[kcgman]

Just the other day I was on the highway and passed a car I had never seen before. The badge on the back looked like alphanumerical soup. The numbers and letter read as follows: 850CSi followed by a "M" badge. I first saw the car from behind and figured that someone had gotten carried away with some numbers and letters they'd found. When I passed the car and got a look at the car through my rear view mirror, it looked like a car with a distinctive, older BMW look but not like one I had ever seen before. This may be old news to many of you, but I did a little bit of reading and was surprised to even read that there is such a thing as a 8 series. Sounds like the 850Csi was the top of the line. One article I read referred to the 850CSi as a "supercar." Here are couple of excerpts from Wikipedia:

"The 8 Series supercar offered the first V-12 engine mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox on a road car. It was also the first vehicle with an electronic "fly-by-wire" throttle."

"Sales of the 8 Series were affected by the global recession of the early 1990s, the Persian Gulf War, and energy price spikes. BMW pulled the 8 Series out of the North American market in 1997, selling only 7,232 cars over seven years. BMW continued production for Europe until 1999. The ultimate worldwide production total was 31,062."

At another site (http://www.mcsmk8.com/91-850/BMW850.HTM), I read the following:
"The E31 850 was also offered in the 850CSI version in 1994-1995, here in the US, with a total of about 200 cars ever produced. This was an improvement to an already incredible car having a few basic body enhancements over the regular 850 and a bit more power than any other 850 boasting a decent 380HP at the flywheel from roughly the same V12 with 5.6 liters."

Here's a picture of one for sale. The one I saw was black. I hope some of you will get a kick out of this little trip down BMW memory lane. If only 200 were produced, there's a good chance that most of us will never get to see one on the road.

[BTTGMan]

the pic looks like a standard 850, not the CSI model.

850's were cool. i remember a few years back some auto mag saying they were one of the best "used car" steals because you could buy them cheap, and they had the v12 fun and bmw finish. not sure the auto mag had maintenance in mind. lol. cool cars though.

[MidwestGolfBum]

My buddy continually swears that he sees one, but it is never when I am around, and he normally has no idea what the hell he is talking about when it comes to older cars, or cars in general.

They certainly are cool looking cars and hope that I can see one "in the wild" to prove my buddy isn't crazy.

[AWD Addict]

My step mom drove one (not a CSi). Gorgeous cars, way ahead of their time.

[Brian@bavarianx]

Gorgeous indeed!
too bad the jackass crew turned it into a monster for Gumball 3000


Europrojektz has their own 840ci

[Coolieman1220]

always loved the 8 series....

[immiketoo]

My ex-wifes dad had a black one. It was really sweet. Never got to drive it though

[CAPSGOD]

The 850CSi had different mirrors. Overall a pretty good shape, if a little wedgy like most cars of that time period.


I remember someone put the ///M V12 from a CSi into a 3-series compact!

[Sniz]

one of those w a tuned lsx would be a dream car, that v12 not so bueno from what I hear.

[deluxe 247]

My mechanic has one with I think pushing 500 hp

[miiipilot]

[/QUOTE]

A very sexy car.

I know 2 totally different cars/segments, but does anyone else see a lil NSX in this pic?

IMO,
miiipilot

[kcgman]

Originally Posted by miiipilot

I know 2 totally different cars/segments, but does anyone else see a lil NSX in this pic?

Well, now that you mention it...

[SchnellM3]

Originally Posted by Sniz

one of those w a tuned lsx would be a dream car, that v12 not so bueno from what I hear.

Up keep on that V12 is a nightmare and very hard to work on. Its pretty much just 2 I6s mated together.

[2M]

Originally Posted by miiipilot

I know 2 totally different cars/segments, but does anyone else see a lil NSX in this pic?

IMO,
miiipilot

no, but I do see a lil Calibra

[jeiarneec]

i see a mk3 supra in the 8 series





i looove the 8

[Nismoz33]

wow all share similar lines...

its pretty commone in todays designs too.

[mpm3]

come to nj i see a good amount ! and i work at bmw, some come in sometimes !

[PTinVT]

I've always loved the 8.

That's why I just picked one up today!

1993 850Ci, automatic. 150K miles, clean/original, needs some repairs and upgrades but nothing huge and it was a decent deal - and local. I can't remember the last time I saw an 8 up here.


What a lucky bastard I am - E92, E46, E31... but I'd much rather have them than all my money tied up in one car like a 911 that I'd never be able to really open up.

[Maseroche]

Future classic for sure!

[mproject]

Beautiful car

[Bimmer_Freak]

Wow i never knew this car existed. I love the look.

PTinVT - where's your review on how that thing drives??

[rbk1115]

Originally Posted by Maseroche

Future classic for sure!

+1