1996 BMW 840Ci (E31)

FOR SALE

1996 BMW 840Ci (E31) – Manual

£21,950

Rare Manual | 27-Year Ownership | One Previous Owner | ~49k Miles

Mileage~49,523 on clock
Transmission6-Speed Manual
Engine4.4-Litre
LocationSutton Coldfield, West Midlands

£21,950

1996 BMW 840Ci (E31) – Manual

Premium Classified Sale

I'M INTERESTED

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Editor and Photographer

Pillarless Perfection: The BMW 840Ci blends V8 Power with timeless GT Luxury.

A high-point in comfortable German grand touring, the E31-generation BMW 8 Series is recognized for its sharp, distinctive styling, highlighted by a pillarless profile and pop-up headlamps. The V8 model successfully bridged the gap between a sports car and a luxury GT, offering an inviting cabin characterised by sumptuous luxury, high build quality, and typical BMW ergonomics.

Designed for effortless high-speed cruising, the 8 Series was initially undersold, making it a well-kept secret appreciated for its natural abilities as a premium coupe. The 1993 upgrade introduced the 282bhp 4.4-litre M62 V8, which delivered ample torque and respectable cruising fuel economy.

This well-maintained 1996 840Ci, finished in 'Orient Blue' with 'Silver-Grey' leather, boasts the desirable 6-speed manual gearbox and has remained under the custodianship of our vendor for an impressive 27 years, having had only one previous keeper. It boasts a large history file with 8 BMW main dealer service stamps, including over £6,000 spent on BMW maintenance in the last ~500 miles. It was last serviced in November 2025, has an MOT valid until July 2026, and comes complete with two keys and the full owner's wallet.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting James the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
Images
All Images

EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The BMW's pleasing exterior presentation, is a clear result of careful long-term ownership.

Wheels and Tyres

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.

Bodywork

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.

Paint

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.

Glass and Trim

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.

VIEW ALL

INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The cabin exhibits minimal wear, showcasing a rare level of preservation.

Seats and Carpets

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.

Dashboard

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.

The headlining is sagging in places; however, it is free of damage or damp, 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.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel and gear lever are in line with the positive presentation of the interior.

VIEW ALL

'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Main dealer maintenance provides unparalleled confidence in the car's mechanical health.

Engine and Gearbox

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.

Suspension and Brakes

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 Drive

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.

Electrics and Other

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.

VIEW ALL

History and Paperwork

Over £6,000 has been spent on maintenance within the last ~500 miles, with nearly all work since new carried out by BMW main dealers.

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.

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.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
14-11-2025	BMW Inspection II	49,511
26-06-2025	MOT	49,484
08-07-2024	MOT	49,331
04-07-2023	MOT	49,211
04-07-2023	BMW Suspension bushes/Steering Knuckles	49,194
13-01-2023	BMW ignition switch	49,117
16-06-2022	MOT	49,084
02-03-2022	BMW Seat control unit	49,010
22-02-2022	BMW Starter Motor	49,010
16-06-2021	MOT	48,625
18-06-2020	MOT	48,320
24-06-2019	MOT	48,148
28-03-2019	Bespoke Stainless Steel Back Boxes
10-01-2019	BMW Muffler x2
11-07-2018	MOT	47,576
24-07-2017	MOT	47,390
05-07-2016	MOT	46,944
31-07-2015	Sunroof repairs	46,523
30-07-2015	MOT	46,523
26-07-2014	MOT	46,123
08-07-2013	MOT	45,455
04-07-2012	MOT	44,882
29-06-2011	MOT	44,120
08-11-2010	BMW Oil Service	44,014
09-07-2010	MOT	43,649
10-07-2009	MOT	42,659
03-07-2008	MOT	41,732
20-06-2007	MOT	40,264
03-07-2006	MOT	37,867
05-07-2005	MOT	36,707
29-03-2005	BMW Oil Service	36,461
06-07-2004	MOT	35,025
15-12-2003	BMW Inspection II	34,459
10-07-2003	MOT	32,838
11-07-2002	MOT	30,266
23-08-2001	BMW Oil Service	27,893
26-06-2001	MOT	26,923
03-07-2000	MOT	22,425
27-07-1999	BMW Inspection I	18,178
30-04-1999	MOT	16,622
17-12-1997	BMW Oil Service	7,485
23-08-1996	1,200 Miles BMW Service	1,156
30-04-1996	Pre-Delivery Inspection

VIEW ALL

Key Details

Model840 Ci (E31)
Transmission6-speed manual
Reg. Date01-05-1996
CC4398
Mileage~49,523 on clock
HistoryLarge file
ColourOrient Blue
Interior ColourSilver-Grey
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #WBAEF72080CC39000
Engine #50281215
Last Service14-11-2025
RestoredNo
Engine RebuildNo
MOTYes Exp. 07-07-2026
MOT ExemptNo
Road Tax ExemptNo
HPi ClearYes - All Clear
Former Keepers1
Tyre BrandToyo Proxes
Tyre Age2011
Security SysTracker
# of Keys2
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~27 years, 2 months
Key FeatureLong Ownership
Vehicle RegistrationN414 FDH
Driver’s SideRight
Fuel TypePetrol
Body Type2 door Coupe
Auction ID3313

VIEW ALL

All Images

All Videos

Insurance Quote

Average annual insurance premium for a like this is via our trusted partner ClassicLine.
GET AN INSURANCE QUOTEAnd get 10% off when you mention us.

*Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid .

Vehicle Location

Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands

Thank You

Offer Submitted

Your offer has been submitted successfully and we'll be in touch shortly.