Offer of an 850Ci BMW -- but.....?
Discussion
Right, a nice dilemma to have some might say, but what to do? Father in Law bought a minter (4 years ago) of an 850Ci, 1994 I think. Terrific car, looks fabulous, lowish miles at around 70k, FSH etc. and some nice extras.
They moved to France 2 years ago, and took the BMW over as an occasional car, however, it won't pass the French Controlled Technique (MOT) due to the fact that it wears MSport wheels rather than the original they expect. He ideally, wanted to put it on French plates and keep it over there, re-registered as a French car.
So, to cut a longer story short, it is currently untaxed and SORN as far as the UK are concerned and he has offered it to me, to keep back in the UK. It will need a new MOT, tax and and oil service, no great problem there hopefully, but insuring it may be more tricky. Also, dare I risk driving it back, untaxed, third party insured only and with no MOT, or fork out what it takes to flat bed it back from Bordeaux which will surely be ££££. As it stands without the French certificate, it will shortly be illegal to drive in France too.
I have a C Class estate (2010) as a family car with no claims on that, a lovely old 944 S2 as a run about on a classic policy, and now the possibility of this monster too. Do these qualify for classic insurance? I'd love to keep it in the family if I can, but it may have to be sold on. No additional garage space either...bummer....
Future 'Classic' that will appreciate in value in years to come, does anyone think? What to do chaps??
They moved to France 2 years ago, and took the BMW over as an occasional car, however, it won't pass the French Controlled Technique (MOT) due to the fact that it wears MSport wheels rather than the original they expect. He ideally, wanted to put it on French plates and keep it over there, re-registered as a French car.
So, to cut a longer story short, it is currently untaxed and SORN as far as the UK are concerned and he has offered it to me, to keep back in the UK. It will need a new MOT, tax and and oil service, no great problem there hopefully, but insuring it may be more tricky. Also, dare I risk driving it back, untaxed, third party insured only and with no MOT, or fork out what it takes to flat bed it back from Bordeaux which will surely be ££££. As it stands without the French certificate, it will shortly be illegal to drive in France too.
I have a C Class estate (2010) as a family car with no claims on that, a lovely old 944 S2 as a run about on a classic policy, and now the possibility of this monster too. Do these qualify for classic insurance? I'd love to keep it in the family if I can, but it may have to be sold on. No additional garage space either...bummer....
Future 'Classic' that will appreciate in value in years to come, does anyone think? What to do chaps??
Edited by carlingofblack on Monday 11th April 18:17
k-ink said:
I'd suspect these are a mega money pits. So only if it were very cheap and you had thousands spare in the 'when' fund. I'd avoid it personally as it may be too much hassle.
That's soft talk.OP, I'm afraid I don't have any real ideas on how to get it back, but driving it back is most probably not an option. Could you tow it back using a trusty land rover borrowed from a friend?
Beyond Rational said:
Set of original alloys?
Yup -- Factory fit M sport alloys, double spoke. Looks fantastic. Though as far as the hand book is concerned, they are smaller 16" standard alloys. The French will not budge as those are what the car should be wearing in order to gain the certification in order to grant the french plates.carlingofblack said:
Yup -- Factory fit M sport alloys, double spoke. Looks fantastic. Though as far as the hand book is concerned, they are smaller 16" standard alloys. The French will not budge as those are what the car should be wearing in order to gain the certification in order to grant the french plates.
get the standard wheels from ebay for the test and then put it back on the m sports.As I understand it, it needs a full inspection to confirm factory spectifications in order to re-register, and this is where the wheel problem comes from. Yes, I think he has considered picking up another set of wheels and then swapping back, but not sure why he has gone off that idea. To my mind, that would be cheaper than the hassle of getting the bloody thing back here without its UK documentation to support it.
They should have just left it to me before taking it over there....!!!
BMW won't issue any further certification, he's tried that....Thanks though
They should have just left it to me before taking it over there....!!!
BMW won't issue any further certification, he's tried that....Thanks though
Not really money pits if looked after well as with all cars, can survive huge milage's too. They are great cruisers and a decent steer on a winding road too! We have an '98 840Ci on well over 110k (bought with 66k on the clock) which we've had for 3 and abit years, the only thing that has gone wrong was a faulty cam sensor but apart from that its just general wear and tear on brakes, suspension etc. Ours is well looked after and has never given us too much hassle for what is a big Bahstormer packed with techno goodies. Why not source a set of original wheels if that is the only issue. To be honest thats a no brainer if its the only issue. Dont know how well a RHD 850Ci will sell in France!
Just lope it back while it's still legal. Insure it for 1000 miles a year and plod about enjoying the V12 sexiness 
Edit: Ah, for some reason my brain didn't twig that it's SORN. Flatbed it from Folkestone?
Alternatively; eBay a set of 16"ers, get Le Certificat Du Pedantique, then refit the MSports?
Edit: Ah, for some reason my brain didn't twig that it's SORN. Flatbed it from Folkestone?
Alternatively; eBay a set of 16"ers, get Le Certificat Du Pedantique, then refit the MSports?
