Retro Autobahn Stormer - V8 Content Inside (840CI)
Discussion
The spec in order of importance;
1.4.4 V8
2.Quad exhausts
3.93K Miles
4.FBMWSH
5.Wicked deep dish BBS (genuine BBS, not genuine replicas) - innit.
No plans other than oil change, coolant change, gearbox oil & filter change, new plugs, new tyres.
Might drop the front 30mm and the rear 20mm. Car needs a good clean on the outside and maybe a mop to lessen what appears to be 18 years of swirl marks.
1.4.4 V8
2.Quad exhausts
3.93K Miles
4.FBMWSH
5.Wicked deep dish BBS (genuine BBS, not genuine replicas) - innit.
No plans other than oil change, coolant change, gearbox oil & filter change, new plugs, new tyres.
Might drop the front 30mm and the rear 20mm. Car needs a good clean on the outside and maybe a mop to lessen what appears to be 18 years of swirl marks.
carpetsoiler said:
Absolutely love these. Amazingly overengineered, and carry an amazing road presence. I remember they were perceived as a bit naff for some time, but I've always loved them.
Enjoy it, make sure you get a Shell loyalty card- you'll need it.
I've driven around 200 miles since yesterday and it's the most solid car I've ever sat in. As you said, incredibly overengineered and not a rattle anywhere after 18 years.Enjoy it, make sure you get a Shell loyalty card- you'll need it.
I've been running an Impreza STI the past year as my daily so I hopefully won't notice much difference fuel wise. At least this will happily run on 95.
It does take 90L to fill though!
carpetsoiler said:
Absolute rubbish. I'll arrange a holiday at some point. 
Personally I'd go for a proper remap session, but that's just me- depends a) if you want to get the power higher and b) how much you're willing to spend. For that price you can get a map done...
If it's reasonable to run I may have to reconsider my position for dumping one of those engines inside my E36...
Haha more than welcome! It's actually a lovely place outside of Belfast. Even that its charms sometimes.Personally I'd go for a proper remap session, but that's just me- depends a) if you want to get the power higher and b) how much you're willing to spend. For that price you can get a map done...
If it's reasonable to run I may have to reconsider my position for dumping one of those engines inside my E36...
I'll look into the remap side of things. Are there any reputable companies in the UK?
They seem to be a great engine by all accounts. They got a bad rep with the Nikasil thing back in the day but the new Alusil engines were fine and the sulphur content in fuel is low enough now that if any of the Nikasil units have made it this far, there should be no issues.
carpetsoiler said:
If it's reasonable to run I may have to reconsider my position for dumping one of those engines inside my E36...
Just to update you, I reset the second OBC reading today and managed an average of 29MPG after about 100 miles at 90 leptons and around 5 miles through the city traffic.I've to fill up in the morning, so will compare the OBC reading for the full tank of fuel (17MPG - lots of town/city driving this week) with what the pump says.
Not bad for a 2 ton car (if it's any way close) and I dare say it would be even better in your E36
carpetsoiler said:
You b
d. That's already close to what I do with a 2.8 straight six... but then again, my car gets driven rather hard. 
Yes, but you know full well the sound of a V8 driven hard is worth a few MPG d. That's already close to what I do with a 2.8 straight six... but then again, my car gets driven rather hard. 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OE-BMW-E38-740i-E31-840i...
Got out for the first proper blast last weekend with a local BMW club. Not normally my thing (marque specific clubs) but the guys are awesome and it was great hoon!
Very, very happy with how well it manages the B roads. Completely different experience to my Impreza, but not bad at all for a 2 ton coupe
Joined by an E92 M3, E34 525i, E34 M5, E30 M3, few E46 330s & Clubsports, E36 M3, 1M, Z4M...
Very, very happy with how well it manages the B roads. Completely different experience to my Impreza, but not bad at all for a 2 ton coupe
Joined by an E92 M3, E34 525i, E34 M5, E30 M3, few E46 330s & Clubsports, E36 M3, 1M, Z4M...
league67 said:
Lovely car, very good friend had one in light blue (Estoril?). Enjoy.
Many thanks, absolutely loving it so far Estoril blue is a beautiful colour definitely. This was a bit of a spur of the moment thing really, I had been offered good money for my Impreza and began seeing if there was anything interesting local, when I spotted this. Had I been inclined to take the time and travel across the water, I would have perhaps held out for a more interesting colour.
