NMNA: $3k BMW 850i

http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/4884610776.html

That's either a great deal or a complete money pit. Anyone nearby to check it out? We're all 8 series autoboxes?

markwemple wrote: That's either a great deal or a complete money pit. Anyone nearby to check it out? We're all 8 series autoboxes?

Probably a bit of both. A good deal for a BMW mechanic or someone familiar with BMW V12 issues.

All V8 versions (840) were automatics. Most V12 versions were as well, but some (CSi versions) were 6 spds.

Can you run some sort of megasquirt or secondary PCM system on these?

Love them to no end, but holy actual hell it is an electronic nightmare.

More than likely a money pit. Saw one on the road on Tuesday and got excited as they are getting rather rare around here.

Not sure on the electrics but the 4.0 v8 by bmw is far from the best engine. I do love the sound of a v12.

Two batteries, two ECMs on the V12 models, and lots of electronics....fortunately, they seem to hold up okay. Both the V8 and the V12 were available with a 6-speed manual. All CSi's were 6 speed manuals. From what little I've seen, the V12s are generally regarded as more reliable than the V8s. Go figure.

I want one badly.

So much want.

So little willingness to mess with fiddly electronics.

Probably price a little high for a 150k mile version when you consider retail prices for V12 engine swap of even retail diagnostics rates to figure what is really wrong.

Is the door card missing on the driver's door?

If is missing, does tell us that the car was silver before the yellow respray?
The shock towers confirm the factory silver color.

In the right side of the photo above, is that duct tape trying (but failing) to keep the air intake tube in place?

Yes, that's what you want, an 850i maintained with duct tape!
Also good to know that side of the engine is then running basically air filter-less in the sandy, dusty climate of Albiquirky.

It is a decent chassis and very pretty platform for an engine swap... although I'm not aware of any serious issues mechanically. I think people are terrified of the electronics and expensive diagnosis. THere are a few zingers as far as parts go - IIRC it has an internal water pump or maybe it was alternator costing $1200 or so.

Although the V12 uses the same sensors and ECUs as the V6 models - it just has two of them so atleast theoretically it is only as hard to diagnose as an E36 with two engines sharing a crankshaft.

Because it is a BMW there will be an easy route to a manual trans too - they are very good about bolt patterns and mix/match assembly.

All of that said... I've never been under the hood of an 8 series nor a V12 BMW. I just think it's not as scary as it might seem and if it is... it would run no less well with an LS in there at maybe $6k to do the whole swap over with a fresh motor/trans. and really cheap to go the ford 302 route

The manual trans is available, but good luck finding one less than the asking price of that car. LOTS of v12s and autos can be found cheap in the 750's. Sevens never came with manual to my knowledge.

We had a 1997 840i for ~1 year (last year of the 8 series). It was ok, but not particularly engaging on any level other than visual. Certainly didn't feel like a BMW. That said, I thought pretty hard about swapping out the M62 V8 for an S62 V8 that a buddy had laying around. That, plus the accompanying 6-speed, would have made it much more fun.