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Re: Buying an E31 (archive)
[ Follow Ups ] [ 8-series (E31) Message Board ] [ Msg. Board FAQ ]
Posted by Geoff Daniels on November 18, 2000 at 07:47:43:

In Reply to: Buying an E31 posted by Arbi Karapetian on November 17, 2000 at 15:33:59:

Arbi,

I was in your position about a year ago, I knew I wanted an 8 Series but did not know much about them. I found the dealers in my area (Washington, DC)were also very uninformed although they thought they knew what they were talking about. This board is is a great source of data, especially if you take some time to go through the arcives.
What I wanted to pass on to you was that if you go with an 840 your only choice of transmission is an automatic, unless you get a Euro version. The 850 came with a 6 spd manual or a 4 or 5 spd automatic (dependent on what year you find). It has been reported on this board that there were only about 200 850s imported to the states with the manual transmission. The 850 CSI is also a 6 spd manual and unfortunately is also quite a bit more money. I wish I could have afforded one.

The best advice is do all the research you can and be patient with your choice. There are cars out there that were not taken care of and could seem cheap at the beginning but they will kill you with repairs. There are also some wonderfully well maintained cars and although they may cost a bit more it is well worth the upfront investment.

Geoff
91, 850i 6 spd



Greetings,

Well, I just sold my last American car, and am finally ready to invest in a real vehicle. Although I've always wanted a BMW...I never could afford one before. My closest call was when I almost bought an E28, but it never materialzed.

In anycase, I think I'm ready to take the plunge and get an E31 of my own to drool over.

What should I know about the models and years?
My initial inclination was to get an 1995 840Ci, to decrease the cost, however, any input would be greately appreciated. (inluding refrence to sites/faqs).

My prefrence lies in the following, but not bound to them (in preference order):
Color : Blue, Black, Silver, White
Engine: 8Cyl, 12Cyl
Tranny: 6speed, 5 speed, Auto


Thanks in advance for all your input.

-arbi




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