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classic car weekly |
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nigel marshall
Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141 |
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Posted: 10 Sep 2014 at 10:31pm |
8 Series review this week in classic car weekly. Considering one of the club members helped in the making of the review I thought it didn't really help the cause much as it described the car as a MONEY PIT. I felt that the car had been let down by the club and not enough made of its good points.
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Norrie
Club Member Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Status: Offline Points: 4047 |
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I am a bit confused? Classic car weekly is run by who exactly? One assumes not the BMWCCGB? How was the car let down by the Club?
Is this the mag operated and published by Bauer media? Edited by Norrie - 10 Sep 2014 at 11:13pm |
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dteagles
Moderator Group Joined: 09 May 2007 Location: UK, Bucks Status: Offline Points: 3474 |
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Nothing to do with the club, the only connection may be that we helped source the car/owner.
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Think about what you can do for the club, not what it can do for you... |
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Norrie
Club Member Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Status: Offline Points: 4047 |
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It would appear this then is nothing specifically to do with the Club, I really cannot see the comments are justified? If the owner told the mag it was a "money pit" that is their personal view and not one expressed or endorsed by the club. I drive a car which some might consider as a money pit on the basis a service is 900 pounds, tyres 450 each, extended warranty 1600 and so on. One persons money pit is anothers pride, so all relative, is it not? |
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nigel marshall
Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141 |
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Hi
I understand that the person who spoke to classic car weekly was the 8 series register captain, but correct me if I am wrong. Regardless of how you interpret the phrase MONEY PIT, the initial thought will tend to steer you away. after all when you sell your car Norrie, you wont promote the cost of your cars tyres and the other expensive items to repair to keep it road worthy. I genuinely felt that there could of been more input from representative of the club to see that a more balanced account of the car been achieved, but if nothing else at least the 8 series section light has been switched on for the first time in 6 months. |
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Norrie
Club Member Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Status: Offline Points: 4047 |
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Nigel, to be fair, I have not seen or read the article and now you have explained I can see your point. However, lots of people have different views including this gentleman.
In terms of my B7, you might seem it is strange, but it is exactly what I would tell them. There is one for sale near Heathrow and I have had many enquirers asking for help and advice, I tell them the truth, which is simply that unless one knows the running costs and accept those this is not the car for you. Perhaps, something similar was in the mind of the people in respect of the 8 series, which I think are lovely. In fact only due to lack of parking space where I live in the grounds of an old Victorian school, with deeds and covenants, I would like to own one. Thanks for taking time to elaborate. Edited by Norrie - 11 Sep 2014 at 8:10pm |
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nigel marshall
Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141 |
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hi
Strange enough I would like to own a B10 V8 Alpina e39 but have the same space problems, as I could not bear to sell the 8.
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Norrie
Club Member Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Status: Offline Points: 4047 |
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well you are most welcome to come to the Alpina meet at Sytner Nottingham 21Sept 14 or the one at Thorney Crowfield Northants on 18th Oct 14, plenty of E39 B10 there.
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nigel marshall
Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141 |
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I may well go to one of those
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Norrie
Club Member Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Status: Offline Points: 4047 |
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Nigel do come along if you can, I did go to W H Smith but could not find the article in this months mag?
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AndrewE
Club Member Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Status: Offline Points: 1188 |
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The 8 Series is a money pit, and they were money pits when I had one 12 years ago. Parts and repairs are expensive and you can't run one like an old Mondeo. So many are sheds owned by chancers who thought they could run one for 50p and a Twix. These are great cars and need to be owned by those with deep pockets who can run them properly.
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nigel marshall
Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141 |
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Hi there
Since when can you run any BMW for Mondeo money.? If you Andrew E are from a BMW service centre then you will know that a lot of the parts of an 8 are from other model parts bins. I know that they are not liked by people in the trade because they don't like working on unfamiliar cars, especially the younger people, but get someone older working on them, then they don't mind so much, trouble is there is a lot of bad press related to the 8 series generated by people who don't really know what they are talking about. |
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dteagles
Moderator Group Joined: 09 May 2007 Location: UK, Bucks Status: Offline Points: 3474 |
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I think you'll find that Andrew knows what he is talking about, but not because he is "older"....
