Used BMW E34 Spares in Pretoria

Parts for the E34 5 Series

The E34 is the third-generation BMW 5 Series, built from November 1987 to June 1996 as a four-door saloon and a five-door Touring. Many were made close by: BMW's Rosslyn plant assembled the E34, and it was the last 5 Series produced in South Africa. Its successor, the E39, was imported.

E28 or E34? Check before you order

The E34 reached South Africa later than Germany. Wheels24's history of the 5 Series in South Africa says the E28 arrived here late in 1985 and was replaced in 1989, so a car registered around 1988 or 1989 could be either generation. The same history describes the E34's square styling as completely unrelated to what had gone before, so a photo of the front of the car settles it in seconds.

Same badge, different engine

The badge on the boot lid does not always tell you which engine is fitted. The early 520i and 525i used BMW's single-cam M20 six; it was replaced by the twin-cam M50, which was later updated with VANOS variable valve timing. The changeover came around 1990 to 1991 and the timing varied by market. At the top of the range, the 535i's M30 six was dropped in 1993 and the V8-engined 530i and 540i took over, both using the M60.

So a 1990 525i and a 1993 525i can need different engine parts and even a different gearbox. The engine number stamped on the block, or the VIN on your registration certificate, tells us which one you have.

South African E34s

The 525i was South African Car of the Year in 1990, according to Wheels24. The same history notes that 297 E34 M5s were sold here, all of them the 3.6-litre version, and that the local cars were assembled at Rosslyn from CKD kits rather than built by BMW's M division in Germany. Towards the end of the E34's life, the 540i became the local buyer's alternative to an M5.

Classic & Sports Car adds that South African M5s had no catalytic converter and different trim from the cars built in Germany. That matters when you compare a part against a European catalogue photo: tell us if yours is a locally built car.

Looking after the E34 M5

The E34 M5 has its own engine, the S38 straight-six, so say so in your request. Classic & Sports Car's buyer's guide lists the water pump, thermostat and viscous fan coupling as parts that give trouble, says the M5's steering box is unique to the M5, and warns that rust got worse after BMW changed to water-based paint in 1993. Our guide to every M5 generation covers how the E34 fits in.

A 30-year-old car

Even the youngest E34 is about 30 years old, and many have had parts replaced with later or different versions. If yours is running hot, our article on water pump, thermostat and radiator faults helps you find the cause before you buy anything, and our explainer on how a BMW cooling system works covers the rest of the loop.

What BMW owners ask us for

In the 12 months to 18 October 2026, 40 BMW part requests came through our request form, across all BMW models. Engines were named in 5 of them, gearboxes in 4, and radiators and grilles in 3 each. Our parts come from accident-damaged vehicles, which we have been stripping for over 15 years, and they are tested before they go out.

What to send

Send the year, the model on the boot lid, saloon or Touring, the part and a photo of the old one. Add the engine number or VIN if you have it. If you are not sure of the exact model, a photo of the engine bay is enough for us to start.