Award Winning Magazine Car 850 Csi V-12, #166 Of 225 Imported To The Us on 2040-cars

1. Schrick racing cams and custom Split Second Fuel/Air engine management system to maximize performance of the cams.
2. Ported polished intake/head/exhaust with intake gaskets matched to intakes and heads.
3. Enlarged throttle bodies by 3mm
4. Kingsborne plug wires
5. Racing Dynamics Headers
6. Steel brainded brake lines
7. Short shifter
8. Euro CSi spec floating rotor front/rear brakes
9. Custom 3.45 LS 50% locking diff upgrade
10. Eisenmann Racing free-flow exhaust
11. Hamann strut tower brace
12. Upgraded Eibach springs/Bilstein shocks suspension w/fixed DINAN camber plates
13. Custom Bump-Steer plates to perfect suspension geometry after lowering springs
14. Hartge Classic 19x9/19x8.5 on 285/255 tires
15. Euro spec parking light strips imported from Germany
16. Euro Ellipsoid CSI headlights imported from Germany
17. HID lights 75W/55W ballasts for Lows and Fogs
18. A COMPLETE tool kit      

When looking at other sellers, mostly dealers, you’ll notice they say very little or as little as possible about the factual condition of their cars. They want YOU to do all the leg work to discover the hidden issues with their cars and they hope you’ll never find out. I believe in complete honesty about the condition of this car and I stand by its entire description.  I will assist in shipping this car any way I can… but it will be at your expense of course.  Payment by cashier’s check, and I welcome in person inspections!    If you’re looking for an enthusiast owned, well maintained, adult driven, tastefully upgraded 8 Series that you can just get in and drive across the country, this is your car. Notable exposure of this car includes:   

• BIMMER Magazine 2005: “Cosmos Cool: 850CSi”
• Cover: 2011 E31 Calendar 
• San Diego Clean Car Contest 2011: 1st Place: Super Clean   
• BMW M Registry     

The top examples of original surviving BMW 8 series just may prove to be collectible and as valuable as the top examples of 60s muscle cars. Few will argue that the BMW 8 series is a timeless car yet to be matched in style and looks by just about anything made since.  One thing I have learned watching cars progress since this car was new in the early 90?s; Although there are really nice improvements in technology, you will never see the quality of workmanship and engineering thought put into any car any time soon. Although technology had increased, workmanship quality and certainly the quality of materials used in even the top cars of today have gone down since. This car was $120K in 1995 for a reason – it represented the pinnacle of BMW’s technological advancement at the time – truly a flagship vehicle. You cannot duplicate this today for under the price of a new Phantom. I have owned lots of cars. The BMW 8 is a car that’s always at the top of the list and sadly for me, but good for you – this very well preserved example can now be yours.  

The V12 engine is never labored. The sensation of speed is muted to a degree I’ve never experienced in any other car. I apologize for not hitting you with a wide-eyed tale of white knuckles at 170 beats per minute, but driving fast in the 850Si is just a no brainer. BACKGROUND  In the 1980s, BMW decided to up the level of their flagship: to put it right at the top of its class. They wanted to design and build the world’s finest coupe. A real jewel in Munich’s crown, a top-level expression of the firm’s technological ability, a love-object motivated by impeccable technical substance. All within a completely German tradition; not too adventurous, absolutely reliable, responsible, comfortable. The new BMW’s principal target, as always, was Mercedes, the biggest coupe produced by the century-old milestone of automotive history, the name Daimler-Benz for which the Bavarians nourish a love-hate relationship. At the time, the Mercedes SEC had all to itself a market in which there was no place for the old 635CSi, dated, cramped and above all with a range of engines which went no further than a 3.5 liter 6-cylinder against its Swabian rival’s 5 (later 5.6) liter 8 cylinder.  To attack this powerful rival, seeing that the customer wanted more bulk, more room, more pistons and more horses than the 635 could offer, it was decided to provide him with just this, and to equip the new coupe with a single engine, the new 5 liter V12 which was at the time in an advanced stage of planning and which was destined for the 750i saloon. The Bavarian firm unleashed its engineers to design a car to be a true and explicite celebration of its technological potential. What they built aesthetically oozes the solid good sense of the best German entrepreneurs.  Internally designated E31, this car would get the new V12 engine waiting in Munich.