I suggest you drive it to Dover , then hire a flatbed , depending on where you live it shouldnt be more than 400 . Or , get some sort of aa cover and make sure you breakdown . I would choose the first option personally .
How much is it worth ?
How much is it worth ?
Edited by frosted on Monday 11th April 18:38
Can it legally be driven in France at the moment? Could it be put onto the Autotrain as far as Paris?
http://autotrain.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/autotrai...
Get it across on a ferry and drive it to a pre-booked MoT in Dover. Tax it in Dover. Insurance without tax or MoT should be relatively easy through a broker and/or on a classic policy. As it is still registered in the UK, it should be straightforward to insure and entirely legal to drive it to the pre-booked MoT.
This all seems entirely doable to be honest.
http://autotrain.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/autotrai...
Get it across on a ferry and drive it to a pre-booked MoT in Dover. Tax it in Dover. Insurance without tax or MoT should be relatively easy through a broker and/or on a classic policy. As it is still registered in the UK, it should be straightforward to insure and entirely legal to drive it to the pre-booked MoT.
This all seems entirely doable to be honest.
DavidHM said:
Can it legally be driven in France at the moment? Could it be put onto the Autotrain as far as Paris?
http://autotrain.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/autotrai...
Get it across on a ferry and drive it to a pre-booked MoT in Dover. Tax it in Dover. Insurance without tax or MoT should be relatively easy through a broker and/or on a classic policy. As it is still registered in the UK, it should be straightforward to insure and entirely legal to drive it to the pre-booked MoT.
This all seems entirely doable to be honest.
i'd book it in to an MOT near your house though. http://autotrain.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/autotrai...
Get it across on a ferry and drive it to a pre-booked MoT in Dover. Tax it in Dover. Insurance without tax or MoT should be relatively easy through a broker and/or on a classic policy. As it is still registered in the UK, it should be straightforward to insure and entirely legal to drive it to the pre-booked MoT.
This all seems entirely doable to be honest.
job jobbed
I have a mate that is regularly running backwards and forwards to France, usually the Cote D'Azur, taking down or bringing stuff back on his trailer .. towed with an LPG P38 Range Rover. I know he has 2 seperate trips down there in May, with E Types (From Florida via Rotterdam) a long story. Anyway, it is the dort of thing he does almost for fun and a few expenses, I think he is on PH but happy to pass info on. Bordeaux is not exactly due North from Nice .. but probably lot closer than where you are !
Alternatively he has definitely done the drive to Dover/Mot thing before .. recently just done it with RHD AMG SL55 from Monaco. He described at as "a bt brisk" !
Alternatively he has definitely done the drive to Dover/Mot thing before .. recently just done it with RHD AMG SL55 from Monaco. He described at as "a bt brisk" !
I have a mate that is regularly running backwards and forwards to France, usually the Cote D'Azur, taking down or bringing stuff back on his trailer .. towed with an LPG P38 Range Rover. I know he has 2 seperate trips down there in May, with E Types (From Florida via Rotterdam) a long story. Anyway, it is the dort of thing he does almost for fun and a few expenses, I think he is on PH but happy to pass info on. Bordeaux is not exactly due North from Nice .. but probably lot closer than where you are !
Alternatively he has definitely done the drive to Dover/Mot thing before .. recently just done it with RHD AMG SL55 from Monaco. He described at as "a bt brisk" !
Alternatively he has definitely done the drive to Dover/Mot thing before .. recently just done it with RHD AMG SL55 from Monaco. He described at as "a bt brisk" !
I have a mate that is regularly running backwards and forwards to France, usually the Cote D'Azur, taking down or bringing stuff back on his trailer .. towed with an LPG P38 Range Rover. I know he has 2 seperate trips down there in May, with E Types (From Florida via Rotterdam) a long story. Anyway, it is the dort of thing he does almost for fun and a few expenses, I think he is on PH but happy to pass info on. Bordeaux is not exactly due North from Nice .. but probably lot closer than where you are !
Alternatively he has definitely done the drive to Dover/Mot thing before .. recently just done it with RHD AMG SL55 from Monaco. He described at as "a bt brisk" !
Alternatively he has definitely done the drive to Dover/Mot thing before .. recently just done it with RHD AMG SL55 from Monaco. He described at as "a bt brisk" !
Many thanks for all of this guys, brilliant stuff. I think I have convinced him and will assist him in sourcing the pain in the arse 16" wheels that the French are dead set it must have. Once we've got them on, I can see no reason apart from minor wear and tear issues why a certificate would not be issued and French plates can therefore go on. Worth a gamble I reckon considering the financial outlay and worry re. getting it back over here without incurring the wrath of the Gendarmes, our own Rozzas, etc etc.
Much as I would love the car over here, and I have been assured that it's coming my way in time(!!), I'd like the situation to work out in France as an occasional grand tourer is what it was bought to do on nice days over there.
Much as I would love the car over here, and I have been assured that it's coming my way in time(!!), I'd like the situation to work out in France as an occasional grand tourer is what it was bought to do on nice days over there.
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