...the other half has decided she wants a BMW 8 series... and is looking at one in NJ that needs a head gasket for $3750... (spare heads and engine included for $350/$650 extra, respectively)
Lawd help me... 
Why couldn't she decide she wants another M3... 
v8 or v12?
god be with you....
I share this lust for this car. The V12, preferably. Luckily, despite this forum, i have remained sane enough to be able to read anecdotes about the 850i, then quickly retreat to the simplicity of my Celica, curled up in the fetal position, rocking back and forth with my thumb in my mouth. After 10 minutes of being in contact with the Celica, the world is well again.
V8... not that it's much of a consolation...
I'm sort of thinking along the same lines as lifting a truck... "it's a dumb idea, so if you're going to do it, don't do it half-assed with some puny little lift and measly 38" tires... go all-out and slap on 44's"...
So I'd go for the V12...
Ian F wrote: ...the other half has decided she wants a BMW 8 series...
What is it with women and 8 series?? It is at the top of my wife's list too!
In all seriousness though, if you do look at the one with a popped motor, consider an LSx swap. That car with an LS motor would be fantastic.
dyintorace wrote: What is it with women and 8 series?? It is at the top of my wife's list too! In all seriousness though, if you do look at the one with a popped motor, consider an LSx swap. That car with an LS motor would be fantastic.
While I don't disagree, the chances of her going for that would be basically nil... She's quite proud of her German heritage... she did own two M3's... so it's not like she's completely ignorant of the engines... despises anything Japanese and looks down her nose at American cars...
Ian F wrote: While I don't disagree, the chances of her going for that would be basically nil... She's quite proud of her German heritage... she did own two M3's... so it's not like she's completely ignorant of the engines... despises anything Japanese and looks down her nose at American cars...
Frankly, she sounds like a keeper!
My wife's dream car garage is an 8-series and this. She has expensive tastes! 
Man, i wouldn't buy one of these if my life depended o-
Wait.
Did you really say that they're out there for less than $4k?
SONOFA-
Dammit-of to crazedlist again.
MrJoshua wrote: Dammit-of to crazedlist again.
This is what you need. Seriously...cool as heck styling, 4 true seats, former super car caliber, much more interesting than an SC. Perhaps not as cool as a 928, but still very cool.
And drop in a 5.3. I even have the cam for you. 
Ian F wrote: ...the other half has decided she wants a BMW 8 series... and is looking at one in NJ that needs a head gasket for $3750... (spare heads and engine included for $350/$650 extra, respectively) Lawd help me...
Not to tempt you but they are spectacular cars. Mine went a easy 160K with no trouble. While your in there doing the head gaskets get the factory runner kit as well. The aftermarket ones are crap. Rebuild the DK motors yoursefl and double check for leaks.
They really are great, right up until they are not. When they go they go bad in a hurry normally with a complete failure of the electrics.
93celicaGT2 wrote: Man, i wouldn't buy one of these if my life depended o- Wait. Did you really say that they're out there for less than $4k? SONOFA-
Someone buy it before she does...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-BMW-840ci-Great-project-car_W0QQitemZ370234979466QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item5633b9748a&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245
The 840 shouldn't be much different than a 540 or 740 as far as engine reliability goes. The 850 is the one that will be expensive if something electronic goes up in smoke.
dyintorace wrote: My wife's dream car garage is an 8-series and this. She has expensive tastes!
My wife's dream car is a G Wagon as well... there seems to be a trend here...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY-TAHOE-SILVERADO-TRUCK-5-3L-V8-ENGINE-MOTOR-SWAP_W0QQitemZ120451960083QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item1c0b7f0d13&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245
I think the 8 is one of the best looking cars ever.
I heard the automatics are on borrowed time after 100K, and manual cars are far less common. I'd want a manual in any case.
But some of these are seriously cheap right now.
I saw one of those MB shoe boxes at the gas station today.
As for the Bader Meinhoff Wagon, a guy that used to work here had one. It was his dream car. I forget exactly how much it cost him a year in repairs. I think around 5 large or so. I remember he got rid of it when the gas cap went bad and it was going to cost something like $3000 to fix. He bought a Avalon or decked out Camry.
Now, if you took the V12 and ripped out the electrical system and MegaSquirted that sucker....
Dr. Hess wrote: I remember he got rid of it when the gas cap went bad and it was going to cost something like $3000 to fix.
Ah... the good 'ole EVAP code... her '97 M3 was prone to that one... drove us nuts... she could reset it with the Peake tool in her sleep... The $3000 wasn't for any particular part... it the labor to find the damn leak... If I ever get another later BMW, a EVAP tester will be one of the first tools I invest in...
dyintorace wrote:Ian F wrote: While I don't disagree, the chances of her going for that would be basically nil... She's quite proud of her German heritage... she did own two M3's... so it's not like she's completely ignorant of the engines... despises anything Japanese and looks down her nose at American cars...Frankly, she sounds like a keeper! My wife's dream car garage is an 8-series and this. She has expensive tastes!
LOL i'm not even telling my girlfriend about these kinds of cars! i think she's content to want a miata or genesis coupe or mini, and i'm content to not ruin that!
In reply to Ian F:
My wife just wants a cheap motorcycle to tinker with now that we'll have a garage big enough to work in.
What is the V-12 really like? I really want to know. I bet that thing could move pretty fast, right?
I love the look of the 8 series. One of the best looking Bimmers ever built. However, the horror stories I've read about the V12 and automatics would make me run the other way.
A manual with a V8 would be fine by me.
confuZion3 wrote: What is the V-12 really like? I really want to know. I bet that thing could move pretty fast, right?
It doesn't look ALL that spectacular to me.... Of course, this says nothing about passing velocity. I imagine it would be pretty interesting on the highway.
1991 BMW 850i 7.4 15.6
1992 BMW 850i 7.3 15.6
1994 BMW 840Ci 7.4 15.6
1994 BMW 850CSi 5.3 13.9 (C&D April '94)
1994 BMW 850i 6.3 14.9
She hates motorcycles... with a passion...
An 840/auto is what she's looking for... she has a MCS for sporty driving... looking for more of a 'cruiser'... plus, of the 7 cars and one truck we have, all are manuals... so an automatic in the fleet wouldn't be a bad thing... this would not be a primary car... more of a w/e car...
The really sad part is she would sell her Spitfire to make room... Not sure how I feel about that... put a crap-load of time and effort into that car... installed a custom wiring harness, for cryin' out loud...
Ian F wrote: She hates motorcycles... with a passion... An 840/auto is what she's looking for... she has a MCS for sporty driving... looking for more of a 'cruiser'... plus, of the 7 cars and one truck we have, all are manuals... so an automatic in the fleet wouldn't be a bad thing... this would not be a primary car... more of a w/e car... The really sad part is she would sell her Spitfire to make room... Not sure how I feel about that... put a crap-load of time and effort into that car... installed a custom wiring harness, for cryin' out loud...
But at least you've done it once! You'll probably get to do it again when you decide "berkeley it, i'm squirting this thing."
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