8-Series owners: Classic Cars Magazine needs you!
Discussion
I'm writing a buyer's guide for Classic Cars on the BMW 840/850 Coupe.
However, I need some testimonials from owners - most importantly, how much do they cost to run?
If you own an 8-Series, how much does an annual service cost, what was your biggest bill, what has gone wrong most often and how laborious is it to put right.
Finally, what's the best thing about owning an 8-Series?
Thanks - your name might appear in the mag too.
However, I need some testimonials from owners - most importantly, how much do they cost to run?
If you own an 8-Series, how much does an annual service cost, what was your biggest bill, what has gone wrong most often and how laborious is it to put right.
Finally, what's the best thing about owning an 8-Series?
Thanks - your name might appear in the mag too.
Derin100 (sp?) has a great deal of knowledge about these. 
www.bmwclassics.co.uk/840cisport/index.html
Might be worth dropping him a message.
www.bmwclassics.co.uk/840cisport/index.html
Might be worth dropping him a message.
I currently own a 39000 mile 850CSi for sale soon. Orient Blue with two tone leather and it is completely original. The best thing is my car still has the BMW warranty until Dec 2006 and has been 100% reliable.
There has been a lot written in this topic about the relaibility problems with these cars and to be honest from my personal experience it is simply untrue. I've owned four 8 series over the past 8 years, an 840Ci Auto, a late higher mileage 850CSi, an Alpina B12 5.7 and this current CSi. So i'm in a better position than most to judge these cars on reliability. The V12s are pretty much indestrucable unless they have been abused. With regular servicing and care they will go on forever. The only things replaced on my car under warranty in the past two years have been rear windscreen due to delamination, a new on board computer (slight pixel problem but nowhere near as bad as my 728i) and two batteries (due to lack of use as it is my third car).
All CSi's have the later spec DK throttle motors which are weak points on the earlier 850s. At the same time time the rest of the car was given a minor facelift. The electrics aren't a problem unless someone has fitted aftermarket accessories incorrectly such as stereos and alarms. I try to stay away from these cars. Most electrical problems can be rectified by fitting new batteries. Low voltage causes some very strange problems which have always been solved for me with new batteries or a recharge. The build quality is actually very good and people who really know them consider them to be, along with the E34 5 series, the best built BMWs ever. The interior for an 11 year old car looks just like new and would put a 1 year M3 to shame as the leather (Dark and light grey, almost white) simply looks gorgeous with only very, very minor wear to the driver's side bolster to distinguish it from new.
My 840 proved less reliable but that was mainly due to the Nikasil problem affecting the engine and cats. The electrics however proved completely reliable in 4 years of ownership. The auto gearboxes are also weak if they are abused or if you have a heavily upgraded engine. I know of six 840 owners who have needed a new gearbox between 65k and 120k miles. So anyone wanting to modify these engines would be wise to find a manual one
It easy to be put off these cars when people mention someone spending 12k in a year on their car but has anyone ever asked how old these cars were or how many miles they had done or what work was actully carried out? You can easily buy a 250,000 miler on ebay for £2000 and very easily spend a fortune getting it right but the trick is to find a low mileage cared for car with full service history. Then you will have a deprciation proof supercar that still looks as stunning today as it did back then and i guarantee that it draws crowds unlike any other BMW i have never owned. With a bloodline that is carried on to the Maclaren F1 its place in BMW history is guaranteed (The engine in the 850CSi remains the highest capacity and most limited production engine ever produced by BMW). The only problem you will have is finding a car to replace it with as 5.6 litre V12 BMW motorsport engined supercars don't come along too often...
I'd be happy to help with any other queries you may have.
Pardeep
pardeepsanghera@hotmail.com
There has been a lot written in this topic about the relaibility problems with these cars and to be honest from my personal experience it is simply untrue. I've owned four 8 series over the past 8 years, an 840Ci Auto, a late higher mileage 850CSi, an Alpina B12 5.7 and this current CSi. So i'm in a better position than most to judge these cars on reliability. The V12s are pretty much indestrucable unless they have been abused. With regular servicing and care they will go on forever. The only things replaced on my car under warranty in the past two years have been rear windscreen due to delamination, a new on board computer (slight pixel problem but nowhere near as bad as my 728i) and two batteries (due to lack of use as it is my third car).
All CSi's have the later spec DK throttle motors which are weak points on the earlier 850s. At the same time time the rest of the car was given a minor facelift. The electrics aren't a problem unless someone has fitted aftermarket accessories incorrectly such as stereos and alarms. I try to stay away from these cars. Most electrical problems can be rectified by fitting new batteries. Low voltage causes some very strange problems which have always been solved for me with new batteries or a recharge. The build quality is actually very good and people who really know them consider them to be, along with the E34 5 series, the best built BMWs ever. The interior for an 11 year old car looks just like new and would put a 1 year M3 to shame as the leather (Dark and light grey, almost white) simply looks gorgeous with only very, very minor wear to the driver's side bolster to distinguish it from new.
My 840 proved less reliable but that was mainly due to the Nikasil problem affecting the engine and cats. The electrics however proved completely reliable in 4 years of ownership. The auto gearboxes are also weak if they are abused or if you have a heavily upgraded engine. I know of six 840 owners who have needed a new gearbox between 65k and 120k miles. So anyone wanting to modify these engines would be wise to find a manual one
It easy to be put off these cars when people mention someone spending 12k in a year on their car but has anyone ever asked how old these cars were or how many miles they had done or what work was actully carried out? You can easily buy a 250,000 miler on ebay for £2000 and very easily spend a fortune getting it right but the trick is to find a low mileage cared for car with full service history. Then you will have a deprciation proof supercar that still looks as stunning today as it did back then and i guarantee that it draws crowds unlike any other BMW i have never owned. With a bloodline that is carried on to the Maclaren F1 its place in BMW history is guaranteed (The engine in the 850CSi remains the highest capacity and most limited production engine ever produced by BMW). The only problem you will have is finding a car to replace it with as 5.6 litre V12 BMW motorsport engined supercars don't come along too often...
I'd be happy to help with any other queries you may have.
Pardeep
pardeepsanghera@hotmail.com
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