so this thing was a V12 but was only puttin out about 290HP? whats the deal with that. Kind of decieving.

the 850csi ha a V12 and put out 372bhp

ah, mustve misread that. thanks

No, you didn't misread that. The 850i made only 297bhp. When complaints were made that this wasn't enough power, BMW answered back with a new higher-end model and a refreshed motor for the base V12 (and the 840 V8, but we're talking the V12s here). The 850Ci (base V12) made 322bhp and the top-of-the-line 850Csi made 372bhp. It was thoroughly re-worked by Motorsport in terms of suspension, brakes and motor. IT was the closest anyone outside ofBMW would ever get to the ONE M8 that was built, but never given the green light by the BMW board of directors. Pitty, since the 8 Series looks so nice.

I think I'd kill for an 850csi. Those things are sexy.

Hey Doug, nice to finally see you wondering over this way.

Anyone got a pic of an M8?

Shhh....I haven't really....

I've actually test driven an 840Ci, and even THAT was nice. The 850Ci was a bit more nose heavy though, and more of a GT car (freeway cruiser) than anythign else. I will eventually own an 8 of SOME sort, but I don't know what yet.

Here ya go....Google rocks!

http://www.bmw-power.8m.com/bmw_M8.jpg

Crap! That was an M8??? I wonder how much its worth considering theirs only one in the world...

Apparently the M8 engine was used in the Mc Claren F1. The engine name was dubbed S70/1. The engine looks like two S50B32's fused together!!!

According to one website it had 666HP 589.8 Ft/Lb torque
and only weighed 2205lbs, 0-60 3.6 and was 4WD???

Hmmm, I dunno if all the stats of this car on this website is true, but damnif it is, the car must fly...

If this car was made in 1994, Bmw had the V12 power goin on before mercedes had their 600's types rollin out today....

Now if bmw wanted the V12 war, they'd just have to put the S70 engine on the Motorsport line again :devillook

Here's the VIN of one I guess? :dunno

Doug beat me to pics. Anyways, the E31 always has been, always will be a cruiser car. An autobahn crusher not to be taken at high speeds on a straight road. Us heavier and longer BMWs hold that title. Still, they are beautiful cars. Absolutely gorgeous cars with the same engine (not the same power output, though) as the Mclaren, which would make any 850/750 owner excited.

RRda: it's worth what ever the owner will sell it for. I'm guessing it's still at Munich in the museum. Call them up, offer a mil, and it's yours.

Not really an edit, just put it up before it was ready.

Originally posted by RRdawho?
According to one website it had 666HP 589.8 Ft/Lb torque
and only weighed 2205lbs, 0-60 3.6 and was 4WD???

Hmmm, I dunno if all the stats of this car on this website is true, but damnif it is, the car must fly...

If this car was made in 1994, Bmw had the V12 power goin on before mercedes had their 600's types rollin out today....

Now if bmw wanted the V12 war, they'd just have to put the S70 engine on the Motorsport line again :devillook

Here's the VIN of one I guess? :dunno

Then it is the engine they put in the Mclaren. No wonder that didn't make it to production. Could you imagine the cost of that car? In my opinion, that's why BMW has never made the M8 or the M7. To tune the V12 to be that powerful would just be too expensive to make and maintain. I don't know if I'm right here, but that would be a pretty good reason.

Yep, in 94 when the Mclaren came out BMW was putting out 600+ hp with their engine. Everyone thinks Benz is SO revolutionary to slapping a supercharger on their own V12 and boasting that power.
:laugh

Yeah, hp came in just under 300 but the stock torque is up over 330lbs for the original 5L v12. The aerodynamic coefficient of the 8 series is very similar to an nsx and the body design generates plenty of downforce as the speeds increase. Some reviewer noted that it is the most stable BMW made at european speeds, more so than the E39 M5 he was testing at anyway.

Anyway, for 4000lbs I still think it needs more engine. The M8 would have been perfect! Too bad there's only one and last I heard it was scheduled to be destroyed! Yup, trashed by BMW to make space for some new stuff!

Still though, even the "small" 5L v12 is something... ssssmooth... quick to rev... peakier than the v8... and the sound at WOT is awesome...

I can't stand all the people impressed by the new Merc TTv12. At 6L with twin turbos, I think their engine is a dog when Mclaren was able to get the same numbers without the FI and the same displacement and a whole decade earlier!

Why destroy a piece of history, I'm sure some car collector/drug lord would buy it from them and museum it before they would ever allow bmw to destroy it.

Let's start the "Save the M8 Fund" if we all pitch in a few grand I'm sure we'll be able to salvage it. A car that amazing should not be wasted!

They should try selling it on Ebay first, or something.

Doesnt the 850's 5.0 say M power?
Is that only the reworked ones?

The 5.7L Csi engine cover has the M logo and they have vins that start with WBS just as all M cars. As someone put up a picture earlier in the thread, the german registration for the Csi models designated them as M8's.

As for its destruction, BMW does that all the time and it drives me nuts. No one was allowed to even SEE the M8 even after all these years in some dark basement at BMW. Go figure. You would think they would love to show off their biggest baddest v12 coupe, even if it never made it to the streets...

The M8 prototype did NOT use the engine from the McLaren F1. Instead, it used an experimental, prototype V12 that never went into production.

vins that start with WBS just as all M cars.

Not all M cars start with that. My M6 starts with WBA. There was a reason but I forgot, anyone here know?

I just checked the vin from my old '85 euro M6 and you're right, it was a wba vin too. I remember thinking it was weird at the time but since everythign checked out, I guess I pretty much forgot about that.

If I remember correctly, all the 6's were built on the same line, unlike the M5's, so the M6's got the standard vins...

There was abadged M series 850 CSi. It was produced only in 1991 and 6 were inported to Canada. It was 400HP, six speed stick. There were about 100 in total produced. My dad's business partner owned one in 1997. Absolutely gorgeous car. I've never seen another one since he sold it. Selling price with 70,000 KM in 1998- $60,000 CDN. Price new $195,000.00 CDN. I wish I could find one (and 60 grand).

Bill

The 850CSi, produced only in 1994 and 1995, was 100% Motorsport.

You can buy a CSi these days in decent condition from $40k to $60k.

You can also buy a 1991 850 6 Speed for $15k, put $30k in mods,
and have a car that will run circles around ferarris. (In terms of handling, acceleration, etc.)

Personally, I love my 840, and it keeps up quite nicely the way I have it setup.

jesus christ, that's how much an M Roadster brand new goes for.... Are you serious StouffvilleZ3?..... I can't beleve he sold it:(

is that sorta like the S50 (euro pre-S54 3.2) M3? cept there were 50 or something...

what does a normal V12 8 series go for in canada?

Originally posted by ajw45
If I remember correctly, all the 6's were built on the same line, unlike the M5's, so the M6's got the standard vins...

You remember correctly. E28 and E34 M5s were built at BMW Motorsport GmbH, at the time a separate company from, but owned by, BMW AG. BMW Motorsport has since become a division of BMW and renamed BMW M[arketing].