Is the 8 available in US?

[euro_imports_21]

I may be late or outdated on news but is it possible to get an 8-series BMW in the U.S.? I saw a maroon colored one in the parking lot of my college and me and my friend had an argument as to whether it was bought here or shipped over from Europe.

Maybe you guys can help me out? Thanks!:dunno

[SilverStreak]

They were sold here in the US for quite some time, 91-97, I believe...

[NegativeCambre]

Neato cars, really quite rare and VERY ill represented on this board....

...in other news, at the last SFR autocross, there were TWO 12-cylinder 850's... both with 6-speeds, and one was actually a CSi.

Very VERY cool

Steve

[///MZG]

there is one for sale at a dealership in downtown seattle.

[on a friday]

yeah, the 8 cyl. 840, and 12 cyl. 850.

[ajw45]

I think they actually rolled the last one off the production lines in late 1999 or early '00 but by that time they had stopped shipping them into the US due to lack of sales. I'm thinking of driving the 8 for next years auto-x series just to clear up all the ignorance I got at an event earlier this year about how uncompetitive and nose heavy the 8 is.

[euro_imports_21]

Hey if you guys are interested I could get a few pics of it... some of you might know or even be the owner. It's the first 8 ive ever seen.

[StouffvilleZ3]

I had a ride in a 91 850 csi, badged M7. ^ speed, 400 hp. (It had a little mild work done to it). Real nice.

[rupes001]

There are lots of pics of the 8 at the following link:

http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/search_results.pl?make=BMW&model=8-Series

[Miguel Sanchez]

Not to be negative, and honestly, the 850 csi was the first BMW I ever fell in love with, but from everything I've read and the BMW people I've talked to, the 8 series were really shitty for BMW's.

[Dinan330ic]

handles like a 7-series.

[LukeG]

Originally posted by on a friday
yeah, the 8 cyl. 840, and 12 cyl. 850.


how much for the 850???? :eek

[ajw45]

(sigh)
The 8 is one of the most misunderstood BMW's, primarily I feel because at its introduction, it was a level of refinement so far beyond what customers expected that they just could not come to appreciate the 8. It was not shitty for BMW's and handles nothing like a 7 series (Having driven my father's e38 750il and manual e32 735 for reference). It's not as nimble as a 3 series either, but it was never meant to be... and if that's what you wanted, well, buy the 3.
The 8 was an enourmous step above and beyond everything the 6 was before it. A step so far perhaps that people just could not appreciate it. The fact is, the 850 6spd equalled the 0-60 of the M6 (I briefly owned a Euro M635), has a perfect 50/50 weight distribution, and has a far improved suspension with much stiffer chassis than the 6 it replaced. Some writers have said that it is THE most stable BMW ever at triple digit autobahn speeds, more so than even the e39 M5.
So why didn't anyone like the 8? Well, I didn't like the 8 much either after first driving it actually. Coming from the 6, the 8 felt big, heavy, and muted, like a mercedes in bmw trim which is exactly what all the writers and critics so quickly noticed. It has certainly lowered my opinion of car writers since any idiot could have noticed that. After spending some time behind the wheel, the 8 grows on you, grows until there really isn't anything like it. Torque, lots of torque, but civilized in a super smooth v12 that screams at WOT or powers away slickly from a stop even in 4th gear. The suspension is very capable as the first implementation of the z-link and there is fabulous cornering grip given the low, wide stance of the car. The feedback and roadfeel are there, just more subtle than its preddecessors and certainly no less then current models. For me, the interior ergonomics are the best of any car I've ever driven and the exterior styling is more universally appealing then even the more controversial new 5,6, and 7 series.
No matter what car I'm driving during the week, nothing feels better than slipping back into the 8. There are a lot more people out there badmouthing the 8 then have driven one enough to understand it.

[rwindleyme02]

The 8 is great. An 850CSi in Black is my dream car. Even today, they go for around $65K.

Hey that first line rhymed! ;)

[TerryY]

AJW45

Thanks for the help. Sometimes I feel alone here.

I do get to type a lot though!!

[russiamutha]

How much do you think insurance will cost on '91 850? I might consider on buying it, since it's in the same price range as '95-'96 M3, but 850 is very rare unlike M3.

[TerryY]

The only way to tell is call your insurance agent or get an online quote at Geico or some place like that.

The 8 series is treated more like a commodity than a collector car right now so you might be suprised.

