BMW 840ci (Original Irish, Only 77k)

Every now and again, a car comes along that reminds you BMW really did know how to build a flagship coupé. The E31 8 Series was an entirely clean-sheet design: low, wide, pillarless and packed with technology that was years ahead of its time. Top Gear described it as “a virtual visitor from the future”—and nearly 30 years later, it still looks more dramatic than most new cars. Pop-up headlights help, of course. Everything is better with pop-up headlights. Top Gear⁠ This later 840Ci is fitted with the revised 4.4-litre M62 V8, producing 286bhp and 420Nm. It offered more torque and better economy than the earlier 4.0-litre engine, although “economy” remains a fairly optimistic word when discussing a large V8 BMW. Supplied new in Northern Ireland before later coming south, this car has clearly been looked after properly. The bodywork is excellent, the colour combination suits the shape beautifully, and its distinctive factory turbine-style alloy wheels finish it off perfectly. Inside, the headlining has already been replaced, the air-conditioning is ice cold and all the electrics operate as they should. Crucially, there are none of the usual missing pixels or unreadable displays—so the car won’t be communicating with you in hieroglyphics. Mechanically, it has received extensive attention over the years, including considerable work to the brakes and suspension, along with everything else that required attention. It starts readily, settles into a smooth idle and the 4.4-litre V8 pulls like a train. On the road, it feels tight, composed and every inch the continent-crossing grand tourer BMW intended it to be. Only 3,075 examples of the later 4.4-litre 840Ci were produced worldwide, making it considerably rarer than many realise. These final cars benefited from the revisions introduced throughout the E31’s life and are now among the most sought-after versions. For years, the original 8 Series was strangely overlooked. That has changed. People have finally caught up with just how ambitious, beautifully engineered and downright handsome these cars are. A properly sorted example of one of BMW’s greatest designs—and a car that still has enough presence to make most modern coupés look like they’ve arrived to read the electricity meter.