BMW M5 BMW M5 (E34)
BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E34)) was built from 1988 to 1995, as a 4-door saloon; 5-door estate. Powertrain: 3.6 L (3,535 cc) S38 I6; 3.8 L (3,795 cc) S38 I6. Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive. Size: 4,720 x 1,750 x 1,392 mm (L x W x H). Weight: 1745 kg.
Composed from the specifications below, so it states nothing the specs do not. Photograph: FotoSleuth, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons), from this generation's own encyclopedia entry.
Overview
The E34 generation of the M5 was produced from September 1988 to August 1995. Powered by the S38 straight-six engine, an evolution of the previous generation's straight-six, the E34 was initially produced in a saloon body style, with a second LHD Touring (estate/wagon) version following in 1992. Production of M5 models began with the painted bodyshell of an E34 5 Series at the BMW Dingolfing plant. The shells were then transported to BMW M GmbH in Garching, where the car was assembled by hand over a period of two weeks. Only the South African M5 was entirely assembled at the Rosslyn, South Africa assembly plant from complete knock-down kits supplied from Garching, Germany.
Motorsport
BMW Australia entered an E34 M5 in the Australian 1992 Bathurst 12 Hour Production Car endurance race, placing 2nd overall, and 1st in its class. It was driven by former F1 grand prix champion Alan Jones, Neville Crichton, and BMW Touring car driver Tony Longhurst.
Source: the English Wikipedia article on this model, CC BY-SA 4.0. Text may be shortened; read the full article for the complete text.
Not yet sourced for this model. Used prices swing with year, mileage, grade and country, so we publish a market range only when it comes with a named source and a date, and never an estimate. For a live figure, use the landed-cost tool with the price on the auction sheet.
Against the other wagon models in this database (42 with this body type). Computed from the dimensions in the specifications, so it changes as the database grows.
- about the same as the median of 4,783 mm, and shorter than 53% of the 30 other wagon models in this database.
- 46 mm below the median of 1,796 mm, and narrower than 53% of the 32 other wagon models in this database.
- 48 mm below the median of 1,440 mm, and lower than 85% of the 27 other wagon models in this database.
- about the same as the median of 2,780 mm, and shorter than 52% of the 33 other wagon models in this database.
- Fuel use (combined)14 mpg = 16.8 L/100 kmEPA fueleconomy.gov, model year 1993
- Fuel cost per 100 km25.2016.8 L x your fuel price
- Fuel cost per 10,000 km2520consumption x distance x your fuel price
Costs are in your own currency: they use the prices you enter above.
Who it suits
- Executive and chauffeur use: the saloon body prioritises rear-seat comfort and a quiet cabin.
Check before you buy
- Inspect for corrosion at sills, floor, subframes and suspension mounts, and replace perishable rubber (hoses, bushes, boots) at import.
- Read the auction sheet grade and notes, and verify the odometer against service and inspection records. How to read an auction sheet
- Run a history check (accidents, flood, mileage) before you bid. History check guide
- Import age rules: this generation already qualifies in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Confirm the rule for your exact vehicle with customs before buying. Landed-cost calculator
General guidance for this type of vehicle, worked out from its body, powertrain and age. It is not a finding about this particular model; use an inspection and the auction sheet for the car you are actually buying.
Worked out from this generation's production years and each country's age rule. Rules also depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
Other generations of the M5
- BMW M5 (E28) · 1984-1988
- BMW M5 (E39) · 1998-2003
- BMW M5 (E60/E61) · 2004-2010
- BMW M5 (F10) · 2011-2016
- BMW M5 (F90) · 2017-2023
- BMW M5 (G90/G99) · 2024-present
More from BMW · all BMW models
Can I import a BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E34)) from Japan?
By production year alone, BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E34)) is inside the age window for United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Rules depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
What powers the BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E34))?
Per its encyclopedia infobox, engine: 3.6 L (3,535 cc) S38 I6; 3.8 L (3,795 cc) S38 I6.
How big is the BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E34))?
4,720 mm long and 1,750 mm wide and 1,392 mm tall, on a 2,760 mm wheelbase (4-door saloon; 5-door estate). For container loading, use the container packer.
How much fuel does the BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E34)) use?
The US EPA lists a combined 14 mpg (16.8 L/100 km) for model year 1993. Your own figure depends on driving and condition.
Answered from this page's own data, not from outside claims. See the sources below.
- en.wikipedia.org (retrieved 2026-10-19)
- fueleconomy.gov (EPA) (1993)
Confidence: single-source (Wikipedia infobox). Specifications differ by market, trim and model year; the auction sheet or the vehicle's registration document is the final word on a particular car.
- Complete guide · 12 minHow to Import a Used Luxury Car from Japan: Auction Grades, Paperwork and Country Rules (2026)How to import a used luxury car from Japan: what an auction grade means, how to check mileage and history, which export papers Japan asks for, and the age rules in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Kenya.
- General import guide · 9 minHow Much Does It Cost to Import a Car from Japan? (2026)Shipping is only part of it. The real cost of importing a car from Japan stacks purchase, freight, duty, fees, and US-side costs. Here's the full breakdown for 2026, with a worked example.
- General import guide · 9 minThe 25-Year Import Rule, Explained (2026)The 25-year rule is the single most important law in car importing — and the most misunderstood. Here's how it actually works, by month of manufacture, with the EPA and NHTSA thresholds untangled.
- General import guide · 8 min7 Common Car Import Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)Most import horror stories come down to a handful of avoidable mistakes. Here are the seven that cost first-time importers the most money and stress — and exactly how to avoid each one.
- General import guide · 8 minHow to Check a Used Car's History Before ImportingA clean photo and a low mileage number prove nothing on their own. Here's how to verify a Japanese car's real history — mileage, accidents, grade — before you commit a single yen.
- General import guide · 7 minContainer vs RoRo Shipping: Which to ChooseRoRo is cheaper; container is safer. The choice between the two main ways to ship a car from Japan comes down to your car's value and what you're willing to risk. Here's how to decide.