840 Vs 540 - running costs...
Discussion
afternoon all, lovely day for it!
ive a question about the associated running costs of 2 lovely BMWs. i am currently running an E39 540. ive had it for about a year and a half and really it hasnt cost much at all, apart from a suspension arm here and there, and a service, and the way the chap in the BP garage rubs his hands together when i pull onto his forecourt, its been a pleasure owning the car, no issues or problems really, (apart from that slovenian lorry, but we dont need to go there)....
thing is, ive always lusted after an 8 series. i always read the threads on heree, usually about costs, and buying the right car etc, all well and good. ive read that they are extremely complicated cars, which makes them expensive if they go wrong, so does this mean that the running costs of an 840 (E31?)would be very much bigger than my current 540 (E39 1996)????? mine doesnt seem to go wrong, can i aaume the 8 would be the same?
look forward to your wise thoughts n that.....
ive a question about the associated running costs of 2 lovely BMWs. i am currently running an E39 540. ive had it for about a year and a half and really it hasnt cost much at all, apart from a suspension arm here and there, and a service, and the way the chap in the BP garage rubs his hands together when i pull onto his forecourt, its been a pleasure owning the car, no issues or problems really, (apart from that slovenian lorry, but we dont need to go there)....
thing is, ive always lusted after an 8 series. i always read the threads on heree, usually about costs, and buying the right car etc, all well and good. ive read that they are extremely complicated cars, which makes them expensive if they go wrong, so does this mean that the running costs of an 840 (E31?)would be very much bigger than my current 540 (E39 1996)????? mine doesnt seem to go wrong, can i aaume the 8 would be the same?
look forward to your wise thoughts n that.....
I own both. Although I very rarely drive the E31 and currently use my E39 540i Touring as a daily driver.
E31s might have been considered very complicated cars when they were first launched but now I can't see what the big difference in complexity there would be over the E39 540?
Body/trim parts are more expensive on the E31 and obviously much more difficult to come by secondhand than an E39 but the fundamentals of the cars are pretty much the same.
Do be aware the 840 isn't actually as quick as your 540...same engine with circa 400 lbs extra weight to carry in the E31. But sometimes "Speed Doesn't Matter"!
E31s might have been considered very complicated cars when they were first launched but now I can't see what the big difference in complexity there would be over the E39 540?
Body/trim parts are more expensive on the E31 and obviously much more difficult to come by secondhand than an E39 but the fundamentals of the cars are pretty much the same.
Do be aware the 840 isn't actually as quick as your 540...same engine with circa 400 lbs extra weight to carry in the E31. But sometimes "Speed Doesn't Matter"!
Edited by derin100 on Thursday 10th April 16:49
I've got a 99 840 sport which is now fitted with an M5 diff 
ok consumption around town is in the low 18's but it really does awaken the beast, if you pick the right one then that's been maintained and cared for then you would be ok, parts are expensive, even compared to the new 6 series. But for style I don't think you can go wrong.
Go for it.
ok consumption around town is in the low 18's but it really does awaken the beast, if you pick the right one then that's been maintained and cared for then you would be ok, parts are expensive, even compared to the new 6 series. But for style I don't think you can go wrong.Go for it.
I also run both & echo all the comments, my 8 is for sale right now, went out on a test drive Tuesday night & pulled into a service station forecourt to change drivers, we both couldn't help noticing the approving glances from a busy forecourt.
Now ,you dont get that in an e39
so go & get yourself an 8!
Now ,you dont get that in an e39
so go & get yourself an 8!Edited by parksie on Thursday 10th April 20:13
I run neither but say go for it! I got out of work tonight, way later than I planned and pretty pi55ed off to boot. I waited for my bus to Waterloo and an 840 pulled up right next to me with a stainless backbox (could have been a full system but I thought being caught in the road, on my knees, trying to find out, might be both uncomfortable and a bit weird!!) As the lights changed, the owner gunned it and the sound was fantastic. Bad day gone in the blat of some quad pipes! 
Totally impractical but I've alwasy loved them. Go for it if it's a goodun!
As for complexity, at least it's not an 850!
Totally impractical but I've alwasy loved them. Go for it if it's a goodun!
As for complexity, at least it's not an 850!
derin100 said:
Do be aware the 840 isn't actually as quick as your 540...same engine with circa 400 lbs extra weight to carry in the E31. But sometimes "Speed Doesn't Matter"!
