8 Series?

[pbrennan10]

What're the bimmerforums feelings on the 8 series? I looked up the zero to sixty times and it appears to be slow for a v12 coupe. Is there something you could do to this and have a supercar? I find it an interesting car and would like to know if they have any mechanical flaws etc.

[bfd]

Yow, the E31 8 Series. If you want "fast" then the only one your want is the 850CSi which came out in either 94 or 95. With 372hps/402 ft-lb torque, its the one to get. However, expect to pay.

Good condition ones with all service records, and you want ALL service records, will sell for between $45K to 60K and up - and that's assuming you can find one!

Note, do a google search for the 2 part E31 Buyer's Guide by Paul Micheal Brown. He is the 8 Series guru and will tell you all the pluses and minuses. Big minus - 2 of everything, complex electronics, expect to budget a minimum of $1K-2K per month for maintenance (if not more!). Good Luck!

[angrypancake]

there was one on the bay recently that sold for around 55k. incredible. the argument rages over whether or not it was an ///M car. it did have the S in the VIN, which is representative of M. plus it looked like:
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8104/m8engine4tk.jpg

some day i will have one. i got to drive a white one last summer, 6 speed. it was no slouch at all. downright quick as hell if you ask me!

[DaveVoorhis]

Beautiful and fast but expensive to run and maintain. Tolerable V12 examples can be had for a bit under 5000 pounds here in the UK, though the V8 840 is often considered a more practical choice. The 850 CSi is considerably more, of course. A dealership is currently asking 18,995 GBP on http://autotrader.co.uk for a '96 with 78k miles.

[Kalevera]

Electrical nightmares, poor build quality, heavy, big, not fun to work on. Earlier ones are the worst, but I've got a '97 850 sitting in my lot right now that is driving me bananas.

Nat, that's the one and only M8. The CSi's S70B56 has manifolds:

http://www.bimmer.info/~lowell/pct145.jpg

[jrobbo]

I'd love to get an 840 with a six speed and bung a supercharger on it. More power, but less weight over the front wheels. If only my wife would let me buy another car in addition to the M5.......

Nice looking car though, i've always admired the lines of the E31

Regards

John

[632 Regal]

absolutly beautifil cars, werent they a joint venture with GM on the body?

[sKilled]

They are hot looking IMHO, but a friend of mine in Germany had one and couldn't stop complaining about it. As Lowell said - poor build quality and an electrical/mechanical nightmare. My buddy said it spent more time getting fixed than on the road (a statement previously reserved for older model Jaguars). And in regards to the heaviness - ai, it needs a lightweight treatment as urgently as my lawn a proper mow (our lawn guy is paid for by the landlord so I can't really complain about the fact that he's mowing the grass down to the dirt). The 8 series is an expensive hobby, way more than anything else BMW, as parts are hard to get with their production numbers being so low. If you have the time and the money, and don't mind the aggravation, then go for it. The end result is not a daily driver like the E34, more like a Sunday cruiser.

[genphreak]

Heh, can you balance a coin on the M-badge atop that one Whit?

Farout that's a sweeet lookin bay. I gotta fill mine up like that when I grow up a bit...

There's a video here (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6029817001965533332&q=bmw) of an 850 doing 0-60-0, 0-100-0, 0-200, 250+ and 200-0 or something like that, its awesome stuff.

[Mendozart]

Ahhh, the classic wedge design. Gotta love it.

[632 Regal]

we balanced a quarter on a ...50 car 2 years ago at the Chi town meet.
Heh, can you balance a coin on the M-badge atop that one Whit?

Farout that's a sweeet lookin bay. I gotta fill mine up like that when I grow up a bit...

There's a video here (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6029817001965533332&q=bmw) of an 850 doing 0-60-0, 0-100-0, 0-200, 250+ and 200-0 or something like that, its awesome stuff.

[we_call_him_doher]

Wow what a great video

[Incantation]

it's not the "only" one to get. mine is chipped and will rival a stock csi

[Incantation]

0-60 doesn't mean anything.. being a european car owner you should know that. americans concern themselves with that. the 850 is best at 100mph .. u hit the gas and the fuker takes off like a rocket. it was made for high-speed highway driving.. it's heavy and very stable at high speed.

[Incantation]

if you buy one be prepared to pay a lot for repairs. i was fortunate enough to buy one from the only reputable mechanic i know who completely reconditioned the car and for the last 3 years i have not had a single problem with it. i know other 840/850 owners who have had lemons.. very expensive car to have worked on

be careful if you want to buy, the electrical systems are intricate and can be buggy .. $$$

[genphreak]

if you buy one be prepared to pay a lot for repairs. i was fortunate enough to buy one from the only reputable mechanic i know who completely reconditioned the car and for the last 3 years i have not had a single problem with it. i know other 840/850 owners who have had lemons.. very expensive car to have worked on

be careful if you want to buy, the electrical systems are intricate and can be buggy .. $$$Incantation, your e31 is awesome. I love the way in the video things are pretty hectic until it gets to 100mph and after that everything seems to smooth out. It's a bit like this in the e34, the suspension and so on really comes into its own above the speed limits- where other cars just seem to lose it.

[joshua43214]

The real question is would You drive one. In my case, the 850csi is maybe the only car I would trade in my 540i for.

[NitrousO]

My god it sounded like a jet when it was deaccelerating. :)

[angrypancake]

that m8 gives me a tingly feeling.

[angrypancake]

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/6356/multipartxf8ff2m83ep.jpg

[TheEndIsNear]

That's my dream car...

[angrypancake]

you and me both, sir.

[DaveVoorhis]

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/6356/multipartxf8ff2m83ep.jpg

Car pr0n!!!

I just came in my pants.

[TheEndIsNear]

Indeed... Yumm!

[Incantation]

thanks.. yea it's actually interesting how similar it is to the e34.. especially looking at the engine bay (outside of the engine of course) there is a lot of carry-over in the components in there. the dash layout is similar too. oddly enough things cost triple for the same part on an e31 (well not always but sometimes)

truth be told i am probably more fond of the e34. my friends think i'm crazy but i'm sure everyone here knows what i mean.

[Incantation]

http://www.zeemax.com/Images/ZM8WB/7e31wb1.jpg
http://www.zeemax.com/Images/ZM8WB/7e31wb2.jpg
http://www.zeemax.com/Images/ZM8WB/7e31wb3.jpg
http://www.zeemax.com/Images/ZM8WB/7e31wb5.jpg

[bfd]

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/6356/multipartxf8ff2m83ep.jpg

Nice picture. As I recall, this car was destroyed, by BMW, back in 1995 or so as it was developed only as a "test mule." Too bad, the only *true* M8 ever made by Motorsport.

[DaveVoorhis]

As I recall, this car was destroyed, by BMW, back in 1995 or so as it was developed only as a "test mule."
A moment of silence, please, as we mourn the loss...