The 8 Seris

[Felix79]

I've always liked the 8 seris since I was a kid but I've never seen many of them about in the flesh. I understand they were not that popular but I think they look awsome.

What are they like to drive and what sort of price would an ok one go for? Also what models would be the right one to go for? I know they did a 5.0 V12 but did they ever put the 4.0 from the e34 540i in it? Also were they all autos or did they do manual ones?

What comment faults to look out and how pricey are they to run? Are they costly like the e34 540i was?

[Rav335uk]

There was a 840i available Dan

[Felix79]

Was it the same V8 found in the e34 540i Ravi?

[Rav335uk]

Think it was Dan, in fact yes it was .

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1272464.htm

[Blitz]

There more of a cruiser then a sports car. The 850 CSI was more of the sports car.

4.4 was introduced and replaced the 4.0.

[Kos]

running cost are a hell of lot more than any e30, even yours dan which cost you far too much money.

850i's are electrical mindfeilds 840i's a bit less complex, body pannels make the e24 seem reasonable, parts are scarce and dealer only usually.

[clipper]

running cost are a hell of lot more than any e30, even yours dan which cost you far too much money.

850i's are electrical mindfeilds 840i's a bit less complex, body pannels make the e24 seem reasonable, parts are scarce and dealer only usually.

Yep, if anything electrical doesn't work, walk away.

I've heard of people paying more than they did for the car for some model specific electronic control units....

[capri_rob]

I should love these turds but one of my ex-bosses had a V Reg 840i and I hated his guts so it kind of taints them for me - I can't see one without it reminding me of that t0sser

As well as electrical stuff IIRC suspension components are an absolute killer on these cars - £1000 a corner dealer only rings a bell............

[inlovewithRWD]

The 840csi with the 4.4 litre V8 is the best all-rounder. The economy isn't too bad for a big engine and it it pretty much as fast as the 850ci because the engine is a lot heavier. The costs of running the 850csi (5.7 litre V12) don't even bear thinking about

My dad had one for a while and I loved it. But as Blitz says, it's more of a GT cruiser than a sports car and the interior is surprisingly snug for such a big car. A decent 840 is probably around 7k now I'd have thought. It's a lot of car for the money, but buy a lemon and it'll cripple you financially!

[Eddie25]

I agree lovely looking cars.

I've heard the 840 is the one to go for, the 850 is apparently too nose heavy and doesnt handle as well. Never driven one though just what I have been told.

[mabz]

i love these the coachwork is brilliant and the looks are very stealth did anyone catch the mafia owned dakar yellow 850i with black alpina's .one of my fave 90's cars

[Blitz]

850i is the 300bhp m70. 850csi has got a 5.6 M engine. Most expensive.

[e301988325i]

Love them to bits, each car has two catylytic converters £800 each! each rear window has two electric motors, they have two batterys!! You get the idea. Alpina did a nice version too! I would guess anything under 10k would be a money pit, check ebay and autotrader 4k and one could be yours! 840ci manual is the reccomended model.

http://www.8coupe.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_8_Series

[inlovewithRWD]

840 manual would be great to find but I think that they're incredibly rare...

[sihooker]

i love these the coachwork is brilliant and the looks are very stealth did anyone catch the mafia owned dakar yellow 850i with black alpina's .one of my fave 90's cars

I think that was the one featured in PBMW...very nice!

[Rodderz]

Mostly only BMW diehards seem to be interested in the 8 series.. says it all IMO!

[dips346]

if you got back problems wait till you drive one ...lol

[lamby]

i,ve got an 840ci sport aswell as e30/46 and servicing parts no dearer than my e30 same v8 as e39 stear clear of early ones pre96 any rust walk away,parts avilable on ebay body panels etc dont crash wont need any.exhausts are expensive from bmw so get pattern cats 500 a pair etc electrics ok on 840/s but some computers are dealer only however when fault comes up remove batts,leave for an hour replace normaly ok.as said there are two batts but only cost 50 quid from gsf brakes etc ebay 100 a pair of crossed drilled so... electric switches ie windows etc can fail but are not bad price from bmw.as an every day car the fuel will cripple ya as u cant drive em slow

[lamby]

plus if u have passengers they wont fit in the back unless you are 3foot tall! cost 5k up for 96 onwards,sport model best but i would say that,insurance cost me 200 on classic faults well any knocking from suspension is costly as bushes are not sold seperate but powerflex are looking to do them.steering arms etc all pattern parts.good fun to drive and as you say you dont see many about but plenty for sale if any advice needed p.m me

[darkchild]

Did anyone see the one prototype M8 in this month's BMW Car magazine? Serious weapon. I'm sure the 8 series would've been more fondly remembered if that had ever entered production.

