Steve Mitchell <steve@bfcomponents.enta.net>
Hi
Just read the 8 series review and agree almost entirely but as they've now stopped making them I guess its all rather irrelevant!
I've owned over the past 4 years an XK8..XJR and now the 840Ci...
The first of the bunch was an Oct 96 XK8 with all the associated early production ' lets get the customer' to tell us what's wrong problems. Headlights filled with water, wheels needed replacing twice, paint squiffy etc etc..
XJR V8 was great fun if a little flimsy and gave me 70000 almost trouble free miles...Usual terrible tyre wear problems which Jaguar acknowledge is a problem..but would they help me after tyre was down to the metal braiding in 7000 miles? NO!!! And that was on the fronts..
Anyway to the 840...Yes totally outclassed by nearly all around it...Nissans..Toyotas..Mercs...Jags..you name it...But doing over 50000 miles a year there has been no car up to now that will sit so steadily on the motorways mile after mile ...Feels like its been built from solid iron...unlike the Jags which felt like a midnight raid on the Fiestas parts bin...
All the best
I may only be a young 18 year old BMW enthusiast, although I have never driven a BMW I know there is no other car on the market that could live up to the style and grace of the 840 Ci. After reading one of the reactions to the review of the BMW 8 series I have just found out that this model has been taken out of production, I am shocked, how could BMW do this. The 8 series is one of the most sophisticated, best looking cars in the world and I would like to know why BMW have done this. The 8 series is a car for the individual and I have dreamed of owning one ever since I was 10. Now this dream seems distant and unrealistic and this frustrates me as I haven't ever heard a bad word held against the 8 series. Perhaps someone could enlighten me as to why they have been taken out of production!
LIAM YEKTA <liamyekta@vanehill.freeserve.co.uk>
Enjoyed
the article. I'm hunting one now for the last 6 months in the States.
(New York to be exact.) Came across a 1997 with 25,000 miles but could
not pull the trigger! The colour was a dark green, with a light grey interior! Horrible, killed the look. Maybe the saddle brown or
dark grey would have worked, but light grey? YUK
Recently spotted the bright red with the saddle, it was exquisite. I
think I'm leaning towards the Silver
Bossman
I own a '97 "M" Seies, residing in Japan. This is
absolutely the finest
production car I have ever driven. It is an "everyday" car that does
whatever you demand of it without hesitation. Fuel economy is terrible in
the city, but makes up for it a bit with a highway performance. It is as
solid as a block of granite at all speeds. It is comfortable, reliable and
it performs. Unlike most of the other BMW models, it actually looks like it
was designed by an artist and not an German engineer!
I have been considering a 1996 N plate 840 with 38000 miles. The car has the motor sport mirrors, front, rear and side skirts along with the two piece motor sport wheels. It is in a dark blue metallic with black leather. It looks stunning but I cannot commit to it because I have been unable to find enough information about running costs.
Your article helped but have you any more specific information on mpg for motorway style driving and servicing costs. BMW or a specialist??