Simple enough job done this evening. The handles embedded in the seats to allow access to the rear (Ha!) wear out over time and after 18 years my passenger side one finally gave up. They crack and snap where the handle connects to the cable and thus no rear access.
Means feck all to me but it's an MOT fail so had to be sorted. BMW re engineered them with a metal strengthening plate where the handle connects, so hopefully this will be this side done anyway. The seats alone have more parts to them than an entire cars from that era with integrated seatbelts, a number of computers and a few dozen motors and sensors...
A few interior shots at last.
Just a bit of an update really.
I've been driving the car daily for the past 3 months and loved every minute.
Jobs I've done so far;
Definitely gelling with the car more and more each day. I don't keep cars long as there's always something else I fancy, but driving the 8 is always such an event.
It's not supercar fast, it has Marmite looks, you can feel it's weight on the twisties, but on a day like today in 20 degree sunshine with all windows down and the sunroof open, it's definitely special on a 200 mile round trip on great roads. I'm averaging about 20MPG which is al you can expect really. On run, mid 30s are easily attainable with the crazy final drive ratios.
The reaction from the public is beyond anything I expected too. It often gets more attention than something next to it worth 20 times as much.
Anyone hmming and hah'ing about buying one (if I had a £ for every time I heard "Ah I'd love one/nearly bought one but I couldn't fuel it/maintain it" I could nearly get a full tank of fuel ), just do it. They're getting seriously thin on the ground and I've no doubt in 10 years time a good one will be the preserve of a wealthy gentleman seeking a weekend toy.
I've been driving the car daily for the past 3 months and loved every minute.
Jobs I've done so far;
- Rebuilt the front Brembos after one started seizing - horrible job but very satisfying, especially considering most places refused to touch them and replacement items are fantasy prices.
- Full engine service.
- Replaced the handles to move the front seats forward after one broke. New items are reinforced with a metal plate so that should be that sorted!
- Gearbox service (peace of mind)
- Rocker cover gasket on PS - leaking oil into the spark plug holes. Should be straight forward enough and the parts aren't expensive from BMW, just need the time.
- Sort a minor shimmy around 55mph - will get it up on the ramp and check out the arms, etc. It flew through MOT without a single advisory but maybe they missed something.
Definitely gelling with the car more and more each day. I don't keep cars long as there's always something else I fancy, but driving the 8 is always such an event.
It's not supercar fast, it has Marmite looks, you can feel it's weight on the twisties, but on a day like today in 20 degree sunshine with all windows down and the sunroof open, it's definitely special on a 200 mile round trip on great roads. I'm averaging about 20MPG which is al you can expect really. On run, mid 30s are easily attainable with the crazy final drive ratios.
The reaction from the public is beyond anything I expected too. It often gets more attention than something next to it worth 20 times as much.
Anyone hmming and hah'ing about buying one (if I had a £ for every time I heard "Ah I'd love one/nearly bought one but I couldn't fuel it/maintain it" I could nearly get a full tank of fuel
), just do it. They're getting seriously thin on the ground and I've no doubt in 10 years time a good one will be the preserve of a wealthy gentleman seeking a weekend toy.
Coker said:
Good Lord, that's bloody marvellous.
Every time I see one of these (aqnd I mean every time), the urge to own one grows that little bit more.
You should do it Every time I see one of these (aqnd I mean every time), the urge to own one grows that little bit more.
Shares many parts with the 5 and 7 series of that vintage and very easy to work on if you can wield a spanner.
I daresay it's no more expensive to keep in good order than your M3
Alex they're the perfect daily.
A designer sofa with a slushbox in heavy traffic and a locomotive on the motorway
I do similar miles to you and the only time it let me down was when the caliper seized, but that's to be expected on any car approaching 20 years.
A very special place to be.
A designer sofa with a slushbox in heavy traffic and a locomotive on the motorway
I do similar miles to you and the only time it let me down was when the caliper seized, but that's to be expected on any car approaching 20 years.
A very special place to be.
They're a very under stressed engine. Don't get me wrong I never spanked it cold but I used it for dump runs, commuting, traveling to meet clients, grocery shops and everything in between. It was my only car for 6 months.
Anyone that is interested in cars should own one at some point. I can still remember the smell of the leather.
Anyone that is interested in cars should own one at some point. I can still remember the smell of the leather.
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