blue98ls1 Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 We are looking at one, and wanted to know what to look for as far as things that commonly go wrong. (Yes I know its ANOTHER German car, and yes I know parts are expensive.) Looking more for what common failures are, and wanted to see if anyone here knew them well enough to take a look at one prior to me buying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWW$HEEET Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 money pits generally. lots of electronic issues with those i believe. you may want to check bimmerforums.com in the 8 series section, good information from the few people that own these. *decent swap candidates too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWW$HEEET Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=311 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1fynz Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Had a 750iL with the same M70 V12. At around 150k things started going wrong all around the engine. Gaskets and electrical stuff was always needing attention. That said, if you can do the work then it shouldn't be too bad, it just got really expensive to shell out money to Blagois or MAG every week. Those cars are gorgeous though, and given the opportunity I would pick one up. A very timeless design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 I was reading that some came with the M70 engine, and others came with M73. 5.0L-5.4L and higher displacement. Interesting cars, I love the way the back end of those look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewhop Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 I think these cars are freakin sexy. This does not help the topic at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossle Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 As mentioned lots of electrical issues. Tough to get your hands on information to service/diagnose it. Valve covers like to leak which requires removing the ridiculous intake manifold. The Automatic transmissions can get pretty sketchy on higher mileage ones. Hopefully you managed to find one with a manual. Oh and as a fun fact if the starter fails you have to drop the downpipes and most of the exhaust to get it out lol. Otherwise they are neat we serviced one for years here up until the transmission gave out around 150K and they got rid of it. It was a CI as well, didn't they have a CSL or something as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossle Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Oh, and totally random that you guys are looking at one of these lol. Just thought I would mention that. They are a bunch of fun and a definite head turner thats for sure, most people have no idea what the hell it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWW$HEEET Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 everything being said, if it has no records, i would avoid unless you get it ridiculously cheap. in addition, I would take it to tom hatem bmw or best autowerks and have them give it a once over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 didn't they have a CSL or something as well? CSi I believe, which was actually built by the M division, basically a detuned version of the M8 which never saw production. Manual only :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patterson Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Get in touch with Anson. He's worked on more than a few of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue98ls1 Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 As mentioned lots of electrical issues. Tough to get your hands on information to service/diagnose it. Valve covers like to leak which requires removing the ridiculous intake manifold. The Automatic transmissions can get pretty sketchy on higher mileage ones. Hopefully you managed to find one with a manual. Oh and as a fun fact if the starter fails you have to drop the downpipes and most of the exhaust to get it out lol. Otherwise they are neat we serviced one for years here up until the transmission gave out around 150K and they got rid of it. It was a CI as well, didn't they have a CSL or something as well? Gonna send you a PM. It is an automatic. Kinda high miles, but excellent price. We took it for a test drive. I have always wanted one of these and I am slowly converting Anthony into a German car lover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 is it green? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue98ls1 Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 is it green? Yes. Know something about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 I am slowly converting Anthony into a German car lover. BHUWHAHAHAHAAH Good luck with that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue98ls1 Posted April 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 BHUWHAHAHAHAAH Good luck with that! Its working, we take the 928 out all the time at his request. Besides, he has always liked the 850ci cars and there are a couple hotwheels versions hanging up in the mess of f-body cars on the walls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMeanGreen Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Bite me. The car has 111k miles on it and fucking hauls. I had it to 100mph before I knew what hit me. Granted, we know it needs *some* work, but parts and DIY labor aren't all that bad. And no, I'm not becoming anything. I've always had a hard-on for the 8 Series cars and finding a V12 just made it better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Bite me. The car has 111k miles on it and fucking hauls. I had it to 100mph before I knew what hit me. Granted, we know it needs *some* work, but parts and DIY labor aren't all that bad. And no, I'm not becoming anything. I've always had a hard-on for the 8 Series cars and finding a V12 just made it better. Then do it already. Bout time you grew up a little. Let me know when it wants to get worked by a 3.0L V6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linc5.0 Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 ls1 swap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2pointslow Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 ls1 swap you would swap an ls1 into an ls1.. lol Xzibit called he said he could take care of that for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 Yes. Know something about it? No, I have just been eyeballing it the past few days. Car looks really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 I've been a lifelong lover of the 8-series, mostly for the fact that it can be had with a 6-speed manual transmission in a 2-door hardtop (no b-pillar, all side windows go down). I drove in one during high-school and fell in love. That said, if you are looking at an automatic, why not just get an 840ci with the 4.0L V8??? There are far more of those available, and BMW made a million 4.0 engines so parts shouldn't be as difficult to obtain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Brian Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 When I was researching them I found a lot of transmission problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmwohio Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 just google 'E31 problems' or something of that nature and google will take you where you need to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FST94TSI Posted April 22, 2011 Report Share Posted April 22, 2011 I dont recall specifics but when I researched getting one a few years ago, all the guys on bimmer forums said to run from the v12 cars like the plague. The motor in those cars is basically just two inline sixs stuck together so you got two of everything to have to service and pay for. You can find the parts cheap though if do enough online searching and if you do the labor yourself then itll be one hell of a fun car to have and play with. Restored they are absolutely gorgeous. If I remember correctly alot of the bimmer forum guys pulled the v12 and dropped in the v8 instead as they tend to last forever and make just as much power when treated properly. Biimerforums is the place to go for info and JJ at Auto Assets is hands down the best BMW tech ive ever met. He worked on all of mine for years and knows every inch of those cars top to bottom. It doesnt hurt that hes a BMW master tech as well. Now dont get me wrong hes not cheap but his work is absoutely flawless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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