Description
Offered here is an exceptionally rare and beautifully preserved 1998 BMW 840Ci Sport (E31), finished in stunning BMW Individual Velvet Blue Metallic over Exclusive Nappa Champagne leather with contrasting blue piping. Powered by the superb 4. 4-litre V8 engine and paired with the desirable Sport specification, this is an outstanding example of one of BMW’s most iconic grand tourers.
Originally supplied as a BMW demonstrator vehicle, this car was specified with virtually every available option from new and has remained in remarkably careful ownership ever since. It has had just two private owners from new, with the current owner having cherished the car for more than 24 years.
The E31 8 Series was BMW’s flagship coupe of the 1990s and represented the very peak of the company’s engineering and design capabilities. Hand-built to an incredibly high standard, the E31 combined advanced technology, luxurious comfort and high-speed touring ability in a way few cars of the era could match.
What makes this particular example truly special is its specification. Velvet Blue Metallic is an extremely rare BMW Individual colour, with only 66 examples believed to have been produced worldwide, and this particular interior combination may well be unique. The Exclusive Nappa Champagne leather with blue piping perfectly complements the exterior and gives the cabin a truly bespoke feel rarely seen on any BMW.
This car has clearly benefited from obsessive maintenance throughout its life. It comes complete with extensive service history from new, along with a substantial file of invoices, receipts and maintenance records documenting decades of careful ownership and upkeep.
Mechanically, the car has been thoroughly maintained regardless of cost and drives exactly as an E31 should, smooth, refined and incredibly solid. The 4. 4-litre V8 delivers effortless performance with excellent reliability, making it one of the most desirable engine choices in the E31 range.
In recent years, the car has undergone significant cosmetic and mechanical refreshing, including:
Full glass-out respray to an exceptional standard
Underside refresh and preservation work
Full stainless steel exhaust system
New wheels and tyres
Extensive ongoing maintenance and servicing
The bodywork and paintwork are immaculate, with a deep gloss throughout. Importantly, this car is completely rust-free, something increasingly difficult to find on E31 models today.
The interior presents beautifully and retains all the luxury and sense of occasion that made the 8 Series such a special car when new. As a high-specification demonstrator vehicle, it was fitted with virtually every available option, creating an incredibly luxurious and technologically advanced cabin for the period.
Adding further to the car’s originality and collector appeal, it still retains:
The original unused BMW fire extinguisher
Original first aid kit
Complete original tool kit
Original spare wheel
All original BMW keys supplied from new
Original documentation and books
It is increasingly rare to find an E31 that still retains all of these original items and documentation, further highlighting the level of care and preservation this car has received throughout its life.
The car starts instantly, runs faultlessly and drives beautifully, with no warning lights or known issues. Everything feels tight, refined and properly sorted, exactly as a flagship BMW coupe should.
This is not a tired or neglected example requiring recommissioning. All the expensive work has already been completed, making this an opportunity to purchase one of the rarest and most striking E31s available today, ready to enjoy immediately. The BMW E31 8 Series has become one of the most respected and collectible modern classic BMWs of recent years, and it’s easy to understand why. The shape remains breathtaking today, low, wide and elegant, with the iconic pop-up headlights and pillarless coupe design giving the car an unmistakable presence.
Unlike many E31s finished in more common silver or grey colours, this car immediately stands apart. Velvet Blue Metallic transforms the design completely, highlighting the dramatic body lines and giving the car an unmistakably bespoke appearance. Combined with the Exclusive Champagne leather interior and blue piping, it feels every bit the special-order flagship it was intended to be.
This is the type of specification collectors search years to find. With only 66 Velvet Blue Metallic cars believed to exist worldwide, and the possibility this exact interior combination is one-of-one, it represents an incredibly rare opportunity to own a genuinely unique BMW Individual example.
The E31 was developed during a period when BMW engineering budgets were virtually unlimited. These cars were massively expensive when new and were designed to compete with the very best luxury GT cars in the world. Every aspect of the car reflects that philosophy, from the solidity of the doors and switchgear to the smoothness of the V8 engine and high-speed refinement.
The 840Ci Sport is also regarded by many enthusiasts as the sweet spot of the E31 range. The 4. 4-litre V8 offers excellent performance, smoother reliability and easier ownership compared with the more complex V12 models, while still delivering the effortless grand touring character the 8 Series is famous for.
What makes this car even more desirable is that it has already received the level of investment and maintenance most E31 buyers eventually face themselves. The glass-out respray alone represents a huge undertaking and demonstrates the level of care this car has received. Combined with the rust-free underside, stainless exhaust system and extensive history file, this is an example that can be confidently enjoyed rather than constantly restored.
The fact that it still retains its original unused fire extinguisher, first aid kit, complete toolkit, spare wheel, all original keys and original dealer paperwork is something true collectors will appreciate immediately. These details are often lost over time, but together they help tell the complete story of a carefully preserved and cherished car.
My favourite thing about this car is how special it feels every single time you see it or drive it. It has a genuine sense of occasion that modern cars struggle to replicate. The long bonnet, pillarless windows, rare colour combination and beautifully crafted interior make every journey feel special.
The market for exceptional E31s continues to strengthen, particularly rare Individual cars with low ownership, extensive history and standout specifications. Opportunities to purchase cars of this calibre are becoming increasingly rare.
This is not simply another 8 Series, it is a collector-grade BMW Individual flagship with rarity, provenance, condition and specification that place it in a completely different category from ordinary examples.
