Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

Having happily put 180 k miles on my 93 535i, I was looking for a distinctive replacement. When my daughter mentioned that the BMW 8 series was her all time favorite car; my decision was made, with the idea of passing the car onto her (she's currently in a college that does not allow cars on campus). A year's net research yielded a 1997 840ci with 55 k miles, purchased from a car designer, and I felt like a lotto winner getting the last model year with such low mileage.

The 8 series was perhaps the most technologically advanced production car when it was introduced. It's a true GT car originally designed for comfortable, very stable and high speed travel across Europe, which makes it a good match to the freeways of Southern California. It was a grand gesture and the last major new car by Claus Luthe, BMW's greatest car designer. He wanted to build a car with top end performance similar to high end Porsches and Italian exotics, but with traditional BMW handling, comfort, sophistication and build quality. He succeeded, producing a barely subsonic 300 kph/186 mph top speed, with traditional BMW virtues. Here's what I've learned through a year driving the car:

Looks - The car has a complex, streamlined, air-tunnel derived shape that is flowing, elegant, and distinctive. The car's looks and character are defined however by the long, low, slightly predacious front end derived from the legendary BMW Motorsport/Lamborghini designed M1 of the 1970's. A little of the Lambo brutality lurks under the suave BMW surface here. The contrast between the elegant lines and aggressive front end move the car from handsome to striking in appearance. Designers say the front end defines the car's personality and I think the 8 series front end is the most distinctive and beautiful of any BMW introduced in North America. It's always a pleasure to see it anew.

Exclusivity - The 8 series is very rare, with only about 6000 in North America, less than a year's Porsche 911 American sales. Even in Los Angeles I go months between 8 series sitings. It is much less common than a Maserati, Bentley, or Ferrari. It is a non-ostentatious super car versus these others. It gets admiring double takes, but doesn't come across as pretentious. Most drivers don't recognize it as a BMW until they see the logo; and know it's top of the line because of the 8 series designation. Many people never knew an 8 series was offered and ask if it is a new car; which speaks well to its timeless looks.

Performance - This is a big, wide car designed for high speed stability, with a relatively wide turning radius, all of which works well on highways, but it is not as nimble as smaller BMW's on city streets. Adhesion and lack of roll in turns is striking. It has a suspension that can be adjusted for sporty handling.

Acceleration is not blinding off the line, but if you're old enough to be interested in this car you shouldn't be trying to lay rubber anyway. From 40 to up over 100 mph the acceleration can push you back into your seat. It's the only car I've driven which seems to hunker down and become more stable as speed increases.

The interior is lushly finished even by BMW standards, very quiet with large, comfortable seats and every amenity you would expect in a car costing $100K new. The lack of a b pillar makes the car almost like a convertible with the sunroof and windows open.

Purists may differ, but I think the 840 4.4 8 cylinder engine offered the last 18 months of US sales is more practical than the sexier 12 cylinder power plant with which the 8 series was introduced. The 8 cylinder offers almost identical performance, slightly better handling because of a lighter front end, and the immense advantage that it was used in other BMW's (5 and 7 series) so parts are plentiful and mechanics know how to work on it. Ditto the auto/manual transmission and adjustable suspension that were offered the last several years of the model run.

Build quality and reliability are what you would expect from a flagship BMW model; standard repairs are reasonable in price. The later models include a 100K miles no service engine. Moreover, in a ten year old car, the reliability and repair costs are far superior to a comparably rare Bentley, Ferrari, or Maserati.

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)

Faults:

The windshield cracked by a flying stone chip.

Driver seat-back will not fold.

General Comments:

This car is still my favorite car of all. I own 2 BMW's (840 Ci and 330 Xi), 1 Mercedes (C230), and a Porsche (928 S4) and I still love the 840.

Everywhere I go people look at my car in admiration and sometimes actually walk up to see it up close when it is parked.

I keep the car maintained properly and it has not given me too much problems yet. I just wished that BMW would start making them again with the V12 engine with a touch of M or Motor sport.