Towards the end of the E34 run, the 540i was offered in the US with an M-Sport package. This added sport seats, an M-tech body kit and mirrors plus suspension and steering components borrowed from the M5. Only 200 units were produced, and of those only 139 came equipped with the 6-speed manual gearbox.  So equipped, the 540i is an attractive and cheaper alternative to the M5, whose values we’ve seen creep up lately as the M-enthusiast crowd has rediscovered their love for the E34. This clean, low-mileage example is one of those manual cars.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1995 BMW 540i M-Sport on eBay
Year: 1995
Model: 540i M-Sport
Engine: 4.0 liter V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage: 78,500 mi
Price: Reserve auction
1995 540i M – Sport in very clean condition, pictures i believe can say everything about its condition, no leaks or issues, low 78xxx miles and 3.23 rear LSD all stock except the muffler delete, EDC still works and no leaks ( sport/comfort )
thanks for looking and for more questons please call/text 916-837-4822.
I’m a fan of the simple, unfussy arctic silver over black color scheme, and the bodykit and throwing star wheels which add just the right amount of sporting pretension to the already classy lines of the E34 body shape. The most interesting thing about this car is the noted presence of the 3.23 rear diff, which I believe was offered on the M5 but not the M-Sport.
The exterior of this car looks to be in excellent condition, with no flaws apparent from pictures. The interior is similarly clean. I’ve noted before how disappointing it is that so many E34s come to market in poor shape, so it’s refreshing to see one that’s so clean. The leather seats look barely used, with no bolster-wear apparent. Even the door cards look clear of the dreaded peel that is so common to these cars. The headliner, however, does appear to be sagging in the corners. But that is a cheap and easy fix.
The auction for the car starts at $12k; at the time of writing there has been no action. I wonder if that’s a little too high given that an M5 can be had for not much more (though admittedly not with such low mileage).
– Craig
My love for the E34 M5 fizzled when I drove one, it’s a sonorous and highly focused beast but it needs to be wound a bit high for my liking. I would love to drive one of these for comparison, I like to waffle around passing people using only low end torque whenever possible, I imagine the V8 fits the bill.
Can anyone weigh in with some info regarding the V8 in this car? Would it have been one of the Nickasil engines affected by high sulfur US fuels? Great car otherwise, proper Germanic colors, but the pine tree air freshener really must go.
@Scott – the VIN breakdown won’t tell you, I believe. All you get is that it’s an M60/2, which is the M60B40 internal designation. I found this though – if you look at the stamping on the block, you can figure out if it’s a Nik or Alu block:
M60B40:
1 725 963 – Nikasil
1 742 998 – Nikasil
1 745 872 – Alusil
That said, there are quite a few out there who basically claim that if it’s made it to this point, it’s unlikely to fail.
The one thing that instantly kills the deal for me on any car is when they show some smelly thing hanging from the rear view mirror. The interior will smell so foul for the rest of the life of the car. Smokers car!
There is a lot of info here about these models if you are interested: http://www.kindel.com/bmw/m540_info.htm