Well guys in my best efforts to keep my car up and running I need to do some research:
1. Instrument Cluster
Can I fix the gas gauge by itself ( reads wrong) or do I need a whole new unit?

2. Where is a good place to buy the stock shock struts? Can I reuse the inplace springs/coils?

3. A good brake upgrade kit for better stronger brakes?

I am sure I can find some on my own but I want to go with the experience everyone has here online.

Well guys in my best efforts to keep my car up and running I need to do some research:
1. Instrument Cluster
Can I fix the gas gauge by itself ( reads wrong) or do I need a whole new unit?

2. Where is a good place to buy the stock shock struts? Can I reuse the inplace springs/coils?

3. A good brake upgrade kit for better stronger brakes?

I am sure I can find some on my own but I want to go with the experience every has online.

1. I am not sure. Probably a new unit.

2. Probably the Dealer. A lot of us have switched to Bilstein Sport shocks. You can reuse the springs if you like. Some of us have gone to either aftermarket or CSi springs. (Scroll to the bottom) (http://picasaweb.google.com/Ahmed303Laurel/The840#)

3. The best brake upgrade kit would be the Euro CSi floating rotor system. The Stock Brembo that comes with the 840 are good upgrade as well.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/Ahmed303Laurel/RkDxnFAKkNI/AAAAAAAAAPI/IXANxxHBLTE/s576/spring58.jpg

HTH.

to one...you can take out single components and switch them.
i still have a gas gauge laying around if that is what you need.
but i would check the sending units first.

Suggestions anyone?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-850Ci-850i-90-91-92-93-94-95-96-97-REAR-ROTOR-PAD_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33564QQihZ007QQitem Z170267854930#ht_2405wt_0

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-850Ci-850i-90-91-92-93-FT-D-S-ROTORS-CERAMIC-PADS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33564QQihZ007QQite mZ170267854943#ht_2405wt_0

In your case lightarms brakes are the one of the last things you should be looking at. If your pads are shot and/or the rotors grooved by all means replace for safety, but E31 brakes are pretty dang good right out of the box. IIRC rear calipers (except CSI Faisal mentioned) are the same. Hunt for a set of 4 piston Brembos from the 840 fronts. Dunno why the 850s didn't get'm. If the Brembos are shot then Wuffer now has rebuild kits available for $75/side. Put on a set of plated drilled rotors all around for a little bling and be done with it. If you're lucky you could do the whole deal for around $650.

i know it's cool and tempting but i know at least 30 things you should look at
first before even thinking of brake upgrades.

as an example.
-the cable running to the alternator from the battery post.
i looked at the one from the parts car and even that one has cracks in the insulation.
the lead from that connects the engine and the body is most likely shot as well.
(on the parts car i could just peal of the insulation with my fingers. it gets all mushy from oil and stuff.
-check the engine and transmission mounts.
from above it looked like both mounts of the parts car were in good shape and i could just leave em on and use them on the old car. but when i lfted that mofo.
i saw that the driver side mount was a goner. since a long time... there was sand inside the mount and zero fluid.

Hunt for a set of 4 piston Brembos from the 840 fronts. Dunno why the 850s didn't get'm. If the Brembos are shot then Wuffer now has rebuild kits available for $75/side. Put on a set of plated drilled rotors all around for a little bling and be done with it. If you're lucky you could do the whole deal for around $650.

The Euro version E32-750 actually had 4 piston callipers as well (from '92 onwards IIRC).
Since lightarm is in Germany there is a fair chance to find a used set but IMO they are just an optical upgrade since disk size is the same.

http://static.bmwfans.info/images/epc/NDY5NTFfcA==.png

A possible update would be the 345mm rotors incl. callipers from the E34-M5 3.8 which is the same as on the E31-850CSi AFAIK.
MANDATORY IMO are stainless steel braided brake hoses and should be the first step when a brake upgrade is considered.
I've been playing a lot with brake upgrades on my various BMWs and this is the modification that gave me what I was looking for - at a very reasonable price !!!.

Cheers
Wolf

Suggestions anyone?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-850Ci-850i-90-91-92-93-94-95-96-97-REAR-ROTOR-PAD_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33564QQihZ007QQitem Z170267854930#ht_2405wt_0 (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=3&campid=5335818596&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Febaymotors%2FBMW-850Ci-850i-90-91-92-93-94-95-96-97-REAR-ROTOR-PAD_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33564QQihZ007QQitem Z170267854930%23ht_2405wt_0)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-850Ci-850i-90-91-92-93-FT-D-S-ROTORS-CERAMIC-PADS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33564QQihZ007QQite mZ170267854943#ht_2405wt_0 (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=3&campid=5335818596&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Febaymotors%2FBMW-850Ci-850i-90-91-92-93-FT-D-S-ROTORS-CERAMIC-PADS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33564QQihZ007QQite mZ170267854943%23ht_2405wt_0)

Go for ZIMMERMANN drilled rotors. Those at least don't warp and you probably know how sensitive the front axle is. Avoid any experiments with rotors.

Cheers
Wolf

...-the cable running to the alternator from the battery post.
i looked at the one from the parts car and even that one has cracks in the insulation.
the lead from that connects the engine and the body is most likely shot as well.
(on the parts car i could just peal of the insulation with my fingers. it gets all mushy from oil and stuff.


This is what engine fires are made of...

Go for ZIMMERMANN drilled rotors. Those at least don't warp and you probably know how sensitive the front axle is. Avoid any experiments with rotors.

Cheers
Wolf

Go with the Zimmermann, I had 2 sets of BREMBOS that were warped - no problem with the Zimmermann's - worth every penny (and they aren't much more than the BREMBOS)

This is what engine fires are made of...

if someone knows it's you, I guess


Go with the Zimmermann, I had 2 sets of BREMBOS that were warped - no problem with the Zimmermann's - worth every penny (and they aren't much more than the BREMBOS)

They can be found on ebay in Germany for almost every car. €126,- for a set of non drilled 324mm.

bought mine on US Ebay for $279 for a set (front & rear) of cross-drilled Zimmermanns

where can I find upgraded calipers for the 850 that are not part of a whole brake kit?

One (pretty important) thing to keep in mind is that the braking system for our cars is already plenty strong - unless you are tracking the car the reasons for upgrading are basically for the bling factor. (This is straight from my 8 mechanic)

When you say "upgraded calipers that are not part of a whole brake kit", what parts are you hoping to avoid buying? Rotors? Pads?
Probably the least expensive "upgrade" (I've got 'em too, so I'm allowed to use the quotes :) is the 4-pot calipers from an 840. You'll need different pads, but the stock rotors can be made to work just fine. Drop Wuffer a line and see if he might have a set in stock-

bought mine on US Ebay for $279 for a set (front & rear) of cross-drilled Zimmermanns

what a steal. Too bad that the shipping cost from US to Germany is a deal killer most of the time.