E31 WHAT’S HOT

WE CAN ALREADY hear your concerns over the maintenance cost of such a machine, yet in practice the 8 Series is considered fairly reliable given its mechanical complexity. It actually shares many of its components with the E32 7 Series, of which there were over 300,000 produced – so parts aren’t impossible to find.

Early models are known to suffer rare engine failures due to the erosion of the material Nikasil, which coated the cylinder bores. The Nikasil bore linings however, eroded largely due to the USA’s low quality petrol, and most cars affected are long gone by now.

Australian-delivered cars such as this 840CI we looked over at Brooklands Classic Cars, are unlikely to have suffered such engine degradation, thanks to a life of superior Australian petrol.

Cameron Sabine of Brooklands cited “electrical gremlins” as the main problem that may befall the old 8 Series, but the 840Ci is definitely the safer option of the two.

“There are a few people who know how to work on them” he says.

Sabine also hinted that the new 8 Series set to return at the end of this year could spark renewed interest in the old E31, “in much the same way that the new [Honda] NSX sparked interest in the old cars”.

Brooklands said that prices of the E31 have been rather dormant over the past few years, with steady and modest increases. They reckon there’s plenty of upside to these cars, and we’re inclined to agree.