1995 BMW 840ci

The V8-equipped 840Ci like the one you see here arrived in 1993. Fitted with the M60B40 four-litre V8, it was lighter than the 850 and only 14bhp shy of the V12’s 300bhp, which kept performance on much of a par. It’s a characterful engine too, as well as being cheaper to buy and run. Buying one over an 850 is, as they say, a bit of a no-brainer. 

This Hellrot example was built in April 1995. Fitted with the five-speed automatic gearbox, it’s an option that suits the car’s grand touring nature better than the six-speed manual everyone thinks they want.

The seller bought ‘M440 TBL’ from his brother 14 months ago, after he in turn had bought it from us back in July 2021 - and it came to him via a chap who’d had it in his private collection for six years. 

The brothers have had it for a couple of years now, and the vendor tells us they’ve enjoyed their time with it, going on to explain it fulfilled a lifelong dream of his and has been “awesome” to drive. 

The panels are free of ripples, dinks, dents, and other damage and they align as well now as they’ve ever done with mm-perfect shutlines. This includes the metal sunroof, which fits the aperture well and opens and closes at the press of a button.

The Hellrot (which is a great name for a colour, even if it does only translate to ‘Bright Red’…) paintwork gleams magnificently and is a testament to both BMW’s build quality and the car’s subsequent curation; if you didn’t know any better you could be forgiven for mistaking it for a car that’s only a few years old rather than one that is well over a quarter of a century.

The pop-up headlamps aren’t just very of-the-period, they also rise and fall as they should. You can guarantee that they, like the rest of the light lenses, wouldn’t be cheap to replace so you’ll be pleased to hear they’re all in good shape.

The silver BBS-style alloy wheels are in fine fettle too, being free of scrapes, scuffs and other signs of neglect and abuse. Further proof of their fastidiousness comes with the news they are fitted with four new Nankang Sportnex tyres, with 275/40R17 being fitted to the rear and 235/45R17 on the front.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

All of this means there really isn’t too much to worry about. There is some slight bubbling near the offside headlamp, the BMW badge on the bonnet has seen better days, and the lacquer is peeling slightly on the nearside edge of the boot aperture. 

The black ruched leather interior is very early 1990s in design and in a very good condition, which is just about all you could ask of your modern classic, isn’t it?

Well, we suppose you could add a period carphone to your wish list, in which case you’re in luck because it’s got a lovely (presumably non-functional) Panasonic jobbie fitted between the front seats. 

It’s still got the original BMW Business headunit too, which is a lovely thing to see as it’s a proper Old School cassette-player, albeit with a CD multichanger in the (nicely preserved) boot.

Further period touches include fold-out cupholders in the glovebox. Really only any use when the car is at a standstill, they date from a time when we were still capable of travelling to work without having to ingest copious quantities of low-fat, artificially sweetened caffeine beverages to sustain us on our journey. 

(Mind you, many of the original owners would have been foolish to allow the police to conduct a forensic examination of any of the 8 Series’ flat surfaces back-in-the-day, so #swingsandroundabouts, eh?)

Getting back to basics, the front leather seats are gently creased but no more. Electrically adjustable, they’re as comfortable as they are supportive and just the place to be if you need to knock off a continent before breakfast.

As you’d expect, the rear seats are in an even better condition. Deeply sculpted, ultra-snug and positively cocoon-like, they’re perfectly formed and in terrific shape.

As are the carpets, door cards, dashboard, instruments and controls; this is a car that was designed to crack a six-figure mileage without breaking sweat, so this one’s 60,000 miles have barely touched it.

That said, if we’re being picky the headlining is starting to come away at the top of the windscreen and is a little worn around the sunroof aperture. 

The BMW’s service and maintenance record is fulsome and recorded as follows:

20.05.1998 and 13,365 miles - service including fresh brake fluid by North Oxford Garage BMW

12.06.2000 and 20,348 miles - service including fresh brake fluid by North Oxford Garage BMW

19.08.2003 and 29,788 miles - service including fresh brake fluid by North Oxford Garage BMW

21.06.2005 and 37,392 miles – service including fresh brake fluid by North Oxford Garage BMW

27.09.2007 and 42,376 miles – service by M&T Autos

09.04.2016 and 57,987 miles – service by Classico Cars

12.06.2018 and 58,874 miles – service by Classico Cars

18.06.2021 and 59,144 miles – new brake hoses by Performance and Motorsport

04.08.2021 and (unknown) miles – new front brake discs and pads, new oil and filter, and a new air filter

03.08.2022 and 59,588 miles – four new Nankang Sportnex tyres fitted plus the front brake caliper was refurbished. It was also given an oil and filter change, a new fuel filter, and a replacement rubber fuel hose by Sutherland Cars

31.10.2022 and 59,588 miles – new ABS pump fitted by Sutherland Cars

It’s had new rear dampers fitted during the brothers’ tenure, too.

With five yellow lights illuminated, it’ll be due a service soon, so you might like to factor that into your bidding strategy.

As for the condition of the engine bay, the V8 engine is snugged in so tightly you’d think the car had been constructed around it. It looks terrific in there and not just because it’s been so beautifully maintained. 

The underside looks strong. It’s had some attention to things like corroded brake pipes – and the exhausts look like they’ll be due for changing in the medium-term - but no MoT tester has ever mentioned structural corrosion, which will be a relief.

The 840’s MoT certificate is valid until August 2024 and it was gained with no advisories. Mind you, it’s managed that feat a lot over the years…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and it comes with two sets of keys and a bundle of paperwork in addition to the book pack and well-stamped service history booklet.

The seller is selling the car as is with a known starter motor issue, although it does start 8 out of 10 times. 

Cars like this offer the classic car enthusiast modern-car performance and dynamics allied to the iconic looks we all crave in our four-wheeled toys – and for anyone who was a teenager in the eighties and nineties, the BMW 8 Series was one of those cars you couldn’t ever imagine being able to afford to buy. 

Which means now might be the perfect time to treat yourself to the motoring icon you never thought you’d own? Especially given their modern classic status should mean minimal depreciation…

Which brings us to the thorny issue of what we think it’s going to fetch.

Our best estimate is somewhere between £15,000 and £20,000 and with the upper figure being what the seller’s brother paid for it two years ago, if it achieves that, that’s free motoring.

Still think you can’t afford one?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.