[toby]

I've always liked the 8 and it is a great motorway car. Girls hate them though Dan, and they believe it's a medallion man's car. It's just too like Knight Rider to them...

[JWaller360]

I *think* there was an 830i, which made 215bhp... thankfully they were all dismantled and none made it out apparently

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bmw_8_series

[320ise]

the sad thing about the 8 is the mclarren f1 stole its thunder! the "M8" would have had the f1's engine and only stayed a concept becuase bmw used it on the mclarren project. from what i have heard anyway! if some one knows more please correct me as i have alot of interest in this topic!

there is one in a big bmw shed someware heres a pic of one!

[darkchild]

Get the current BMW Car magazine as that has loads on the M8 (you'll have to be quick as the new issue is out soon - I got March's issue in the post today). Its a very good article with lots of interviews with the BMW staff who were involved in the project.

http://www.bmwcarmagazine.com/thismonth.asp

[320ise]

am gonna get it!

heres a link about the new m8 concept!

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/sh ... hp?t=50070

[Felix79]

Thanks for the replies. Been enjoying reading it all.

Kos , your bloody right mate there is no way on this earth I could afford to run one espcally like you said my pina rapes me wallet on a regular basis.

I've always loved the 8 and like you guys am suprized it never really took off, but if dip's warning of it breaking spines and espcally dodgey ones like mine it's no wonder the older more descerning BMW owner didn't like them. Would you say the 8 was made to take on the 944 turbo?

Was just reading about the B12's and spec data. It seems the V8 was way more advanced than the basic V12 lump used in the 850i. I know there is alot of nice 8 seris in the BMWCC and I do know there are a few B12's there. Just a shame a scrub like me would never be able to fit in there lol.

[harry_p]

surely the 8-series was more a 928 rival? a bigger engined, larger, GT type of car rather than trying to be a sports car.

[Felix79]

i am not too hot on my Proches but was the 944 the front engined 2+2 ?

[capri_rob]

i am not too hot on my Proches but was the 944 the front engined 2+2 ?

Yes - the 944 had 2.5, then 2.7 then 3.0 4 pot engines during its lifetime - not really in the same league as the 8 Series

The 928 looked like a fat version of the 944 ( in a good way ) - it had a V8 up front - much more of a comparison to the 8 Series

Don't confuse the 928 with the 924 - The 924 was the peasant-spec Porsche which started life with the 2.0 VW Van engine Only 924 Enthusiasts bleat on insistently that its a proper Porsche.

[/// KAMI]

Mostly only BMW diehards seem to be interested in the 8 series.. says it all IMO!

[Kos]

surely the 8-series was more a 928 rival? a bigger engined, larger, GT type of car rather than trying to be a sports car.

the 928 was about 10 years before the e31. if anythng the 928 was rival to the e24 635csi's

[Rodderz]

Give me a 944 over an 8 series anyday!

[harry_p]

surely the 8-series was more a 928 rival? a bigger engined, larger, GT type of car rather than trying to be a sports car.

the 928 was about 10 years before the e31. if anythng the 928 was rival to the e24 635csi's

true, but the 928 did get updated throughout it's life and was still being made well until 1995, so there's plenty of overlap between the two. i bet the 928 was one of bmws main targets when the 8 series was concieved.

[Felix79]

Trying to work out the market the 8 would be going for. I guess the XJS would be a close match to it for the time.

[yetti24]

i have an 93 850ci manual that i picked up last month nice looking car but an electrical knightmare been tryin to get a new cluster and ekm module as its packed up (no hope cannot get one anywhere ) and the module is £850 from bmw