8 Series (840+850's)

[BIGJO]

Hi.

Just wondering if anyone had any knowledge or experience with this series on the zone.

What are they like to drive? Maintain? Etc etc.

I have a friend who's friend who has had one sitting outside his house for ages. I don't think he knows the true value of it.

Not sure what plate it's on maybe the early ones. Most definately automatic as the later 8 series had the option of manual.

Will get the plate so we can see what sort of value we're talking.


Kind regards.

[curryp]

from what iv heard you need very deep pockets to maintain these cars. apparently they suffer from alot of electrical niggles.if it is an early plate its likely to be the 850i which was slightly slower than the 840i even though it had a mighty v12.still a mint pimp car though

make sure headlights go up and down smoothly and that the aircon works along with roof and self lowering windows.

hth

[BIGJO]

Anything else that I should know about the 8 Series people?

Thanks for the info above Cuzz.

[fowler]

it costs about 2 grand to sort all the suspension
dont buy one unless you have very deep pockets.
O/T how is the M5 ????

[BIGJO]

Okay, I think the 8 series isn't for me. I don't want to be taken to the cleaners once i've purchased it. It does look the bull*cks though & the rims...nice!

M5 is fab geez. When you coming down? Haven't seen you for a while.

[fowler]

still no wheels dude gonna be down soon.

[Andyboy]

Most definately automatic as the later 8 series had the option of manual.

850i was available with a six speed manual from 1990. Most are autos. 6 speed manual was not officially available on the 840Ci but a few did come in via special order. All CSi's are 6sp manual, and all 1994 onwards 850Ci (5.4 M73 E38 engine) are all autos. None of those were imported tho.

8 Series are money pits unless you're lucky. A pair of front shocks (complete front struts) is about a grand with VAT although you car cut them open, weld on screw collars and fit E32 shocks. Electrics can be a disaster and almost nothing is used on any other BMW.

[BIGJO]

Thanks Andy

[gazm3]

I have always fancied one.
I also have heard they can be mega bucks to fix, run and maintain.
840Ci seemed to be the one with the toys.

I love the design.

[miniblob]

Awesome cars!!!!!!!

Had a '94 850CSi until recently (bought it at 21 and i'm 25 now).
Driven a lot of cars and never found anything that drives like the 8 series, although i believe the CSi was much better sorted than the others and obviously more powerfull!!!!!

Can be expensive to maintain and the fuel bill ain't cheap!!! People say the 840's aren't bad, but i averaged 13mpg in my CSi!!!!!

UK Manuals are very rare (all CSi's were manual though).

Wouldn't buy one that been standing - unless you're prepared for possible problems - suspension, bushes, service, etc. Why has it been standing???? Cars are designed to be driven!!!!!
You say he doesn't know the true value - do you?? Early 8's can go for small prices now, especially with little history!!

Think the cost of the suspension depends on what type you have - there was a choice of 2, one is normal money, one is silly!!
Brakes, etc and normal bits aren't too costly, unless you go to a dealer!!
I would never take an 8 to a dealer - best off with an independant who knows about these cars - very specialist!!

If you're still interested, speak to an independant and find out some of the common costs/problems on that model.
Servicing is pricey at a dealer, but same as any newer BM at a specialist.

Some parts are surprisingly cheap (£60 for a new oil cooler!!!) and are common accross 7 & 5 series.
Some parts are silly money and hard to get (£400 for power steering hoses!!!!!) and are only used for the 8.

Electrics are all good until they go wrong, then they can be a disaster area.

Get yourself on www.clube31.net if you want to know more!!!!!

Would i buy another one......... Hell yeah - counting down the days!!!!!! Mine would be a fairly high miles one with lots of bills/history from specialists!!
Only other car i've found that i would compare is the Ferrari 456 which is on my wishlist, but at £35k for a cheap one, you could prob get a couple of CSi's and running costs seem quite similar!!!

Mine: http://www.dnrvinyl.co.uk/325touring/b5oxx/

[Andyboy]

I wouldn't have a 4.4. They're known for head gaskets, top chain rails (fixable in the car) and the electronic 'stat. The 4.0 M60 was better but if buying again I'd probably have a well sorted early V12. No E31 is cheap to run or fix but at least the expensive bits (engine and box) can be bought for peanuts.
No E31 front stuts are 'normal' price! Non EDC fronts are about £380 each plus VAT because they are sealed units like an E36. EDC cars are just shocking money so avoid EDC. You can fit non EDC front legs but then the rear shocks go into mega soft mode as there is no signal from the fronts - so you need to do all four.
I bought a 1997 840Ci from a main dealer in 2003, a one owner Orient blue car with the CSi throwing stars, Sports seats, electric column(!), electric rear shagging blind, cruise control (an option on a £62'000 car) and Sports suspension. Under warranty it had a new air con fan (seized) and condenser (holes), two front shocks (one was creaking like buggery, they changed both), a seat back release cable and both batteries. Yep, these things have two in the boot and they must be A1 or you'll have issues. Every 3-4 years you need to buy two new ones - by the time one starts to fail the car is playing up like a bastard.
When I had the front shocks replaced (Sport shocks are Boge, not Bilstein) I got them to fit a Schnitzer (read Eibach in a Schnitzer box) spring kit which lowered it an inch and made it a bit stiffer.

I liked mine, but thank God for the BMW warranty. It would have cost me about £2000 otherwise.