1996 BMW 840Ci (E31) - Manual

Pillarless Perfection: The BMW 840Ci blends V8 Power with timeless GT Luxury. The 'Orient Blue' paint finish has a pleasing lustre, with an even consistency. The nose has a light peppering of road wear, and there are a handful of minor marks and small chips elsewhere, but well above the expectations of a car of this age. The overall condition of the paintwork support consistent garage storage. The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint. The exterior is cleanly presented with no discernible corrosion, aside from a minor bubble on the sunroof. The door bottoms and wheel arches look good. The panel fit is flush to the body with visually consistent panel gaps. All doors open and close with ease, the glass drops function as they should, and the bonnet struts are up to the job. The car is free of significant dents; we spotted a minor one on the driver's door, which we think could easily be removed by a specialist at a modest cost. The underside of the car looks solid, with the jacking points, wheel wells and engine bay in good shape. We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves. The dashboard is in positive condition, with minor signs of age on the black facia trim. The buttons and controls are smartly presented, and all are said to work as they should. The digital panels have good pixel readings, James told us the digital display of security numbers is not totally clear. The door cards and interior trim are in good condition. James told us when the sunroof was repaired in 2009 the interior matching fabric was not available so colour is slightly different from the surrounding headlining. Since our visit James has had a new headlining fitted. Behind the wheel, the BMW feels vast and offers sophisticated comfort and control that belies its age. The 4.4-litre V8 is flexible and smooth, providing impressive torque alongside respectable fuel consumption. The engine pulls exceptionally well with high refinement; the cabin remains rattle-free and quiet, thanks to effective glass seals. The V8's sound is only noticeable and suitably dramatic under acceleration. The steering is faultless, with no play or vibrations reported. The manual 6-speed gearbox allowed James to hang on to the engine’s revs a bit longer, offering a pure driving experience. This example is clearly capable of effortlessly covering long distances too. He has relied on his BMW main dealer to resolve issues over his ~27 years of ownership, and he is satisfied with the car's overall reliability, reporting no issues with oil pressure or engine temperature. The glass and lighting are in good shape with decent seals across the body. The headlamps' pop-up function was tested throughout our visit with no ill effects. The trim is clean and well-mounted. The nose cone has a fracture in between the kidney grille and shows a handful of minor scuff marks. The bumpers are otherwise flush to the body and free of parking scuffs. The 16” Style 8 alloys are in excellent condition with minimal signs of age. The front and rear of the car are fitted with Toyo Proxes tyres showing a spec of 235/50 and are date coded from 2011 - all have legal tread. Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old. The 'Silver Grey' leather seats are in good shape, with no significant marks. The carpets and mats have been cared for and are all dry. The boot trim and carpet indicate careful use. The engine fires up without any issues, we didn’t observe any unwanted noises, hesitancy or misfires from the engine. The engine idles evenly with no excessive exhaust smoke, and there are no dashboard warning lights. The engine is cleanly presented, with decent hoses and ancillaries. This supports the impressive maintenance paperwork that accompanies the car. The 6-speed manual gearbox operates without reported faults, slick and swift, and provides positive changes. The sunroof operates without any issues. It retains its full tool kit, with indications that the tools have not been used. The car is fitted with bespoke stainless steel back boxes. First registered by Rydale BMW in May 1996, the car was repurchased by the dealer in September 1998, at which point James acquired it, trading in his 5 Series. The extensive history binder contains James' 1998 sales invoice, dozens of BMW invoices since 1999, and 8 main dealer service stamps. Recent major work includes a 2023 replacement of the rear suspension bushes, steering knuckles, and ignition switch. In 2022, a seat control unit and starter motor were fitted. Older notable maintenance includes bespoke stainless steel back boxes with new BMW mufflers (2019), sunroof repairs (2015), and a new clutch kit installed at 35,642 miles. The car has most MOT certificates since 1999; the current one is valid until July 2026. It was last serviced by BMW in November 2025. It comes complete with two keys, the full owner's wallet/booklets, and a fitted tracker. Please note the sale includes the car's original age-related number plate. Since our visit James has added some miles, the current mileage is 49,612. We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check. We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming. If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house. The car glides confidently on the road, and we didn’t hear any clonks or thuds from the wheels - the handling is compliant and reassuring at 40 mph. The braking performance is comparable to that of a much newer car, operating smoothly and silently without any wobbles or judders. The steering wheel and gear lever are in line with the positive presentation of the interior.