Looking for advice...
I've had a 1993 E34 touring, 520i for about three years. It's in 'OK' shape; one of the front wings is starting to 'spot' and will probably need replacing in few months, an outer sill will need patching.
It's done 178k miles and the clutch is biting right at the top of the pedal travel; I think it's the original clutch.
The dash display doesn't show the mileage (and it's not the sort that you can easily get at the capacitors to change them). The speedo has become intermittent when cold (and it is the speedo that's sticking because if I 'tap' it the needle moves but then sticks again.)
In the last six months it has started to lose a little water, say 1/2 pint over two hundred miles or so. There's no obvious cooling system leak.
So...
I think that in the next year I can expect to:
- Replace wing
- Patch sill
- Replace clutch
- Possibly replace head gasket
Right...
At the annual inspection it failed on:
- Nearside rear brake pipe corroded
- Front to rear brake pipe corroded
- Offside front brake pipe corroded
- Nearside front suspension ball joint has excessive play
- CO emissions excessive
I don't plan to do much of the work myself- don't have the time.
So what do you think?
Are the excessive emissions connected with the use of coolant and indicate a head gasket that's on the way out?
Is it worth spending the money on the vehicle?