A new 6-speed overdrive manual gearbox was devised, the first ever to be mounted to a 12-cylinder engine in a production car. A revolutionary new rear suspension would finally see daylight on the E31, as well.  The new coupe would also serve as the test bed for a number of technologies that were due for a revolution rather than the traditional evolution. Multiplexed wiring facilitated BMW’s stated goal of replacing mechanicals with electronics, including a new drive-by-wire system that would eliminate the traditional throttle. Engine redline would vary according to oil temperature. That new rear suspension would have an optional hydraulic rear-wheel steering system. The front seat belts would be integrated into the seats themselves. headlight technology was about to take a the leap to modular, integrated lamp systems – but Xenon was still a few years away.

       The imposing hood, which perfectly conceals the generous V12 engine, is charaterized by twin strakes converging towards the BMW grill.  

Big stuff was going into the next big coupe, and its exterior design would also break all BMW’s rules. Gone were the angles and contours of the 6 Series, as well as the traditional BMW box front end. The new coupe would be a wedge, shaped in the wind tunnel for a drag coefficient of just 0.29 Cd (with its retractable headlights not deployed). A number not yet beaten even today by any production car on the road! Four tailpipes would accent the most muscular rear end ever to grace a Bimmer. You can see how the 8 Series was he precursor of things to come.  Production totaled just 30,621 units worldwide. Models ranged from the extremely rare 3.0 liter V8-powered 830i to the 840Ci, 850i, and 850Ci. Then in a brief shining moment, BMW gave us the Motorsport-massaged 850CSi in 1994 and 1995 in the US, but only 225 examples were ever built, each costing over $100,000.

       Note the perfectly balanced masses. There is no B-pillar: with the windows down the 850CSi is very exciting to look at.  

AND SINCE THEN? In 2009 the world celebrated the 20th anniversary of the BMW 8, an unparalleled series beloved by owners, coveted by collectors and still hailed for it’s groundbreaking design today. This year will see the 25th Anniversary with celebrations and gatherings going on all over the world. With over three quarters of models outfitted with 12 cylinder power plants, the 8 series represented the peak of BMW power, style and luxury on streets across the world until production ended in 1999. Today, the 8 series represents yet another chapter of a proud legacy that BMW carries on and celebrates two decades later. The BMW 8-Series, or E31, was produced and imported from 1991-1997 in the US in an 850 (V12) or in later years an optional 840 (V8) version. The 840 is more common in the latter years and was a bit less money and performance, but uses the same frame and body style. As with the two engine options, the E31 was offered in an automatic, or a 6 speed. The E31 is truly an engineering marvel set in a timeless classic body yet to be matched by anything BMW has built since in looks and build quality.  The E31 850 was offered in the 850CSi version in 1994-1995, here in the US, with a total of 225 cars ever produced for the US market. All 225 CSis shipped to the US market were V12 6-speeds. Yes you read right; there were only 225 850CSi chassis shipped to US customers! (1510 total in the world).

Even today, this car still is the lowest production run of ANY car in BMW’s entire history, even less than the famed M1 and Z8 coupes! The CSi was an improvement to an already incredible car having a few basic body enhancements over the regular 850 and a bit more power boasting a decent 372HP at the flywheel from roughly the same V12 with 5.6 liters. Read on to find out how THIS car improved on that 380bhp.

       A practical dashboard, with its well-placed, easily legible instruments. The coupling of the tach and speedometer into the shape of a sideways “8? is an original feature first incorporated in the 8-Series, and not since repeated.  

