|
|
Post by racingteatray on Mar 21, 2017 18:35:49 GMT
This does look remarkably minty, particularly inside. It's had a little light pimping (the Sport bodykit and BBS alloys are both from later in the E31's lifecycle, and the exhausts would originally have been square on a V12), but it's all broadly OE and merely makes the car look even smarter.
If I had £20k spare, I'd be awfully tempted.
www.classiccarauctions.co.uk/bmw-850i-7445 |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2017 18:38:37 GMT
I've always liked these, despite their lack of popularity when they were new. That does look like a nice example. Being laid up for such a long period would worry me so I would want to see exactly what had been done.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnc on Mar 22, 2017 8:35:17 GMT
I was mulling over the possibility of getting something with a V in its configuration before we are all condemned to self driving electric pods.
I'm having great difficulty not looking at cars like this: www.mercedes-benz.net/p/uk/en/used-cars/mercedes-amg-c-63-saloon/2be094aefeb4d4c19862b6da14db2099
I really like the idea of the 4WD C43 but most road tests say the ride is atrocious and it might be a small thing to some, but I couldn't live with red seat belts - what idiot thought that was a good idea? |
|
|
|
Post by ChrisM on Mar 22, 2017 8:59:05 GMT
I was mulling over the possibility of getting something with a V in its configuration before we are all condemned to self driving electric pods.
+1, but I can't find anything that floats my boat... even an XC60 with a 5-cylinder engine would have done but Volvo only offer straight 4's now. I also have one other limiting factor, it has to be under 4.7m long to fit in my garage. (Exception is the Mustang but it's not practical enough for me !) I should be trying out the self-driving electric pod in late May so if I remember I'll let you know what they're like |
|
|
|
Post by racingteatray on Mar 22, 2017 12:30:10 GMT
I was mulling over the possibility of getting something with a V in its configuration before we are all condemned to self driving electric pods.
I'm having great difficulty not looking at cars like this: www.mercedes-benz.net/p/uk/en/used-cars/mercedes-amg-c-63-saloon/2be094aefeb4d4c19862b6da14db2099
I really like the idea of the 4WD C43 but most road tests say the ride is atrocious and it might be a small thing to some, but I couldn't live with red seat belts - what idiot thought that was a good idea? I like the C43 in saloon and estate guise, but I really don't like the styling of the coupe version. It puts me in mind of a slug or a porpoise.
When I was looking at them, what mainly put me off was the cost - like for like, it was going to cost significantly more than a 440i (think nearly £10k) to purchase even before you get into the variables introduced by the finance options available. Also has higher running costs across the board (20% worse MPG, 8 insurance groups higher, two RFL bands higher etc etc).
|
|
|
|
Post by PetrolEd on Mar 22, 2017 12:48:17 GMT
Don't think I'd bother with a C43 and its a bit Diet coke AMG, far better going for the full 63 otherwise your not really getting the full experience. Evo wasn't particularly kind to the 340/c43/S5 in their group test where as most testers rave on about the c63.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnc on Mar 22, 2017 12:51:29 GMT
I agree, I would either want a saloon (which has folding rear seats for flexibility/practicality) or an Estate. I have seen a few C63 coupes and they look really odd from some angles.
I have also been looking at M4's and looked for a short time at an M6GC until one of my motor trade clients told me 15mpg could be expected unless I drove like a nun and the servicing costs would be several times my current car - he told me to expect £1,000 every time it was in regardless of what it needs! He might have been exaggerating but I got his point that I probably can't afford it. |
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Mar 22, 2017 15:37:23 GMT
I was mulling over the possibility of getting something with a V in its configuration before we are all condemned to self driving electric pods.
I'm having great difficulty not looking at cars like this: www.mercedes-benz.net/p/uk/en/used-cars/mercedes-amg-c-63-saloon/2be094aefeb4d4c19862b6da14db2099
I really like the idea of the 4WD C43 but most road tests say the ride is atrocious and it might be a small thing to some, but I couldn't live with red seat belts - what idiot thought that was a good idea? Errrrr, the Boxster has red seat belts and I really like them...... I wouldn't choose them on a saloon and they work because of the red stitching on the seats/dash. |
|
|
|
Post by racingteatray on Mar 22, 2017 16:24:35 GMT
Don't think I'd bother with a C43 and its a bit Diet coke AMG, far better going for the full 63 otherwise your not really getting the full experience. Evo wasn't particularly kind to the 340/c43/S5 in their group test where as most testers rave on about the c63. EVO's testers do live in la-la land when it comes to cars though. It's full fat or nothing with no allowance really made for day-to-day usability. Plus car tests always have to be conducted (a) on the assumption that you pay list price and (b) on the basis of test car as optioned. So, to don moonboots for a second, the 440i tested by EVO was £55k as tested, meaning it was wearing fully £12k's worth of options, including individual paint and leather. So, that completely masked the fact that a 440i is a well-equipped car as standard and undercuts the other two (and an M4) significantly. It further doesn't allow for the fact that discounted you can buy a 440i coupe for £35k, which makes it something of a bargain, especially compared to an M4, which is £50k+ even allowing for available discounts. Secondly, it clearly had the optional variable sport steering, which is quite dreadful and would explain why they were so critical about the BMW's steering. |
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Mar 22, 2017 16:59:33 GMT
I don't disagree and it's the same with most of the mags, but it's not easy when everyone has differing views on value and what's important. Some would say similar things to you when comparing a 420d with a 440i (cheaper to buy/run etc), when justifying their purchase. At least they pointed out that the Full Merino leather was a costly extra, but made a significant difference to the interior feel / quality (which is does)
|
|
|
|
Post by racingteatray on Mar 22, 2017 18:01:02 GMT
I don't disagree and it's the same with most of the mags, but it's not easy when everyone has differing views on value and what's important. Some would say similar things to you when comparing a 420d with a 440i (cheaper to buy/run etc), when justifying their purchase. At least they pointed out that the Full Merino leather was a costly extra, but made a significant difference to the interior feel / quality (which is does) Yes, but no-one denies the point of a 420i or C200 because it isn't a 440i or a C43. So there's no point in saying that a 440i/C43 makes no sense because it isn't an M4/C63.
