Highlights
- Factory specification
- Fully resprayed in 2018
- Very good history
- 92,004 miles indicated
- 4-litre V8 drivetrain
The Appeal
In the mid 80s, BMW decided that they needed a successor to their venerable 6-series GT. The answer was the 8-series and, although it didn’t reach customers until 1990, it was and remains a truly desirable sporting grand tourer.
This pre-facelift example is fitted with the deliciously creamy four-litre V8, the perfect way to burble smoothly from one country to the next without a care in the world. Add in this car’s excellent history, extensive recent mechanical and cosmetic work, and of course those iconic pop-ups, and you have a truly brilliant car that would happily grace any driveway, garage or collection.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in August 1996
- Pre-facelift car
- Five owners from new
- 92,004 miles indicated, confirmed by the service and MOT record
- Comprehensive service history, with nine stamps in the book - the latest at 91,496 miles in October 2019
- An invoice is present for a brake inspection and full service in May 2022
- Current MOT to May 2023
- Large history file, with numerous maintenance and service invoices
- Complete with the owner’s handbooks and two keys
The Interior
- Light grey leather upholstery is in overall good order, with some light creasing/cracking to the front seats, and a slight split in the driver’s seat outer bolster
- The sculpted rear seats present very well, with minimal evidence of wear
- Complementing the grey leather is a light grey carpet to the cabin and boot area, which looks in good condition with no major staining we could see
- Medium grey floor mats are present and look to be in fine fettle
- Electric steel sunroof, windows and door mirrors
- Electrically adjustable front seats, with three-memory function to the driver’s side
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Original BMW radio/cassette system with boot-mounted 6CD changer
- Trip computer
- Cruise control
- All of the trim and switchgear looks to be in nice condition, with light blemishes and signs of use commensurate with the vehicle’s age and mileage
- In the glove box, there are two cupholders and the original emergency torch is present
- There are some scuffs to the door pocket on the driver’s door
- The light grey headlining appears to be nice and secure, with no damage or staining that we could identify
- Spacious boot is in fine condition and includes a full-size spare and toolkit
The Exterior
- Glorious 317 Orient Blue Metallic paintwork, in very good condition, with just a few minor blemishes and swirls that would easily polish out
- There are a couple of minor scuffs to the front bumper
- Fully resprayed by JC Autobody of Surrey in June 2018, with three coats of colour and two coats of clear – new front wing and front grilles fitted at the same time
- ‘Pillarless’ coupé design with nicely blistered arches
- All the bodywork and external trim looks to be in very good condition, with no signs of notable corrosion and no damage observed by us
- BBS ‘Style 5’ split-rim 17-inch alloy wheels, presented in good order, wrapped in a matched set of Falken tyres that appear to have good tread levels
- Pop-up headlamps and integrated headlamp washers
- A new heated rear screen was professionally fitted in March 2019
- Underneath, the car presents very well indeed, being clean and straight, with no signs of damage or corrosion apparent
The Mechanics
- 3,982cc V8 ‘M60’ engine, delivering 282hp to the rear wheels
- Five-speed automatic transmission with ‘Sport’ and ‘Ice’ modes
- Traction control, ABS and PAS
- The engine bay is nice and tidy, with no signs of leaks or overheating that we could discern
- There is some paint bubbling and peeling to the heads, which have been painted gold
- In 2018 many new suspension components were fitted, including: new Bilstein dampers all round, lower control arms, trailing arms and bushes, top mounts front and rear and the anti-roll bar bushes front and rear
- Excellent service record and good MOT history
Summary
With its sleek, thick-hipped, pillarless design and excellent period detailing, this 8-series is a true design classic. This example has clearly been cherished and cared for too, with invoices detailing huge amounts of maintenance and servicing work over the years.
We think it would make for a most excellent companion, whatever the journey may be.
We think it would make for a most excellent companion, whatever the journey may be.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
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