THIS CAR’S UPGRADES  The 850CSi was only produced for two years in 94-95, and my particular car here is a 1995 born in January of 1995. It has been improved upon with all the most desirable and tasteful improvements within reason and integrity. The highly desirable M-Sport mirrors is example of a perfectly reasonable upgrade. The stock mirrors, are often called “Dumbo Ears” for obvious reasons. Compare and you will see this is an elegant and sexy must-have upgrade.  To make this car have more power without altering the originality or integrity, a few basic things were done. First, during its engine rebuild, racing cams were added and a Split Second Engine Timing computer which allows for custom timing and fuel/air ratio mapping. The throttle bodies were widened by 3mm and the intake manifolds were honed to allow for better breathing.

Then there is the exhaust. The Eisenmann Race Exhaust transforms this already attention getting car, to a musical tune not heard by other cars on the road. Although it took extensive work to install and only gives the car an improvement of 16 actual HP, the sound is so impressive that you just want to listen to it all day. One of the more pleasurable aspects of this car is the distinctive idling sound it makes – it’s signature is rich, powerful, and exotic; often turning heads. You will soon come to know that even just starting this V12 behemoth is a pleasure of sound all on its own.  

       The result of a prolonged project study, the 8 Series, with its drag coefficient of 0.29, is one of the most aerodynamically efficient coupes on the market.  

SUSPENSION & GEARING  The springs on this car were upgraded to a lower and stiffer aftermarket spring by Eibach both front and rear. This has been a very good improvement over all factory E31s CSI or not. However, this combination has perfectly maintained the supple comfortable ride this GT Autobahn cruiser has become known for.

Also included are Bilstein shocks/strut inserts custom valved to “Heavy Duty (HD)” specifications and DINAN fixed camber plates. The combination of these shocks, camber plates, and Eibach springs truly sets this car apart from all other CSis on the road you will have all kinds of lateral fun in this car!  The rear differential was changed out to a 3:45 ratio custom built 50% lock Limited Slip unit. This is a HUGE and highly sought after improvement, giving the car a better acceleration with little to no effect on top speed or drivability. It is the ratio the factory should have used in the first place and is recommended to all automatic versions of this car. The competition for LS differentials for this chassis often resulting in a prime price for well conditioned units. This car comes equipped with the very desirable adjustable set of Greg-K sway bars. These parts are custom made specially for the E31 and replace the stock sway bars often found to be inadequate for anything more than Sunday cruising. This is such a desirable upgrade and improves cornering so well, I have much enjoyed seeing the surprised faces of young M3 and Mini drivers when they discover that this car has no problem keeping pace with them in the corners. You cannot even get these sway bars anymore (unless you buy a donor that has them).  

PERFORMANCE UPGRADES  RD headers, Schrick racing cams, CNC ported heads, extrude-honed intakes, enlarged throttle bodies (by 3mm), Split-Second engine management, European-spec CSi floating brake rotors, calipers + Porterfield Carbon Kevlar pads, braided stainless steel brake lines, shortened shift lever. The Euro brakes rock! The German-spec brake calipers and rotors hauls this 4,123 lb. juggernaught down from 150mph like an F-18 landing in an aircraft carrier… and it will do it again and again and again without fade.

WHEELS, TIRES & ACCESSORIES    The headlamp lenses are of course glass, not plastic and all the headlight adjusters that tend to become problematic in under-kept cars, are perfect in this car because I personally rebuilt them using new internal parts. Also, ALL the headlamps come on when you flick the brights thanks to changes in the programming of the Light Control Module (LKM) to European spec, also known amongst enthusiasts as the “Wall of Light.” This was a disabled feature on the 8 series in the US. The wheels and tires are an upgrade (Hartge Classics Type “C” which are 19?X8.5? ET: 15mm front and 19?X9.5? ET: 22mm rear with high-performance Bridgestone 255/35 front and 285/30 rear tires, providing you lots of grip when using Sport Mode. This is a true looks and handling upgrade, over the best tires ever offered on any stock 8-Series. The original wheels/tires on all models of the E31 are defiantly a weak point. This is a must for any E31 owner! All the glazing and rubber gaskets are in fantastic shape and well maintained – still soft – still un-torn, except for one small tear in the driver’s rear window rubber trim where the front and rear windows meet and the trunk gasket which has one small unnoticeable tear. Interior leather and dash are all in perfect shape. The A/C runs strong and cold and the heater runs warm as expected.  

