BMW E34 paint codes and color options:

Below are the BMW E34 paint codes and color options for most models in the worldwide market. Different markets featured different paint color options from others. Not all colors were available in all markets. The BMW E34 5 series was offered with metallic paint as a no-cost option. The location of the paint code placard is found under the hood on the right-hand side strut tower.

The below listed E34 paint codes are for standard production models and does NOT include special order paint colors through the BMW Individual Program or E34 M5 colors. Click the link below to see the E34 M5 paint codes and color options during specific years of production.

BMW E34 5 series background:

The BMW E34 5 series was BMW's third-generation 5 series. Production ran from November 2, 1987 through June 1996. The market launch began in January 1988 with the 535i model. The 525i model began production in February 1988 and was available for purchase in April of 1988. The E34 5 series was the first 5 series model to be offered in a Touring or Wagon version. The E34 was also the first time the 5 series was offered with an all-wheel-drive option with the 525iX in addition to the first 5 series to be fitted with a V8 engine.

The BMW E34 5 series was manufactured in Dingolfting Germany as well as the Rosslyn plant in South Africa. It is claimed that BMW manufactured a total of 1,333,412 units of the E34 chassis world wide.

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Where can I learn more BMW wheel styles?

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BMW E30 air vent fix for loose vents, E34, Z3:

A common problem with the aging BMW E30, E34 and Z3 is that the interior air vents get loose and always rest in the down position.  Over time the plastic vents dry out, they expand and contract thousands of times and they lose their tight tolerances needed for them to properly function.  There is a very simple and cheap fix for this however that will change your life.

What you need:

Head to the local hardware store and get a total of eight nylon washers, two needed for each vent; four vents total.  Internal diameter needs to be .21 inches.  If the inside diameter is a little too small you can always ream them out to a proper diameter with a drill bit at home since they are only soft nylon.  We used #10 nylon washers and they fit perfect.

What is the process?

Remove the air vents (refer to the images below for further clarification).  This can be tricky and frustrating but once you do one, the rest should take no time at all.  There are essentially two tabs on each end of the vent which they rotate around.  You need to wedge in a flat head screw driver (tape the tip to make sure not scratch anything) or a plastic pry tool which you see in the picture below.  Make sure to have the vent facing all the way down, I found this makes them pop out easier.  I started with inserting the pry tool closest to the dial that opens and closes the vent.  Not sure why this side starts things off easier but it did for me.  You will need a good amount of pressure to compress the vent and push outward.  Keep working it until one side pops out.

After one side is done, move to the other side and repeat.  Make sure to put a little inward pressure on the other side of the vent with your hand to make sure it doesn't want to snap back in place.  You may even want to use a little hooked pick tool to pull the vent towards you as you pry sideways to pop the little tabs off the vent on the other side.

Clean your air vent ducts once removed:

Once the vents are removed, you may notice a lot of dirt in the ducts and on the back of the vent itself.  Now would be a great time to clean these buggers out as the vents probably have never been removed in 25+ years.  I soaked them in a bucket of soapy water for a few hours to soften up the gunk and sprayed them with a high-pressure hose after wards.  It took all of that gunk right off no problem.  

Install the plastic washers:

While the vents are drying, take your eight washers and install them on the little tabs on the vent side as seen in the pictures below.  Depending on how loose your vents are you may only need one washer per vent.  My vents were extremely sloppy so I added one washer per post.  Make sure the washers are butted all the way up to the wall of the duct, you don't want a gap.  This will make reinstallation of the vents easier.

Reinstall the air vents:

Simply reinstall the vents in reverse order and jump for joy.  You finally have working vents as if this thing just rolled off the assembly line.  It is a simple and cheap fix but it is one of the best bang for the buck modifications you can do out and the final result is absolute perfection.

Where can I learn more pro tips and informational reference guides on the BMW E30?

Learn more by clicking HERE