Description

1999 BMW 840Ci Sport Individual

Very striking in Velvet Blue Metallic; 116,500 miles with 14 services to date; new batteries and rear brake discs; current owner 10 years

One of the best-looking coupes of the modern era, the flagship BMW E31 8 Series was launched in 1990 with a 5.0 V12 but a 4.0 V8 joined the range in 1993. With 282bhp on tap, it was virtually as quick as the V12 (0 – 60 in 6.9 seconds and 155mph) but considerably cheaper to run, with superb build quality which still impresses today.

In 1995 things got even better when a 4.4 V8 joined the range which not only had more torque than the 4.0 (310lb/ft) but also had better fuel economy. It also did not suffer from the premature bore wear which could affect the Nikasil linings of the 4.0 model.

Costing well over £50,000 new, it was always an exclusive machine and just 3,075 of the 4.4-litre models were sold worldwide (the vast majority in LHD) before production ceased in 1999. Rare, fast and beautifully styled and built, this is a sure-fire classic of the future.

Supplied new by Scotthall BMW of Leeds in March 1999, this 840 Ci Sport Individual has covered 116,565 miles to date and comes with an excellent service history comprising 14 stamps in the book, the last at 116,290 miles in August 2011. Being a factory Sport model, it has deep spoilers front and rear and distinctive teardrop door mirrors.

The current (5^th) owner acquired the car in July 2011 but, apart from annual trips to the MOT station, he has barely used it, adding only 200 miles to the odometer and always keeping it garaged when not in use. In August this year it was treated to two new batteries and new rear brake discs and pads to prepare it for the MOT which it passed with just a couple of minor advisories.

As you can see in the photos, the car is extremely tidy for the year/mileage and looks most eye-catching in special order Velvet Blue Metallic (one of only 69 E31s ordered in this colour worldwide). The rear windscreen has none of the bottom-corner delamination which usually afflicts this model and the headlining is also in good shape apart from on the leading edge of the sunroof where it has come unglued slightly, another typical E31 fault. The front right Throwing Star alloy has some minor bubbling and could do with a refurb and there is a small rust scab appearing on the front right corner of the sunroof. The front lip spoiler is also cracked and will need repair.

These E31 8 Series BMWs are top quality cars which still turn heads wherever they go. The slender front kidney grills come straight from the M1 supercar of the Seventies and are a far cry from the vulgar front-end styling which afflicts the current generation of BMWs, the new G15 8 Series included.

This striking example, with its good service history, desirable spec and few owners, looks mighty tempting at the sensible guide price suggested and is now crying out for the more regular use it deserves.
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com