AUDIO This car also comes equipped with an upgrade high watt stereo system for your road trip enjoyment. Controlling this sound is a the latest Parrot Asteroid head unit with removable face. This unit provides complete iPhone integration via cable or Bluetooth, providing voice activated hands free phone support as well as full iPod integration. It has built in GPS, voice recognition, web apps and is upgradable with new apps developed using the Parrot SDK.  Power is delivered by a Harmon Kardon 320watt power amplifier. I also enhanced the sound proofing in the rear of the car and site panels. This car is more quiet on the road than any stock E31. Backing up this sound system are two new Optima Yellow Top deep cycle batteries. Most E31 owners in the know will tell you that the E31?s electrical and power supply system was not the most optimal design. Since virtually every hallow space inside the 8 is host to a control unit, many with memory and sensors, it’s no wonder the E31 has such a high resting current drain.    Just look at the actual figures: With the trunk compartment lights off: 1) Driver’s door open: 4.8 – 5.0 Amps, 2) Driver’s door closed: 4.1 Amps for 20 seconds, then reduced to approx. 450-470mA for next 16 mins., then reduced to approximately 50mA. With the trunk compartment lights on: 1) Driver’s door open approx. 6.1-6.4 Amps, 2) Driver’s door closed–approx. 5.9-6.1 Amps for 20 seconds, then reduced to approx. 2.5 Amps for the next 16 mins., then reduced to approx. 50mA. What this does to a ‘normal’ battery over time is reduce its ability to hold a charge until you find yourself jump starting your car every few weeks of non-operation. If you don’t drive your car every single day, yu can either keep your car plugged into a battery tender which would help prevent the draw on the batteries while this car enters sleep mode, or use premium deep cycle gel core batteries like the Optimas. Compared to conventional batteries, voltage output from an Optima battery is more uniform across the discharge curve, more deep cycles are tolerated, and they can be mounted in any position with zero corrosion and zero leaks. They recharge faster than conventional batteries, and typically deliver 1.5 – 2x the service life. What this means for the E31 is that these batteries can tolerate the 20 minute to sleep mode and performance audio applications, without suffering the discharge of a normal battery. It means they’ll always be hassle free for you. Do I love my batteries? Yes I believe that I do!  

NOTABLE EUROPEAN-SPEC AMMENITIES  European-spec CSi ellipsoid headlamps, European-spec CSi smoked front turn signals, RD front bumper filler, High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting for Low beams and fog lights, and European-spec Lighting Control Module (LKM) to enable the infamous “Wall of Light.“  

MISCELLANEOUS  In addition to this car’s specific enhancements, I have spent a lot of time and money getting the basics right by replacing and repairing worn out plastic wheel well pieces, air collectors and connecting hoses, rebuilding the entire sunroof assembly, repairing common seat motor issues and basically getting this car in perfect working order in every respect. Everything works perfectly on this car. All switches, knobs, levers, buttons, signals, and lights are fully operational. The OBC (On Board Computer) has NO pixel problems (an issue common to this vehicle), and the brake pressure accumulator is brand new. Following is a more comprehensive list of improvements made to, repairs done, and problems with this car.  With all of the power train modifications, it was the October 2005 issue of BIMMER Magazine that estimated this CSi to have an estimated 440bhp at the flywheel.   

