ssbmw

Yes- from memory this was like more than a few E31's in the 90's - they sat around for awhile before being sold. Pretty sure this one is actually a 94'or 95' build. Mine was built in March 96 but sold in Aug 98. Once again though most of the other examples in NZ of the same vintage had better options than this particular example. This spec is similar to early 850i's - circa 1990.

Goes to show how sturdy the M88/3 engine is. Nigh on 300,000 Kms and still going strong. Apart from necessary timing chain replacements, these things are relatively reliable. This thing had some work with Gavin Bellars, so no doubt is still pumping out somewhere near its ex factory- 286 bhp.

Pretty sure this popped up for sale in Wgtn 2-3 years ago for Low $20's. To be fair, looks like a solid car. For whatever reason, wasn't a highly spec'd example. A set of style 5's or some M Parallels coupled with a CSI body kit would add so much to the aesthetics. We still seem to have some (relatively) Low k examples around in NZ with good provenance.

I knew of this red high line 15 plus years ago when I owned Rowan's Old Burgundy high line. The highlines were designed as a method of 'sprucing up' the E24 and enhancing sales in 88/89 before the arrival of the E31. Anecdotally there were 450 Highlines made for the UK market (NZ has around 6 plus imports). However, there were also a limited number made which were called Motorsports. They came in 3 Colours- misano red, nogaro silver, and Macau blue. They were dechromed and had the /// M logo inserts on the seats. This example however, is not one as it is in Zinnober red. The same thing applied to the M635csi they did a special run of 20 Motorsport M635csi's the UK - comprising of the same 3 special colours. They are some of the most sought after right hand drive M635csi's in the UK.

There were non with the 6 speed box though - correct?

Pretty sure this vehicle was previously owned by a car collector from Hamilton. If it is the same car, it is a very tidy example of a M70 powered E31. I am biased but think they are nice in red.

This is Tony Ramlose's car- he had a business at the back of Turners Car Auctions in Mt Wellington around 2004. (Is it still there?). Around that time he was importing a decent amount of left hand drive 80's exotics from Japan. E30 M3's, E24 M6's, E34 M5's Lancia Integrale's, some Porsche's etc. some were in fairly good nick, some were rather suss. Due to the left hand drive thing, many ended up being purchased as track weapons - with some having their engines /running gear transplanted into lesser powered right hand drive machines. This M6 was one of a few brought in back then. To me they all kind of looked tired - as if they were owned by people who might have lost their love for them. Saying that though, there was quite a tidy E34 M5. I reckon if someone bought this cheap it could be a good track car or alternatively could maybe worth restoring. A mint, restored LHD M635csi could command some big $$$ in Europe!

I know the original owner of this car here in Singapore. One of only 3 E39 M5's sold in Singa's. The original owner is a very successful watch dealer who purchased this car in his mid 20's. Now moved onto high-end Italian exotics. Still misses his M5 dearly though. According to him, another example was shipped to NZ too.

Hi Boris, as you know I was going to buy this car in 2002 - when it's Forrest Hill owner wanted $16k. I mulled over it for a weekend and it got sold. I have to say it probably gets better with age- it's one of those scarce 25+ year old cars that has been cherished all of its life and still looks great. However, as NZ values go- this is firmly in stellar condition, low -k E34 M5 territory. Then again there is talk of a mint, Hell red 23,000 k E34 540is being bandied around for $50k. Go figure.

Cheers mate - I have a register of the cars in NZ and keen to know of some of the M6's that live in the South Island. I know of a Dolphin grey example that went to Dunedin from Hamilton 2-3 years ago. There are a couple of examples in Queenstown that I know of. There were originally around 20 that were delivered new to NZ. Now with imports around 30-40.

