I browse through car listings on eBay regularly, and although I see many cars I’d like to own, after a moment of daydreaming, I’m able to move on. Every once in a while, however, a car comes along that I truly lust over, and I cannot get it out of my mind. This Oxford Green Metallic 1995 BMW 840Ci which I came across on the ‘Bay in January was one of those such cars.
My lust over the 8-Series goes back almost two decades. Since childhood, I’ve built a serious 1/18-scale car model collection, amassing hundreds of models over the years. My love affair with the BMW 8-Series began when, around age 4, I was blessed with this very model I pulled out of storage to photograph.
I remember that day vividly. It was a Saturday in the spring, and I was tagging along with my mom and my aunt Kathy on a day of shopping at a mall we didn’t normally visit, The Mall at Chestnut Hill, in Newton, MA. It was a very swanky place in a rather high real estate town, so everyday mall stores weren’t to be found. Instead of the typical K-B Toys, Chestnut Hill’s toy store was an pint-sized F.A.O. Schwarz.
After being dragged around to clothing stores all day, it was my turn to shop, and naturally I wanted to go to F.A.O. Schwarz. After looking around, I headed for the car models and selected my choice, a 1/18-scale BMW 850i by Maisto. As I was pulling a forrest green example off the shelf, I remember my mom asking me if I wanted to get the red 850i next to it instead. I politely declined, as there was just something about the dark green that made this car even more appealing. This is probably where my liking to dark green cars began.
The 850i was one of my favorite car models ever, and to this day it’s still in my possession, normally bubble-wrapped with most of my other car models in the attic. Despite my fascination with this car, the number of real-sized examples I’ve seen in the metal is very low, probably less than five. Just over 31,000 BMW 8-Series were built worldwide over the course of ten years. I’m willing to bet that most current 8-Series owners do not currently use them as daily drivers.
While technically not a direct replacement for the E24 6-Series, the E31 8-Series was in many ways, a spiritual successor, with specific respects to the M6. Both were similarly sized, occupied the same place as the largest and most luxurious coupe in BMW’s lineup, and the 840Ci’s V8 made exactly the same horsepower as the M6’s I6 (torque was up quite a bit in the 840Ci’s 4.0L V8 however). Of course, with larger V8s and even V12 power, performance was a much more important aspect of the 8-Series than non-M6 6-Series.
The 840Ci, like this car was considered the base model 8-Series. It’s 4.0L V8 made 282 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, quite respectable even by todays standards. The 840Ci was later fitted with a 4.4L V8, making the same horsepower but more torque. The 850i was initially powered by a 5.0L V12, although this engine too was later replaced with a larger displacement V12.
Designed by Klaus Kapitza, from the front, the 8-Series was unmistakeingly a BMW. From other angles, its resemblance to contemporary BMWs was less obvious. Unlike the E24, which dated back to 1976, the long, low, and wide E31 looked thoroughly modern and frankly, sinister. Its low front end, with pop-up headlights and small dual-kidney grille evoked the look of the iconic supercar M1.
While its sculpted sides and hardtop greenhouse conveyed luxury, its long, low-slung hood and fast roofline conveyed performance. Yes, the 8-Series was a true 2-door hardtop, and I think it looked best with the windows down.
The interior was equally breathtaking, with very cockpit-like dash and door panels. The instrument panel, angled nearly 45-degrees upwards has always been my favorite design feature of the interior.
The front-seat design looked very modern, especially with its side-hinged headrests. While the gathered design of its Nappa leather may date this car to the early-1990s, I think in some ways it looks more elegant than many of the leather seats in present-day luxury cars.
Seriously, what I would give to own this car. Like a particular girl with whom I had a serious thing for, but it didn’t work out, this car will be very difficult to get over. At least if it’s any solace, I own the V12 850i, albeit in 1/18-scale.
Beautiful, and the green seems to really work for this car. I used to see a red 840 at a garage near us in Toronto that specializes in imports. Nice, but like you, I ‘d pick the green one.
Back in 1989, when I first got a hold of a 850 brochure, I was whistfully gazing at the images and thinking to myself: this must be the most beautiful car ever created.
