E31 840Ci - first ever BMW (and a daily!)

[Falsey]

Forgive my naivety, but how would the thieves tell it was decat if they just went in to chop the middle out?

Though, common sense would hope they wouldnt hit the same place again.

Commiserations though, utter tts.

[ScoobyChris]

Very nice! If I wasn’t so scared of borkage there would be so many awesome cars sat on my drive

Enjoy OP!

Chris

Edited by ScoobyChris on Wednesday 16th June 21:57

Edited by ScoobyChris on Wednesday 16th June 21:57

[salmanorguk]

Falsey said:

Forgive my naivety, but how would the thieves tell it was decat if they just went in to chop the middle out?

Though, common sense would hope they wouldnt hit the same place again.

Commiserations though, utter tts.

Decat is without the cat, so it's just the pipe. The stainless steel cat is normally a completely different shape to the OEM one.

Think of the steel one like a short sausage whereas the OEM one is like a sandwich that's got good amount filling!

The reason they go for OEM ones is because they have more of the precious metals in them. For example the neighbours Honda Insight would get them £400 from a breaker and mine would get around £900. The sports cat would be lucky to get £150.

[salmanorguk]

ScoobyChris said:

Very nice! If I wasn’t so scared of borkage there would be so many awesome cars sat on my drive

Enjoy OP!

Chris

Edited by ScoobyChris on Wednesday 16th June 21:57

Edited by ScoobyChris on Wednesday 16th June 21:57

Ha! The same thought occurs to me to - which is why I got it with a warranty! Thanks for the kind words.

[Falsey]

Fair do's!

Wasnt sure if it was going to be an effective straight through or fake cat pipe for MOT etc.

[DanG355]

So will the new custom system not have cats? How does it pass an MOT? Is there a friendly MOT station or is there some MOT loophole for cars of this age? I thought they have to have cats present for the MOT if they were fitted from new for any car post 1989 but I could be wrong…

[Jonny1984]

The same thing happened to my Forester in 2019. They tried on Sunday before I chased them off, then they came back the following Thursday 3 times between 6-7am!

I chased them off a couple of times and the Police chased them once... They came back and finished the job, dragged the whole exhaust into a stolen car and sped off while I watched on the phone to the Police!

I ended up having to go through the insurance due to the rarity of parts. Sold it as soon as I got it back though as I couldn't sleep while it was on the front of the house.

Loving your posts and car, detailed and entertaining

[salmanorguk]

DanG355 said:

So will the new custom system not have cats? How does it pass an MOT? Is there a friendly MOT station or is there some MOT loophole for cars of this age? I thought they have to have cats present for the MOT if they were fitted from new for any car post 1989 but I could be wrong…

The cut off date is 1992 or younger, my car's a 1997.

I do know a friendly MOT garage but don't want to risk it, plus as it's a daily and a GT car/cruiser, fitting a decat is stupid imo.

I'll be having a custom stainless steel exhaust setup made by Longlife Exhausts, and have their sports cats plumbed in at the same time

[DanG355]

Yes the sports cats are a good idea. Less attractive to thieves and I’m also not a fan of de-cats as you’d have to change them for the MOT every year which seems a faff.

Hope it has a nice rumble to it and releases some more of the V8 sound without being antisocial.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Just read the whole thread today. Great purchase OP and nice to see your journey with it over the last 12mo or so. Shame about the scrotes though

I've always had a thing for the E31, and recently started watching M539's channel and his E31 projects. Your thread though has only served to get me seriously considering one.
My original plan was to chop my E91 in for a 650 Gran Coupe but after the last 12mo I'm seriously considering running something more classic.

So if, in 12mo, I'm destitute and single with an E31 on my drive you will be partly to blame!

Edited by Swervin_Mervin on Saturday 19th June 18:27

[Spinakerr]

Terrible to read about the catnappers damaging the E31 - I hope you manage to get a solution sorted out and it comes back 'better than ever'.

If its any consolation:

As you know I'm in West London too and was walking back from work around 7pm a few weeks ago, glanced left down a secluded side street and two of these scumbags were jacking up a car, power saw at the ready. Got a good enough look to pocket dial the police on the way past, not break my stride and keep walking. There was heavy traffic in the area and I kept a walking pace between traffic lights - police nabbed them 5 minutes later in stationary traffic.

Until there is better scrutiny of scrap metal recycling and removal of the incentive sadly I think this will continue. It used to be hybrids but its so widespread they're working their way down the chain...

[salmanorguk]

Done fuming

Hi everyone,
Hope you are all well.

Thanks to everyone for the kind messages of commiseration and vengence - much appreciated!

So just under a month on and the catalytic converter situation is now sorted.

As mentioned in my previous post I went with Longlife Exhausts in Basingstoke, and decided for a full custom exhaust system. Total cost was £1,577 - broken down into:

• £1,250 – for custom stainless steel exhaust setup
• £80 – for double sheathed tips
• £147 – for 2 lambda sensors
• £100 – for flatbed transport from Heathrow to Basingstoke

Here is an atrocious pic mid-fabrication at the garage (it is actually mostly complete here, bar an H-pipe near the cats) followed by the tips (which look stock from afar due to the black but closer show the difference):




The sound is quite a bit louder than stock but obviously nowhere near a straight pipe.