... and when it does, there's the V12 wayneblackwell said:
I've got a 99 840 sport which is now fitted with an M5 diff ok consumption around town is in the low 18's but it really does awaken the beast,
Be interested to hear your further experiences with the diff Wayne. My 850 has been comprehensively tweaked and chipped ... including an M5 diff, so I'm looking forward to seeing what a difference it makes with all that 12 cylinder torque to play with ok consumption around town is in the low 18's but it really does awaken the beast, It's insured from midnight on Saturday, although whether I'll actually have the car by then is anyone's guess!
If a certain Mr Millar would be so kind as to call me
I've had the LSD fitted for six months now, in normal drive it now feels like its in sport, when you switch it to sport its like your driving a totally different car as I have the later V8 with the step box I can then switch it to manual which is more fun again. Having this diff fitted has a couple of compromises, one being it knocks your top speed down to an alleged 140mph, two being your revs are higher i.e at 100mph its at 4thou revs and third is that fuel consumption is not the best, but none of these bother me and I also have the old diff so if I change my mind its just a trip to the garage.
Don't hold your breath chaps.
Spoke to Michael on Friday and he had just had a nightmare tussle with the last bit of paint work... (to correct some bright spark's idea of sticking a lovely 80s-esque phone aerial on the rear wing!).
He would have been beating his brains out to finish it and get it all properly cleaned up and then delivered by today, and, as he goes to the states for this week, and I'm in China next week, I told him just to wait until we are both back in the country.
And it was peeing down today anyway and the first time I see my "as new" car, is NOT going to be plastered with motorway muck!
HOWEVER!!!!
I am expecting the diff to reduce the top end slightly, but have been assured that with the re-map it should still be able to pull about 170. If it only does 140 then it will be way too slow for me.
Spoke to Michael on Friday and he had just had a nightmare tussle with the last bit of paint work... (to correct some bright spark's idea of sticking a lovely 80s-esque phone aerial on the rear wing!).
He would have been beating his brains out to finish it and get it all properly cleaned up and then delivered by today, and, as he goes to the states for this week, and I'm in China next week, I told him just to wait until we are both back in the country.
And it was peeing down today anyway and the first time I see my "as new" car, is NOT going to be plastered with motorway muck!
HOWEVER!!!!
I am expecting the diff to reduce the top end slightly, but have been assured that with the re-map it should still be able to pull about 170. If it only does 140 then it will be way too slow for me.
burriana said:
HOWEVER!!!!
I am expecting the diff to reduce the top end slightly, but have been assured that with the re-map it should still be able to pull about 170. If it only does 140 then it will be way too slow for me.
Phew! Just had an email from Talkwrench:I am expecting the diff to reduce the top end slightly, but have been assured that with the re-map it should still be able to pull about 170. If it only does 140 then it will be way too slow for me.
" The gearing for top gear in the 840 is quite different. The engine doesn't have the torque to pull like a V12 so they lowered all the ratios.
According to my calculations, 6000rpm in top should equate to 165mph... and the new chips extend the limiter to 6400 (as in the CSi). I make that 176.
If I have it hopelessly wrong, we can always pop the old diff back in! "
176 is more like it
You'd make such an interesting case for psychoanalysis.
Your fantasies are just so real and detailed.
You've created in your own mind, and shared with others the fantasy that is a seriously modified 850Ci.
ps., Where are you planning to do 176 ?!
Your fantasies are just so real and detailed.
You've created in your own mind, and shared with others the fantasy that is a seriously modified 850Ci.
ps., Where are you planning to do 176 ?!
Edited by Job38 on Tuesday 15th April 08:26
Oy - don't start ... I have mentally given up many times ... I think back to August 07 when Michael said "Hmm, i wouldn't book September's MegaHoon just yet, it might be a pushing it a bit." 
... I've got a picture of the engine though:
176? Might not quite have the length at V.Max but it will be nice to see how close it gets ... I reckon 165-ish.
And anyway, it's not the fact that you will actually do 176, but the fact that it will get to say 130 a lot quicker than a car that has a top end of 140
... I've got a picture of the engine though:176? Might not quite have the length at V.Max but it will be nice to see how close it gets ... I reckon 165-ish.
And anyway, it's not the fact that you will actually do 176, but the fact that it will get to say 130 a lot quicker than a car that has a top end of 140
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