Buying tips - 840 CI ?

[father ted]

Mate of mine is looking at one of these.....anyone here got any first hand experience of service/running costs and 'gotchas' to look out for?

thanks in advance for any info.

[Raify]

Get this month's Evo,

there's a small buying guide, pg 128 onwards

[father ted]

thanks for that ! will point him in right direction.

[lotuslad]

I know a chap who bought one and all I can say is BE CAREFUL! These cars are seriously expensive to put right if anything goes wrong. I'd advise getting the fine toothcomb out of the toolbox.

[father ted]

lotuslad said:

I know a chap who bought one and all I can say is BE CAREFUL! These cars are seriously expensive to put right if anything goes wrong. I'd advise getting the fine toothcomb out of the toolbox.

I hear problems can be expected with Nicasil short block engines? Although many may have been replaced under BMW warranty?

[hughjayteens]

Try and buy a car with a BMW extended warranty - a friend of mine with an 850csi has had over £20ks worth of warranty work done in 2 years!!

[sohlman]

buy either a 4.4 V8 model or the rare 850csi with the 5.6 and 6 speed gearbox.

Brakes, tyres, suspension will wear out quite quickly and need regular servicing. Nose cone damage and exhausts run into £1000's.

Other than that they should be very mechanically reliable with servicing costs similar to a 7.

Other things to check is that all the electrics work as these get costly.

If you can get a warenty do it, they are worth there weight in gold with a car like this