When is a Sport not a Sport?

They are an option on my build sheet as well. It also mentions the M Sports Package, M aerodynamics package, M Sport Suspension etc etc.
I think this was the norm on the later sport models

Hope this answers your question.

What year is it
I thought all later models with the M62 (4.4ltr) engine were sport models but I could be wrong

Oh, you learn something new everyday. Like you say you would have to be an idiot not to go for the sport package.
Looks like your gonna have to wait for Jud then.

Cheers.

Wayne

840CiA Sport (UK)

BMW UK was given the task of increasing sales of the M62 840Ci in its final years of production (1996-99) by BMW AG. The M62 RHD 840Ci produced 1,470 examples, of which most were Sport Models.

The genius of BMW UK was to package the bits from the recently-ended 850CSi (production ended Oct-96) into the 840Ci (e.g. body, suspension, wheels, etc.). Of the 1,470 RHD 840Ci's built, ~1,056 were built with the Sports option. Because of the success of freshening the M62 840Ci with 850CSi bits, this program spread to Belgium in early 1998 and then to the rest of Europe late 1998 til production end May-99.

The core "standard" option codes for the sport version were:
704 M SPORT SUSPENSION (optional on non-sport)
710 M LEATHER STEERING WHEEL (optional on non-sport)
715 M AERODYNAMICS PACKAGE
775 INDIVIDUAL ROOF-LINING ANTHRACITE
782 M LT/ALY WHEELS SYSTEM II (optional on non-sport)

One could order code 704, 710, and 782 on the non-sport M62 840Ci for an additional charge. Here's the actual brochure detailing the specifics.
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The first "retail" UK 840Ci Sport was produced on Wednesday 14-May-1997, chassis number CC66409 -- -it was built as a 1997 model year vehicle and came in ALPINWEISS 3 (300) with a LEDER NAPPA/SCHWARZ (M5SW) interior. BMW of Australia also wanted in the action and actually had the very first retail 840Ci Sport produced on 29-April-1997.

There continues to be a difference of opinion (hint: Arnie - with no disrespect to you old chap -- big GRIN) regarding the 840Ci Sports -- however, my data is from BMW UK's own figures and output from the BMW 8 Series Inventory Project.

On my "To Do" list for the Registry data is to explicitly break down all special models of the 8 Series (e.g. Japan Individuals, Platinum editions, 840Ci Sports, Alpinas, etc.). In case you missed it, the UK Market Version colors for all 8 Series are now online:

06-July-2007 - UK Colors Now Online

So, the car that Seb emailed me is indeed a non-840Ci sport.

Cheers,

Jud

Astounding Jud. You never cease to impress me....

Hope all is well with you and yours across the pond....

Well there you go. I was under the impression I had a Sport Model. After all mine has the full aero package, sports seats with piping, leather M Steering Wheel, Anthracite headlining, and has 'individual' plaque on left side front suspension mount. Also has M62 engine, with steptronic. It also had the turbine alloys originally.

So why do I doubt it now.... Date of first registration 08 04 1997 (chassis CC66402)

Still, I have bilsteins in now so the M Suspension issue is largely irrelavent.

Is it possible the car was registered by the dealer earlier than the official launch of the 'Sport' edition ?

Tony;

This is the build sheet for your car below.

First, your car was processed by BMW Individual and as a result, there were "special ordered" items. But more on that in a moment.

Remember, the key phrasing I used in my post above was "retail" -- this means that the options were "packaged" together to put together a "Sport" edition 840Cia. I also wrote there were approximately 1,056 Sport versions (~ that's what this symbol means) --- which means what it says --- as I need to thoroughly investigate the remainder of pre-retail cars. From April/May 1997 forward, the options in assembling an official sport edition 840Ci Sport were auto-assigned.

Now back to your car. The person and/or dealer that ordered your car did put together a "sport" type version --- it was very common to be able to order the CSi body kit separately, in this case option code 715 M AERODYNAMICS PACKAGE and for the wheels, 782 M LT/ALY WHEELS SYSTEM II. In addition, the buyer of this car ordered a specialized interior. For all intents and purposes, your car is a Sport edition because of the ingredients were combined with the existing order option codes (e.g. 704, 710) with code 940 Special Order instructions.

For the 1996-97 model year vehicles there were Sport editions put together and notated in the Code 940 comments as "E31 Sport Edition - Great Britain" --- with a lot of paperwork to accomodate the Sport version. It was part of the genuis of BMW UK efforts to offer a Sport version of the 840CiA even though each Sport had to be manually Special Ordered from the factory. For purposes of what I previously wrote, it wasn't until April 1997 when the Sport package was streamlined in the BMW order system and became functionally a "retail" offering.

Of the roughly 400 cars built in 1996-97 prior to the one I stated, part of my work will be to determine special editions, like the UK 840Ci Sport, of which those are pre-retail Sport versions. Each build sheet prior to the "retail packaging" has special comments in the code 940 Special Order section that requires additional study --- some that were sport editions say "E31 Sport Edition - Great Britain" are acknowledged in the comments. Your car is one of those unique situations.

I understand where the confusion set in as I probably needed to clearly outline that there were 840Ci Sport Editions prior to April/May 1997, it's just that they were not packaged in the BMW order system and "manually" put together. If there's enough interest in getting to an answer sooner than later as to the exact number of Sport Editions, I'd be pleased to consider re-orienting my planned content launch at 8coupe.com (Germany 8er colors is next). I will tell you this fact: most of the M62 840's RHD are Sport Editions (north of 75%). It's just that the car Seb is looking at is definitely not one of them.

Also, be aware that since BMW Individual processed your car with a one-off interior, it's collectability is nudged higher.

