850 CSi or Ci anyone?

[burriana]

Seen it - that's even more than my 525 Tourer!

And one thing those cars are certainly good for is eating miles

[burriana]

Apache said:

Is it much more expensive to run one of these over a 4.0?

Marginally heavier on fuel ... but for a weekend car that's not a major concern and the V12 will be no worse than a Griff.

Apart from that, you have four more plugs, leads and, and, oh, a bit more oil.

The main thing is that as there are so few of them about and, as a lot of dealers hardly ever see them, they are not as experienced/knowledgeable/quick with them as the V8s, hence they tend to add a premium onto the servicing ... but again, we're not talking any more than RV8 TVR servicing.

The thing that persuaded me over the 4.4 V8 was simply the power delivery. The V8 is quite peaky and needs to get to about 3000 revs before it really hits the torque, which then runs to about 5000 revs.

The V12 has a very flat torque curve with nearly all of the torque available from about 1000 right through to 6000 revs. (may be a fraction out but close enough to illustarte the point) ... so you hoof it in any gear and it goes like a train!

I went out in Talkwrench's CSi on Saturday, and he put his foot down, up a VERY steep hill ... bloody hell it's astonishingly fast!

[Apache]

Cheers Al. So that's the 4.0 and 4.4 eliminated, I'm really developing a yearning for one and need to blag a test drive. Mrs A thinks it's an old fashioned car but I think it's kinda timeless. What sort of price can you pick one up for and not be buying a dog...there are a few out there

[burriana]

The 4.4 is still a great car, and you can get one with less miles as they are a lot younger.

Here are some rough guides after a fair few weeks trawling through PH and autotrader;

4.4 V8 - 97/98 - c 80,000 miles - £10-11k
4.4 V8 - 97/98 - c 100,000 miles - £8-9k

5.0 V12 - 92 - 80,000 miles - £9k
5.0 V12 - 94 - 95,000 miles - £7k
5.0 V12 - 94 - 120,000 miles - £5k

taken from here

The thing with the V12s is that there are so few of them about, 9 available in autotrader versus 42 for the 840.

My wife also thinks they look dated, but she has taken a bit more interest since her brother said "an 850? I love those cars, they're gorgeous!"

Ask her when was the last time she saw one on the road.

The secret is to pay fair money and get one that is in A1 condition, including the interior, then they really do look the £80,000 car that they are

[Egbert Nobacon]

burriana said:

A Mauritius Blue 850 Ci complete with a few sporting tweaks

It is at the moment in the hands of Talkwrench who is basically re-comissioning it for me after it has stood doing nothing for the past two years.

Everything is being taken apart and either cleaned or replaced and then put back together again, that includes the seats and carpets (have you felt the weight of an 850 front seat - Jaysus!), wheels (Alpinas), suspension (replaced with lowered Eibach springs and Bilsteins), and most of the engine bay!

I just have to remain patient for another three or four weeks ... which as many of you know, is not one of my strong points

Why was it laid up for two years ? Got any pics of work in progress - we are all on tenterhooks here

[Mustard]

Al.... YHM

[burriana]

Mustard said:

Al.... YHM

Much appreciated, thanks :-)

[burriana]

Egbert Nobacon said:

Why was it laid up for two years ? Got any pics of work in progress - we are all on tenterhooks here

As far as I am aware, the guy simply didn't have the time to use it. Talkwrench has known him for a few years and the guy eventually felt that it was a crying shame to have it sat there doing nothing. He figured that Michael, having two 850s himself and being the perfectionist that he is, would do it justice.

Hopefully I will also be able to do it proud and use it as it was intended.

Work in progress? pics? You think I'm going to show you my car with no clothes on ... how very rude Sir!

[Apache]

burriana said:

Egbert Nobacon said:

Why was it laid up for two years ? Got any pics of work in progress - we are all on tenterhooks here

As far as I am aware, the guy simply didn't have the time to use it. Talkwrench has known him for a few years and the guy eventually felt that it was a crying shame to have it sat there doing nothing. He figured that Michael, having two 850s himself and being the perfectionist that he is, would do it justice.

Hopefully I will also be able to do it proud and use it as it was intended.

Work in progress? pics? You think I'm going to show you my car with no clothes on ... how very rude Sir!

sensing you got a good deal there chap

[burriana]

Yes and no.

The base price that I am paying is about market value for the age/mileage ... but what I do get is the knowledge that Michael has gone through it like a dose of salts and the car will come to me somewhere near as good as it can possibly get, with all the components that normally need replacing at that age being replaced.

Also, whilst the work is being done, it means that I can take advantage and have a few tweaks carried out

[Apache]

burriana said:

Yes and no.

The base price that I am paying is about market value for the age/mileage ... but what I do get is the knowledge that Michael has gone through it like a dose of salts and the car will come to me somewhere near as good as it can possibly get, with all the components that normally need replacing at that age being replaced.

Also, whilst the work is being done, it means that I can take advantage and have a few tweaks carried out

nice, please keep a record of work done.....I'm hoping it'll be a useful guide when looking for something similar

[burriana]

ah ... I'll resend it!

[alexmckie]

Just found this thread... Very interesting reading...

I too sold my Griff to fund the 850i I bought... No regrets.

Love every minute and cannot think of what to replace it with. So I am not going to sell it...

Have a look at my www and you will see where I am at present....

I bought mine with 77000 miles 3 years ago and have just turned 107000 and am only now retricting my driving of it...

[burriana]

How cool is that

Which blue is it as it looks quite close to Mauritius which mine is.

Glad to hear you're still enjoying it. I have always loved big GTs, so having one that looks as mean as these do and, with a little help goes, sounds and handles like a much sportier model, yet still having the effortless cruising and luxury when desired ... I think that I might really come to like it rather a lot

[alexmckie]

Mauritius it is....

Good colour choice but I'm biased.....

Where are the pictures and have you seen these sites....

Just a few sites of interest....

http://www.clube31.net (new site coming this year) Great bunch of people...

http://www.8coupe.com

http://www.e31faq.com

http://www.wuffer.net (A valuable source for PDF manuals and all things 8)

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e31/forum.php (Good site with searchable data)

Hope these help.....

[burriana]

Don't have the pics yet as it is in pieces in Talkwrench's workshop being stripped down and re-built back up again.

I know of all of those sites, but to be honest, find them either very convaluted to use, or not very busy. No doubt I will give them another go in due course

Correction - I hadn't seen Wuffer! That is one hell of a lot of 850s all in one place!

Edited by burriana on Monday 6th August 16:44

[Talkwrench]

"Wuffer" or more correctly Tom is one of several trying to source a couple of modules for your 850, Al! He is dedicated to all things e31 and breaks 850's that have gone too far, just to maintain a good availability of reasonably priced spares. Darned nice chap too!

[burriana]

Cool! Small world ... I will look forward to sending him details of mine in all it's glory for his database/gallery

[burriana]

alexmckie said:

Have a look at my www and you will see where I am at present....

Alex, do you have any video or sound clips of your exhaust system please? I'm trying to figure out the best way of getting the best sound.

I want to get quite a distinct clipped sound, like the M3 CSL (different engine characteristics I know) if I can get it, not too wuffly like a lot of exhausts sound.

[alexmckie]

Sorry for not getting back sooner.... Went to Egypt for a couple of weeks (no internet)
And I forgot to 'Watch the topic'

No sound clip of mine but plenty on youtube and have a look here.

http://www.clube31.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3488&...

I will see if I can get one done for you at the weekend....