BMW 8 Series 850 CSi

Bought my automatic 850i last year with 28,500 log book miles. It looks magnificent, but many power accessories were non-operational (to be expected for an 18 year old and lack of use) Also many plastic bits are brittle from age. This is especially a problem in the very hot engine bay

With a few months of weekend tweaking/tinkering, and minimal cost, have got most electric bits to work except the MID which gradually fails in most aged BM's. Design innovation and material quality for a 1980's design is amazing even now and the 850 has proven it is not an electronic nightmare.

Engine V12 power is smooth and handling is solid feeling but spritely for a big car, especially heart pounding when manually shifted. Fuel economy is good on light foot but no good for lead foot. Seat space and driver comfort are better than a two seater and just right for four jockeys.

The pillarless design is timeless and a real attention getter and due to limited sales volume and lack of awareness, causes some admirers to think it's the latest model. The look of the original factory mag wheels are the only weak link and are better replaced.

Parts are very expensive but once replaced, they do last a long time. Remember that this was once a BMW flagship - so running and spare part costs are not going to be cheaper than when it was new.

Compared to Aston Martin, Jaguar, Maserati, MB, and equivalent GT cruisers, none can match the BMW 850i for "silver hair" Sheer Driving Pleasure.

I finally found the holy grail of BMWs. I've owned 3 other 8 series BMWs (all of them 840s). I just bought a 1995 Black on Black BMW 850 CSi and am thrilled to own and drive it. I was fortunate to have found one with 28,000 original miles and in perfect condition. For that privilege I paid top dollar but it was worth it. The car handles exceptionally well and is sneaky fast if you know what I mean.

The BMW 8 Series 850 CSi is a classic timeless styling with great performance for a hefty car. I finally found the holy grail of BMWs. Having owned 3 other 8 series vehicles (all 840s), I continue to love the classic styling of this car. The 850CSi is a different animal than the others. I was fortunate to find an1995 model with 28,000 original miles. It is in new condition, from the black paint to the new car smell of the black interior. Sound, performance and handling are excellent. The car is what I call sneaky fast. Once you hit 3rd gear, before you notice 100 mph is showing on the speedometer. Absolutely love it.

I have owned my 91 BMW 850i 6 speed 12 cylinder beast for 5 years and I get into the car just to drive when ever it is sunny and dry. The power in every gear is truly amazing and all the systems still work perfectly including the sound system.

I would really like to see a v12 engine on the new M3 body. A v12 engine that propels this car, it is cheaper than other v12 cars, like other BMW cars the suspension train is sweet and lets not forget the good looks.

I looked for a used BMW 850 CSi for a long time and finally found one and fell in love with it instantly. What a rush it gives you when you have the opportunity to really do what it was designed to do; handle the curves beautifully with power to spare. Have owned many fine autos and this is the best.

Development of the 8 series was over the top - 5 years. BMW pumped no less than 1 billion DM into it. Some even tag the car as 'over-engineered'. Well it shows. It's superbly built (definitely not Bangled ;-)

The wedge-shaped body oozes style and the design has aged well. It's not uncommon for people to think a nice CSi is a new BMW model. The pop-up lights also look very modern. The build is solid and for a change, BMW seem to have built a solid interior (interior door panels won't fall off this beemer). Nothing on this car is flimsy - it will not vibrate itself to bits at high speed. Boot space is very generous (320 liters) - even with a spare tyre, jack, two batteries, CD changer and Stereo (Euro models have a fold down panel that houses the radio receiver and amplifier). Rear seats fold down flush for extra interior storage and there is also a pass-through for skis.

The list of features are endless and rivals some current models. After all, this was a USD100,000 car so you got a lot for your money. One 'feature' is the Limp-Home-Mode. BMW built a failsafe system into the M70 V12 engine (S70 in the CSi) so if a problem was to occur in the engine, it would simply shut down a bank of 6 cylinders and run as a straight 6. Note that the S70 signifies ///M origin. Throttle control is electronic (naturally, there are two) and is very smooth. There are switchable Sport and Comfort modes. The clutch is not particularly heavy so hill starts are on a par with most modern family cars. The gear shift is notchy and precise, albeit 4th to 5th is a long throw compared to the other gears.

The drive is solid and predicable (with AHK (rear wheel steering), lane changes are on par with a 911 of a similar age). There is a slight tendency to under steer but with ample power on tap, the back can be easily pushed around.

City driving can be a little tedious with lots of clutch and gear changing of the 6 speed box but with untold torque, driving everywhere in 4th is not a problem. The car is low already but some people lower it even more. This can create some bumpy rides in city streets where the road surface is not smooth. It also prevents going over tall speed bumps.

Acceleration is very respectable (0-100kph in 6s). 1st gear is not very tall but as soon as you hit 2nd and 3rd, most things become small specs in your rear mirror - and keep getting smaller. There are diff swaps to get better acceleration off the mark but not sure how this affects the final drive ratio...

Driving at 160mph (the car is limited to 150mph but re-chipping is common to remove the limit) the ride is smooth and you always feel in control. Oh, forget windows down at 100mph - they will rise automatically at this speed. There is no wind noise (///M mirrors help) and the car is always comfortable inside thanks to the very well made leather seats (fully electric with memory) and the automatic climate control.

This car is a real cruiser and eats miles for a snack - and then says "where's dinner". Cruising at 120kph, the engine is barely working at a mere 1,900RPM (my Landrover would be straining at around 4,500rpm!). Don't be put off buying a high miler - 200,000km+ is not unusual. If maintained the engine is good for a lot more.

All switchgear are well placed but for anyone approaching 2m tall, the cabin and headroom are a little confined (not sure how this happened with such a big car!). The steering wheel is quite big but there are aftermarket wheels that are smaller

If you ever get a chance to own one of these super-cars - do it! Careful with your purchase - this car is quite rare; only 1510 were made worldwide and some are in terrible condition. Saying that, most owners take very good care of them. Get one with a full service history and a pre-purchase dealer inspection and you will not be disappointed.

This 850CSi will still be turning heads a decade from now and it will still raise questions from old and young alike "is it a BMW prototype" or "what is it?"

I have owned the BMW 850 CSi for 2 years now, I bought it second hand for £8,500 and I have to say it is one heck of a roadster. It is a gorgeous looking powerful motor. It has 380bhp and 4 massive exhausts on the back making it a really fast car. So I would reccomend this car over most Ferraris. I am very proud to own this motor.

It is hard not to compare the BMW 850 CSi line of cars with performance cars from the here and now. In its original form it was designed to cover large stretches of land in a short amount of time. Get it on the freeway and even newer super cars with gobs of horsepower have trouble keeping up. The off the line performance will have you looking at rear end re-tooling and low end torque improvements. But off the line is not what this car is about. If you want to go long distance in the most comfortable sports coupe to come from Germany this is the car. Watch the repair record or lack thereof. What you do not know will cost you on this car. Six to eight thousand a year is not out of the question on aging models and heaven help you in the event of even the most minor fender bender. Every one you see go by is someone's labor of love.

I saw this 850 sitting inside a classic car showroom alongside a 328 GTS Ferrari (red of course). I climbed inside and out of both cars, drove each one and guess what? I bought the 850! At first I thought maybe I blundered but after learning how to drive this vehicle, yes, this car has to be learnt how to drive, I've fallen in love with it. I wouldn't trade it for a new one. There's nothing on the road to compare to this work of art. Find one if you can and BUY IT!