IMPROVEMENTS OVER STOCK

1. Custom built 3.45 50% lock Limited Slip rear differential
2. K-Bars Adjustable Sway Bars – Reduced body roll/under steer = better cornering
3. DINAN fixed camber plates
4. Eibach Springs – lower ride height, high performance profile
5. Bilstein HD Shocks/Strut Inserts
6. 19? Hartge Classic Type C wheels 
7. Braided stainless steel brake lines
8. Eismann Race Exhaust
9. RD front grille insert
10. Upgraded headlight adjusters
11. Smoked front markers
12. ///M Sport Mirrors
13. Upgraded sound insulation in body panels
14. Parrot Asteroid Bluetooth Head Unit
15. Harmon Kardon 320 watt power amplifier
16. Recovered front seat upholstry with matching Lotus White leather and custom Euro style piping
17. Reinforced driver’s seat foam for “Sport Seat” feel
18. Installed Comfort Blinker – Cars built after 2000 usually come stock with the ability to tap the blinker once and make the blinkers blink 3 times. This is a modification which adds this capability to the CSi and is totally programmable to your taste.
19. Built custom lower air intake screen – Keeps bugs out of the air intake, makes keeping the radiator clean easier.
20. Re-valved all Bilsteins for HD mode
21. Smoked side repeaters 
22. Added the infamous “Wall of Light” Euro LKM mod – Turns on all eight front lights when you hit the high beams. Does not conform with DOT regulations so only use your high beams where there’s no cops around! 
23. Upgraded headlights to HIDs – What a HUGE improvement from stock headlights. Gives the car a modern look at night and you can see for miles ahead!
24. Added brushed aluminum door lock pins – Slick, easy upgrade giving the car a refined look.
25. Added ///M steering wheel – This is a 3 spoke European M wheel with ///M hand stitching and a fully operational airbag (unlike other mods which can disable the driver’s airbag if not done properly.
26. Added ///M shift boot & e-brake boot – Another level of tastefully custom mods. It is of course an ///M car in everything but name.
27. Installed Compass/Homelink review mirror – Man what a convenience! All modern BMWs come with Homelink for your garage doors. I took a modern rearview mirror with the compass and Homelink feature included and re-wired it so it would fully operate in this 1995 car. Everything works, the alarm, the compass and the Homelink.
28. Added sound insulation – rear seats and sidewalls.
29. Added rear fog lights – Required in Europe and useful for helping drivers behind you see your rear tail lights in foggy conditions. Also useful for keeping tailgaters off your rear end during normal driving conditions.
30. Double Hazard Flash module – this is a custom built, one of a kind module that makes the hazards flash in double time.
31. Installed bump steer plates under front suspension to increase responsiveness of a lowered car.      

REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE  I have records going back to her birthday in 1995. as you can see from the list below, rarely does a month go by where I’m not improving something. Here you can see the records that existed when I bought the car. I have, but have not scanned, the remaining records of the following are repairs, which were performed under my supervision:  

To help you evaluate this car for purchase and to help you compare to all other E31s you may be considering, I am providing the following useful material to aid you in your search. I think you will find in the end, that this automobile will fall within the 90th percentile for preservation, quality and maintenance.  The down side to all E31?s are that they were shipped as a heavy machine, weighing right about 4,200 lbs. This is good for drivability and stability, as the car is simply one of the best feeling cars ever built. And don’t be fooled by the weight; you will quickly find yourself at 95mph while thinking you’re only cruising at 60mph! Needless to say, maturity and experience are your two best friends when you’re out enjoying the Eight as it offers very adequate acceleration, great top end reliability and endurance, and is simply a blast to drive. If you want an incredible car that is built extremely well, is very rare and collectable and has a certain appreciating future, the BMW 850 does all of this. I am confident you will have a hard time finding an E31 in as good a shape, as well maintained, with as many optional and highly desirable upgrades already done to this one. And if you become the new owner of this automobile, you will find support from a healthy and vibrant community of E31 enthusiasts at RoadFly.com and 8coupe.com to help you maintain and enjoy your new car.  

• Original manufacturer build sheet for #CD00166
• Vehicle History Report for #CD00166
• BMW E31 Pre-Purchase Checklist
• RESENT CONDITION: Cleaning Day Pix
• DETAILED CLOSE UPs: Paint & Blemish page
• ADDITIONAL PHOTOS: Interior and Engine page