Nowadays I find them almost bland. But that might change in the years to come. It always does.
Always wondered what an M8 would have been like (supposedly, BMW did a prototype but went no further). One of the few large cars in the world that absolutely turns me on, and I’d love to own one. And I’m sure my favorite European service garage would be licking their chops at the thought of my having one.
Great looking car. These cars were quite heavy but at least they were still crisp and purposeful. The hardtop and pop up headlights really add a lot. I wonder though if their relative lack of esteem is to do with the mixed message. Not as comfortable as an XJS or as sporting as a 928, even though BMW should have had an opening as both of the above were aging. It is to the shame of Cadillac, Lincoln, and Imperial that they had nothing that played in this league. Thanks for writing this up Brendan, I collect the models too, great hobby for an enthusiast.
John, the 840 / 850 were madly expensive back then….much more expensive than its predecessor, the E24 6 series.
I assume that people with that type of money simply opted for the Mercedes R129 SL which offered convertible and coupé experience all rolled into one car.
True enough. I think the R129 SL also had a volume drop off compared to it’s predecessor. As new markets opened up in the nineties, I bet none of the manufactures saw the downturn coming. I think only Jaguar saw volume go up on the XJS as they sold more cheaper 6 cylinder versions. At the lower end, The SC400 was also scarily good for the price.
The R129 sold like hot cakes in the 90s as they seemed revolutionary when compared to the R107, which had been on sale for 18 years when it was finally discontinued.
R129 sold 208.000 units in 13 years, whereas R107 needed 18 years to sell 237.000 units.
I would say the changing markets have led to the fact that the current SL´s have become completely irrelevant in today´s automotive landscape and only sell in very small numbers.
I had no idea they sold so well. Seemed much less common in the USA. Mercedes much have made a fortune at the transaction prices they had.
I’ve seen tons of R129s in the Chicago area since I was a kid, I think I actually see them more often than SC400s.
The current SL also faces pretty stiff competition from the SLK. The first R170 SLK was clearly the little sister, and too cutesy-looking for some, but the R172 is a different story. The R231 SL arguably has better proportions, but unless cost really is no object, a 350SLK makes a lot more sense.
thats right. If you see an SL or SLK approaching in the rear view mirror its almost impossible to tell the difference. The SLK has cannibalised the SL in certain ways.
Cadillac’s Allante is not such a successful attempt, and Chrysler had a TC by Maserati. Lincoln had a substantial Mark VIII though.
Do it now, someday people won’t believe how cheap these were. There is a very sad one abandoned curbside in my neighborhood.
Sorta cheap to buy and crazy expensive to service and maintain.
Very true! That is what initially drew me towards buying a Saab – the fact that the used value was such a fraction of the new price – but parts and repairs were outrageous. My brother just bought a used BMW and we’ll see if his experience is similar.
the 840 / 850 are stuffed with 90s electronics that most probably even a BMW dealership wouldnt be able to repair. And I doubt that these cars have a huge fan base either so that becoming a specialist would make no sense. I forgot the exact price but I remember reading that those pop up lamps are absurdly expensive.
A sad reality for a lot of modern classics I’m afraid.
I share the fascination with this car, and there is at least one in this area which I still see driving around on rare occasions. Beautiful. However, according to the BMW Specialist shop that maintains my 98 328i, the 12 cylinder model is a nightmare to work on. As one would expect, the V12 is a (sort of) pair of BMW’s straight 6’s joined together – at least as far as the electronics are concerned. Each bank of cylinders uses an independent straight 6 ignition and timing system – including independent ECU’s- and the two systems are co-mingled in an orgy of dark German madness deep, deep in the engine bay somewhere. Naturally, being German, the banks can disagree with each other while each one adamantly insists that IT is right and that the other cylinder bank must bend to ITS wishes. Well, things bend alright, but not in a good way….. Well perhaps a slight exaggeration there, but it is pretty common to have only one bank working and the other just along for the ride…
I want one anyhow.
