850: Talk me out of it!

[ACJJ619]

Hi guys, new here

I've recently and suddenly decided I need a second car. I already have a 1990 BMW 3 Series which is my project (and daily) but I think I need something more practical and dependable, so I don't need to suffer anxiety on long journeys and be without a car when I'm working on it. It's got a short diff, a loud exhaust and sports suspension. It's not a comfortable cruiser.

An 850r (red, manual, estate) has come up nearby and seems to be in reasonable nick. It's £9,000 which is *most* of my savings and realistically, everybody would tell me I don't need to buy it.

My current car is fine and I barely drive it anyway. I do 5,000 miles a year at most.

But I want an 850r. I really want one.

I'm an above-average amateur mechanic so I'm not too worried about any work that may need doing.

How do we feel about prices at the moment? I've had a quick look and £9k doesn't seem too bad for a manual estate. The only ones I've seen cheaper are saloons or automatics.

Well-maintained I should imagine it'll at least hold it's value (if not increase) but I've only recently begun looking into it seriously.

Would appreciate someone talking to sense into me before I buy the bloody thing and my Mrs kills me...

[byootox]

9k for an 850r !! there good but not 9k good.
You could get a nice P2 V70R for about 7-8k and a perfectly usable one for about 6k.
Plus if your talking about spending that kind of money, I'd go for a Jap import one as they are almost rust free.
Import models add about 2k or so to the price but are normally very clean.

[ACJJ619]

I can only find two on Ebay - one is £15k and one is £8k but automatic! There's on on FastClassics for £10k but again automatic. That's why I thought £9k seemed reasonable but again, I'm very new to 850's!

[Stu B]

I feel your pain. I've had an '89 E30 325i Sport for 11 years, hardly used for the last 5 or so and sitting the garage with just a yearly trip to the MOT station and a bit of fettling now and again. I daily drive a '95 850 T5 to save using the BMW (or other vehicles I have...) for dog transport, leaving at the station, going the tip, supermarket or whatever.

Not sure I'd pay that much for an 850R but manual estate and good spec would mean you wouldn't lose much/any money when you come to sell if you look after it, I'd say.

In terms of working on them, 850s are very similar to E30 era BMW or 80s VWs in my experience. Well made, straightforward to take apart and reassemble, electronically simple (later Volvos really are not) and take the miles very well. I'd recommend one. However, if you get one, you'll never use your BMW again as the estate is so useful.

Any pics of the Beemer for us?

[Danny2]

9K and you would want a real minter.

A lovely white 850R estate (very rare?) sold around a year ago for similar money.

Is the 9k R listed online for sale?

Good luck

[ACJJ619]

Haven't got any pics of the BMW to hand unfortunately, but here is the 850 in question: https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C989510

It looks pretty good to me. A bit of paint correction and bumper restoration and it seems in pretty good nick? Just promise not to buy it before I've had a look!

[Danny2]

haha.
I'd have to agree with "byootox" and would go for a later V70R. (on the look out for)

That does look a good one.....
Manual and lowish miles.
Defo worth a look.

It's had the previous owner some time, surely someone on here will know the car, or the owner might even be on here?

[ACJJ619]

I do wish it had a black interior though! The light beige/wood is something of an acquired taste...that I'm yet to acquire.

Thing is, I don't really want "a Volvo estate"...I want an 850r!

[jonnyf90]

For 9k I’d be looking for the AWD V70R with nudging 300bhp
Or a 780 16v Turbo - but that’s another story...

Cheers

[ITSv40]

If you have seen something for sale and it ticks all your boxes and you seriously consider buying it, then it is up to you and only you whether you pursue the sale - well maybe 'er indoors as well, but you get my drift.

As far as price is concerned, that is set by a willing seller and willing buyer.

If you are unsure, to the point of appealing to forum members to talk you out of it, then it is not right for you and you should not pursue the purchase.

Only you can decide.