(note for everyone else, DO NOT ask me to publish your build sheets on ClubE31, it's a policy that was implemented a long time ago -- only in events where a car is publicly for sale will I publish them. Because of the nature of this thread, Tony published his chassis number and openly questioned the issue --- to which was appropriate.)

Gearbox AUT
Colour COSMOSSCHWARZ METALLIC (303)
Upholstery SONDERPOLSTERUNG/OHNE FARBANGABE (Z1XX)
Prod. date 1997-03-07
Order options
No. Description
216 SERVOTRONIC
243 AIRBAG FOR FRONT PASSENGER
401 SLIDING/VENT ROOF, ELECTRIC
423 FLOOR MATS, VELOUR
428 WARNING TRIANGLE
431 INTERIOR RR VW MIRROR W AUT ANTI-DAZZLE
459 SEAT ADJUSTM., ELECTR. W MEMORY F DRIVER
481 SPORT SEATS F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER
528 AUTOMATIC AIR RECIRCULATION CONTROL(AUC)
669 RADIO BMW BUSINESS RDS
676 HIFI LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM
694 PREPARATION FOR CD CHANGER
704 M SPORT SUSPENSION
710 M LEATHER STEERING WHEEL
806 3RD STOP LIGHT
812 ENGLAND VERSION
850 ADD FUEL TANK FILLING FOR EXPORT
853 LANGUAGE VERSION ENGLISH
863 EUROPE/DEALER DIRECTORY
877 DELETION CROSS-OVER OPERATION
880 ENGLISH/OWNERS HANDBOOK/SERVICE BOOKLET
940 SPECIAL REQUEST EQUIPMENT

Individual data
Remaining interior trim: M5SH
Processing individual
Sign "individual"
Special series
E31 Sport Edition - Great Britain
Z1XX Upholstery
Keder an Fahrer- und Beifahrersitz in Nappa silbergrau dunkel
(Nr. 2 252 989)
Restliche Innenausstattung wie bei Leder Nappa silbergrau hell,
Schl.Nr. M5SH

0940 Special request
BMW Leichtmetallraeder geschmiedet, 8J/9J x 17, M5-Styling,
Bereifung 235/45 / 265/40 ZR 17, wie BMW 850 CSi
Frontschürze und Heckdiffusor vom BMW 850CSi.
Außenspiegel vom BMW 850CSi
Dachhimmel, A- und C-Saeulenverkleidung in schwarz analog E31
Color-Line, wie Schl.Nr. N1CL

Thank you Jud for your in depth reply. It has totally taken me by surprise and I am indebted to you for providing the information.

It is good to know that my car is individual even from source, despite the last 12 months or so of modding it

Thanks again.

Dodgy old motor there Tony! Might have to keep distance on trip to the place in Warwickshire!

Has anyone got EDC on there 840CI? Ive dont think ive ever seen one.

Also it says that Indivdual is a no-cost option. The person who bought my 840CI new paid £2000 for the paint work and another £2000 for the interior as i have got the original invoice.

Yes, the car that Seb was looking at --- which started this discussion thread ---has EDC. It's not a Sport version.

Build Sheet:

Colour ARKTISSILBER METALLIC (309)
Upholstery LEDER NAPPA/SCHWARZ (M5SW)
Prod. date 1996-10-29

Order options
No. Description
223 ELECTRONIC DAMPER CONTROL (EDC)
255 SPORTS LEATHER STEERING WHEEL
299 LT/ALY WHEELS W MIXED TYRES
353 ANTI-GLARE STRIP FRONT + RR WINDOW
401 SLIDING/VENT ROOF, ELECTRIC
423 FLOOR MATS, VELOUR
428 WARNING TRIANGLE
431 INTERIOR RR VW MIRROR W AUT ANTI-DAZZLE
459 SEAT ADJUSTM., ELECTR. W MEMORY F DRIVER
481 SPORT SEATS F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER
528 AUTOMATIC AIR RECIRCULATION CONTROL(AUC)
540 CRUISE CONTROL
669 RADIO BMW BUSINESS RDS
676 HIFI LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM
694 PREPARATION FOR CD CHANGER
812 ENGLAND VERSION
850 ADD FUEL TANK FILLING FOR EXPORT
863 EUROPE/DEALER DIRECTORY
877 DELETION CROSS-OVER OPERATION
880 ENGLISH/OWNERS HANDBOOK/SERVICE BOOKLET
961 SPECIAL ENGINE

Are you interested in knowing more about EDC and 840's?

Also, I'm not surprised at the no-cost option --- however, is your invoice the actual dealer's bill of sale or the Window Sticker from BMW UK?

Cheers,

Jud

I have EDC on my 97 Ci Sport. At least I hope it is, with all this information being passed around!

Zitat

I have EDC on my 97 Ci Sport. At least I hope it is, with all this information being passed around

Yes, you have EDC on your car.

In fact, EDC was factory-installed on only 139 M62 RHD 840CiA out 1,470 produced (9.45%).

Cheers,

Jud

Hi Jud,

I'm still confused about what is or is not a "Sport".
According to my local UK BMW Dealer, my car is a "plain Ci", but in that case, the original owner must have been mad, because adding all the extras fitted onto a "base" Ci would have made this a very expensive 840 indeed!
There was a debate before about whether an EDC equipped car could be a Sport as it wouln't have the M Suspension.
My build sheet - again from the dealer - doesn't show some of the dealer's work after purchase, such as PDC or (so I am told) the replacement of the charcoal headlining back to light grey......because the owner didn't like it!
Can you please throw some light on this?

Thanks in anticipation