Howdi - this forums a bit empty.

2 cars I've been in awe of since I was a boy where the e30 M3 and 8 series. So a year or so ago I bought an e30 M3 convertible as a toy. It's a garage queen and I love it.

Just got a Volvo V70 as company car and I hate it. Thinking of giving up the Co car, and thinking of getting the wife a Volvo ( As she loves it ) and getting something a bit different from the std rep / co car drivers cars eg 3 series bm Audi A4 Merc etc. EUROBOXES

 Most of the co car allowance would go on a decent car for the wife ( and 3 kids ) ie 7 seater volvo / safara - family motor and I'd use at the w./ends. The rest on something that would get me to work anmd back 5 days a week. Only 50 - 60 miles return !!

But though..........

wouldn't it be nice to have a really different daily driver like the 8 series.

Started looking and for a top of the range motor - they are really really cheap WHY ???? from 4k - 20 k

How much are they to run really !!!!!!!!!!

Fuel consumption ?

Insurance 35 year old - low risk area ?

Servicing ?

More importantly - when they go wrong ??

Any advice much appreciated. Also any links to any decent sites on what to look for when buying !

Cheers - IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE

GARC

ps - any tips on how to convince the wife !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi GARC

Great taste in cars...wish I had an E30 M3 too!

Fuel consumption...

Highway 11 L/100

City 14.5 - 15.0 L/100

Hooning 17 - 19 L/100

at 200kmh with lights down...15L/100

Insurance....
36, low risk area here,  in oz its same cost to insure a new AMG 55

servicing ...drive train and engine...same as 540i or 740i.

brakes / suspension / air con.... 20% more than 740i

on board computers and modules....don't go there.

rear yoki tyres 265/40...can be pricey, keep burnouts to a minimum

you're pretty safe going with an M62 840Ci (I believe in UK M60s suffered from Nikasil problem discussed in detail in other posts on this forum)...The E31 got a bid of myth attached to it from the early v12 models. Which I agree are costly to keep running (2 of everything to go wrong) and you have drop the engine to get to the tranny which cost $$$.

As for sites:

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e31/ - http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e31/ (yankee site but good archives for tech problems)
http://www.e31faq.com/ - http://www.e31faq.com/
http://technic.clube31.com/ - http://technic.clube31.com/   (not maintained but some good info still there)

re the wife, that's a tricky one...let me think about that.

let me know if you have any q's  (any pics of your E30?)

Seeya Ian

Hi Ian - Thanks for taking the time out to reply with so much info.

I've posted my M3 Conv ( with hardtop on ).

I love the 8 series, but need to a bit more research on costs before I commit. + I have the wife thing to overcome - and that could take some time.

Cheers

GARC

Garc,

we just got hold of a 98 4.4 840 sport, the big cost is fuel but it is worth it, never had a v8 before but it is some tool. A 200 mile trip is nothing to you in it. The v8 is pretty reliable. So far I have had the cats go, replaced them with straight thru BMW Dubai part!

Other than that they seem to be pretty bullet proof. Get the later 4.4 to avoid nikasil doubts.

I think they are one of the best value bmw's around considering looks, build quality and performance.

Rohan

was it silver?

im in dublin so no chance but could have been the old man! where was this?

well it sounds like thats the old man, we live just down from rowley next to chartridge close.

he was probably looking at you wondering what the hell irish plates were doing on a six with an english reg on them!