850 TREPIDATION 1
Re the editorial on your first big drive in the ‘new’ BMW 850: Although the time-frame seems like eons ago, I can relate exactly to your emotional frame of mind with your new ‘pre-loved Bimmer’ purchase. Both the financial commitment and the apprehension of initially taking the thing out of your driveway, and out of your comfort zone, do weigh heavily.
In my case I must concede immaturity overtook reality when I traded my first car, (a bullet-proof one owner 1956 Customline), on a low-mileage ‘Tank’ Fairlane. The apprehension started when I discovered, (in addition to my financial obligations), that the Wollongong-based previous owner of the Fairlane had a property near Mildura and that the Fairlane did frequent trips to that locality at a fairly brisk pace.
Seemingly the pace wasn’t reduced entering ‘spoon drains’ and that explained why the LH front lower shocker mount was sheared off. It was some time before that Ford proved to be basically what the sales guy purported it to be in the first place, but not before a brief second occurrence which at the time worried the shit out of me.
Said experience was that after one almost non-stop overnight interstate run (apart from fuel), and then an early morning refuel stop, the two-speed auto made a momentary squealing noise as we exited the local servo. In a mild panic one gets out and checks for foreign matter and/or heat discoloration showing on the dipstick, (as you do), and climbs under to feel for excessive heat buildup in and around the gearbox sump and housing; as well as a leaking tail shaft rear oil seal.
By some strange coincidence this happening occurred on the main highway out of Mildura, as we headed for Adelaide. As most would know there is a serious absence of facilities between there and Renmark, and whether by good luck or pure ‘arse’ we made it to Adelaide late afternoon as planned, and
never ever heard that noise again!
May your BMW also treat you in the same kindly fashion.
Eric Waples
ED: Great story, Eric. I reckon all of us experienced an involuntary shudder when you mentioned a one-off mystery noise. And spoon drains on the owner’s regular drive – something else to add to the checklist when buying a car!
850 TREPIDATION 2
Afternoon…I too had an 850, a 1991 car, in very good condition and with low mileage when I got it.
It was a beautiful car, as you rightly say, complex with electronics, all of which are now very suspect. My main advice would be to take it to a BM specialist, rather than a BMW dealer.
My experience with one was having the apprentice mechanics run out to ogle the car and wanting to see under the bonnet. Then the service manager scans the 850 and sees his monthly figures are about to get a big positive hit!
In one BMW dealership, while this was going on, the sales guy came out and said, “would you like to trade it? ”
“Umm, on what?”
“A brand new 320,” was the reply.
I thought I’m driving an 850, he’s offering me a 320. I said “Mate, I’m a sailmaker, I have a sewing machine with more grunt than your effing 320.”
When the 850 was running well, it was as sweet as – enjoy!
Bruce Finlay
ED: Thanks, Bruce. I got a chuckle out of that.
E30 VALUES
I have just picked up my copy of the December Unique Cars and note that there is a feature on E30 series BMW. Some ten years ago I purchased a 1991 318IS, which interestingly enough had M badging on the boot and bonnet. It also has the M series colours on the steering wheel and the gear knob. I just wonder if you could throw any light on this car and indeed what the value of it might be.
Mike Parker
ED: Like much of the current of the market, E30s have seen some growth in the last year or so. Our resident Bimmer wheeler dealer reckons a really good 318IS twin-cam is worth around $25,000 at the moment. A year ago, you might have got it for $5k less.
FIRST RETRACTABLE
Hi, in your October 2020 edition, Uncle Phil’s Picks mentions a 1957 Ford Skyline was the first retractable hardtop.
That claim to fame goes to the Peugeot 401 Eclipse from 1934.
Peter Mills
ED: Well done, Peter, and thanks. We’re even more impressed you managed to dig up a pic of it!
FRENCH CONNECTION
For Jon Faine: I thought you might like these pictures of my late Dad’s Citroen taken in 1927. He traded his model T Ford on the Citroen in1926 and he loved the car but he had to sell it during WWII while he was in the army in North Africa.
Peter Marr
ED: Amazing, Peter. If only photos could talk…
WHICH JAG?
For Rob Blackbourn: Rob, Maaaate, in the column where you talk about the early Inspector Morse car in the TV series Endeavour, it’s a MkI Jaguar, not a MkII. Morse of course had the MkII, red with a god awful black vinyl roof. Apart from that, it’s a nice jigger.
Michael Sandford
ED: I think we’ll forgive young Blackbourn for that slip-up, Michael. Even if he is old enough to know better! Thanks for the heads-up.