RE: The Brave Pill: BMW 840Ci

[ravster]

Bought a late 99 840ci Sport last year. I probably over paid but it was low mileage and I wanted the best example and individual colour. Absolutely love it BUT to run one properly isn’t cheap. It had a heater box fault and it was at BMW for 2 months whilst I hunted for a salvage heater box as well as new fuel lines etc. Main dealer were the only people willing to look at it, local independents were next to useless. However, I don’t think anything comes to close to the driving experience for the money, utterly serene and feels special.

Edited by ravster on Monday 8th April 13:45

[pSyCoSiS]

ravster said:

Bought a late 99 840ci Sport last year. I probably over paid but it was low mileage and I wanted the best example and individual colour. Absolutely love it BUT to run one properly isn’t cheap. It had a heater box fault and it was at BMW for 2 months whilst I hunted for a salvage heater box as well as new fuel lines etc. Main dealer were the only people willing to look at it, local independents were next to useless. However, I don’t think anything comes to close to the driving experience for the money, utterly serene and feels special.

Edited by ravster on Monday 8th April 13:45

I know you are based in the North West, but next time you have any major issues like that, get in touch with Gerry Speechley of Phoenix Motorsport.

People drive their cars to him from all over Europe - he really is the oracle of the 8 Series in the UK.

Edited by pSyCoSiS on Monday 8th April 14:18

[RSchneider]

Beautifully relaxed GTs these old 8. The version most in sync with its spirit was that rare 850 Ci with 5-speed auto, built from summer 94 until spring 99.

[Outrun]

RSchneider said:

Beautifully relaxed GTs these old 8. The version most in sync with its spirit was that rare 850 Ci with 5-speed auto, built from summer 94 until spring 99.

Unfortunately these weren’t available in RHD but agree that the engine and box suit the 8.

[CRA1G]

Outrun said:

RSchneider said:

Beautifully relaxed GTs these old 8. The version most in sync with its spirit was that rare 850 Ci with 5-speed auto, built from summer 94 until spring 99.

Unfortunately these weren’t available in RHD but agree that the engine and box suit the 8.

Imo in Auto the V8 is the better car,having owned both and still have the 840 the V12 actually feels too heavy with under performing brakes and no advantage in performance...

[pits]

carinaman said:

A receipt for the alternator work may be reassuring given they are water cooled. Who did what and how much did it cost?

Only some are, mines aircooled and I had an E38 740 that was also aircooled alternator

Hellrot over black

[Jhonno]

mrclav said:

Just under 300bhp from 5 litres of V12!? Man, the game has come a long way...

Point missed entirely..

This is what the engine was about..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZCDBcHFcOs

[motoroller]

schmalex said:

My dream car is a late plate 840ci in Estoril Blue

Not to make you envious...



Took it back to Bavaria last year, it's off the road for now and in need of a little TLC. Managed to hit the speed limiter on the autobahn, which I think takes a different type of brave pill!

Edited by motoroller on Thursday 11th April 13:24

[milb001]

Well, I've always wondered what it'd feel like to see your own car featured on Pistonheads...now I know!

After a bit of reflection - and no enquiries to the advert anyway - I've decided to keep the car!

I'm planning to do a complete front and rear chassis rebuild over the summer, so I'll be sure to put together a Readers' Rides for it over the coming weeks and document everything!

[The Big G]

milb001 said:

Well, I've always wondered what it'd feel like to see your own car featured on Pistonheads...now I know!

After a bit of reflection - and no enquiries to the advert anyway - I've decided to keep the car!

I'm planning to do a complete front and rear chassis rebuild over the summer, so I'll be sure to put together a Readers' Rides for it over the coming weeks and document everything!

Great cars you’ll never be able to replace easily. Can’t think of selling mine. I’m in the same boat as you though just starting a front and rear suspension rebuild. Have bought the parts from wokke.de . His upgraded parts are highly recommended by forums. Looking forward to seeing how they get on on my car! Once you start the job though, lots of other bits need doing the more you look. Brake and fuel lines, far easier when the rear subframe out, might as well do the brake flexi’s too while at it as they’ll be 20 years old too etc ...

I’ve owned mine since 2012 and couldn’t imagine being without it now. It’s also the only car of mine my wife likes and will willingly drive and be driven in. So much so, we’re off to Mallorca in it in the summer!

[The Big G]

pSyCoSiS said:

ravster said:

Main dealer were the only people willing to look at it, local independents were next to useless. However, I don’t think anything comes to close to the driving experience for the money, utterly serene and feels special.

Edited by ravster on Monday 8th April 13:45

I know you are based in the North West, but next time you have any major issues like that, get in touch with Gerry Speechley of Phoenix Motorsport.

People drive their cars to him from all over Europe - he really is the oracle of the 8 Series in the UK.

Edited by pSyCoSiS on Monday 8th April 14:18

Another place to try further north depending upon your location is Darren Wood independent BMW Specialist in Stockport. They look after mine along with quite a few others and have a lot of knowledge about them too.

More gratuitous photos of a velvet blue 840Ci Sport with a champagne interior for the poster earlier in the thread.





I may be a bit biased but I do think this is the best combination. Mines just missing the purple piping on the seats like ravesters. Perfect combination. Can’t upload a photo of my interior at the moment as it’s saying my photos too large and I can’t easily reduce it in size.