by "DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
Published 12/01/2017 at 18:55
by "DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
Published 12/01/2017 at 18:55
Tags: The Search for the Weekend Car
STARS: 3
When I saw this morning that Hoovie had added yet another stupid purchase to his long line of hoopties, I thought he’d gone insane. An 850 for so cheap is not just a stupid idea, it’s a death wish. But as he went over his new gem, I slowly realized that he wasn’t an insane idiot, but rather an evil genius.
I do believe that most if not all car enthusiasts have had second thoughts about the 8 Series. It’s a crazy testament to how driven the engineers in my ancestral home country once were, and every time I see one, I can’t help but tear up at its sensual, simplistic, yet sexy lines. And with the 8 Series nameplate making a return soon, I see these old units becoming more and more desirable.
So, as Hoovie finished his spiel, I hopped on Autotrader to find that 850s, while rare, are not nearly as expensive as I’d previously feared. Of course, the lower mileage ones are about the price of a gently used 2 Series, and the Uber-rare 850CSI is nearing 100 Grand, but the thought that I could get one for under 20 Grand gave me some hope. Of course, it won’t be as reliable as a comparable SC400, but being that it’s a pre-VANOS car as Hoovie mentioned, I have hope.
What are your thoughts Oppo? Good idea or bad?
"Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)" (galileo-humpkins)
12/01/2017 at 18:56, STARS: 0
Great idea. One of my top 5 favorite cars of all time.
"TractorPillow" (tractorpillow)
12/01/2017 at 19:06, STARS: 0
Almost bought one once, but owner want d way too much and wouldn’t negotiate. He probably saved me more money in the long run. One of the only BMWs id ever want one.
"sony1492" (sony1492)
12/01/2017 at 19:07, STARS: 0
Not entirely relevant: The sc’s not exactly a high bar for reliablility. It probably won’t strand you but it will definitely break.(driveshaft bushing disc things, the entire interior, maf sensors, suspension bushings)
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
12/01/2017 at 19:08, STARS: 0
I’m prepared for a lot of these.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
12/01/2017 at 19:12, STARS: 0
I’d never advocate buying a car to never drive, but an 850 makes a ton of sense for something that will only comeback out every once in a while. I only see these going up in price. If you can get one that is running well and enjoy driving it 1 or 2 thousand miles a year to keep from racking up too much in the way of repairs it will probably be worth more in 10 years when it does start to be a true headache to maintain.
"CompactLuxuryFan" (compactluxury)
12/01/2017 at 19:28, STARS: 0
20 grand??! Can’t you get like 10 same-era 7 series for that much?
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
12/01/2017 at 20:42, STARS: 0
The last time we saw one of these (recently), the bill to put it right was $10,000. It was admittedly a really bad one, but that should tell you something.
"Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle" (1500sand535)
12/01/2017 at 21:18, STARS: 0
I’ve thought a couple times about an 8 series but never have my bank account and some crap box coincided to the extent that it’s been serious. But to be honest, let’s say I had 10,000 (I don’t know what Hoovie spent), and I was set on something from BMW that was as sophisticated as it was sporty, I’d be inclined to see if my budget could get an S motor or even a V8 in a E24 with a stick. Which, I think it could. I’d prefer that route, not as special as an 8 but iconic and a safer bet.
"deprecated account" (savethei4s)
12/02/2017 at 00:51, STARS: 0
Find a salvage one and junkyard LS/T56 swap it. Boom. Reliability issues solved. In all seriousness though, it seems like the SC would be a much wiser use of your money.
"NYankee1927" (nyankee1927)
12/02/2017 at 15:58, STARS: 0
This car made my medium (not short) list when I was looking. I basically came to the conclusion it is an awesome GT car, but the cost of the car is the least you will ever spend on it. Be prepared for very boutique maintence that easily goes above 5k. Otherwise I think it is a timeless gem that will only go up in price.