mrvent

It took me a at least the first 5000 km to really understand the BMW M3 Exhaust power, braking and handling under my control. I started out driving it like my previous 3 series, but with the occassional squirt of hard cornering or acceleration. The turning point was the BMW Performance/ Safety driving course that my wife and I took. Serious grin factor from that moment on, though clearly we had both loved the car prior to that.

We both find the 6 speed gearboxhas a notch from 1 to 2 unless you adopt a a more aggressive acceleration approach. Who wouldn’t, with 333 horses at your command.

I agree with others here that the Dynamic Stability Control saves you a little too early, but once I felt comfortable, the dash button allows traction control defeat for serious tail wagging and yet still saves me from myself in the wet.

The Sport setting instantly transforms this sleeper into a snarling beast, apparently remapping the computer for spirited driving.

Of course, the big brakes and surefooted handling are always there, whether ambling to the grocery store or screaming through hairpin turns.

Totally reliable.

Car gets lots of attention as it’s not a common sight.

Very good performance from 5.4 litre V12. Reasonable fuel consumption for such a large, big-engined car, about 21 mpg average.

Weighs almost 2 tonnes fully fueled.

Not a sports car, but a fast luxury tourer able to cover great distances at high average speeds in comfort due to good ride quality, comfortable seats, very low wind noise, low engine noise and low BMW 850 Exhaust System noise.

But nice to use also for just popping out to the shops.

Back seats useless except for small children or packages.

Very little roll, secure handling.

Superbly built and finished.

Cost new was huge, but rapid depreciation means they were a half-price bargain after 2 years.

Lack of B post gives spacious open feel to car.

Unable to drive faster than 120 kph with windows down as they automatically close at this speed.

Large trunk, contains 2 batteries, one each side. Probably to achieve 50:50 weight distribution.

Front windows automatically and instantly drop-down about half an inch when the door handle is lifted so they clear the peculiar rigid door seal surround, but this can be a pain in winter if they freeze up with frozen rain.

Doors are long and very heavy so parking in normal car parks can make exit/entry awkward.

This was bought as a second car, but ended up being used most of the time.

Most people don’t know it’s a BMW until they see the badge.

Shape of front end is long, low & sleek, but back end looks like it was tacked on from a 3 Series.

The odd styling, high price and impractical configuration probably was the reason for poor sales, only 30,000 in 10 years and motoring journalists compared it unfavourably with the old 6 Series.

Engine, gearbox and some front brake & suspension parts are common to the BMW750.

If buying, get it checked out by an expert as repair costs are very high.

The Jaguar E-Type was not appreciated so much in its time as it is now and this car will be the same. A future classic.

3004 were shipped to the UK.

A GT with timeless style.

After driving a BMW 5-series up to 200k miles for work, I decided it was time for a new get around car. I researched cars for months before zeroing on the 8-series. My criteria? I was looking for a coupe that not everyone else had. A sleek aggressive car that would have any car enthusiast do a double take while I’m driving by, or when its parked by it’s lonesome. Something unique and something elegant. An understated exotic, allowing me to be seen driving around on a daily basis, while still allowing me to be approachable versus pretentious. A car that delivers an exhilarating driving experience each time I get in the car. The right amount of comfort, sport, sound, and speed. This car is such a perfect fit for my broad expectations.

I selected the V8 (be aware of the Nikosil issue when shopping, but this has worked itself out by now) over the V12 from the chats I had with my mechanic. He had done work on both, but pointed out the limp home mode on the V12 would be just a bit more expensive on repairs at times. Even though the cars are inexpensive to acquire… it should be understood that this was an $80k – $100k vehicle brand new. The repair bills are for a car in that price range versus the low acquisition cost of today. You should plan on an average of $2500 a year in maintenance to keep your car in top running condition. I have spent in the last two years an average of $3500, when combining recent BMW 840Ci Engine Parts modifications to much needed maintenance on a car going over the 100k mark (135,000 miles and still going).

While it’s been said (and I agree) that everyone should own a V12 once in their life, for a daily driver this was not that time for me. 8-series V12 owners do look over their nose a bit at a V8 owner… but not too much.

