hey people out there?

Question

guyz, do you think BMW 8series is a reliable car? is it a good car to compare with others? please guyz help. maybe i may be conviced to buy it.

Answer 1

As far as i know they dont make anymore BMW 8-Series cars, maybe they will in the future but as of now they dont.

Answer 2

Production for the 8 series in the USA stopped in model year 1997. Arguably, one of the best looking BMWs, some consider it a classic like the earlier 6-series. The 8 series stepped up the luxury content and the power trains are more modern that the earlier 6, as well as more electronic features.

1991-1994 were V12's only with 296HP. The drive train is identical to the 750il for those years, except you could get a 6 speed manual. In 1995, a 4.0L(282HP) V8 was introduced, eventual upgraded to a 4.4L(also 282HP but a little more torque). The 4.0L (Nikulsil)was prone to degradation of the cylinders due to low sulfur fuel erosion and many were replaced by BMW before the got a handle and changed to the more expensive Alusil used in the V12. In 1996 the V12 grew to 5.4L and 322 HP.Beware the 4.0L as replacement is expensive, which can be true of any BMW.

The 850csi was equivalent to the M8 model with a 5.6L and 372HP and different exhaust tips, wheels, and some suspension upgrades. Only about 200 were imported, so enthusiasts grab these up and they are in short supply.

In general the BMWs are pretty reliable and high quality in fit, finish, and materials. Performance is good. V12 maintenance is high due to there being two distributors, fuel filters, air filters, etc, but realistically probably the cheapest V12s in the world when compared to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes, etc. If you do not know the cars, try to get the maintenance records, and have it inspected by a BMW knowledgeable mechanic/shop. Higher mileage cars need some closer inspection as a good deal can cost you more than you realize if things are not right. The book value can be a guide, but the age situation makes the guides harder to nail as condition can over ride the "book" on exceptional cars. Drive a couple first to see if it fits.

Answer 3

Hi there and sorry to all about the length of this answer,

I see from your earlier answers that you have had some very objective & knowledgeable advice. Also some rather biased “feedback” from people who have obviously never driven an 8 (e31).

Let me try to balance things up coming from the other side of the “bias” i.e. as the owner of an 8. Mine is a 1994 Euro spec, which I have owned for four years and is used as my daily drive car. The car has now done 115,000 km and the major problems have been…nothing really.

They are great cars to drive with loads of power and handle beautifully. Despite their age, they still turn heads, as their design is unique. I do get asked regularly if it is the latest BMW model!

You are talking about a car that cost in excess of US$70,000 when new. Depreciation means these cars are now great value. You get a lot of car for your money.

Bias over: on a more objective note, you need to go into this with your eyes open. A $70K car still carries equivalent maintenance bills. They use a lot of fuel and can be expensive to insure. Generally parts are easily available but prices vary widely, some cheap, some extortionate. Good maintenance is essential such as the proper (& expensive) synthetic oils, regular transmission fluid changes etc. Spend time to find a good one.

Finally, consider all of this before you test drive. Once you drive one, there is a good chance that objective decisions will become a lot harder to make.

Try the site below for a lot more detail from people much more qualified to comment than I am.

Hope this helps


After note: depending on where you live, the 4.0L can be the best buy providing it is the non-Nikosil engine. This can be easily “chipped” up to 326 HP and 480Nm without the weight and complexity of the V12 engine. (Highly recommended)

Answer 4

Why do want a an 8 series? It is fairly limited in it's use. It's not agile and it's not fast, it's a huge piece of metal. Most of the huge engines are wasted because of the surplus's weight. It's ugly as BMW's go, it was their biggest and maybe only marketing failure. Unless you want a long distance motor way cruiser it has little point. Wasted on British roads! What ever you want can probably be found better in another BMW. It was never as successful as the previous Six series, which are still collectible. An M635CSI is a s fast as the 850CI but far more agile around the bends and infinitely better looking!!

Answer 5

Is it a reliable car - yes if its maintained properly
Is it a good car compared to others - probably not

However - The V12 850i (300BHP) and the V8 840Ci (286BHP)are good cars if you want a luxury tourer.

The 850CSi (380BHP) on the other hand is a sports car. It is my dream car. I want to test the auto closing windows (they should close automatically at 100mph) and the sunroof (closes automatically at 150mph).

You can pick up an early 8 series for under £5000, but I'd be very wary of one that cheap.

A 1999 840Ci Sport will set you back between £10k & £15k

A mint 850CSi will cost you between £15k and £20k depending on mileage.

If you can afford the CSi, then go for it. Its one of the best BMWs ever. You'll also have amazing bragging rights in the pub. The engine used in the 850CSi is the same (minus some modifications) as the one in the McLaren F1

Answer 6

ignoring the previous answers, here goes

the 4.0L has a problem with the piston linings, they are made out of something exotic and fail on a regular basis. you could get a good 1, chances are you probably wont

the 4.4 is a better buy, but these are later and hence more expensive

the V12 is an awsome machine and mint they are still £25000+

resale is hard, values are depreciated, if you do buy 1, keep it for a long time because eventually the values will go up, but its going to take a while

p.s. parts are rarer than rocking horse s**t, labour is more expensive than the car

Answer 7

It's BMW. What more do you need to know? If ya got the money, and wanna go faster than your neighbor then i'd say you've found your car. Now go buy the thing, drive the thing, and come back and tell us how fast you got it to go. Good Luck.

Answer 8

They are a bit dated and rubbish. Expensive parts and servicing. Very bad fuel economy. I was going to buy one and did some research. I decided to buy a '98 7 Series for similar money. Much better.

Answer 9

Sure if your Rich. get a 6 series and send some cash this way.

Answer 10

will have the resale value of a brick, too big and no one wants em