BMW 8 Series

BMW 8 Series

Manufacturer	BMW
Production	1989–1999
Assembly	Germany
Predecessor	None
Successor	BMW Z8 BMW CS Concept
Class	Supercar
Body style(s)	Two-door coupe
Layout	Front-engine/rear-drive
Platform	E31
Engine(s)	V-8 (840) V-12 (850)

The BMW 8 Series (chassis code BMW E31) is a V8 or V12-engined 2-door 2+2 coupe built by BMW from 1989 to 1999 with an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), although with the limiters removed top speed was estimated at 186 mph (299 km/h). A common misconception is that the 8 Series has been a successor for the original BMW 6 Series in 1989; instead it was an entirely new value proposition aimed at a different market with a substantially higher price point. A new 8 Series cost around US$100,000.

Worldwide production ceased May 12, 1999, with 30,621 built.

BMW is rumored to have plans to revive the 8 Series name for a potential "four-door coupe", much like the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.

History

Design of the 8 Series began in 1984, with construction starting in 1986. The 8 Series debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in early September 1989. The 8 Series was designed to move beyond the market of the original 6 Series. The 8 and 6 Series cars had very different character: while the 6 Series was a solid Grand Touring car, the 8 Series was designed as a direct competitor to the upcoming Mercedes SL. It was BMW's flagship car while in production.

Over 1.5 billion Deutschmark were spent on total development (2005 USD $2.2 billion). BMW used CAD tools, still unusual at the time, to design an all-new body. Combined with wind tunnel testing, the resulting car had a drag coefficient of 0.29, a major improvement from the previous BMW M6/635CSi's 0.39.

The design included many firsts such as the first V12 engine mated to a 6 speed manual gearbox on a road car, first electronic "fly-by-wire" throttle and first to use a CAN bus system for major parts of the wiring loom cutting down the complexity and weight of the electrical system. It was also one of BMW's first cars, together with the Z1, that used a multi link rear axle, though on some versions of the 8-series a hydraulic system could manipulate the rear suspension to help steer the car by a small amount.

While CAD modeling allowed the car's unibody to be 8 lb (3 kg) lighter than that of its predecessor, the car was significantly heavier when completed due to the large engine and added luxury items—a source of criticism from those who wanted BMW to concentrate on the driving experience.

Sales of the E31 were affected by the global recession of the early 1990s, the Persian Gulf War, and energy price spikes. BMW pulled the 8 Series out of the North American market in 1997, selling only a combined model total of 7,232 cars over seven years. BMW continued production for Europe until 1999, though only as the 840Ci. The eventual total number of cars built world wide came to 30,621.

830i

Although sales were good in the first year on sale, the sharp reduction of the expensive 850i sales prompted BMW to develop an entry level model. This was to use 3 liter V8 with 218 bhp from the 530i and 730i known internally as the M60B30. A total of 18 cars were produced, 13 of which had an automatic gearbox fitted. The model was dropped in favor of the 840Ci and all 18 development cars were dismantled.ccc

840Ci

BMW 840Ci

The 840Ci exists with two different engine packages. The first used the 4 liter M60B40 engine with 286hp and was produced from mid 1993 to late 1995. From mid 1995 production phased in the newer 4.4 liter M62B44 engine, which had better fuel economy and more torque, though power output remained unchanged.

The 840i was available with a 5 speed automatic, though European cars got the option of a 6 speed manual transmission. A few features that were standard on the v12 engined cars became options, though the exterior remained identical, the only distinguishing external feature being the change from the quad square exhausts to round units.

The 840Ci stayed in production until mid 1999 though export to the US stopped in 1997.

850i

This was the first model launched in 1989 with the 5 liter M70B50 engine producing 300 bhp. Possibly the most advanced car on sale at its launch. It was available with either a 4-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual gearbox.

850Ci

There is some confusion over why and when the 850i became the 850Ci. The change happened around the introduction of the 850CSi and it is believed that BMW decided to include the C to make more of a distinction between the 8-series and their regular sedans. The confusion starts when BMW started to install the new M73B54 engine in the car. This was not an immediate changeover and indeed both the M70 and M73 engined cars rolled off the production lines side by side for about nine months in 1994, both named 850Ci.

The earlier M70 engined version had the same transmission options as the 850i, however with the change to the M73 engine a new 5 speed automatic was the only option. As the capacity of the m73 increased to 5.4 liters and the compression ratio went up, the power output rose to 326 bhp.

850CSi

As a top of the range sports tourer, the 850CSi took over from the prototype M8. In fact, in certain documents the car is actually referred to as an M8 and that is no misnomer. The 850CSi used the same engine as the 850i, but developed to a level where BMW thought it warranted a new engine code and was named the S70B56. The modifications included a capacity hike to 5.6 liters and power up to 380 bhp.

Apart from the engine a whole range of modifications were introduced and many of the options for the other models were standard now. The 850CSi had modified suspension with reduced ride height, stiffer springs and dampers and wider wheels, with the options of forged alloys. The front and rear bumpers were reshaped with aerodynamic performance in mind. Four round stainless steel exhaust pipes replaced the square ones. Steering rear axle, electro hydraulically operated which BMW called AHK. Switchable throttle response. Uprated brakes with floating vented disks and 4 pot calipers. The 6 speed manual gearbox was the only transmission option.