Add to that the very, very expensive electronic dampers, and …
There should be a list of automotive commandments, and one of those commandments should be, “Thou shalt not assume that a cheap car shall be inexpensive.”
“in an orgy of dark German madness deep, deep in the engine bay somewhere”
Please elaborate ! 😉
Peak BMW Coupe?
To me, the last beautifully designed BMW, after the 1st gen E30 M3 and my BMW grail… The M1.
These are going for about $3000(work needed) – $12,500 used. A great bargain, now, that will surely appreciate in a few years. A true investment, folks.
When these were new in the 90’s, we had a kid who was a big time drug dealer who was only 19 years old, and owned a black 850i.
When he was caught, which made front page news, the windshield of the 850i, had a custom banner that said … “The World Is Yours”. Tony Montana in the making, I guess.
I always loved 8-Series and had a chance to drive both 840Ci (“C” denotes 4.4L V8) and 850i.
From what I read the problem with 8-Series was that it went on sale in 1989 during the recession. Because of that BMW scrapped the ///M8. However, not all the work went to waste, – they developed 850CSi. It’s engine has a cover “Powered by ///M”, S-prefix (S70B56), non “Motorsport” engines had M-prefix, as well as VIN “WBS”, where “S” indicated that it was a product of BMW Motorsport GmbH, Munich. All “///M” cars had a “WBS” VIN. Regular BMW had “WBA” VIN (A = BMW AG).
I always lusted after an 850CSi. Very few were sold in the US and none in Canada.
And here’s a picture of ///M8.
They assume it was the recession. the first gulf war and maybe even the subdued buying mood of the Germans after the fall of the Berlin wall and the subsequent reunification which caused the lack of success. Allegedly the US buyers found them too underpowered (!?).
So BMW managed to sell a meager 30.000 units.Yet why did Mercedes manage to sell the R129 SL at an equal price like there was no tomorrow?
My guess would be, that the buying public simply did not like the 8 series. Maybe they wanted more glitz and glamour for that kind of money which the technocratic 8 series simply didnt deliver.
Judging by the U.S. press response, it wasn’t so much that the 8-Series was seen as underpowered — it wasn’t — but that in initial 850i form, it wasn’t any quicker than the outgoing 635CSi/M6 and cost $20,000 more. I think a lot of American reviewers really hoped the 850i would be essentially an E34 M5 in sportswear rather than BMW’s answer to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupes.
The 850CSi was more what reviewers had in mind, but it was a $100,000 car (in 1994–95 dollars — equivalent to more than $155,000 adjusted), and that was without the 10% luxury tax on the amount over $30K. For that kind of money, you could have his-and-hers matching Range Rovers, which seems to have been more what the market was thinking.
Sounds to me like the 850i fell into the same trap as the BMW 633 CSi, which was being criticized for delivering underwhelming performance when compared to its E9 3.0 CSi predecessor.
These are gorgeous cars. Like the current Audi 5 series coupes these have a clean and simple style that makes me think ‘German muscle car’. Love the true hardtop style also.
I’ve always loved the 8-Series, and I do get to see a few being driven now and then, because you eventually get to see someone driving one of about everything in LA. (And I did walk around Bimmerfest here in Pasadena last year.) Someone will pop up here and tell us that it’s not *so* bad to own one, which is the last thing I need to hear–don’t enable me! The ’98 Z3 gets enough of my time and money.
Such a great looking car, especially in green. It is a shame that US automakers couldn’t come up with comparable products. There was a red V12 model at a local consignment lot that sat there for over a year. It was in real nice shape but the paint deteriorated over the year it was there. A shame. I think that the V12 scared a lot of people away, rightfully so. A lot of 12 cylinder cars are a hard sell but there was a nice XJS sold last summer. Right now there is a 90s SL 12, a couple of V8s too. There are even three Cadillac Allantes available. Prices are pretty good. These would make great collector cars. Maybe not practical, but worth holding onto. Unfortunately I’m not in a position to buy right now.
Must be CC effect of some sort, I was on vacation in Florida last week and there was a sunfaded red 850 that lived a few blocks from my hotel.
