Vehicle details
Selling on behalf of our client who is downsizing his classic car collection. Kept in a very nice purpose built heated garage. * Low mileage example * Impressive condition * Rare and sought after Final Edition model * Plethora of historical documentation THE APPEAL One of the most iconic BMWs of all time, the E31 was once considered a flagship model for the German marque. This bonkers Bavarian beauty ruled the lineup with its design unlike any other, a hint of the Germans loosening their ties a little bit with pop up headlights, a hardtop body style with no B-pillars, and menacingly good looks. To this day, it remains among the most unique BMWs to ever be created, and with less than 800 in the UK, with around 300 of them being the highly desirable Sport variant, it definitely wouldnt go unnoticed. This example is among the last to be produced being a Final Edition, fitted with the far superior 4.4 Litre V8 M62 engine, offering more torque and much greater reliability than the older 4.0 M60s. It also wears a set of extremely rare 18 OEM Alpina Staggered wheels, M Sport body styling, wing mirrors and suspension. THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK * Originally registered in 1999 * 4 previous owners * All relevant documentation complete * Original owners handbook * Two original keys * Previous MOT, invoices and FSH * Extensive lever arch file of paperwork * Invoices from previous mechanical work * Enthusiast owned * Highly renowned garage used for any service work THE INTERIOR * Black Nappa interior leather * Stunning and iconic floating headrest seats * Sunroof model * Newly fitted period correct Blaupunkt Barcelona Bluetooth head unit with Sat NAV * M Tech steering wheel * Door cards beautifully presented * Original chrome sill plates It cant be denied that the interior of these luxurious Grand Tourers are just as spectacular as the outside. Finished in a stunning black nappa leather, grey carpets. Opening the drivers side door youre greeted with a beautifully presented black nappa leather driver seat in fantastic condition, the leather is very well maintained with very little signs of wear and all of the stitching appears to be intact - not to mention they look bonkers thanks to the floating headrest design which also houses the seat belt, because of this being a pillar-less design. The passenger side seat is very much the same, very little signs of any use and the leather is fantastically kept, bolsters are well presented and the colour remains as it should be. The rear seats show very little sign of any use, as is the case with very many 2+2 style vehicles which leave virtually zero room for anyone who is burdened with having a set of legs. Maybe not a bad thing though, it means the seats will always remain in fantastic form and you have essentially a very well trimmed bit of storage behind the front seats - a win win, maybe. Directly in front of the driver seat, the stunning Alpina badges steering wheel sits with some minor signs of use as youd expect from one of the most tactile areas of any interior, however the leather around the steering wheel looks to be well maintained with just the usual sheen, all of the stitching is intact and the airbag cover is veer well presented with the Alpina emblem. Just behind the wheel, the gauge cluster sits showing a mere 79, 000 miles. No unwelcome warning lights appear on the turnover of the engine, and all the dials work just as you would expect them to. Moving across the dashboard to the centre console a new period-correct Blaupunkt Barcelona head unit has been fitted, and all of the surrounding controls appear in great detail with all of the symbols bright and visible and all of the buttons remaining functional too. Moving down to the floor, all of the carpets appear to be very well presented and in great condition with no apparent rips or tears throughout, they also have retained their colour very well with no fading or dye transfer that we can see. All telltale signs of an extremely well cared for example. The interior of this lavish 8 series is a sight to behold. Beautifully kept leather with all the bells and whistles youd expect from a flagship 90s tourer, its easy to appreciate the craftsmanship and the care that has gone into it over the years past. THE EXTERIOR * Incredible Titan Silver Metallic paintwork * OEM 18 Staggered Alpina Alloys * Straight and true body panels * Pop-up headlights (we all know this is the best bit) * M Sport wing mirrors * Stunning pillar-less design * Alpina badges * Menacing quad exhaust tips Arguably the best bit about the E31 is having the ability to just step back and stare at it. It is among the most iconic and recognisable BMWs ever made, and it still holds that title over 20 years later. Starting at the front of the vehicle, the paintwork appears to be in very good shape for its age with a few spots of surface rust. It of course does have some stone chips as any car does, but aside from that it is well kept. The bumper features small kidney grills - yep, we said small, can you believe it? - and just above the sleek pop-up headlights reside with their own individual bonnet cut outs. The headlights function as they should and the lenses retain no unwelcome cracks or damage, the same can be said for the indicator lights and the fogs mounted in the bumper. Moving around to the side of the vehicle, we get a first glimpse at those extremely rare and sought after 18 Alpina deep dish wheels which appear to be in fantastic condition. The bodywork around the side appears to be in great shape too, the boxy flared arches give the car a wide and aggressive stance, the M Sport wing mirrors accentuate the sleekness of the body lines. To the rear of the lovely E31, the quad exhaust tips remind us that were in the presence of something rather special. The bodywork here is all original, and the paintwork does appear to be in great form for its age. The tail lights are free from any cracks or damage and remain completely functional, and the badges remain in place with great brightwork on the 840 designation. Overall, this is a stunning example of an OEM 840Ci, in beautiful specification. Youll be hard pressed to find one as well sorted as this thanks to being owned by a proper BMW enthusiast. THE MECHANICS * 4.4L V8 M62 Engine * Automatic transmission * 282bhp and 420 Nm of torque * 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds * Maintained with a no-expense-spared attitude * Always taken to a highly renowned German specialist in current ownership * Passed its previous MOT with flying colours Thanks to this example being one of the last, its fitted with the far superior 4.4L M62 rather than the older and weaker 4.0L M60, and also has the better automatic transmission variant. The owner tells us that this vehicle wants for nothing, and is very well sorted. These 8 series are renowned for being an absolute dream to drive, the automatic gearbox is smooth and precise with no unwanted or unwelcome knocks and bangs, the engine produces its power as youd expect it to, sinking you into the seat the further down you push the accelerator pedal, and the suspension is an absolute breeze on long runs - a seriously comfortable and impressive piece of engineering. Sure, it may not have the daddy V12 that featured in the 850, but in all honesty that may actually play in the custodians favour, as the V12 variants were notoriously difficult and eye wateringly expensive to service and maintain. The V8 is a much, much nicer engine to live with, and still produces more than enough power to remain dominant from a set of lights from the majority that pull up beside it. SUMMARY Probably the most un-German German car you can get your hands on. Ludicrously iconic and undeniably beautiful inside and out - they really dont make em like they used to. These E31s have been on the rise in recent years and it doesnt look like its going to stop any time soon. Who cares if you dont have the V12, you dont buy a 90s performance hero because you want to beat Teslas from the lights, you buy it because it looks cool on an unparalleled level. And this, you cant get much cooler.
Vehicle features
- Alarm
- Alloy Wheels
- Anti-Lock Brakes
- Central Locking
- Cruise Control
- Drink Holder
- Driver Airbag
- Electric Windows
- Heated Seats
- Leather Upholstery
- Passenger Airbag
- Power Assisted Steering
- Traction Control
- Vehicle Stability Control
