Hello folks,

Firstly want to wish everyone a happy new year and all the best for 2012.

For those who frequent the Community and OC sites, I've been involved with these cars for a fair few years now, having purchased our first ovee 3 years ago.

We've had a series of cars and are currently using a 55 and 04 Plate Tourer as our everyday drives, having also had a 54 plate ZT-T and an 04 ZT 190.

Prior to this our background has been in BMW's and our long term planned project has been a 1993 BMW M5 Touring, which we have owned for around 5yrs.

The car is interestingly similar to the V8's in that there were less than 900 built, but with currently only 12 left in the UK. We purchased it with a comprehensive service folder of £25,000 worth of work shown, yet due to a 'specialist' not checking valve clearences, has a misfire on one cylinder.

To cut a long story short, we don't have the time or facilities to give the car the attention and work it deserves. The final nail in the coffin was having Mannie take my father out today in his supercharged beasty and as a result, we've decided that a 260 Tourer is the way to go and that it's time the M perhaps moved on to pastures new.

What I was hoping to establish, is what the market for tourers is like (been told it has to be a mk2!) and what sort of costs do the V8's face. (For example how much are a pair of rear discs?) and what availability there are for parts here in the UK and also what things to look out for?

Best wishes and thanks in advance,

Jake