What do you think of the BMW 8 series?
Discussion
EddieFelson said:
Just noticed they are not that quick looking at the performance figures. They 'look' quicker.
Yes, they 'look' quickier than they really are...but bear in mind an 840 weighs over 100kg MORE than an equivalent E38 740i ! You just need to feel the weight of the doors and even the seatbacks when you put the forward.
They 'feel' quickier to drive than they really are as well. I think because you're quite low, have that big expanse of car in front of you that and you can really feel the momentum (i.e mass x velocity) that you have when travelling at speed. The brakes are very powerful and will stop you...they just don't 'feel' like they will!
I remember seriously considering buying an 840 a while ago but just couldn't afford to run one in the way I'd want to. Last thing I'd want to do on a car like that would be to have to go cheap on some parts when needed and I'd never want to run any car like that so I never bought one 
Ozzie Osmond said:
WojaWabbit said:
If you're seriously considering a car to keep in the hope of it appreciating in value, then in thirty years time.....
Good grief. That level of optimism is worthy of Mervyn King (former governor of the bank of England) and his constant assurances that inflation would fall below 2% by the end of the year! 
This is my second that I have now had for 7 years. Used most days and last year even took it to Spain on hols. Current mileage is 115000 but still feels very taught.
I budget for about £1000 a year for a major service and anything else that it might need. I also change the oil and filter every 2-3000 miles.
All in all great fun as a GT but a tad tiring around town.
Heres a pic of mine from June
I budget for about £1000 a year for a major service and anything else that it might need. I also change the oil and filter every 2-3000 miles.
All in all great fun as a GT but a tad tiring around town.
Heres a pic of mine from June
STW2010 said:
Just because the engines are similar doesn't mean that everything but the body is too. The suspension components are different and these are heavy cars, so will lunch suspension bushes/springs more regularly.
Much rarer than the 540 and 740 and so parts will be more expensive. Being far more high-tech, there are more electronics to go wrong.
Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that they would be eye-watering to maintain, but they will have the potential for some shocking bills. If I had one then I would do all maintenance myself, which would certainly make living with one easier.
OP- I absolutely love these cars and, after coming close to buying one before, I will quite possibly buy one in the near future. Quite possibly as a project, so spend no more than £4k on one and tidy it up.
Having said that, the 540i has quite an appetite for suspension bushes too. Most cars of this age tend to have electrical issues, so given the extra electronic components of the 8 series, I would have thought that any extra cost associated with running one would come as a result of those needing to be replaced, which is one of the points you have made up there. Much rarer than the 540 and 740 and so parts will be more expensive. Being far more high-tech, there are more electronics to go wrong.
Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that they would be eye-watering to maintain, but they will have the potential for some shocking bills. If I had one then I would do all maintenance myself, which would certainly make living with one easier.
OP- I absolutely love these cars and, after coming close to buying one before, I will quite possibly buy one in the near future. Quite possibly as a project, so spend no more than £4k on one and tidy it up.
Automatic BMWs of this age do have a few gearbox failures too, mine was refurbished to the tune of 1500 quid shortly before I bought it. I suspect that this is due to BMWs sealed for life service schedule. Many owners report improved gearbox life from gearbox oil changes every 80,000 miles or so (Unsurprising, really).
I love them, they were complex in their day (as was the E32 750, BMWs first DBW) but compared to most modern stuff they are, relatively, simple. Early V12s were basically two M20 2.5i blocks made into a V12, so they had 2 of everything.
I will say the brakes are quite poor on them, even by BMW standards. My choice would be an 840ci, I've driven a friends CSi and to be honest I was a bit disappointed with the performance.
I will say the brakes are quite poor on them, even by BMW standards. My choice would be an 840ci, I've driven a friends CSi and to be honest I was a bit disappointed with the performance.
E31Shrew said:
This is my second that I have now had for 7 years. Used most days and last year even took it to Spain on hols. Current mileage is 115000 but still feels very taught.
I budget for about £1000 a year for a major service and anything else that it might need. I also change the oil and filter every 2-3000 miles.
All in all great fun as a GT but a tad tiring around town.
Heres a pic of mine from June
That car with those wheels is utter car porn! Any more pics?I budget for about £1000 a year for a major service and anything else that it might need. I also change the oil and filter every 2-3000 miles.
All in all great fun as a GT but a tad tiring around town.
Heres a pic of mine from June
Tango13 said:
E31Shrew said:
This is my second that I have now had for 7 years. Used most days and last year even took it to Spain on hols. Current mileage is 115000 but still feels very taught.
I budget for about £1000 a year for a major service and anything else that it might need. I also change the oil and filter every 2-3000 miles.
All in all great fun as a GT but a tad tiring around town.
Heres a pic of mine from June
That car with those wheels is utter car porn! Any more pics?I budget for about £1000 a year for a major service and anything else that it might need. I also change the oil and filter every 2-3000 miles.
All in all great fun as a GT but a tad tiring around town.
Heres a pic of mine from June
derin100 said:
Tango13 said:
E31Shrew said:
This is my second that I have now had for 7 years. Used most days and last year even took it to Spain on hols. Current mileage is 115000 but still feels very taught.
I budget for about £1000 a year for a major service and anything else that it might need. I also change the oil and filter every 2-3000 miles.
All in all great fun as a GT but a tad tiring around town.
Heres a pic of mine from June
That car with those wheels is utter car porn! Any more pics?I budget for about £1000 a year for a major service and anything else that it might need. I also change the oil and filter every 2-3000 miles.
All in all great fun as a GT but a tad tiring around town.
Heres a pic of mine from June
I wont divulge on here what you have done!
E31Shrew said:
derin100 said:
Tango13 said:
E31Shrew said:
This is my second that I have now had for 7 years. Used most days and last year even took it to Spain on hols. Current mileage is 115000 but still feels very taught.
I budget for about £1000 a year for a major service and anything else that it might need. I also change the oil and filter every 2-3000 miles.
All in all great fun as a GT but a tad tiring around town.
Heres a pic of mine from June
That car with those wheels is utter car porn! Any more pics?I budget for about £1000 a year for a major service and anything else that it might need. I also change the oil and filter every 2-3000 miles.
All in all great fun as a GT but a tad tiring around town.
Heres a pic of mine from June
I wont divulge on here what you have done!
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