: $72,000 Buy It Now
1992 Euro BMW M5 Touring 3.8 individual S38 B38 Engine 347HP, 1992 Bologna, Italy Motor Show Demonstration Vehicle, California C.A.R.B. Smog/emission certified (cost $15,000) since 2005 when the car was imported from Italy , Full service History.. NO RUST…
Serious buyers, contact for more info – (949) 254-3923 SAL
EXTERIOR COLOR: Daytona Violet metallic (283)
INTERIOR COLOR :Champagne complete Nappa leather (BMW INDIVIDUAL)
FACTORY/OEM OPTIONS
Nurburgring Package, alarm + tilt sensor, Shadowline trim, green-tinted windshield stripe, roof rails, dual power sunroof, velour floor mats, auto-dimming interior mirror, power front seats with driver-side memory, headlight washers, automatic climate control with automatic air re-circulation, cruise control, interior light package, additional 12-volt outlet in cargo area, radio preparation, hi-fi speakers, side marker turn signals
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT + COMMENTS
The very first Italian-market E34 M5 Touring ever produced. Built for the 1992 Bologna Motor Show for Display and therefore equipped with a BMW Individual complete Champagne leather interior, including Anthracite Alcantara headliner.
You want a special wagon? This is it. Beyond the ulta-limited production of the 3.8 M5 Touring, this one is kicked up a notch with a wild color and the unusual BMW Individual interior. Daytona Violet has really become my favorite tone of these 3.8s and boy does it look impressive here. The Nurburgring Package further upgraded the Touring with 20mm rear anti-roll bar, Servotronic speed-sensitive steering and lockable M Adaptive suspension. All Tourings also featured the wider 9″ rear M System II wheels.
Condition outside looks fantastic – despite 200,000 miles – and that makes me wonder if the paint is really original. But the pictures don’t get close up, and if you look carefully you can see a fair amount of stone chips on the front bumper so perhaps it is original. Inside shows more wear that you’d expect with the age of the car. There are no shots of what this car looks like under the violet hue. However, overall presentation is still very strong and it appears to have a full history. Is this a $72,000 car today? Well, if you had difficulty swallowing the $49,000 M5 pill I gave to you last week, my guess is that this one is going to require a fair amount more apple sauce. And you’d be wise to give pause; yes, the special Elekta Touring hit $120,000 in 2017. But most Tourings that have sold via Bring a Trailer hover between $20,000 and $50,000. I’m a sucker for this car and for this color combination and truth told if I had unlimited resources I’d grab it as it’s likely one-of-one. But for now this model and example will have to remain on the wishes list.
-Carter
this is a spectacular and price at the very top of the market which undoubtedly is now very hot for the E34/S. What positively amazes me is that this car seems to have NO AIRBAGS. I know some vehicles for the southern European market sometimes were short an airbag or two compared to the German domestic market – but in this car? Weirdly, it makes me like it all the more.
I actually saw one of these a year go parked right in front of my house – in a neighborhood where the average car is maybe worth 3 grand, nonetheless. I wrote it up here: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-outtake/cc-outtake-bmw-e34-5s-1-of-891/
Am I the only one who thinks it’s a little odd to photograph the car in front of a landfill sign?
This car sold in Italy to Sweden in 2008, not sure why they are claiming it was imported in 2005 to the states. Also, it sold for $8k Euro and had been on sale for a while. I saw it for sale in Sweden just a few years ago for something like $20k. Buyers who saw it all the way back in 2008 passed on it due to cosmetics, and it looks like none of that has been corrected. This looks like someone trying to make some quick cash on the hype. Sad really.
@Jason – are you sure it’s the same car? This one has a CARB sticker from 9/2005 importation showing. Also, for what it’s worth the E34 M5 market is vastly different now than it was in 2008.
The VIN shows up in a european blog in 2008 for sale on Ebay in Italy, and it was bought by someone in Sweden. They talked about the VIN and the history, so it’s for sure the same car. The CARB sticker I cannot explain, other than maybe it was backdated somehow. The market _is_ very different now, but what remains the same is the shoddy condition of the paint and interior (and I would assume, mechanicals) on this one. If you really look at the photos, the car is in pretty rough shape. It’s by no means even a $50k car, even today.
@Jason, thanks for the info – agreed, it’s ask is pretty high for what it is. Re: California sticker – you know, it’s strange – I looked at it for more than a minute because the VIN is partially blurred out for some reason and I also noted that it has the engine listed as a 3.6, which it is not. Still pretty, though!
JASON SAINI,
DON’T POST BOGUS INFORMATION WITHOUT HAVING PROOF, THIS CAR WAS IMPORTED BY MY FRIEND FROM ITALY TO CALIFORNIA, USA IN APRIL 2004 AND FEDERALIZED AND CALIFORNIA C.A.R.B CERTIFIED AT A COST OF $15,000. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL FEDERALIZATION PAPERS. ALSO THE CAR FAX REPORT SHOWS THIS INFO AS WELL.
YOU ARE MISTAKEN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE PERHAPS WITH SIMILAR SPECS,
GOOD ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT A RARE CAR DOWN JASON, TYPICAL USED USED CAR DEALER TACTIC
First of all, your caps lock is broken. Second, here’s a discussion of when the car was for sale on Ebay in 2008. Your friend is either mistaken or engaged in some sort of fraud.
I’m not selling anything like this, so I have literally nothing to gain. I’m motivated to protect prospective buyers.
Finally, the condition of this car is what you would expect of an unrestored high mileage 27 year old car. This asking price is not justified and there are more questions than answers about this car.
https://www.autopower.se/forum/topic.asp?id=201012
Here is another thread where it was offered for sale in Munich in 2007: http://www.e34m5.de/board/showthread.php?7438-V-M5-Touring-Fahrgestellnummer-1&s=6a79457b17b0223bc565b84dfdbb18e7
It is not the same car, BL01000 is not the actual vin of my car, BL01000 is Laguna Green Metallic…i am not NEW to Euro spec 3.8 Vehicle, have imported many from Germany and also own few more individual spec E34 M5 cars.
please remove the negative comments…
Here is the actual ad of the Laguna Green BL01000 M5 Touring when it was offered for sale in Germany 2007
http://euromcars.com/cars/bl01000/2007/BL01000.pdf
http://euromcars.com/cars/bl01000/2007/
@Carter feel free to delete my comments. The seller used an alternate VIN (without so much as a word about it) so the car in question with the VIN in the ad was different. Still more questions than answers, and still highly inappropriate asking price.
If there are any SERIOUS buyers, please DO NOT hesitate to contact me (949) 254-3923.. I will be happy to answer any questions, seller reserves the right to hand over the stewardship of this vehicle to the prospective buyer of his choice.
Carter,
Please remove the erroneous comments posted by Jason without properly conducting due-diligence, seller would appreciate that
cheers
SERIOUS buyers would have serious questions about why the VIN listed is for a different car and not disclosed anywhere.
I highly suggest anyone looking at this car get it independently inspected and appraised, the seller appears to lack integrity.
Yeah this is just a whole lot of fail going on here with the seller. And the car really does look like a complete disaster. Maybe it belongs in the rubbish heap where he was taking the photos… LOL
I’ve seen this car in person, in California, albeit many years ago. Yes this is not vin 000 (a green car, not sure why that is listed). At the time it was an incredible example, being used regularly. Really interesting color combo, with an interesting history, legal in california. I don’t doubt this would get the money on a site like bring a trailer.
Well, I don’t know how this car would perform on BaT, but I do know that judging by the comments here on GCFSB, that the auction would be highly entertaining. Do it!