The 8-series community is very tight. Numerous get togethers, tech tips, parts sharing – just overall incredible support. We help each other check out cars in other areas, diagnose common problems, and wrench on each others cars if necessary. I just had an 8 member stay at my home overnight on his way through to deliver an 8 to a new owner in the bay area of California… not uncommon in the 8-series community. There is an honest lamenting from time to time on my choice of V8 over V12, but the V8 does has a few personal advantages over the V12, making the V8 the right choice for me.

I recently completed a custom exhaust for my 840ci. Both the V12 and V8 are very quiet, but the V8 will produce much more of a roar when “asked” over the V12. My new exhaust intensifies the sound and the feeling.

That V12 is soooo quiet and smooth you could balance a coin on the block while it’s running. That would not be possible with the V8 – that is a plus for me, because I like to feel and hear what I am driving. While it is not lost on the V12, it is just a bit subdued in comparison to the V8.

Base horsepower for the V8 is 282 (US model) vs. 322 for the equal year on a V12. I recently chipped mine and according to reports should have mine @ 322 bhp (wokke chip) with 354lbs of torque – I have not done a Dyno test, but there was no doubt about the significant difference I felt (especially at the lower rpms where the 8-series is traditionally pretty soft).

The torque on these cars is what gets these cars moving to ultra smooth and effortless speeds of 150mph+. This car is at 2500rpms when going 80mph… the car is just waiting to do even more! I just don’t believe you could find something as silky smooth and comfortable on the open road, that is this capable of high speeds.

Other advantages on a V8 over the V12, would be the easier wrenching, less frequent problems, and modifications tend to be more inexpensive. I understand gas mileage is about the same for both (17mpg around town and 22mpg on the freeway for me), and overall they look identical until you peek under the hood. For a daily driver… the V8 is perfect for me. For someone considering a weekend car, then I would highly recommend the V12.

Some other things about this car – it is very fast, but not so quick. Off the line this car is sluggish, but once you hit 35mph hitting the step-down in sport mode… this car will push you back in your seat and pull a smile on your face! Windows automatically go up at 96mph. It’s rumored that sunroof closes at 135mph. Passing other cars is NEVER a problem and they know when I am doing it! My car is set-up with 18” staggered wheels, chipped, and custom exhaust. Near future includes, CSI sway bars, and a 3.64 LSD.

I shamelessly look for reasons to drive this car on the back roads of California. This super heavy car (about 4000lbs) is not great handling on the twisties, because it was designed to be an Autobahn car, but it is fast and will turn heads everywhere you go. People often give me thumbs up on the road, talk to me when I am pulled over, leave notes on the car, and openly gawk at the car when they believe I am not around. I can’t help but turn around for one last look each time I park and begin to walk away.

My daughters ask me to drop them off in front of the school vs. around the corner, so they can be seen in the car everyone around town knows belongs to our family. This predatory looking grand tourer gets attention and lots of it. It simply has timeless looks, comfort, and unabashed speed.

My very near additional car will be a V8 Vantage. I intend to keep my 840ci for many years to come. I love the unique look and the silky smooth ride. The BMW 8-series was truly designed and sold a decade before its time. When my daughter is old enough, I intend to have her drive the 840ci. Before you gasp… think about this concept for a man with beautiful daughters - this car is built like a Panzer Tank, will not be able to smoke tires from a light, and has no room whatsoever for getting too close with a boy who would most certainly want to be in this car with her versus his own!

Build quality is superb for the car’s age. After 17 years of exposure to harsh winter driving conditions (with road salt), the car has NO rust. The doors still close with a solid thunk, helping continue the feeling of a substantial car. It’s as close to driving in a bank vault on wheels as you will find.

The interior is great, with exception of the headliner (a known issue on ALL 740 and 760 models). The seats provide excellent support, have great built in heaters, and ensure that you’ll never tire after a day of heavy driving.

The drivetrain is the venerable b230ft, a variant of Volvo’s rock solid red block motors. The turbo adds a generous amont of power, while not making as large an impact on fuel economy as you would expect. It’s a simple motor that is also a non interference engine so if the timing belt snaps, there will be no worries about any engine damage.

