1998 BMW 840 CI Sport

A post-update ‘Sport’ model, this 1998-registered 840ci features the desirable upgraded bodykit that distinguishes the Sport line, enhancing the already attractive and performance-oriented appearance of this E31.

Purchased by our vendor in September 2016 at 148,000 miles, it is evident that this E31 has been fastidiously cared for by both the current and previous owners, as shown by the wealth of dealership and specialist paperwork in the history folder.

During our vendor’s tenure with the car, the following work has been carried out:

The suspension has been significantly overhauled with a mixture of Eibach strings and Bilstein shock absorbers, the thrust arms replaced and new horns fitted (October 2016)

OEM Bavaria Business FM radio casette fitted, along with a bluetooth connectivity device by Chrome of London (November 2017)

Headlight pods refurbished, new headlamp washers fitted, HID light conversion, new stainless steel exhaust, air-conditioning condenser, new fan assembly (February 2018)

New immobiliser and tracker fitted (March 2018)

New front and rear discs, rear callipers, viscous coupling and handbrake shoes (June/July 2018)

Auxiliary heater pump replaced (July 2019)

Brake pipes renewed and waxoyled, washer bottle replaced (April 2020)

Having proven itself to be a reliable and enjoyable car for special occasions, it is clear to see our vendor has carried out a comprehensive ‘recommissioning’ of the car using only quality parts and specialist workshops, with the result being an E31 that is mechanically excellent and also protected from the elements due to being waxoyled underneath, just in case the next owner wishes to enjoy the glorious V8 engine note and styling all year round.

With its rakish, wedge-shaped lines and pillar less design, it’s no wonder the E31 is a style icon, and represents what many feel was the best era for BMW from a design perspective.

This sport model is certainly no exception, with the bodywork in generally excellent order throughout, showing no notable indentations, scuffs, or impact damage that we could see.

The lower edge of the front chin splitter, along with the leading edge of the bonnet/nosecone displays the usual commensurate wear expected from a car with 151,000 miles on the odometer, but overall the bodywork is impressively tidy.

All four wheels are in excellent condition, and show no sign of any kerb grazing or major marks.

As you can see from the photographs, the pop up headlights are in working order, though we did find they intermittently became de-synchronised, resulting in the car ‘winking’ as it drives along with one light up and the other down, and the appropriate error message flagging up on the control system. However, this was apparently remedied by cycling the headlights up and down a couple of times, so this shouldn’t prove to be too much of an issue for the next owner.

Inside, the grey leather interior is in good order for the car’s age and mileage, showing only typical wear-and-tear from years of use and enjoyment - cars are meant to be driven, after all!

The front seats wear the usual deep creases and light cracking to the bases and outer bolsters, though we did not notice any full-on rips or tears to the material, and we reckon the condition would be somewhat improved by a significant feed and conditioning.

The dashboard is in good order with no cracks or sun damage, and as far as we could tell all systems were ship-shape, including the electric sunroof for extra enjoyment on a sunny day.

Whilst we’re looking up, the headliner is in good shape throughout, though there is some light sagging noted on the sunroof panel and around the aperture.

Typically high-traffic areas such as the steering wheel, inner door sills and gear selector show some usage patina, but this is to be expected and is certainly not anything to worry about.

In the rear, the optional blind is present, and the rear seats present in great condition, having likely seen only limited use throughout the years.

Faults? Well, there’s only a couple that we could see, both of which are incredibly minor. The electric adjustment on the driver’s seat appears faulty, in that the height adjustment ‘twists’ the seat, as only one motor is working as it should. The only other problem was that the driver’s seat folding mechanism (to allow access to the rear) is inoperable.

Looking under the stylish bodywork, the waxoyl coating on the chassis has evidently paid dividends, as there is nothing that we could see that sets any alarm bells ringing. The usual ‘bloom’ is visible on areas such as the exhaust system and the exposed suspension components, but that’s about it. The recent MOT - dated 16 March 2021 - also shows no issues, so it’s good news all round!

On our short test drive, we were struck by how ‘tight’ the car felt mechanically - it drove as if it had half, if not a third of the mileage that is displayed on the odometer.

Firing into life with ease and settling into a silky-smooth, refined idle, the car was happy to be left running for extended periods of time, shuffle around and deal with repeated re-starts. On the road, the V8 engine pulls with an impressive vigour and the automatic transmission shifts up-and-down almost without noticing, and the kick-down system works correctly.

The engine bay itself presents in good order, with no immediate signs of any issues that we could see. There are a few traces of older oil leaks and misting, though nothing that was flagged during the most recent MOT exam, nor was there any smell of burning oil, so these are likely to be historical deposits.

The history folder that accompanies this 840ci is impressively in-depth, with a mixture of official BMW service centre and independent specialist documentation, invoices and service stamps.

From new and up until 82,715 miles, the car benefitted from main dealer servicing, and from 92,314 miles to the present, specialist BMW servicing, with the most recent work taking place at 148,827 miles in October 2016.

Alongside servicing records, the car also comes with a significant folder of paperwork, the V5 showing 6 former keepers, a mileage confirmation certificate, full BMW book pack, and old MOT certificates.

Of the aforementioned paperwork and invoices, the most important in recent years is from August 2015, showing the replacement of the timing chain tensioner, alongside the fitment of new brake pads, alternator, spark plugs, fan belt and an oil service.

Timelessly elegant, wonderfully stylish and with a sonorous V8 soundtrack, it is no wonder the E31 840ci is so widely revered to this day, in particular the kitted-out Sport model such as the one we have here. Hit in period by oil crisis’ and recession, good E31s are hard to come by, and this example is wonderfully honest.

Mechanically excellent and presented in very good condition throughout with room for some light aesthetic fettling and improvement should the next owner wish to do so, this is an excellent and usable example of the wedge-shaped E31 840ci Sport. As such, we estimate a value of £11,000 to £15,000, so be sure to place your bids and cross your fingers - good luck!

Viewing is always encouraged, and as stated this car is located at THE MARKET HQ near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’