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Lot 24 - 1992 BMW 850i Coupe

  • Lot 24
  • Auction closed: 07:09 Monday 21st Nov

Lot 24 - 1992 BMW 850i Coupe

Estimate: £4,800 - £5,800



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About the BMW 850

‘Unlike previous BMW coupés, the 850i will not form the basis of a racing car. The purpose of the 850i is quite clear. It provides the driver with the means to cover the road quickly, quietly and safely, whilst delivering that essential BMW driving ingredient, driving pleasure.' BMW press release, 1990

If only the BMW PR department could keep control of their emotions, eh?

The wonderfully styled and still beautiful to behold BMW 8 Series Coupé was, unbelievably, launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show nearly 30 years ago, in 1989. The new car, designed to perform (and cost) well beyond and above the current range topping 6 series had been in development since 1984 - with BMW lavishing over DM1.5billion on this process. The company used CAD tools (still unusual at the time) to design the car's all-new body, which combined with wind tunnel testing resulted in a drag coefficient of 0.29, just one highlight of a machine that positively bristled with innovations at that time - as befitted the flagship model from the makers of “the ultimate driving machine”.

As Top Gear Magazine remarked: ‘The 8-Series came with five-link rear suspension, stability control, traction control, speed-sensitive power steering and even damper control (EDC) as an option from 1990. By the standards of the day, this made it a virtual visitor from the future.’

But while the motoring press focused on the numerous other road car milestones such as the first electronic 'fly-by-wire' throttle and the first 'CAN bus' system to cut down the complexity and weight of the electrical system, what really impressed most ordinary punters was the dramatic styling and sheer presence of the thing. Although the legendary M1 had been out of production for a decade by the time the 850 appeared on our streets, its influence is clear here.

Luxuriously trimmed inside and packed with all the gadgets that its jet-set client base could wish for, the 8 Series turned every journey into an occasion and made the driver feel special every time they slipped behind the wheel. Initially, it was powered by a magnificent all-alloy, 5-litre V12 that produced 295bhp and a mighty 330lb/ft of torque. Allied to a 5-speed automatic gearbox that could be operated manually if really rapid progress was desired, this was sufficient to generate a 0-60mph time of just 6.8 seconds on its way to a top speed electronically limited (presumably by similarly humourless BMW types as those populating the press department) to 155mph.

 ‘Car and Driver’ noted: ‘Moreover, the V-12 delivers its power with aristocratic decorum. It's like having a giant, vibrationless, hydroelectric generator under the hood. The 850i's strength is seamless power.’

Costing well over £60,000 new, the 850i was always an exclusive machine and just over 20,000 were sold worldwide before production ceased in 1994. Rare, fast, and beautifully styled, it seems a fair bet that that what you’re looking at here is your archetypal ‘modern classic’.

About this car

Registration Number - K964 SUS
Chassis Number - WBAEG22060CB57458 
Engine Number - 60200057

  • 5L V12 Engine and switchable auto gearbox 
  • Air conditioning
  • CD multichanger
  • Cruise control
  • Sun roof
  • MOT and taxed until July 2017

BMW's top of the range offering would have set you back £59,500 in 1990, which equates to about £130,000 in today’s money - figures that perhaps put the sheer quality of what's on offer here into some sort of perspective. 

This particular example, finished in Mica Ice Blue with a spotless black leather interior, has been with its current owner since 2013, before that it was owned by an Oscar Harley who purchased the car from a Mr G Tong in 2005. It has five fully documented owners in total from new, and crucially comes with an extensive BMW service history.

Since 1992 the car has covered 137,000 miles (an average of about 5,700 a year), which of course is fairly small beer for BMW's famously hard wearing and under-stressed V12. The car ran superbly throughout our test drive with the engine pulling strongly, the gearbox doing its job without hesitation or notchiness (to use a technical term) and the brakes offering all the reassurance you'd ever need from a high performance machine such as this.

All the controls, dials and other electrical gizmos available in the luxurious cabin appear to be working correctly, no mean feat when you consider the level of spec. available on the 850i. The leather interior is in excellent condition and is a real highlight of this particular example, being virtually unmarked throughout. If we were to be picky (which we tend to be) we would point out some slight discolouration to the leather around the stitching on the outside edge of the driver's seat, but that really is about it. The boot carpet is slightly less smart however and has a few marks on it that we feel confident would come out via the energetic application of a good carpet shampoo.

In terms of the bodywork, the 850i has had work on two wheel arches, with metal being replaced and re-painted here, and this has led to a slight colour difference between the front nearside wing and the rest of the car in some lights. Otherwise the car is very presentable bar a few scratches and other blemishes commensurate with a vehicle that's now approaching its quarter century. The only area that would benefit from some prompt attention is the junction between the rear spoiler and the boot lid where insufficient rustproofing around the freshly drilled mounting holes has resulted in some unsightly bubbling. This is however very localised and would not be a problem to rectify (please see our photos for details).

Whilst in the current owner's care his mechanic has been through the pain of replacing varoius suspension components as required including new shock absorbers all round. In addition, the exhaust, head gaskets, water pump and radiator have all been replaced with genuine BMW parts, the stylish BMW alloy wheels have been re-finished and the CD stacking system has also recently been repaired. Bills for this work total in excess of £8,500.

Whilst it's hard to fault this car inside or in terms of its complex mechanicals, it's fair to say that the bodywork would benefit from a little smartening up here and there at some point should the new owner so desire. This would not be a difficult or costly experience, and the work required is certainly reflected in the vendor's asking price.

Over all, it's hard to think what else you could pick up for this sort of money that will whisk you to 60mph in less than 7 seconds, and in such unabashed luxury and style. It's no surprise to us that the 850i is being tipped by many as a future classic, and with prices starting to show signs of serious life, now is certainly the time to buy.

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