Faults:

Upper oil pan leak, radiator, water pump, and coolant tank @ 127K miles.

Motor mounts, oxygen sensor, cats, and intake gaskets @ 100k.

General Comments:

A GT with timeless style.

After driving a BMW 5-series up to 200k miles for work, I decided it was time for a new get around car. I researched cars for months before zeroing on the 8-series. My criteria? I was looking for a coupe that not everyone else had. A sleek aggressive car that would have any car enthusiast do a double take while I’m driving by, or when its parked by it's lonesome. Something unique and something elegant. An understated exotic, allowing me to be seen driving around on a daily basis, while still allowing me to be approachable versus pretentious. A car that delivers an exhilarating driving experience each time I get in the car. The right amount of comfort, sport, sound, and speed. This car is such a perfect fit for my broad expectations.

I selected the V8 (be aware of the Nikosil issue when shopping, but this has worked itself out by now) over the V12 from the chats I had with my mechanic. He had done work on both, but pointed out the limp home mode on the V12 would be just a bit more expensive on repairs at times. Even though the cars are inexpensive to acquire... it should be understood that this was an $80k – $100k vehicle brand new. The repair bills are for a car in that price range versus the low acquisition cost of today. You should plan on an average of $2500 a year in maintenance to keep your car in top running condition. I have spent in the last two years an average of $3500, when combining recent modifications to much needed maintenance on a car going over the 100k mark (135,000 miles and still going).

While it's been said (and I agree) that everyone should own a V12 once in their life, for a daily driver this was not that time for me. 8-series V12 owners do look over their nose a bit at a V8 owner... but not too much.

The 8-series community is very tight. Numerous get togethers, tech tips, parts sharing – just overall incredible support. We help each other check out cars in other areas, diagnose common problems, and wrench on each others cars if necessary. I just had an 8 member stay at my home overnight on his way through to deliver an 8 to a new owner in the bay area of California... not uncommon in the 8-series community. There is an honest lamenting from time to time on my choice of V8 over V12, but the V8 does has a few personal advantages over the V12, making the V8 the right choice for me.

I recently completed a custom exhaust for my 840ci. Both the V12 and V8 are very quiet, but the V8 will produce much more of a roar when “asked” over the V12. My new exhaust intensifies the sound and the feeling.

That V12 is soooo quiet and smooth you could balance a coin on the block while it's running. That would not be possible with the V8 – that is a plus for me, because I like to feel and hear what I am driving. While it is not lost on the V12, it is just a bit subdued in comparison to the V8.

Base horsepower for the V8 is 282 (US model) vs. 322 for the equal year on a V12. I recently chipped mine and according to reports should have mine @ 322 bhp (wokke chip) with 354lbs of torque – I have not done a Dyno test, but there was no doubt about the significant difference I felt (especially at the lower rpms where the 8-series is traditionally pretty soft).

The torque on these cars is what gets these cars moving to ultra smooth and effortless speeds of 150mph+. This car is at 2500rpms when going 80mph... the car is just waiting to do even more! I just don’t believe you could find something as silky smooth and comfortable on the open road, that is this capable of high speeds.

Other advantages on a V8 over the V12, would be the easier wrenching, less frequent problems, and modifications tend to be more inexpensive. I understand gas mileage is about the same for both (17mpg around town and 22mpg on the freeway for me), and overall they look identical until you peek under the hood. For a daily driver... the V8 is perfect for me. For someone considering a weekend car, then I would highly recommend the V12.

Some other things about this car – it is very fast, but not so quick. Off the line this car is sluggish, but once you hit 35mph hitting the step-down in sport mode... this car will push you back in your seat and pull a smile on your face! Windows automatically go up at 96mph. It's rumored that sunroof closes at 135mph. Passing other cars is NEVER a problem and they know when I am doing it! My car is set-up with 18” staggered wheels, chipped, and custom exhaust. Near future includes, CSI sway bars, and a 3.64 LSD.

I shamelessly look for reasons to drive this car on the back roads of California. This super heavy car (about 4000lbs) is not great handling on the twisties, because it was designed to be an Autobahn car, but it is fast and will turn heads everywhere you go. People often give me thumbs up on the road, talk to me when I am pulled over, leave notes on the car, and openly gawk at the car when they believe I am not around. I can’t help but turn around for one last look each time I park and begin to walk away.

My daughters ask me to drop them off in front of the school vs. around the corner, so they can be seen in the car everyone around town knows belongs to our family. This predatory looking grand tourer gets attention and lots of it. It simply has timeless looks, comfort, and unabashed speed.

My very near additional car will be a V8 Vantage. I intend to keep my 840ci for many years to come. I love the unique look and the silky smooth ride. The BMW 8-series was truly designed and sold a decade before its time. When my daughter is old enough, I intend to have her drive the 840ci. Before you gasp... think about this concept for a man with beautiful daughters - this car is built like a Panzer Tank, will not be able to smoke tires from a light, and has no room whatsoever for getting too close with a boy who would most certainly want to be in this car with her versus his own! ;)

Faults:

Bought the car with a bad camshaft sensor and a leaky radiator, as diagnosed by the dealer before purchase.

Seat adjuster cables were also broken at purchase (both of them), but not fixed yet. This is not a problem currently, as only seat height is affected, and is currently adjusted correctly.

Right hand battery died after 4 months, but was original from 1997. This was a lot of work to replace, but required no custom tools, just several screwdrivers and wrenches.

Other common issues have not come up in this car (i.e., bad pixels on computer). This car was babied by the previous owner, who is a car enthusiast.

General Comments:

Standard maintenance costs are high, but going to independent shops that you trust will typically reduce the bill by 50%. Sticking with the 4.4L V8 engine also keeps costs down, as this is the standard running gear that is in the popular 740 from the late 90s. Everyone knows how to work on the car, and parts are plentiful.

The car drives like a dream: very, very quick, responsive and stable. This car is meant to be driven fast, and you have to remind yourself to slow down, since the speed is so comfortable.

This is probably the most beautiful car ever made. I put this in the same class as the Jaguar XK8, the CL500, the 911, the Ferrari 550 and old Daytona and the modern Aston Martins. For looks, exclusivity, performance and price, the 840Ci is far ahead of any car I have ever dreamed about. The car is perfectly proportioned from every angle. The lack of chrome and sharply raked nose makes for a serious, fast look. The only visual flaws are the black gasketing/striping that runs around most of the car, and the black door handles (no matching available). A black car resolves the problem, although maroon is probably the best color for the car (black is a close second).

Although there are probably more of these where I live than anywhere else in the country (California), the car is still extremely rare. Only about 6,000 of these were ever brought to the US (that's 6,000 total over 7 years, in all colors and engine/transmission configs). Those who know a little about cars, typically can't identify the car until they see the badge and the numbers on the trunk. Those who really know about cars get pretty excited when they see it. In all cases, I get a stare, a wave, double take or someone pointing at least once per week.

These cars are hard to find, and some are in poor shape. While records are important, getting a dealer or BMW-specialty shop to inspect the car before purchase will reduce the risk significantly. Be patient and ready to travel around to find the right one. Shipping cross-country is less than $1K, and well worth it if you find a good one. Focus on '96 and '97 models; some earlier ones had bad engines, although this is easy to determine with some research (see 8coupe.com for extensive material)