1992 BMW 525iX SE Automatic E34

This cherished E34 525iX has been owned by the same family since 1996. A perfectcar to help us consider the significance of BMW’s first all-wheel drive 5 Series…

All-Paw

BMW produced the 325 back in 1937. This all-terrain military application required go-anywhere grip for effective transportation of soldiers and supplies and represented their very first foray into the world of all-wheel drive. Civilians would have to wait until 1985. The 325i Allrad was revealed to an intrigued audience at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It featured permanent all-wheel drive with a 37/63 percent rear bias. The model designation was changed to a more international market-friendly 325iX before production started. Only the 2.5 M20 engine was available. A Ferguson- produced mechanical transfer box allowed separate drive shafts to send power to all four wheels via two viscous differentials. The transfer case was old-fashioned even for the time but its basic mechanicals did allow for a permanent rear-wheel bias which meant that the car still felt like a BMW. When the wheels started to slip, the viscous differentials would lock anywhere between 10 and 100 percent without having to be manually locked by the driver.

The 325iX was only 80kg more than the standard two-wheel drive car due to mainly aluminium extra drivetrain and steering components. The car had a 13mm wider track and sat 20mm higher. The setup wasn’t performance orientated and there was a significant power loss through the drivetrain but this wasn’t a huge concern for the majority of the target audience. The list price was a cool £17,000. This was 30 percent more than a standard E30 325i and is equivalent to over £45,000 in today’s money. This contributed to the fact that only 15,000 units were produced worldwide. Audi was demonstrating that there was a demand for all-wheel drive family cars with the Quattro variants of their models gaining a following. Elsewhere, in the ‘80s and ‘90s Vauxhall, Ford and Volkswagen offered four-wheel drive versions of some of their models. Whilst the move went against the ‘ultimate driving machine’ ethos of rear-wheel drive and handling, some colder and rougher terrains needed it, and a growing number of safety-conscious motorists in other regions, desired it. The E30 325iX was just the start.

The E34 525iX was introduced in 1992 and it utilised the E30’s double pivot McPherson strut front suspension and rack and pinion steering. This time the power was electronically controlled. A similar 36/64 default rear bias was employed. The system matched driving conditions with appropriate power to the axles via wheel speed signals from the anti-lock braking system. This data was further enhanced by information on engine speed and throttle. Performance wasn’t earth-shattering but the then-new M50B25TU powerplant produced respectable figures for the time and was considered a sweet spot between performance and economy. The 2.5-litre straight-six was available in either 5-speed manual or 4/5-speed automatic transmission. 0-62 was achieved in 9.5-seconds with a maximum speed of 137mph. 189hp/192bhp was produced at 5900rpm, with maximum torque of 184 lb/ft being achieved at 4200rpm. All round disc brakes with vented fronts were fitted as standard.

All-wheel drive models had a hiatus after the E34 525iX was discontinued in 1996 but behind-the-scenes work was afoot for a sea change. 1999 saw the introduction of the X5 which was the marque’s first SUV. It came at the right time for the market’s shift in preference to the new body style. The E46 was offered in all-wheel drive in both saloon and Touring variants and a choice of 325Xi, 330Xi and 330Xd were offered.

In 2003 BMW xDrive debuted in the new compact SUV, the X3 and the X5. The newly developed intelligent all-wheel-drive system utilised an ultra-fast electronic multi-plate clutch in the transfer case which worked with the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system to continuously adapt the power to the driving situation. The DSC fed information on steering angle, accelerator position and lateral acceleration. The detection of oversteer and understeer was a game changer and gave the hefty SUVs class-leading, car-like handling. In the following years, xDrive was fitted not only to X model SUVs but also on xDrive badged versions of the 3 and 5 series saloon and Touring models. The 7 Series was offered with xDrive from 2009 and in 2012 all-wheel drive was offered for the first time on coupes and convertibles with the new 6 Series.

Fast forward to 2022 and xDrive is available right across the range. Whilst the demand for surefooted, safe motoring is catered for by the standard system, BMW M xDrive is a more performance-orientated set-up that sticks it to Audi who previously enjoyed that uninterrupted sector of high-performance 4x4 saloons and estates for decades. Once again reacting to changing markets and regulations, BMW is now also concentrating heavily on electric all-wheel drive systems that utilise a separate motor for each wheel.

The stunning example you see on these pages is owned by 29-year-old Liam Foreman. Liam heralds from Sevenoaks, Kent and works as a General Manager at the Ford dealer, and family business, Foreman Brothers Ltd. Liam started in the motor trade straight from school at 16 as an Apprentice Mechanic at Borough Green (Foreman Ford), following in his grandfather’s, father’s and uncle’s footsteps. The Foreman-owned dealerships across the South East are a true family affair.

“My Grandad, passed this car down to me when I was 24 and I have looked after it ever since. He has owned it since 1996 and I had to keep the car in the same condition as he kept it! Every time he sees me with the car, he is very proud. My Grandad purchased it from his friend, John who purchased it new.”

John must have had impeccable taste as that Calypso Red and cream leather colour combination is a real treat. The car has been kept completely standard and left the factory with an upgraded alarm system and steering wheel and the rare rear blind option. Liam has owned some impressive cars including some Ford STs and a Mustang GT with the all-important 5.0 V8 but none have had the rich sentimental value of this E34. Liam reports that the car was cherished by his grandparents and has always been garaged and serviced using genuine parts. Childhood memories include yearly holidays to Bridlington in Yorkshire from Kent.

“Unfortunately, when I was 7 I lost my mum, Lorraine, from Cancer and she used to drive it when I was little so I have a lot of amazing memories in this car, sitting in the back on my way to Yorkshire and visiting family. The car just means so much!” With a four-year-old son, Freddie already loving cars and even lending a hand to clean the 525iX and another child imminently on the way, the E34 is the perfect modern classic with room for the clan and a means of making more memories for years to come. It’s part of the family.

TECHNICAL DATA 1992 BMW 525iX SE Automatic E34

• ENGINE: 2494 cc M50B25 TU
• MAX POWER 192bhp @ 5900rpm
• MAX TORQUE 250 N⋅m (184 lb⋅ft) @ 4200rpm
• TRANSMISSION: Automatic ZF 5HP22
• EXTERIOR: Calypso Red
• INTERIOR: Cream Leather

THANKS: John Holmes (original car owner), Dad, Ricky Foreman for always supporting me with cars/ family business, Foreman Bros (Owner) and Grandad, Donald Foreman, uncles, Gary Foreman and Jamie Foreman, my wife, Ria, I love you, and my son, Freddie who loves the car as much as me.

The price is right

Car Throttle ran an article in 2020 in which Matt Robinson described the E34 525iX as an “attainable unicorn”. He’s got a point. Fewer than 10,000 examples rolled off the production line, its significant 1990s price tag of £32,000 no doubt being a contributing factor. Of the 3,000 originally on British shores, only a handful survive. The article considered the merits of a Touring model that was due to be auctioned on the Collecting Cars platform, That usable but far from mint example made £5,750. With so few left, they are difficult to accurately value but seem to attract at least a 15-20 percent premium over their rear-wheel drive siblings. With only the subtle rear badge (available as a factory delete) and those gorgeous model- specific 16” alloys, it’s a car that only those in the know will recognise and that’s part of its charm. If you’re lucky enough to find a decent one for sale, it’s certainly worth snapping up. Surefooted handling, trusty M50 power, and practicality make this an attractive proposition, not to mention the hypercar levels of exclusivity and its historical significance in BMW’s journey to being one of the leading manufacturers of all-wheel drive vehicles.