[LukeG]

i think the 8 has a fu**ing mean look.....looks sick....i dont know how anyone could bad-mouth it....my hopes now are just to drive one....maybe than buy one if it is anything like you current owners say it is!

[JSN]

I love the look of the 8 series, but i've heard nothing but bad things. for a car produced in 96 and 97, a v12 with under 300 hp is pretty bad. i've also heard the v12 creates massive understeer. buts that's just hearsay, I freakin' love that car :)

[TerryY]

Massive understeer has nothing to do with the V12 or the V8 for that matter. It was designed in for when you were cruising the Autobahn at 150 mph and you sneezed (or looked over at you girlfriend/wife or what ever distracted you).
Did you really want to change lanes just then ? Driving in grass could be fun at 150 except for all of those hard things like signs and fenceposts sticking up!
By making the car oversteer a lot they made it very stable in maintaining a straight line at very high speeds so that the average buyer didn't have to be a professional racer to drive the car to it's full potential. Remember it was limited to 155 mph from the factory.

All 8s have 50-50 front/rear weight balance. THEY ARE NOT NOSE HEAVY!!! The oversteer is designed in to the spring and roll rates of the suspension.

Changing the roll rate with the proper set of balanced front and rear anti roll bars moves the car to a true neutral steering rate.
Adding a better spring rate is the finishing touch to making one run with the ///M's on the track.

Say it again after me:
THEY ARE NOT NOSE HEAVY!!!


This is an all Aluminum engine. Notice how far back the engine is set for balance? That is why this is a TWO seater (the rear almost seats are for insurance purposes or tiny children only)

[LukeG]

so how many ponies does a stock 850 put out???? and can it be easily upgraded to more??

[MGregski]

I believe somewhere around 350hp :dunno

I remember seeing a twin turbo 850.......OMG around 700hp. The car was insane

[LukeG]

DAMN!!!!

[BGM3]

I think the 8 is one of the most beautiful cars I have ever seen. I remember seeing the first one on the road and just drooling over the design (love the aggressive lines and bulging fenders).
Earlier this year I got to tangle with a 840 from double to triple digit speeds. I could not gain nor did I loose any ground but I'm sure that if we kept accelarating he would have walked away from me.

[m34ever]

a guy near me has a twin turbo dinan 850, i see a lot og 8 series in my area, not very uncommon

[JSN]

Originally posted by TerryY
Massive understeer has nothing to do with the V12 or the V8 for that matter. It was designed in for when you were cruising the Autobahn at 150 mph and you sneezed (or looked over at you girlfriend/wife or what ever distracted you).
Did you really want to change lanes just then ? Driving in grass could be fun at 150 except for all of those hard things like signs and fenceposts sticking up!
By making the car oversteer a lot they made it very stable in maintaining a straight line at very high speeds so that the average buyer didn't have to be a professional racer to drive the car to it's full potential. Remember it was limited to 155 mph from the factory.

All 8s have 50-50 front/rear weight balance. THEY ARE NOT NOSE HEAVY!!! The oversteer is designed in to the spring and roll rates of the suspension.

Changing the roll rate with the proper set of balanced front and rear anti roll bars moves the car to a true neutral steering rate.
Adding a better spring rate is the finishing touch to making one run with the ///M's on the track.

Say it again after me:
THEY ARE NOT NOSE HEAVY!!!

This is an all Aluminum engine. Notice how far back the engine is set for balance? That is why this is a TWO seater (the rear almost seats are for insurance purposes or tiny children only)

good to know, thanks for the enlightenment

[TerryY]

At the time the 8 was designed BMW was very "Euro-centric" (read German-centric). In the mid to late 80's when the car was designed the major market for big bimmers was Europe with the majority of cars sold being in Germany.

So the E31 and E32 were designed for Autobahn like driving - Go really fast!! Go straight!! Big bucks cars because the folks who could afford them didn't care how much gas cost. Just that the cars felt really good at road speed!!

Most europeans don't understand things like Drag Racing or American Football. Shifting quickly while accellerating at full throttle was an unthinkable concept!
Their big super roads were designed with a straight-edge and a map so why does it need to turn unless you are going to the Alps for Holiday? (As a sidebar there is a factory trailer hitch for the 8)

If the 8 were designed in todays market it would probably attempt to be closer to the Ferrari in performance--or as we would say here 'A Corvette Killer". But it certainly wouldn't have the same visual appeal with a Bangle Butt would it!