M440i vs 840i vs M850i
Discussion
I’ve never owned a BMW so I am not familiar with the brand, so I'd appreciate some guidance.
I now fancy buying a newish sporty 2+2, and with a budget of about £50k, I thought M440i job jobbed.
Just out of curiosity, I checked out the price of a used 8 series, having been a lover of the previous model and the 6 series and I can’t believe how cheap they are.
It would appear you can pretty much get an M440i or an 840i like for like in terms of age and mileage. Keep in mind that the 8 series is marketed at twice the price, that seems like a hell of a bargain.
I know the M440i has more power and will probably be ‘sharper’ to drive, but I’m sure an 8 series will be more than adequate for my tastes, and I much prefer the look and specialness of it.
However, if I’m thinking logically about this, is the 8 series a better car than the 4? Is it built better? Are the materials more luxurious?
This sounds like an obvious question, but to a layman like me, it would appear BMW just copy and paste interiors. Hence why the dashboard, steering wheel, dials, and door cards are all very similar throughout the range?
The reason I’m asking, is I don’t want to buy a heavier, slower, and (presumably) more expensive car to run if it’s not actually better than alternative models in the range.
Then there's the argument about going for an M850i instead, there are a couple for sale below £50k, or if I save up for a few more months I can increase my budget to £60k which widens the market.
Of course, I don’t really drive fast enough to warrant the performance, but who doesn’t love a V8? But with a £60k budget you could buy a brand new 840i from a dealership today.
Decisions, decisions...
I now fancy buying a newish sporty 2+2, and with a budget of about £50k, I thought M440i job jobbed.
Just out of curiosity, I checked out the price of a used 8 series, having been a lover of the previous model and the 6 series and I can’t believe how cheap they are.
It would appear you can pretty much get an M440i or an 840i like for like in terms of age and mileage. Keep in mind that the 8 series is marketed at twice the price, that seems like a hell of a bargain.
I know the M440i has more power and will probably be ‘sharper’ to drive, but I’m sure an 8 series will be more than adequate for my tastes, and I much prefer the look and specialness of it.
However, if I’m thinking logically about this, is the 8 series a better car than the 4? Is it built better? Are the materials more luxurious?
This sounds like an obvious question, but to a layman like me, it would appear BMW just copy and paste interiors. Hence why the dashboard, steering wheel, dials, and door cards are all very similar throughout the range?
The reason I’m asking, is I don’t want to buy a heavier, slower, and (presumably) more expensive car to run if it’s not actually better than alternative models in the range.
Then there's the argument about going for an M850i instead, there are a couple for sale below £50k, or if I save up for a few more months I can increase my budget to £60k which widens the market.
Of course, I don’t really drive fast enough to warrant the performance, but who doesn’t love a V8? But with a £60k budget you could buy a brand new 840i from a dealership today.
Decisions, decisions...
Whilst they might look similar, the 8 series will feel better made and like a more expensive car especially if you can get one with the extended leather. The 8 is a big old beast.
My 3 series and my other half’s 1 series look similar in design and there are parts you recognise, but it feels better made with less rattles etc. A 5 series is better again and so on.
My 3 series and my other half’s 1 series look similar in design and there are parts you recognise, but it feels better made with less rattles etc. A 5 series is better again and so on.
I don’t think there’s any doubt that the 8er would feel more luxurious as it is at the premium end of the range. However the couple I have seen parked near by are absolutely massive.. I worry (in an old F series 4er) in car parks, leaving the car at the station etc etc but the 8s are just so massive that they’d be just too big for my daily needs.
I don’t know if I’d also regret being in the 40i and not the m850i top of the range model. I read rumours somewhere that the 8 was going to be scrapped in favour of a new 6 again or something. They can’t be that popular and IIRC the m850i fully loaded was £100k ie super car territory, when it isn’t really a super car competitor.
I don’t know if I’d also regret being in the 40i and not the m850i top of the range model. I read rumours somewhere that the 8 was going to be scrapped in favour of a new 6 again or something. They can’t be that popular and IIRC the m850i fully loaded was £100k ie super car territory, when it isn’t really a super car competitor.
The 5 and up is another league in terms of quality from the 1 and 3.
I’ve got a late 6 Gran Coupe and had a new 3 Touring as a courtesy car this month. Felt very small and noisy in comparison.
Reviews of the 8 are very positive. It’s a big beast which of course is part of the reason it makes a great GT car.
Quite a different proposition to a 340i. Both very good at doing their respective things. I will get an 840i next and prices are dropping quickly now
I’ve got a late 6 Gran Coupe and had a new 3 Touring as a courtesy car this month. Felt very small and noisy in comparison.
Reviews of the 8 are very positive. It’s a big beast which of course is part of the reason it makes a great GT car.
Quite a different proposition to a 340i. Both very good at doing their respective things. I will get an 840i next and prices are dropping quickly now
Out of those, get the 8 Series - it is a step up from the 4 in terms of quality - the new 4 is actually a step down from the old 4 in terms of quality IME despite looking more modern.
