A real lack of 8 series....

[IRISHD M3]

With all this time on my hands I continue to look at all the beautiful eight series that are available mainly across the water. Common sense tells me to stay away from them and focus on the cars that I have but I’ve always wanted one and need further discouragement to save myself a fortune. Is there anybody on the site who has an eight and could tell me more about the woes of 8 series ownership?

[Andy]

I am keeping my eye on one for you

[dergside]

A few years back, early in the last downturn, before prices started lifting you could pick up a wrapped in cotton wool 840 Sport with around 60k miles and fsh for about £11-13k in the UK and VRT wasn't outrageous. As many will know, John Roche in Gort does all of my car fettling and sometimes I would hang around the workshop chatting while he was doing a quick job. Talk often turns to "What would you think if I got...". One of those conversations was about such an e31. John is a down to earth man and I fully expected an expletive laden answer that could be summarized as "catch yourself on". He surprised me by reckoning that it wouldn't be the worst thing I could do, if bought carefully. He worked on plenty of them in the UK dealer network back in the day and reckoned that, although complex, they were a fairly solid choice. Make of that as you will.

[kdevitt]

Old Colonel have a particularly nice example in stock at the moment. Would be very tempted myself if I only had a 10 car garage, and €40k lying around spare.

[IRISHD M3]

Old Colonel have a particularly nice example in stock at the moment. Would be very tempted myself if I only had a 10 car garage, and €40k lying around spare.

I saw it but to be honest I think that one is a bit dull looking. Would much rather have this one :


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ation=standard


Or this if I could live without heated seats:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...nesearchad=New

[kdevitt]

I saw it but to be honest I think that one is a bit dull looking. Would much rather have this one :


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ation=standard


Or this if I could live without heated seats:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...nesearchad=New

From a factual point of view, green cars are hideous. The Atlantis Blue one is nice - but tan plastics aren't.

I'll take the Old Colonel one and you can have one of the ugly ones

[IRISHD M3]

As the owner of this I must respectfully disagree.....

From a factual point of view, green cars are hideous. The Atlantis Blue one is nice - but tan plastics aren't.

I'll take the Old Colonel one and you can have one of the ugly ones

[ian-909]

From a factual point of view, green cars are hideous. The Atlantis Blue one is nice - but tan plastics aren't.

I'll take the Old Colonel one and you can have one of the ugly ones

I’d have to disagree there Ken! I think fern/boston/oxford and beige/tan leather is a classic combo for a 90s BMW, particular a coupe/convertible.

I’ve always been a fan of the 8. I remember there was a longtermer in BMW Car (maybe an 840) back in the late 2000s, early 2010s but there didn’t seem to be a month that went by without something going wrong on it. It put me off them as an ownership proposition but it might have been just a rough one to start with.

[kdevitt]

I’d have to disagree there Ken! I think fern/boston/oxford and beige/tan leather is a classic combo for a 90s BMW, particular a coupe/convertible.

I don't mind tan leather, but the tan plastics aren't great. I'm ok with certain greens - but I'd be rattle canning an oxford green or malachite green car if it even came into my possession! Its the colour choice for those who are partial to tweed caps and genital herpes.

[IRISHD M3]

I keep seeing a 97 Atlantis blue one driving around Rathfarnham and it looks AMAZING.