I know this car very well. I met Ross Jensen and his M6 in 2000 at a gas station in Parnell. I asked him if he'd sell it -and he joked "stand in line." I remember how he told me he bought in Germany then drove it around Europe before sending it home. A few years later his estate sold it to Global Prestige in Parnell in 2004. By that time I already had a M6. They sold it for $32k to a Kumeu-based car dealer /collector who had it for sale straight away for $60k. No takers for years despite continual marketing in NZ and Oz. I had an opportunity to buy it for half that in 2009 when the owner really seemed motivated to sell. The day I took it for a drive the radiator blew . For the third time I decided against buying it. It then went with the dealer/collector to his new home in the Sth island. Last I heard was that it was sold to the Jeff Gray group and was in their Wgtn showroom for awhile. Someone's replaced the ///m badge on the front grill with ///m6 which the US cars got. Had some rust issues -sorted out apparently. Had a rust hole repaired around the back window while at Global Prestige. Quite tight example by virtue of its mileage. Drives well. Very original including the rare m tech body kit. Priced right for a lovely pre-Highline M6 these days for the UK market - it might command 25k -30k pounds in the over there because of the provenance and mileage. Deserves to be in a collection. However how many collectors are there in Nz wanting to pay that sort of coin? I hope there are some. It is a great car and deserves to be looked after.

Hi Michael to answer your question regarding the exhaust, mine is as original as it left the factory. However, I do wish BMW had played around with the exhaust note - the M62 on the E31 is very quiet- you only hear a decent burble as you punch it hard. As for your query regarding values, hard to say. My car is a tad random. How often does BMW only make only 3 examples in manual for a certain model for the right hand drive market? My car is the only Motorsport spec car too out of the 3 manuals they did make -so it has m sport suspension and cosmetics including the CSI body-kit ( the other 2 manuals in Orient blue live in the UK). So it is a bit unusual. What makes it more unique is that it has only done 53,000 kms. However it is not for sale so hard to ascertain- but lots cheaper than a csi in similar nick! A year back or so a 1998 4.4 with auto gear box with 112,000 kms went for $23k after being on the market for less than a week. As Jooles mentioned earlier a 1995 4.0 with 100,000ks sat on t/me for $20k for eternity without being sold. If you roll the clock back a few years to 2009, Gerry Hodges's old 4.0 6 speed exchanged hands at $43k. However, it was in like new condition and had 48'000 ks on the clock. Hard to value a car in NZ like mine because demand is not high for an e31. However, because it is a one-off and has low k's I guess it will probably command more than the average 840 or 850i.

Gidday, Sitting on the sidelines on this thread. Some interesting comments. I believe though that the E31's get's a rough rap because it is a mis-understood vehicle -sort of like the Porsche 928. I drove 4 examples of 850i's, and 3 840's before I bought my car. They were all automatic, and to be honest lacked the sporty nature that I had got accustomed to, driving a M635csi. However, my car is a M-spec, 4.4 6 speed manual - and despite it not being a 850csi (and at the time my budget could not stretch to that), it is still a fun car to drive. BMW obviously thought manuals in the 4.4 wouldn't sell well (as they made only 3 manuals in RHD -versus 1,470 automatic)- however, I don't get it - it has reasonable torque, handles reasonably well and is a very smooth drive. I think they got it wrong - I think they could have sold more if people had actually driven a M-spec 6 speed manual. Saying that however, their market research probably concluded that their target market was an older, wealthy individual who wanted a nice relaxing automatic -perfect for trans-continental jaunts. A close friend of mine currently owns a E39 M5, a E34 M5, 2 E34 6-speed 540is's, a E24 M635csi, a E24 635csi, amongst numerous other lovely cars. He has driven my car many times and claims that it is faster, yet handles as well as his 540is's and is in reality very close to his E34 M5's performance. I was kind of surprised by what he had to say, but it backs up what I think too - it is actually a much nicer drive than the generic automatic 840's I had driven in the past. From what I can gather, the 840i's are perceived to be cheaper to run - as a consequence they don't come up for sale as much in NZ- people hold onto them. There were 6 NZ examples of the 4.0 6-speeds - 2 have to gone to Australia and the other 4 examples, nor the automatic versions come up for sale very much. Where as there are alot more 850i's in NZ, and I believe tender to linger on trademe because of the perceived costs to run one. However, as Jooles has mentioned - you either spend a little more and source an example that has been maintained well throughout its entire life, or you buy a cheap one and budget $10-$15k to get it right. What you get in return is a very unique design which is arguably one of BMW's prettiest creations with tons of road presence. With a nice hue and a set of decent wheels (think M parallels or Alpina's or Style 5's) you get a stylish car which apart from it's pop-up lights, belie its age. Another thing too - how often do you actually see one on the road -- let alone a nice one??? They are not that common. Not sure if I would have ever bought an automatic example, because I like 3 pedals. Saying that, I just want to say that I have truly enjoyed owning my 8 - they are (in my opinion) a totally under-rated vehicle.