Ah, the 8 series. Kind of an underappreciated design, but I still find them striking, and they’re such a rare sight anymore that seeing one is Kind of a Big Deal. While the V12 on the 850i is more than a little scary, I do find the 840Ci quite appealing.
However I don’t think I’d ever own one. Because if I was considering an 8-series, anywhere from beater status to full show condition, I could have a 6-series instead for similar money. And that’s the big coupe that has truly stolen my heart. Child of the 80’s, when the 6er was king.
this is the one BMW model I’ve always loved.
There is an older gentleman in my home town that drives one of these as his daily driver. I see him almost every day in that car. It is white with beige leather interior, and it looks like it is in mint condition. I know where he lives as I have seen that car in his driveway and in his garage when the door is opened. That beemer still turns heads and is truly a spectacular design.
Here’s a beat-up one at a BMW repair shop in Berkeley CA
That’s got to be a LeMons/ChumpCar project…
24 hours of Lemons to be exact! We took Class C win as well as won the epic fix award. Why drive V8 when you can drive a V12
Roadkill honorable mention
v8’s Bad, V12’s good!
Chris Lingle
Owner and Operator
German Auto Sport
Did not realize the Gathered Leather look was intentional until now, but that would explain why a bunch of items I remember interacting with while growing up looked like that.
When the 8-Series debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show, it made the competitive Mercedes coupes look hopelessly ancient (see below). The SL was a *17 year old design* and the full-size S-class coupe (560SEC) was 9 years old.
But regardless of the aging competition, this 8-Series’ design was ground-breaking at that time; we went to an auto show in ’89 and were stunned by this sleek beast –and looking at the Benz pictures, below you can see why.
I maintain a low-grade fever for two German cars: the 840 (the most repair-friendly of the 8’s) and a Mercedes 560 SEC. Owning either of these has less to with the cost of maintenance than it does with your fever, which will tell you that every dollar you spend on it is proof of your dedication to preserving a piece of mechanical art.
Here’s the 560SEC
I get your point. But Mercedes SL R129 as well as BMW 8 series were both introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show in the fall of 1989.
The glitzy 70s R107 was long history by then 😉
And I could imagine, that it was all eyes on the all new Benz roadster at IAA because it clearly was the more drastic re-interpretation of a classic, beloved design when compared to BMW´s top of the line coupés E24 / E31.
I really do believe that R129 stole E31´s thunder.
Hands down my favorite BMW of all time. Probably not the best and definately not the most important BMW but it’s the one I most desire…that is…if maintenance wasn’t such a large issue.
This car is almost beautiful enough to make a person own it in spite of the repair and maintenance costs that would outstrip the GDP of the smallest countries. Almost.
I was lucky enough to own both a 750 and an 850 in the mid 90s (company cars). Wonderful but exasperating, incredible high maintenance. The 850 was about 50 pounds heavier than the 750, as I recall. It was also de-contented, lacking wood trim, center arm rest, had only a 4 way passenger seat. It was SO German…the windows and sunroof would go up if you went over 90.
In the 750, the two engine management computers were under the rear seat about the size of VHS tapes (if you’re younger, look it up) and they plugged DOWN into the connector at the lowest point of the car. Caught in a local flood, a little water seeped through the rear door seal. I dried it out, but intermittents started next day. The whole system was ruined, computers, connectors and harnesses. Cost? over $18,000. Transmissions were good for a max of 100,000 miles because of having only one pump, so tack on another $8,000. Brakes? 20,000 miles, pads and rotors always, it was always $1,000 per service. I’m sure it could have been cheaper, but not by much. Parts are parts.
As much as I enjoyed the experience, I was not as upset as I thought I’d be when it was time to say goodbye.
Yep.Over complicated boring turds with 0 interest in BMW circles in the UK.
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In typical CC effect, yesterday afternoon I saw a dark blue (though lowered with wide gold wheels) pass by me heading the other direction on a side street 1 block from my house. Been away from the computer for a while and just found this article. I always admired these cars, especially when I was working for a BMW dealership from ’93-’96. It’s been many years since one of these have crossed my path.