It’s proving incredibly difficult to capture on my equipment (an old Samsung phone or a dashcam!) so the best way to describe it is to imagine a slightly muffled mk 1 V8 Ford Mustang, more rumbly grumbly rather than shouty Ferrari 458.

I have noticed it is rumbly in the 10-40mph range and then goes quiet, at cruising motorway speeds it is no louder than before (probably thanks to cabin and wind noise) unless you step on it.

Here’s a sound clip from the dashcam (mounted on the side window) – sorry for the wind noise and low volume – just imagine it louder!:

https://imgur.com/pmh0JHB

(PS - On the external BMW forum it seems to be 50-50 on like/dislike)

[salmanorguk]

Swervin_Mervin said:

Just read the whole thread today. Great purchase OP and nice to see your journey with it over the last 12mo or so. Shame about the scrotes though

I've always had a thing for the E31, and recently started watching M539's channel and his E31 projects. Your thread though has only served to get me seriously considering one.
My original plan was to chop my E91 in for a 650 Gran Coupe but after the last 12mo I'm seriously considering running something more classic.

So if, in 12mo, I'm destitute and single with an E31 on my drive you will be partly to blame!

Edited by Swervin_Mervin on Saturday 19th June 18:27

Thanks and ha!

I have found it to be more reliable than my last car, a CLK 280 sport - however there has been cost due to it being an old car and things have perished/reached end of life and need changing (e.g .radiator).

If you are mechanically minded, there's a great wealth of knowledge (e.g Tim Meeke, E31 whatsapp group) and it'll be okay to run.

Also due to things like the pandemic, classic car prices increasing and (relative) rarity; theres quite a few sellers asking silly prices. The whatsapp group digs out all the sensible priced ones! Everyone does however seem to agree prices will only go up.

PS - A year in and I'm still broke, single and without a drive

[Batch 7.5R]

I adore these beasts! Very jealous - I Always lusted after a purple or red 850i.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune with the cat thieves - utter aholes!

Keep up the good work and plenty more pics please!

[salmanorguk]

Had a day off yesterday so took the time to upgrade the speakers. Followed this guide and bought everything the same. I didn't do the tweeters or the sub as I'm not longer 17 and I wanted everything to be reversible.

Unfortunately the pics I did take have been lost on the phone, so instead heres a pic of me using the car for a grocery run to the local Tescos. Managed to find a good spot

[salmanorguk]

Hi everyone,
Just had an oddly satisfying landmark to share - hit 56789 miles, which looks nice on the dials.



That means I've driven it a whopping 5,789 miles since purchasing 20 months ago.

Think I need to drive it more! Anyone know of any meets in and around London that I'd be able to attend? Thanks

The car, thankfully continues to be fine

[Mr Tidy]

salmanorguk said:

Hi everyone,
Just had an oddly satisfying landmark to share - hit 56789 miles, which looks nice on the dials.

That means I've driven it a whopping 5,789 miles since purchasing 20 months ago.

Think I need to drive it more! Anyone know of any meets in and around London that I'd be able to attend? Thanks

The car, thankfully continues to be fine

Terrible timing to ask about London meets.

There was a BMW Sharknose meet at the Ace Cafe yesterday and tonight was German Night! Check their website now and again.

It might be further than you were thinking of, but there is a monthly Classic Car meet at the Black Swan pub in Ockham and the next one is Sunday 12 September. It's near the M25/A3 junction - postcode is KT11 1NG.

There is a really wide variety of classics with 70s/80s Fast Fords, 60s Jaguars, BMW M cars, Supras, Integrales, etc. as well as plenty of post 2000 interesting cars that aren't yet classics.

It's a good Sunday morning run out, and entry is free.

Good to see you are still enjoying your car, even if you aren't using it enough - I can relate to that!

[salmanorguk]

Mr Tidy said:

Terrible timing to ask about London meets.

There was a BMW Sharknose meet at the Ace Cafe yesterday and tonight was German Night! Check their website now and again.

It might be further than you were thinking of, but there is a monthly Classic Car meet at the Black Swan pub in Ockham and the next one is Sunday 12 September. It's near the M25/A3 junction - postcode is KT11 1NG.

There is a really wide variety of classics with 70s/80s Fast Fords, 60s Jaguars, BMW M cars, Supras, Integrales, etc. as well as plenty of post 2000 interesting cars that aren't yet classics.

It's a good Sunday morning run out, and entry is free.

Good to see you are still enjoying your car, even if you aren't using it enough - I can relate to that!

Thanks very much! Will try to attend the meet.

[lukeharding]

Classics and Cake at Duke of London (Brentford) is one of the best meets anywhere, and they do drive in cinema nights etc too.

There is also the Southside Common meet on Wimbledon Common on the first Sunday of the month from 8.30am. Any and all welcome!

[salmanorguk]

lukeharding said:

Classics and Cake at Duke of London (Brentford) is one of the best meets anywhere, and they do drive in cinema nights etc too.

There is also the Southside Common meet on Wimbledon Common on the first Sunday of the month from 8.30am. Any and all welcome!

Thanks very much!
I've heard of the Duke of London one (in fact their Instagram shows an E32 at the last event) but not the Wimbledon one. Would you please have details of it - can't seem to find it on Google!