WANTED - Information about high mileage outstanding condition e31's

[Gary Knox]

We have a thread going asking about the lowest mileage 850CSi's around the world. On that thread I posted a quote of Ferry (Ferdinand) Porsche, son of the founder of the small automobile company. Ferry was at a concours event here in the US, and after browsing around a bit, was asked what he thought of the cars. His prompt response was: "We build our cars to be driven, not polished".

Well, I'm into a little of both - excellent appearance and driving the car. I like cars with at least 50K miles on them, only one or two previous owners (with records) and wonderfully maintained both mechanically as well as physically. I do a majority of the maintenance and physical car for our cars.

So - IF you have a car with higher mileage that fits that description (and, you are confident enough in it's condition that you'd start a round trip from coast to coast (for continental USA of Canadian residents) of ~6K miles the day after you describe your car for us), PLEASE let us all know about the car, and how you maintain it (and how often someone comments something like 'what a beautiful car that is').

I purchased my '97 840Ci only about 6 weeks ago. I've been driving cars for 66 years, and always tried to have 'interesting' ones from the time I started buying (first was a '50 Mercury two door that I customized while in college - remember 'Rebel Without a Cause'???).

Thank you for sharing your information with me and all who are interested in this type of automobile ownership/usage.

Gary

[Timm]

Go on then - I'll bite!

For a small Island, there are many UK members that have high mileage E31's - mine's just turned over 160k:



....but still looks just as lovely as it ever did:





....and still the daily drive! And self-maintained even in last weeks freezing conditions:

[kiwiCSi]

A quick search of the 8coupe registry shows there are plenty of high milers out there with in excess of 200,000 miles (322,000 km).
The highest mileage car I found on there was 376k km (233k miles) for an 850i in Finland.

[olinjohnston]

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post29473671

[Mike in CT]

I am the second owner of my '97 840. Purchase 14 years ago at 86k miles. Now 236,000k miles and actually only put 5k miles in the last two years after a fender replace, rust repair, and paint. All miles in the snowy, salty Northeast. Need to drive it more this summer.

Hope to see folks at the BMWCCA Vintage at Saratoga this summer.

[Gary Knox]

WOW - two great cars with extensive mileage. WHAT a way to kick this THREAD off!! Thanks Timm and Mike.

EDITED!!! THREE great cars - THANK YOU Olin as well.

[DrScientist]

as a similarly new owner of an e31 (and close to you as well) and the owner of 2 of ferry's cars... i can say they are all very durable machines.

a 996 carerra with 95k miles has been all the way down to new orleans, up to newfoundland, over to toronto, and more than a few trips to vermont and maine.
a 928 S4 with 105k miles that took me to florida, to vermont, and a separate trip to montreal for the GP.
and the newest to me is the e31 with 102k miles, which has only made the 2k mile trip home from colorado with me, but that is just the beginning.
(a recently sold '91 v12 xjs was driven home from florida, up to montreal, out to LA, up to seattle, across the mountains with a ski rack and finally back to the east coast)

i'd drive any one of the three across the country tomorrow.
as cliche as it is, my general approach is regular scheduled maintenance, addressing problems as they arise, and i think the most overlooked aspect to car maintenance... PAY ATTENTION. notice if the idle is off. notice if there's a new spot on the driveway. WATCH THE GAUGES. don't dismiss the warning lights as they come on. check the oil with the dipstick not the electronic sensor. if you cant easily figure out the problem, bring it to an expert. these cars give you a lot of warning before they fail. just pay attention and follow the signs.

none of my cars are show cars, and they all take turns as my daily. but they each get just as much attention as i'd like. not the overwhelming attention of a gauche lamborghini, but no one mistakes the cars for an airport rental.

unsurprisingly, the 996 gets the fewest comments. the only comments i can recall are from a 10 year old kid in a tiny little town somewhere around the border of kentucky and west virginia, and a few guys who appreciate that i have a roof and ski rack on it.
the 928 gets lots of comments. people walking by turn their heads, nods and thumbs up at crosswalks, but my favorite acknowledgement was a windows open, simultaneous arm out the window wave between myself and a similarly colored 944 (between chesterbrook and phoenixville for those of you in SE PA).
the 850 doesnt turn as many heads, although anyone who knows what's what will talk my ear off about it.

i hope you weren't looking for detailed maintenance schedules...

[olinjohnston]

WOW - two great cars with extensive mileage. WHAT a way to kick this THREAD off!! Thanks Timm and Mike.

I guess I should have posted the pics instead of just a link..

[Timm]

I guess I should have posted the pics instead of just a link..

160K too and looking good!

[bruinbro]

After I fix the water pump, SRS box, replace/clean the injectors, clean the DKs and replace the pillar covers I'll take the challenge. 204k miles.

[tangcla]

Mine's got 237,000km and I would take it for a long road trip with no hesitations.

[Joe850V12]

My 850i has 147k and I'm almost far eniugh though the list to go anywhere, it was my daily last summer and was reliable.

[mindwrecker]

My 840 has 154k on the clock and i drive it everyday. Ive driven it to San Diego and San Fran from LA to visit buddies. I wouldn't hesitant to drive it anywhere.

[CaifanSC]

all my cars are high mileage when you take the current standard of "high mileage"...typically set at 100k+.

850 is around 130k, CSi around 112 I think, s8 160k, v8Q 130ish, stang around the same 130k, 94 bird 180k (i would say and running strong but steering pump just went), v8 bird 225k...my first tbird also had 225k miles when the head gaskets went...rebuilt the engine and got another 5-10k until some lunatic rammed into it. I buy mine to drive and get many -as nicely quoted in a CSi advert - smiles per hour.

My hero is Dr T (hope he chimes in)....his CSi has upwards of 200K miles...I think closer to 300k?!?

[mbarrett635]

Mike

Mind if I ask what your repaint cost? I'm in the process of getting my 96 850Ci as close to mechanically perfect as possible after a long, long rest (about 5 years). The paint is in good, but not great condition. I had the BMW Collision Center look it over and give me a price on a full repaint while it's in for service, and they quoted $13-15,000. Ouch. I was hoping to spend about half that.

Oh, and I guess I should post my reply to the original question, although, with 5 years of sitting, mine isn't high mileage anymore. 113,500 miles.

[Alec Cartio]

I just saw a CSi for sale in Europe with 358.000 KM on it

[toomann]

My 95 840ci just turned 150k. I don't drive it much but wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere. Few years back I drove it from Columbus, Ohio to Chicago for a weekend trip to go see the Cubs play. And I agree - cars are to be driven!