Im in the market for an 850....

[marty850]

Hi folks

I been to look at an 850ci 1992 needs attention sums it up! I would have bought there and then but there is an issue with the engine , on start-up unless you keep your foot on the gas it cuts out after a minute or so it will run but the idle is very poor and is still prone to stalling or sudden bursts of power, any thoughts?

I have seen a few comments re rust stating there should be none.... well it has some on the wings but its 19 years old is this really an issue

Its up for £1200 which I imagine was a months instalment when new!!

Cheers

[johnnywas]

an 8 series for that price,i wouldent even look at it,good ones sell for about 8k to well over 10k,i just traded in my 8er and i got a really good price from a bmw dealer,i expect it will be up for sale soon.

[john_p]

I've heard that a bad 850 will easily bankrupt you
On that basis, £1200 is scarily cheap
..otherwise, worth £1200 in parts? Maybe

[MarsellusWallace]

Buy it and break it.If you are planning. on doing it up then it will bankcrupt you.

[marty850]

Cheers folks - it is cheap but that just makes the budjet easier doesnt it ? it needs body work but thats just a respray it was the mechanical I was conserned about.

[IforB]

Run away and don't look back. Seriously. If he paid you £1200 to take it away, then it might be worth it, but an 850 with a screwed engine... Either buy it and part it out or simply leave well alone unless you know exactly what you are doing and what the issues are.

[marty850]

I dont think the engine is screwed it just idles badly could be as simple as air flow meters obviously could be loads more... but worst cas is it has to be worth more in parts than the asking price?

Cheers

[IforB]

The point with these things is that it "could be" a whole heap of things. When I'm buying a car, I assume the worst. Worst case scenario with a V12 is very expensive!

If the rest of the car is in good condition, then I would have thought £1200 was a pretty good price if you are going to break it. Obviously you have to account for your time and the hassle factor of flogging it all, but I imagine you could turn a profit on it. I just wouldn't be looking at it as a cheap and easy restoration project. It might be, but the chances are that it won't be.

Good luck with it though.

[johnnywas]

The price tells it all,its proberly a huge pile of uncared for junk,even most of the parts are proberly not worth selling ,you need to stand back and think about it,why is the price so low,simple answer would be its ste simple as that.

[marty850]

Cheers folks, it seems clear that this motor is too cheap what would be a good minimum for a project I dont mind rust / bodywork etc they are afterall, as i said old cars

[johnnywas]

Thing is m8 you really need to take your time and look about,talk or go see some 8er owners and their cars,their is some nice ones out their and you wont believe how good some are,i think you need to look at spending at least £6k,i got more than that for mine as a trade in,mind these cars are starting to show their age,rust is only the start of problems with cars that have been kept on a tight budget,mind simple things like tyres cost lots,fronts about £150 each and £250 for the back and you cant really buy cheep ones as the cars so heavy,it goes through brakes pretty quick too,have to say though its a top class car and almost every beemer owner gives it a look,come to that most people give them looks,its an awsomecar.

[8Tech]

An idle problem can be anything from a burnt rotor arm to leaking inlet manifold gaskets, and that is a range from £15 to £1000 so be very careful. If its a manual then its worth the risk but they never had 850Ci's in the UK, just 850i's.

8Tech.