Station wagons are a relatively rare sight in the United States these days, so they have a certain unusual charm to them. Whatever you or various manufacturers want to call them (estate wagons, Avants, Tourings), they have more cargo room than sedans, yet they’re not crossovers or SUVs. Wagons are somewhere in the middle, but they’re not lost—people who like longroofs know exactly where to find them. Some wagon enthusiasts can make them look even cooler than they already are. Our Pick of the Day, a modified 1994 BMW 540i Touring posted on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Michigan, is proof of that.
According to the BMW Group Classic Product Catalog, “The third generation of the BMW 5 Series (E34) was officially presented in January 1988 and the engineering and visual appearance was closely related to the BMW 7 Series (E 32).” Three years later, BMW started offering a Touring wagon model—a first for the 5 Series. The 4.0-liter V8-powered 540i Touring joined the lineup in 1993 and could reach 62 mph in 6.4 seconds and top out at 155 mph. Out of the more than 1,300,000 E34s delivered, only about 2,400 540i Touring models were sold.
This 1994 wagon was one of those 2,400. It still has an M60B40 4.0-liter V8 under the hood but, at some point within the last 157,227 kilometers (97,696 miles), changes were made: the engine is currently connected to a Getrag six-speed manual gearbox, and a set of Megan Racing coilovers drop this wagon right above its deep-dish 18-inch Speedline wheels and low-profile rubber.
Despite the number on the odometer, the Alpine White paint appears to be in great shape. The same goes for the Marine Blue leather in the cabin, which offers amenities such as an AM/FM/cassette radio, dual-zone climate control, glossy wood trim, and a fold-down second row with dedicated HVAC vents.
Someone else’s mods have an inherent riskiness to them, but whoever altered this BMW wagon did a great job. You can show your gratitude by making it your next car for $29,900 – then show people out on the road how cool wagons can be.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com