The BMW 760i Tie Rod and suspension are excellent. The tight steering radius found in all rear wheel drive Volvos ensure that the car is much more maneuverable than most cars, even smaller cars have trouble coming close. The ride is smooth and sure. It’s very comfortable and composed, which makes living with it on a day to day basis easier.

Everything under the hood is so compact already, on the standard car, that such an installation, adding twin-turbos, looks impossible to me.

I would like to be proved wrong, by being given a link to photos on the web, for example, but since there is no mention of power increase, turbo-boost pressures or performance figures, I think this review is a fake.

The standard car is already so fast that modifying doesn’t really make sense, unless you just go for the Alpina version with BMW 750iL Driveshaft .

Turbocharging would require the use of a lower compression ratio, so new pistons would be required.

No, I’m 99% sure this is a made-up review.

This car is the most luxurious, comfortable and powerful car that I have ever driven, leave alone owned, although I’ve been a car enthusiast all my life. It handles like a sports car and accelerates like a dragster while still having ample space for 5 grownups and luggage. All goodies you can think of and then some.

You can drive 500km without stopping if you want to and feel completely fresh afterwards. The car doesn’t wear you out at all.

No speed feels like anything, tried the top speed of about 260km/h which was the only time I’ve felt worried in this car… Even then I was just worried that I might hit a moose in the dark night…

The combination of LSD and ASC+T is VERY good in winter driving. It skids only for about 15-20cm sideways so that you realize you’re slipping and then just stops skidding.

The car is really economical considering that it IS a 2000kg car with a BMW 750 Driveshaft and 5-litre V-12. The engine produces a whopping 350Nm from the stall speed on so you seldom really need to push it.

But nevertheless these cars apparently weren’t designed to last over 10 years, the car keeps breaking up at least once-twice a month. Even though none of the problems have left me on the side of the road, the astronomical cost of parts make it very difficult even for a DIY enthusiast to cope with the costs. I would have a lot better use for my time and especially for my money.

I’ve spent 5000 euros this year in parts while trying to fix the car at a faster pace than it breaks up and yet it’s currently at the tranny shop. As a comparison my wife’s 20 year old e30 beater has required just a 25 euro water pump in the same time.

I’m fed up, I’m selling it and buying a brand new Honda or something. It’s too bad because I have nothing but good to say about other BMW models and I do really love this one also - despite the problems and the unbearable cost of keeping it.

This is my third E38 7 series, a good car that is on the whole built well. The car is quite economical on fuel, but is very expensive to maintain, much more so than my partners 1996 Mercedes S280.

Main dealers attitudes do vary, I travel 20 miles to a very helpful one even though there is one under a mile from my house.

Very easy to drive with an excellent BMW 740 Driveshaft . A good specification which can me made endless with a few extra pounds.

Can be made to perform like a racer when the mood prevails, but also makes journeys pass unflustered for hours on end.

A Highly recommended Luxo-Barge.

I get to drive a lot of cars, but can’t wight to get in to my 735 arfter a days work. The BMW 735 Brake Booster is very solid and works very well. The gear box is very smoth and the engine is just running in. It has handling to match newer cars and will out preform them as well. I will never sell as it is so good to drive and becoming very rear.

This is an excellent car. So good that I’ve decided to drive it in Canadian winters for the first time in its 20 year life. Very stable on snow and ice. I used to drive this car only in summers, depending on our Chrysler and Acura during the winter. When I’m not driving the BMW I miss BMW 733i Brake Booster   immensely and as soon as I get back into it for a long cruise I immediately understand why. Very comfortable and reliable as long as you stay on top of small things that crop up due to the cars age. Still drives and handles better than a lot of new cars I’ve driven.

First car, and one hell of a car at that. Turns heads all the time. Needs some BMW 635 Auto Body Parts work. No corvette, but still has enough to get it going pretty quick. The Auto box can make for very boring driving sometimes, but I am nonetheless very satisfied. I would not think twice about dumping several thousand into it.