E34 525i - twin cam or not??

dolzz · #1 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 01:28 AM

Hi, I am looking at buying this 525i. The owner is away and I can't gain access, is there any way of telling if it is M20 engined or M50 just by looking at it?
Any help is appreciated

itsabimmerthing · #2 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 12:46 PM

Get the VIN, run it at car fax, or the 8th digit, and run it on autozone.

dolzz · #3 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsabimmerthing

Get the VIN, run it at car fax, or the 8th digit, and run it on autozone.

Is that located at the bottom of the windscreen?

itsabimmerthing · #4 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 06:43 PM

Should be yes, basically on the upper corner of the dash, visible from the windshield.

Scany · #5 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008, 08:33 PM

I believe it's 1991 and later that's got the 24v and single VANOS. The last 7 digits of the VIN and a visit to realoem.com should answer all your questions.

meanm50 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-26-2008, 12:02 PM

1-If the motor has plastic covers on it its a 24valve....if no plastic covers, its an M20 12valve.

2-Any E34 after 3/91 had 24 valves.

3-If it has a flat distributor at the front of the head, its a 12 valve....24 valves were direct ignition.

4-If the battery is under the hood, its a 12 valve. They moved the batt to under the rear seat on the 24 valves.

5-Just lookin at the color, (#252 calypso) and the fact that it has side markers on the fender I would guess its a 24 valve, but the non american versions (aka-the one in the pic) may be a little different. Not sure when the color/side markers came on the car outside of US.

6-M20 (12 valve) had spark plugs right above the header...so M20's should have plug wires coming right out of the side of the head above the exhaust manifold. M50's plugs are right on top the head under all the plastic covers.

Hope that helps. The main give away is the distributor cap....if it has one, its an M20.

meanm50 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 08:16 AM

So any news? This place is dead. Pretty lame spot for a 5er owner...

dolzz · #8 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 06:00 PM

Yeah, checked it out and ended up being a m20.
Started up with a jump start on 1st crank, not bad for over 4 months of sitting there.
Needs a new auto transmission tho.

oggy29 · #9 (**permalink**) 04-27-2008, 01:15 PM

there should be an m50b25 engine with one Vanos - if the car is 24V - 192 PS
and m20b25 engine if the car is 12V (in this case there is no Vanos, and the engine is 170PS)

CarDriver · #10 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 09:52 AM

That is a decent looking Body. How is the interior?

oggy29 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-25-2008, 11:32 AM

interior - like in a BMW

all in leather or good velours... All the indicators clear, switches good placed - all by the hand.