BMW built a V12 M8 prototype for the E31 and then hid it from the world — locked away in the company's own 'Giftschrank' (poison cabinet) because the brass decided a high-performance 8 Series made no sense in the early-90s recession.
Lead trim: 840ci · 4.4L · up to 375 hp
BMW 8 SeriesE31 · 1990–1999
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a BMW 8 Series yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactBMW built a V12 M8 prototype for the E31 and then hid it from the world — locked away in the company's own 'Giftschrank' (poison cabinet) because the brass decided a high-performance 8 Series made no sense in the early-90s recession.
Built February 1990 to May 1999; withdrawn from North America in 1997.
Collectors Spotted in the BMW 8 Series Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the BMW 8 Series yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
9 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 840ci · 4.0L | 1994–1995 | 4.0 L V8 | 282 hp | 295 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 5-spd | — |
| 840ci · 4.4L | 1996–1997 | 4.4 L V8 | 282 hp | 310 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 5-spd | — |
| 850ci · 4-spd auto · 5.0L | 1993–1994 | 5.0 L V12 | 295 hp | 332 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 4-spd | — |
| 850ci · 5-spd auto · 5.4L | 1995–1997 | 5.4 L V12 | 322 hp | 361 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 5-spd | — |
| 850ci · 6-spd manual · 5.0L | 1993–1993 | 5.0 L V12 | 295 hp | 332 lb-ft | — | RWD | Manual 6-spd | — |
| 850csi · 5.4L | 1995–1995 | 5.4 L V12 | 375 hp | 406 lb-ft | — | RWD | Manual 6-spd | — |
| 850csi · 5.6L | 1994–1994 | 5.6 L V12 | 375 hp | 406 lb-ft | — | RWD | Manual 6-spd | — |
| 850i · 4-spd auto | 1991–1992 | 5.0 L V12 | 295 hp | 332 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 4-spd | — |
| 850i · 6-spd manual | 1991–1992 | 5.0 L V12 | 295 hp | 332 lb-ft | — | RWD | Manual 6-spd | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
BMW built a single M850i with interior trim made from real meteorite rock — to mark both BMW Individual's 25th anniversary and a meteor shower happening the week it debuted at Geneva.
BMW once dressed a one-off 8 Series interior in actual meteorite — the 2019 M850i xDrive Night Sky Edition used real Muonionalusta meteorite trim, not carbon fiber or wood.
BMW built a V12 M8 prototype for the E31 and then hid it from the world — locked away in the company's own 'Giftschrank' (poison cabinet) because the brass decided a high-performance 8 Series made no sense in the early-90s recession.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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