Just wondering whether this is actually Atlantic or Neon Green. Studying the colour palette for the 850i and these colours seem more likely options if the the colour is indeed factory. Unfortunately what maligns vehicles like this one in NZ too is the left-hand drive scenario- reduces the appeal for many. Stock standard 850i's even with excellent provenance and service history (not to mention being NZ new too) sit around on trade me for these days . Shame - as Jooles has illustrated that with some work and love they can be a fabulous car with tremendous road presence.

ML and 4 star classics would be marketing this for 15k pounds plus.

I think this is the M5 I saw driven by an elderly Chinese lady in Parnell circa 2003. It sat on turbines back then.

Jooles you should drop a line to Alan Ferguson- he may be interested in adding number 11 E31 to the collection!

I'd like to know how much that beast is putting out.....

For me personally, I drove 3 examples of 4.0 liter 840ci autos previously and every time walked away feeling underwhelmed -sad considering I had dreamt about owning a 8 since I was young in 1990. However, when I test drove my 4.4 manual I felt it was very different and a lot more fun. Definitely felt quicker. Not sure why BMW seemed to think that autos were the way to go for the E31- they do feel rather nice with a manual gear-box.

We'll the Australian market has always been like that. They were extremely rare in Australia in the first place and they are highly sought after. Somehow I don't think many in NZ would appear for around 40k though. It would have to be a fairly high k example. By the way, I understand that the car depicted here that Alan owns was an ex BMW UK press car. The same one that Jeremy Clarkson waxes about on Top gear. By the way, I do have some intriguing market intel. Australia had over 100 4.0 840's delivered new. Then 52 4.4 840's. All were given the automatic gear-box. Nz had 17 4.0 liter 840's delivered. 5 with 6 speed manual gear boxes. We in turn had 3 4.4's delivered. One in manual. Bizarre - don't you think that Oz all got auto's and 30% of our NZ new cars were given 6 speed manuals? Mate I'd love to be involved in a drive. I am not going to home for the 25 year anniversary gig t Hampton Downs. Will be home around Xmas. Maybe we can catch up around then for a drive?

By the way, talking of 850csi's, one of the 3 that were delivered to Australia new came up for sale recently. $100k AUD.

Very jealous Jooles. Sounds like a great day. Many years ago we had a convoy of v8 powered E31's head out to Raglan for a day. I really enjoyed that. Everyone has their own opinions but I personally think the t-stars (despite being 17's) look dwarfed on the e31. To me, your wheels look superior. However, when the time comes around it will be a great idea to add that front spoiler. As you say, it really modernizes the look and gives it more of an aggressive profile. The old E31's that left the factory sans body kit that sat on those naff looking 16" cross spokes look vastly different to the vehicles equipped with the M tech csi body kit with m mirrors. Poles apart. Your car is looking great. Keep chipping away at it. I am obviously biased but I look at those photos and it reminds me of how beautiful the 8 series is. A one of a kind BMW which still impresses with its looks 25 years later after it was launched.

Hi Jooles, Normally a bit skeptical of boot spoilers on what I perceive to be a nice posterior on a BMW coupe. I have seen some shockers that I believe detract from the lovely lines of the E31. However this is extremely subtle. Looks good. Any luck securing a CSI body kit?

I am surprised this car hasn't been mentioned here earlier. I have been watching this advert for awhile and intrigued by what the market determines the vehicle is worth. One of my closest friends recently sold his 2002, NZ new face lifted example (with ultimate spec's) with identical colour combination ( including the 2 tone blue /black leather ). With only 20,000 kms more (180,000), my buddy 's car was sold for around 23k. It had an immaculate service history and was in excellent condition too. It was never marketed in any public forum and was sold to another friend of mine. Could he have got more? Most likely. However he wanted a quick sale as he is migrating. Not sure that in comparison this car has anything more to offer apart from the aforementioned slightly lower mileage and 'take it or leave it' ACS cosmetics. Worth another $20k? I doubt it. Where should it be priced - who knows? $30k-Ono?? That said, I truly believe that there are hard core enthusiasts out there who are prepared to pay premium for a very low k, show-room standard example of the last of the naturally aspirated, manual right hand drive m5's. I suspect people would indeed pay $40k for such a car.

I live in Singapore - there are nearly 100 Aventadors that live here in a country barely bigger than the size of Lake Taupo. Bizarre but true.