8 series, what are they like?

[E21_Ross]

i've heard before that the 840 and 850ci's weren't all that, but the 850csi was something else? really really like these cars, what are they like for a long trip (that's what they are there for, right?) how are the 840ci's compared to the bigger V12s? owner ship costs i'm guessing are pretty high? parts easy to get hold of from BMW?

just general impressions on 8 series really

[E21_Ross]

hmmm think i'll leave it then. thank for the replie guys, have been really helpful. sounds like they are too muh maintenance to be honest, although lovely cars. maybe one day!

[E21_Ross]

derin100 said:

pits said:

E21_Ross said:

hmmm think i'll leave it then. thank for the replie guys, have been really helpful. sounds like they are too muh maintenance to be honest, although lovely cars. maybe one day!

I really don't like discouraging people buying an 8 series as they are probably one of the best cars on the road today infact I took ours out the otherday and parked up it gots lots of attention and someone asked
"Private reg? Cant really be a 95 model can it?"

It is just the maintenance and bits which are the killer on them, buying an 8 series you need to go in with the mind set of
It will go wrong, it will be expensive to fix.

Thats how so many 8 series have got trashed over the years, because people don't want to pay the maintenance costs of a 70k+ car its like buying an Aston or Ferrari and trying to run it like a Fiesta.


If you want an 840 and I mean really want one, save a fair bit of cash and buy the best you can get dont be afraid to walk away from cars, but you need that buffer zone for repairs you need to know that if something fails you can have it repaired asap and not have it sat on the drive.

If you can afford it do it, as there is nothing out there like an 840 which I dont care what anyone says, it is the ultimate 2+2 GT car feck your Astons etc 8 series all day everyday, besides that last time I checked the Aston did not come with a purpose built sack to put ones skis in, not that I own any skis or feel the need to ski, but it's a selling point.

Thanks Dave_S13

But also as said above "buy the best you can".

I don't especially want to get into the "one marque is better than another scenario" but a couple of years ago I had occasion to go and look at a Ferrari for sale in our village for sale with a local chap who advertises here on PH as a Ferrari seller etc etc etc....

He had a 348 in black that he was selling and I went to look and decided to go (embarrassingly) in my 840Ci Sport.

The Ferrari 348 looked like a complete joke in comparison! We both seemed embarrassed. Him for the Ferrari...and me for making the Ferrari 348 look so....well, 'embarrassing'!

His wife further compounded it by coming out with the embarrassing quip about the 8-Series being the "size of a light aircraft"...

Yes Dear..And the Ferrari looks little better than the Fiat X19 joke parked next to it...now shut up before you make matters even more embarrassing!

Against the financial trend a couple of yeasrs ago I was faced (due to the usual "too many cars") with the choice of selling my E30 M3 vs my 840Ci Sport. hard though it was I made the decision.

My E30 M3 now resides in Italy...my 840Ci Sport won the nod and is still here:


http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/features/index.html

Edited by derin100 on Friday 18th December 00:36

you sold an E30 M3!!!!! you could have at least given it to me

[E21_Ross]

thanks for a great reply pits. lovely example you have there, take care of it!

[E21_Ross]

Talkwrench said:

And my current stable of e31's ...

The CSi




And the Ci

OMG they are good. The interior on the 8 is something else, yes, you can tell it's dated, but i absolutely love the way that it's so driver focussed, angled towards the driver, cocooning you as it were. you don't have a desktop sized pic of either interior do you lovely lovely lovely garage you have!!