A C200 Sport Coupe is £32,480 OTR. A C43 Coupe is £47,500. A C63 Coupe is a whisker under £63k. If you are in the market for one of those, you probably aren't in the market for the other.
So (and I would say this), I think that cars like S4/5s and C43s do make a lot of sense as they offer excellent performance and feel a bit more special than the cooking models whilst still being reasonably real-world usable and not requiring the enthusiast driver to fork out for the increasingly unaffordable full monty halo model.
BMW possibly misses a trick slightly here with the 3/4-series, because by not making eg the 440i into an M440i and making it indistinguishable from any other 4-series barring a pair of dual exhausts, it feels less obviously enthusiast-orientated than the S5 or C43, which just have a touch more "sporty" bling. Some would say that's a good thing but I bet it hurts sales.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnc on Mar 22, 2017 19:44:40 GMT
Sorry Martin. I don't think they would look out of place in the Boxster, especially when the car is red as well but in a saloon/estate it just looks as though it's trying too hard.
EDIT: I tried to remove my original post and just leave Martin's post about his red seat belts but I don't appear to be able to delete all my original post. However Martin's post has now disappeared! Teething problems.
|
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Mar 22, 2017 19:51:54 GMT
No need to apologise!
I've no idea why BMW don't offer an M340/M440i, I do think it's a missed opportunity and there's plenty of room between the 440i/M4, as Racing has pointed out.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnc on Mar 24, 2017 12:17:00 GMT
Having done some investigation I think I might stay away from a C63. Apparently new discs and pads are c£2,000 supplied and fitted by a dealer, for the front alone! Gulp!
|
|
|
|
Post by racingteatray on Mar 24, 2017 12:32:38 GMT
Having done some investigation I think I might stay away from a C63. Apparently new discs and pads are c£2,000 supplied and fitted by a dealer, for the front alone! Gulp! That's a lot. I think I paid around a grand for the same on the M5 albeit from Munich Legends rather than a main dealer, and thought that expensive at the time. |
|
|
|
Post by Martin on Mar 24, 2017 15:24:49 GMT
That is a lot, but isn't the RS4 around that mark?
We paid £522 for front discs and pads for the Boxster, from an independent using genuine parts, main dealer cost was around £700.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tim on Mar 24, 2017 16:14:07 GMT
We had a C63 driving customer when I worked at the garage and I'm sure we got him discs and pads for closer to £1k wit ha bit of searching.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnc on Mar 24, 2017 18:38:55 GMT
We had a C63 driving customer when I worked at the garage and I'm sure we got him discs and pads for closer to £1k wit ha bit of searching. It's funny how we become anaesthetised against ludicrous pricing by considering even £1k reasonable for two machined round discs and some heat resistant compound glued to a couple of bits of steel.
I think I am perhaps better suited to sticking with something at the top end of "normal" where the rip off for two discs and pads is nearer £500.
Sorry bad day!
|
|
|
|
Post by Sav on Mar 25, 2017 22:48:37 GMT
The C43 is surprisingly loud, it is rather fabulous in that regard. I just heard a C63 S being floored in Knightsbridge which for sure sounded fantastic, but it has lost the old car's aural magic with that mad-sounding naturally aspirated motor. I see that M340i/M440i models are coming out with the next generation. This will be even more feasible if the M3 gets near 500 bhp as standard.
I don't like the C43's interior or exterior bits, which includes the grille, splitter or the square tailpipes. The 440i is better in all of those regards. And as has been pointed out, the difference in actual overall purchase cost and monthly outgoings would be significant between the two. A 440i with the M Peformance power and exhaust kit can always give you more aural naughtiness and power if wanted.
|
|
|
|
Post by Stuntman on Mar 28, 2017 19:53:15 GMT
Replacing the brakes on a performance car is rarely cheap. I've just replaced all 4 discs and pads on the Cayman S for £1500 after negotiation (including the sensors but not the backing plates, which were about another £100 extra) and have just agreed a quote to do the same on the M3 in the next few months for £1435, again after some negotiation.
Coupled with other recent bills for servicing and some unexpected maintenance, it has been a very expensive few weeks.
|
|
