Afternoon,

Thought it was time I registered and said hello. My name's Steve, I'm from the UK and have had my 840 Ci since last August. I got it relatively cheap knowing that it needed a bit of work to get it to the standard I wanted it to be at.

Anyway, here are a couple of piccies:

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v375/83/20/501689132/n501689132_872387_9508.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v375/83/20/501689132/n501689132_872388_9796.jpg

Future plans mainly include getting it running and looking nice. There are a few small scratches/dents/stone chips so I'm hoping to get the car into the bodyshop at some point for a general tidy up. I'm also wondering if it might be worth trying to get hold of the later-style sport bumpers and mirrors.

In addition, the wheels don't appear to be quite the right fitment: although they're balanced correctly I seem to get some horrible vibration at about 50mph. (centre bore too large perhaps?)

Top of the list is a set of HIDs though I think as one of my dipped beam bulbs died yesterday. I see there is a thread in this forum discussing what's best for the e31 so I might head off now and have a look..........

Cheers ;)

Welcome aboard, nice car!

Go for the CSi body kit and CSi mirrors. All 8s should've come from the factory with this kit.

Your 50mph vibration is due to worn upper and lower control arm bushings. Replace the upper control arm bushings with M5 bushings. Replace the entire lower control arms with new control arms. The arms cannot be reused since they are made out of aluminum--pressing new bushings into them will distort their shape. Slap in some new sway bar links, too. Your 50mph shimmy will be a thing of the past.

HID's are a must, too.

Cheers :D

Thanks Koizumi, I should've added that I've already given the suspension a good going over including bushes and sway bar links. The only other thing I can think of is that it's the wheels as they are not genuine BMW items. I'm wondering if I perhaps need some sort of adapter to reduce the bore diameter or something? (don't really have a clue where to start with that though as my local tyre [tire] place doesn't seem to know what I'm on about!)

I've found a breakers yard on the net which has a couple of sets of the 17" items seen below:

http://www.2carpros.com/makes/images/bmw_840ci.jpg

Think I'll probably end up going for them once I've raised a bit of cash.

Thanks Koizumi, I should've added that I've already given the suspension a good going over including bushes and sway bar links. The only other thing I can think of is that it's the wheels as they are not genuine BMW items. I'm wondering if I perhaps need some sort of adapter to reduce the bore diameter or something? (don't really have a clue where to start with that though as my local tyre [tire] place doesn't seem to know what I'm on about!)

I've found a breakers yard on the net which has a couple of sets of the 17" items seen below:

http://www.2carpros.com/makes/images/bmw_840ci.jpg

Think I'll probably end up going for them once I've raised a bit of cash.

The wheels you are looking at on the silver car are a set of Throwing stars. Before you go off and buy some there is some difference's between the wheels for the e34 and the e31. The main difference is offsets. Make sure you get the e31 specific Throwing stars. On to the shimmy. If the bushings are in good shape then looking at the wheels is a good start. Pull on off and use a caliper to measure the hub. There are two hub sizes. The e31 is 72.5 mm. The other is 74.1 mm. Now if the hub on the wheels you have are 74.1 then you will need Metal hubcentric rings. Go to Wuffer.net, click on the Phoenix Motorsport link and go to the bottom. What is in your favor is Gerry at Phoenix Motorsport is on your side of the pond. Hope this information helps and welcome.

Cheers,

Carter

welcome + nice car . I have a set wheels on a 850ci that i'm breaking shortly.I will take a picture and post it tomorow feel free to pm me

Great point about the bore size. You must not use 5-Series wheels without adapters as the bore size remains different.

If your wheels indeed have the correct bore size and/or you've placed correct adapters upon your car--and you still have a 50mph shake, then:

Regarding the bushings: if your mechanic did not preload your bushings before tightening the arms, your bushings will be shot once again. It is imperative that the proper tightening procedure is followed. The sheer weight of the car will tear up improperly tightened bushings almost immediately. For some reason, many mechanics are unaware of this process that is necessary with some cars.

Koizumi how much is the csi front and rear as well as the mirrors, I agree with your post I don't know why all e31s don't come with them.

Koizumi how much is the csi front and rear as well as the mirrors, I agree with your post I don't know why all e31s don't come with them.

The absolute cheapest source would be thru Gault BMW. Don't bother trying to find better pricing. You will not. Gault is thee source. And Gault is the source for your stealers, too ;)

Last year, the CSi bodykit cost approx. $1000 without shipping. The mirror kit cost approx. $720.00

Both the CSi bodykit and the mirrors need to be painted. So add another $300-$600 for paint and install. Not cheap, but worth it. Hey, if you own an 8, you expect things to be pricey. The old adage holds true: with an 8, you've got to pay to play

Last year, the CSi bodykit cost approx. $1000 without shipping. The mirror kit cost approx. $720.00

Here's a cheaper option. I don't think it's factory, but it's essentially the same thing: http://www.mk-bmwe31.com/servlet/the-28/Front-spoiler-CSI-style/Detail

nice car btw and i'm getting a quote for some work on thursday as well.

^^^That site belongs to one of our fine veteran members.

I recommend this offering of his as well, to go with the CSi nose: http://www.mk-bmwe31.com/servlet/the-1/csi-bumper-grille-mesh/Detail


*Please note the following:


The reason why the bodykit is $1000 (minus the mirrors) is because it includes the following items:

You will still need the mounting kit $167.97 for the nose.

And you will still need the rear diffuser $164.25 + rear towing eye flap $8.38

Welcome and nice car

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v375/83/20/501689132/n501689132_872387_9508.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v375/83/20/501689132/n501689132_872388_9796.jpg



Those look like 19" wheels off the newer 7-series...doesn't look too bad on the 8er. I have a set of those sitting in my garage.

Any side view shots of the car with those wheels?

Thanks again for the welcome guys. I can report that I have just fitted my hubcentric rings (spigot rings: UK) and the vibration has completely gone. When fitting the new ones I did find that 3 wheels had some rather ropey old ones and one wheel had nothing.

Unfortunately though I found a new problem during the week: I'm getting a horrible knocking/clicking noise from somewhere at the back. Sounds a little like a stone stuck between the calliper and disc but I dont think it is. I couldn't see anything when the car was jacked up so will drop it off at the specialist during the week for them to take a look at. Hope it's not the diff!

Moobma: My wheels are non-genuine 18" (came with the car) but I know the ones you're talking about and they are very similar. I think they suit the car really well although sometimes I do wonder if I should try and get some OE ones fitted.

How many miles are on this car? It probably isn't the differential, those things are built like Panzer tanks. If it is a fairly constant revolution-type noise I'd look at one of the heat shields coming a bit loose and contacting the propshaft. If more of a clunk I'd check rear trailing arm bushings and upper shock mounts. The upper rear shock towers of these cars can fail, and there are reinforcement plates available from Phoenix Motorsport on your side of the Pond. Even if not an issue, put these plates on your list. They're cheap insurance.

Mine's only covered 63000 miles or so. When I got the car I had most of the rear suspension replaced including shock mounts and bushings (bushes: UK). Good shout on the propshaft: It is more of a revolution-type noise and I couldn't really see the middle of the car all that well so maybe it is something fouling on the propshaft: I'll try to take a look tomorrow but I think I'd probably benefit from putting it up on a 4-poster.

Cheers,

Steve :)