The US version did miss a few of the features on the European models. AHK was not available, as were the M-style door mirrors. The brakes were kept the same as the 850i and the engine and final drive had to do without an oil cooler each. Because of this the engine power is slightly reduced to 372 bhp.

In late 1996 production stopped as the S70 engine could not be made to comply with new emission regulations without substantial re-engineering, something that was uneconomical to do because of the low volumes it sold.

M8

One of BMWs best kept secrets is the cancelled BMW M8 Prototype. Originally envisioned as a Ferrari killer, only a single prototype was ever produced, equipped with a special 550 bhp (410 kW) version of the S70 engine, essentially a bored out version of the M70 with experimental multi valve cylinder heads. A very common misconception is that this engine eventually ended up in the McLaren F1. However when this was suggested to McLaren's designer Gordon Murray, the idea was rejected because the engine was overweight and too long for the McLaren F1. A whole new engine was designed which has a closer resemblance to the later S30B30 BMW M3 engine. The mix up occurs as the McLaren engine got the confusing engine code S70/2.

Details about the M8 prototype are very sketchy, the project was eventually scrapped because BMW have decided that a market for such a car as the M8 did not exist. The only prototype ever produced (one that was reportedly not even road safe) was locked away by BMW in their Giftschrank (poison storage) and has reportedly been destroyed^[1].

While the M8 was never produced, it is interesting to note that the 850CSi was also tuned by the M division and aside from sporting an M-tuned engine (as identified by the S suffix instead of the M prefix that a true M car would wear), the car's VIN would identify the car as being built by BMW Motorsport (identified by the WBS prefix) instead of BMW AG (WBA prefix). This effectively identifies the 850CSi as a sort of detuned version of the M8^[2].

There has been some confusion, as owners of standard 8-series occasionally have been seen to somehow procure realistic looking "M8" badges for their cars. No matter how professional it looks, the M8 was never produced and thus does not exist on the road.

Alpina B12

BMW tuner Alpina produced a special version of the 8-Series dubbed the B12. Two versions were produced, both taken from the standard production line, the B12 5.0 Coupe was based on the 850i powered by the 5.0 liter M70 engine producing 350 bhp (260 kW) and available only with a 4-speed automatic gearbox meanwhile the larger B12 5.7 Coupe was based on the 850CSi with the 5.7 liter S70 engine producing 416 bhp with a 6-speed manual gearbox. All in all 97 5.0 Coupes and 57 5.7 Coupes were built, all were built from existing units and their numbers do not add up to the total number of E31s built. The last of these very rare and infamous Alpinas were created in 1999, only 12 units were produced in specially custom made shades of color and revamped interiors. Those 12 units were specifically made for the sheiks of the U.A.E. at their request and to locate one for sale would be quite amazing as it is known that a few units were damaged in accident. ^[3]

BMW CS Concept

Main article: BMW CS Concept

BMW launched a "BMW CS Concept" in the second quarter of 2007. BMW showed interest to revive the 8-Series as a 4-door coupe likely to compete against the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. Regardless of what it may ultimately be called, BMW has officially confirmed the production of such a car.

Transmission

The 840 (V8) U.S. models were all equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The 850 (V12) models carry either a 4-speed automatic transmission, 5-speed automatic transmission, or a 6-speed manual. 850CSi model only came with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Fuel economy

840 (V8)

Fuel type: Premium

city: 15 mpg

highway: 20 mpg

combined: 17 mpg

850 (V12)

Fuel type: Premium

city: 14 mpg

highway: 20 mpg

combined: 16 mpg

Source: US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

Models and production history

Model	MY Global	MY USA/CDN	Production years	Engine	Volume	Engine alloy	Power		Torque		Production total	Production USA/CDN
830Ci	1992	-	1992	M60B30 V8	2997 cc	Nikasil	160 kW	215 hp	290 N·m	214 ft·lbf	18	-
840Ci	1993-95	1994-95	1992-96	M60B40 V8	3982 cc	Nikasil	210 kW	282 hp	400 N·m	295 ft·lbf	4,728	1,649
840Ci	1996-99	1996-97	1995-99	M62B44 V8	4398 cc	Alusil	210 kW	282 hp	420 N·m	310 ft·lbf	3,075	801
850i/Ci	1990-94	1991-94	1989-94	M70B50 V12	4988 cc	Alusil	220 kW	295 hp	450 N·m	332 ft·lbf	20,072	4,194
850Ci	1995-99	1995-97	1994-99	M73B54 V12	5379 cc	Alusil	240 kW	322 hp	490 N·m	361 ft·lbf	1,218	363
850CSi	1992-96	1994-95	1992-96	S70B56 V12	5576 cc	Alusil	280 kW	375 hp	550 N·m	406 ft·lbf	1,510	225
M8	-	-	-	S70/1 V12	≈6000 cc	Alusil	410 kW	550 hp	undisclosed		1 prototype	-

External links

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BMW 8 Series

References

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