Edited by dteagles - 16 Sep 2014 at 7:56am |
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Think about what you can do for the club, not what it can do for you... |
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Norrie
Club Member Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Status: Offline Points: 4047 |
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His technical expertise may not be in doubt but his subtlety is certainly!
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richardbaxter
Club Member Club Chairman Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Status: Offline Points: 708 |
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Andrew E is direct and spot on with his views and technical nous - there is little to dislike with this gifted wordsmith…
With anything as heavy and technical as the 8 series - one will not find it an inexpensive proposition - this is of course relative. I had access to one and declined ownership as a result. Mind you shame they didn't make the M8 with I believe the McLaren F1 engine touted or have I got that wrong?
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Norrie
Club Member Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Status: Offline Points: 4047 |
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I am quite inspired to buy one now, I can probably afford a pound, a packet of twix and a mars bar. I still think they look good even after what 25 years. The fact they are apparently expensive to maintain appeals to me as it means they will not be too common and one expects good one will rise in price, eventually. Not too keen on a car everyone else has.
Edited by Norrie - 16 Sep 2014 at 12:55pm |
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richardbaxter
Club Member Club Chairman Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Status: Offline Points: 708 |
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Norrie
In seriousness the 850 CSI in manual could well be a collectable proposition as only a few reached these shores and agreed they are an attractive car - a bit like a grown up Z1. |
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Norrie
Club Member Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Status: Offline Points: 4047 |
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Ok thanks I am obliged for your knowledge, there is a chap with a 8 series, a red one was in the mag, he is from Kent I think, looks mint and very attractive. Not sure of the spec.
The difficulty in any serious reply to someones preferred car is that ownership is emotive. I see cars that people think are great, I personally have no desire to own one, but I try to avoid telling them negative things about them, I just do not interact with them and never post anything about them. I they ask me for advice on the B7 I am happy to give it from experience, but try to concisely point out in less emotive terms the real running costs, ie tyres 450 each, service 500 pounds, warranty 1600 and so on, no mention of twix and other nonsense. It would be really useful to know what these "money pit" costs are and add validity to the statement. Edited by Norrie - 16 Sep 2014 at 1:35pm |
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david j cooke
Club Member Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Status: Offline Points: 100 |
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I have had my 8 series for the past 7 years and i feel by calling them a money pitt is unfounded. My car in particular as been well cherished throughout its life (19 years to be exact). However its like any thing if it has not been well looked after then it cost you in the long run. The history of the car is so important.
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rob750
Forum Member Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 387 |
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spot on Dave
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Regards
Rob750 Alpina B10 Bi Turbo Upgraded by a lttle known German Tuning firm e31 850 CSI e38 750 v12 e24 635 e24 M635 e36 M3 evo convertible e36 328 convertible |
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nigel marshall
Club Member Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 141 |
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Hi
"Andrew is not old" I dare say that he isn't. gifted well I am old and not met one yet. If he was gifted and old he might of been able to convince BMW not to go ahead with E31 at all, and we wouldn't be talking about this in the first place. Thanks Norrie for your support. Dave is spot on, I bought mine 6 years ago and have done most of the work myself apart from a diff seal that I couldn't get to without a lift. You can keep prices down if you use euro parts and other sources, it's surprising what you learn. |
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AndrewE
Club Member Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Status: Offline Points: 1188 |
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You can run lots of old BMW's for peanuts. That's because they are numerous in breakers yards with resulting cheap spares. The 8 Series though is not like that. Next to nothing is shared with other cars - the panels, electrics, suspension, brakes, exhaust etc are all unique. They took very little from the E34 oir E32 they ran concurrently with. Only the engine is the same, and that's genererally the reliable bit! Unlike the E24 6 Series, the E31 never got tho the stage where they were rusty bangers driven into scrapyards for 200 quid, and specialist breakers know exactly that the parts are worth. Euro Car Parts don't do much for the E31. Stuff like radiators and brake pads certainly - I found that Textar 4000 pads from ECP were a third of the BMW comedy retail price, but they don't do headlight motors, the sealed strut units, rear suspension arms, Brembo calipers........... Edited by AndrewE - 16 Sep 2014 at 11:03pm |
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Norrie
Club Member Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Status: Offline Points: 4047 |
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Mr Cooke wonderful car, a credit to you
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