This tip came to us under a title that I swiped and used above. One thing that I have learned about a BMW 850i is that no part of it is ever on a budget! Limited production, fantastic looks, and impressive engineering all rolled into one is the 850i, but it comes at a significant cost. Regardless, let’s see what this 1990 edition is all about; maybe there is something to it. Tom V. gets the nod for this Ottawa, Ontario tip, and you’ll find this uber BMW listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $22,500 CDN (about $15,975 U.S.)
Offered between 1990 and 1999, BMW’s 8 Series followed the 6 Series, at least in that it’s a large two-door coupe, but the 8’s architecture is a far departure. BMW produced about 23K 850s, most with 5-liter V12 engines, but some came with larger 5.4- or 5.6-liter versions. These really aren’t large cars, but their high-style gives the illusion that they’re longer still than their 188″ length. The seller states, “The car is in need of some cosmetic work, particularly repainting the roof, which has sun damage. No rust, except rear mufflers.” Because the primary image was taken in the rain, it’s hard to gauge the paint’s true condition, but we can take the seller’s word at face value. All in all, this Bimmer shows well; I like the wheels but am not sure whether they were an option or aftermarket. Curiously, the seller tells us this 850 was imported from Japan. One would think a Japan-destined model would be right-hand drive; hotcar.com claims about 150 were configured that way.
The heart of the beast is a 296 net HP 5.0-liter V12 powerplant, and in this case it’s married up to a four-speed automatic transmission. In today’s terms, 296 HP isn’t that impressive, but it was notable in ’90, and the real cred likely came from its twelve-cylinder origin. “Many older parts have been replaced,” is all the seller has to say about this 125,000-kilometer (about 78,000 miles) supercar. The engine compartment is, at least, impressive-looking; it’s one of those kinds where if you drop a small screwdriver, you’ll never see it again!
The interior image is limited, but we do find a black, leather-upholstered environment in fine nick. It’s typically Germanic in its “all business” vibe, and nothing seems out of place, though I’d like a closer look at the driver’s seat.
There you have it; I’d call this one of BMW’s more significant late-twentieth-century creations. At the same time, I understand it is also one of their more maintenance-intensive and $$$$ models to own. Has anyone owned an 850i, and if so, what was ownership like?
Beautiful car. Got a friend who is a mechanic at an upscale dealership. Sent me a picture of a convertible, top down, interior out, trying to find an electric problem. Can’t believe how much wire was in that car. He makes real good money fixing BMWs.