Timm's BMW E31 840ci SPORT

SOLD

BMW Service History       1997 E31 840ci 8-Series        V8 4.4Ltr

This car has the usual E31 refinements plus:

Sports Seats       18" M-Parallel Alloys      Motorised steering-wheel    10-speaker 6-CD Hi-Fi

Servotronic Steering    Electrochromatic mirror    Ski hatch and bag    Heated seats    High-pressure headlight wash

 

This 840ci is absolutely stunning, perfectly maintained, in the best colour available. Rather than lots of meaningless blurb, I'll just comment on the pictures. Interior first.

The interior is spotless, I have retro-fitted a 3-spoke steering wheel, the original tractor wheel just didn't suit the interior. I have the original wheel if you require it. There are black over-mats fitted, I have dry-cleaned the original grey mats and will supply these with the car.

No missing pixels, the A/C works perfectly, keeps you cool even in the present heat-wave! Business RDS radio and 6-CD changer works perfectly and gives excellent sound.

The interior was originally Silver Grey on Silver Grey, I have retro-fitted Silver-Grey/Black door cards for a bit of contrast. I have the original door cards that will be supplied with the car if required. As can be seen, the interior is in excellent condition, no cracks in the leather, no marks, there is very slight wear on the drivers seat bolster.....

...But not so you would notice! I keep the interior clean and supple with regular application of cleaner and leather feed. All the leather is in excellent condition.

The parcel-shelf is in navy-blue, which matches well with the blue-tinted glass (fitted as standard). The roof-lining is Anthracite (almost black) as is standard in Sports models.

Exterior now:

Most 8-Series you see don't look too good at this angle, the front splitter is usually damaged from hitting the standard-height UK kerb. I did a lot of this, and the splitter - well, split! I had the complete assembly replaced including all fixings, grilles, even the upper grilles! As the assembly (OEM BMW - £1000) needed painting I had the nose painted at the same time - have a look at the following pictures for the results:

No stone-chips on there at all! All these pictures were taken for this advert, the only 'marks' seen are reflections of the Cherry-blossom which is coming down at the moment. And now I always reverse into parking-spaces! Wheels and tyres next, fronts first:

And now the rears:

This alloy is the nearside rear and has a very small amount of kerbing.

The 18" M-Pars are replica's, but they are the best on the market. The tyres have done 2000 miles and are:
Fronts 255/35 18Y Falken FK-452
Rears 265/35 18Y Falken FK-452

All tyres are almost as new, the Falken's give excellent grip in both the wet and dry. I had wider fronts fitted (than the usual 235's) to increase the rim protection for the alloys.

The V8 badge is proven to increase the engine power significantly, and the '4.4i' badge increases torque. All clean, un-dented and polished just like the rest of the car. The after-market rear-boxes will be replaced with the standard exhaust before sale.

Lovely flat panels all around. Arches are absolutely rust-free, not even a hint of a bubble.

And just as flat and shiny on the other side. Mechanical stuff next:

Nice, clean engine bay, all 286 horses alive and kicking, no fixings missing (as usually seen). Everything works under here as it should do. Recent replacements include: water pump (with metal impeller), belts, belt-tensioners and pulleys, viscous fan, auxiliary fan, hoses (including the famous 'exploding hose' at the rear of the engine), auxiliary water pump, timing chain tensioner and PCV valve. The ABS block is being replaced on 5/5/11 by a BMW specialist (too blooming awkward to get to for me) at the same time as the exhaust is being changed back to standard.

All works as it should, windscreen wipers, intensive wash, rear washer pump, blower (fully working Sword), A/C - well, everything! There are no horrible surprises waiting, I have looked after this car fastidiously. I have personally performed all the service work. Engine oil every 3000 miles, filters, plugs etc. It hasn't wanted for anything.

This is where the temperature gauge sits in all conditions, the car has no coolant or oil leaks, the valve-covers and Dowty seals are oil-free. No intake leaks, none of the usual problems. The drivetrain is excellent.

All the lights are re-furbished, the four main-beams and two dipped are fitted with Osram Night-breakers. This car has the best lights of any of the BMW's I have owned, the mains and dipped are much better than my Xenon-equipped E38 which is younger. No error-messages on the OBC, the corner markers, brake, reversing, indicators and fog lights are fitted with BMW OEM bulbs.

The rear fuse-box is perfect (often a problem area), no rust beneath the batteries.

All present and correct in the tool-tray. The spare-wheel is the original throwing-star.

I have replaced the sunroof with one from a '99 model, but this is showing signs of bubbling (which they usually do), this is the ONLY area of rust on the whole car.

All four keys - and all in as-new condition (I replaced the original main key)

Lots of documents - radio-pass card. Full BMW service history up 79,000 (currently at 96,115).

What hasn't this car got? Well it doesn't have a lot of faults that many E31's have:

It hasn't got 'missing pixels' mine are all present and correct

It hasn't got front-end shake when accelerating or braking, no clonks, bonks or shimmy's

It hasn't got dull inadequate lighting, the refurbished Halogen projectors and mains are bright and sharp

It hasn't got a popped PCV valve, ticks over perfectly, no smoke and great power delivery

It hasn't got a Nikasil block with the associated leak-down problems, this is an Alusil engine

It hasn't got annoying 'Bongs', completely clear of Check Control fault messages

It hasn't got a grotty spare wheel, the spare is an original 17" Throwing Star

It hasn't got sparkplug wells full of oil - no leaky rocker-cover gaskets or Dowty seals

 

Work done on this car (as detailed on my website)

 

Water pump replaced (with metal impeller) - all parts used are OEM BMW

Ribbed belt, tensioners and pulleys replaced

Replaced lower spoiler - grilles

Coolant hoses (the famous 'exploding hose' included)

ABS block and pump (5/5/11)

Steering wheel replaced with 3-spoke Sport wheel + airbag

Ignition barrel replaced due to the usual stickyness - special BMW order to retain correct keys

All four disks and pads

Repair of wiper linkages

Repair of washers (including intensive-wash and headlight washers)

A/C regassed - absolutely ice cold now

All door cards replaced with 2-tone cards

PCV valve replaced

Timing-chain tensioner replaced

CD changer replaced - cd magazine repaired

Transmission mounts replaced

Engine mounts replaced

Headlights refurbished and fitted with Osram Nightbreakers - exceptionally bright

Professional detailing - finished with Zaino 2 and 5 - polished every 2-weeks
All standard service work carried out ahead of schedule

 

 

 

To conclude - this is an excellent car, I'm only selling as I have found a Mora-metallic 840ci that matches my Mora-metallic 740i. I will be sad to see it go, it has been rock-solid and fantastic car to drive - always getting admiring glances and people coming up to talk about the 8-Series.

 

I am located in Whitehill, Hampshire, just off the A3. With all the Bank-Holidays coming up, why not pop-down and I'll take you for a test drive!