And, for me it has to be the 8 Series Coupe rather than the GC which looks rubbish, too long and out of proportion to my eyes. The Coupe looks so much better.
And, for me it has to be the 8 Series Coupe rather than the GC which looks rubbish, too long and out of proportion to my eyes. The Coupe looks so much better.
I've been lucky enough to sit in and have a drive of an 840i and it was a lovely place to sit and a superb drive and experience...
The build quality was fantastic, very much what you'd expect of BMW and their 7 and 8 series cars. The luxury end of their range really...
I've only been out in a pals M4 and that was superb. The build quality was no where near the level of the 8 but it was still very good...
I'd say it's down to you and what you want. Do you want a sportier car that'll do long distance journey's superbly but can be a B road hoonigan when you want, or do you want a very capable long distance mile muncher that'll do B roads superbly and look superb / different to anything else you see out there?
If I could afford either, it'd be the 8 all the way for me and I actually like the GC too
The build quality was fantastic, very much what you'd expect of BMW and their 7 and 8 series cars. The luxury end of their range really...
I've only been out in a pals M4 and that was superb. The build quality was no where near the level of the 8 but it was still very good...
I'd say it's down to you and what you want. Do you want a sportier car that'll do long distance journey's superbly but can be a B road hoonigan when you want, or do you want a very capable long distance mile muncher that'll do B roads superbly and look superb / different to anything else you see out there?
If I could afford either, it'd be the 8 all the way for me and I actually like the GC too
I’ve had various 3s, 5s and an 840i 2dr Coupe. Of them all the 840i felt the most ‘special’ and it was a superb Grand Tourer, as long as you didn’t want to put people in the back (unless they had no head and tiny legs). Even so, it was several notches above the others in terms of refinement and comfort, and it certainly didn’t feel slow, if not as exciting as an M3 or something.
It is however a bit of a pain in tight multi story car parks as it is a big old beast, but I guess that’s why it wafts so well. Surprisingly I often saw 40+ MPG on long motorway runs too, so not that expensive to run.
It is however a bit of a pain in tight multi story car parks as it is a big old beast, but I guess that’s why it wafts so well. Surprisingly I often saw 40+ MPG on long motorway runs too, so not that expensive to run.
Thanks for the reassuring comments! It's nice to hear that the extra money does buy you a nicer interior (and presumably other parts of the car that you don't get to see)!
That seems like bonkers money on a run-of-the-mill car, so I'm expecting an 8 to be closer to a grand?
FlyingPanda said:
I’ve had various 3s, 5s and an 840i 2dr Coupe. Of them all the 840i felt the most ‘special’ and it was a superb Grand Tourer, as long as you didn’t want to put people in the back (unless they had no head and tiny legs). Even so, it was several notches above the others in terms of refinement and comfort, and it certainly didn’t feel slow, if not as exciting as an M3 or something.
It is however a bit of a pain in tight multi story car parks as it is a big old beast, but I guess that’s why it wafts so well. Surprisingly I often saw 40+ MPG on long motorway runs too, so not that expensive to run.
What were the servicing costs like? I'm not bothered about fuel consumption or tax, but a couple of colleagues have 320i's and they tell me that main dealers charge £550-600 for and oil and air filter service. It is however a bit of a pain in tight multi story car parks as it is a big old beast, but I guess that’s why it wafts so well. Surprisingly I often saw 40+ MPG on long motorway runs too, so not that expensive to run.
That seems like bonkers money on a run-of-the-mill car, so I'm expecting an 8 to be closer to a grand?
Regbuser said:
840 thread here > https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Plenty of useful info.
Amazing thank you.Plenty of useful info.
I'll spend the next couple of days reading that!
simonwhite2000 said:
C Lee Farquar said:
The 840 GC is definitely a GT car, great for long distance travelling.
However on poor country roads it's bone shakingly uncomfortable. Don't buy one if you live in the sticks is my advice.
I completely disagree with this. My 840 GC is like a magic carpet However on poor country roads it's bone shakingly uncomfortable. Don't buy one if you live in the sticks is my advice.
I went from a F31 3 series to my current 640d GC and the build quality is in a different league.
A mate has a new 3 series touring and the build quality is good but still not up to the older 6.
You will probably find the insurance on the 8 is also higher. I had an M4 Competition for 2 weeks after someone drove into my 6 and out of curiosity got an insurance quote and it was cheaper!
General servicing shouldn’t be much different to the 4 but you might wish to enquire about brake discs. Genuine front discs and pads on the front has cost me just shy of £600 however the discs had gone for 82k miles.
My next car will be a 5 series touring just because I miss having an estate car.
A mate has a new 3 series touring and the build quality is good but still not up to the older 6.
You will probably find the insurance on the 8 is also higher. I had an M4 Competition for 2 weeks after someone drove into my 6 and out of curiosity got an insurance quote and it was cheaper!
General servicing shouldn’t be much different to the 4 but you might wish to enquire about brake discs. Genuine front discs and pads on the front has cost me just shy of £600 however the discs had gone for 82k miles.
My next car will be a 5 series touring just because I miss having an estate car.
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