BMW 850i, How does it drive?

MIKEYMIKE · 07-12-2007, 06:20 PM

Mods please move this to the offtopic section if you must.

The 1990's old body 850i. Are they v8 or v12?

How is the handling? Does it compare to a new body 650i? Is it fast?

aspiring335 · 07-12-2007, 06:27 PM

The 850i is a V12; the 840i is a V8. The only one to go for IMHO is the 850 CSi, which is very rare and expensive even for high mileage examples. The 850i and 840i were criticized for feeling a little too soft and not special enough for the price. The CSi has a more powerful 5.4 liter V12 and a six-speed manual transmission as well as a more aggressive setup. Figure 0-60 in about 5.5 secs when new and a governed top speed of 155 mph.

Keep in mind that these cars can be bought quite cheaply, but are horrendously expensive to maintain.

ward · 07-12-2007, 06:31 PM

I used to work at a repair shop, those aren't any more entertaining to drive than a 5 series of similar vintage

be ready to sell your first born to pay for repairs!

JIMD1709 · 07-12-2007, 06:40 PM

Like doo-doo compared to modern 6 series, or even a 3 coupe. Smaller inside than a 3. They are hot as fire though, very sexy car.

EmPower · 07-12-2007, 07:25 PM

The most beautiful BMW ever???

Zeroday · 07-12-2007, 07:47 PM

Certainly one of the most beautiful BMW interiors ever. Oh how I miss the cockpit style driver centric interior.

///Matt · 07-12-2007, 10:24 PM

crap crap crap crap crap car. stay away. pay someone to get this car away from you.

HyperM3 · 07-12-2007, 10:48 PM

If youre going to do it, get the 840. It was the only one available with a manual(aside from CSI) and it was better balanced because of the 8 vs. the 12 up front. The 12 had a lot of gasket problems and other mechanical issues. Not to say the 8 didnt have its share, but it was fairly more reliable.

Ive always loved the style of the 8 and think its a beautiful car. If you can find one that was well maintained with lower miles, I say go for it.

GhostyM · 07-15-2007, 12:36 AM

Yup get the 840i pretty good car, very hot to see and rare but beware of probs.

///Matt · 07-15-2007, 12:39 AM

yeah, beware of HUGE probs.

Just to let you know, the most common complaint on these is a "burning smell from the rear"... which is the fusebox in the trunk melting. And then you're stuck with about $7000 repair, replacing the complete wiring harness.

07-12-2007, 06:20 PM	#1
MIKEYMIKE Lieutenant Colonel 63 Rep 1,516 Posts Drives: 330i 6mt Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: SoCal iTrader: (3)	BMW 850i, How does it drive? Mods please move this to the offtopic section if you must. The 1990's old body 850i. Are they v8 or v12? How is the handling? Does it compare to a new body 650i? Is it fast?
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07-12-2007, 06:27 PM	#2
aspiring335 Lieutenant Colonel 95 Rep 1,614 Posts Drives: 2019 G05 40i Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	The 850i is a V12; the 840i is a V8. The only one to go for IMHO is the 850 CSi, which is very rare and expensive even for high mileage examples. The 850i and 840i were criticized for feeling a little too soft and not special enough for the price. The CSi has a more powerful 5.4 liter V12 and a six-speed manual transmission as well as a more aggressive setup. Figure 0-60 in about 5.5 secs when new and a governed top speed of 155 mph. Keep in mind that these cars can be bought quite cheaply, but are horrendously expensive to maintain. __________________ 2019 G05 40i (premium excellence, m-sport, 2VR), Tesla Model S 100D, Nissan Leaf SL Volvo XC90 T8, Subaru Outback, E84 X1 28i, E91 328i xdrive, 6MT, VW Touareg TDI, E90 330i, E46 325iT, MINI Cooper S (all retired)
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07-12-2007, 06:31 PM	#3
ward Major General 155 Rep 6,158 Posts Drives: F Join Date: May 2005 Location: T iTrader: (0)	I used to work at a repair shop, those aren't any more entertaining to drive than a 5 series of similar vintage be ready to sell your first born to pay for repairs!
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07-12-2007, 06:40 PM	#4
JIMD1709 Captain 31 Rep 746 Posts Drives: 2007 328 Coupe Alpine White Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saint Petersburg, Florida iTrader: (8)	Like doo-doo compared to modern 6 series, or even a 3 coupe. Smaller inside than a 3. They are hot as fire though, very sexy car.
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07-12-2007, 07:25 PM	#5
EmPower Captain 138 Rep 926 Posts Drives: 2014 X5 xdrive 35i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	The most beautiful BMW ever??? __________________ 92 Mazda Mx6 (sold), 00 VW Jetta (sold), 07 BMW 335i (sold), 10 VW Jetta (sold), 14 BMW X5 35ix (sold), 18 VW Jetta (totaled), 19 Audi SQ5 (sold), 20 Audi S6 (sold), 22 Audi SQ5
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07-12-2007, 07:47 PM	#6
Zeroday Colonel 46 Rep 2,350 Posts Drives: Plymouth Volare Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: your nerves iTrader: (0)	Certainly one of the most beautiful BMW interiors ever. Oh how I miss the cockpit style driver centric interior.
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07-12-2007, 10:24 PM	#7
///Matt United States Marine 316 Rep 2,748 Posts Drives: 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (8) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	crap crap crap crap crap car. stay away. pay someone to get this car away from you.
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07-12-2007, 10:48 PM	#8
HyperM3 Too many Alex's, from now on, call me Beaufort 342 Rep 6,188 Posts Drives: See Sig Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ iTrader: (8)	If youre going to do it, get the 840. It was the only one available with a manual(aside from CSI) and it was better balanced because of the 8 vs. the 12 up front. The 12 had a lot of gasket problems and other mechanical issues. Not to say the 8 didnt have its share, but it was fairly more reliable. Ive always loved the style of the 8 and think its a beautiful car. If you can find one that was well maintained with lower miles, I say go for it. __________________ 13 HD FatBob 17 A4 Glacier/Black 1st Edition/Pre+/Sport/EurocodeTMD/Racechip 16 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),13 S6 (gone),10 S4 (gone) 07 335i(gone)
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07-15-2007, 12:36 AM	#9
GhostyM Major 539 Rep 1,463 Posts Drives: plenty Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Yup get the 840i pretty good car, very hot to see and rare but beware of probs.
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07-15-2007, 12:39 AM	#10
///Matt United States Marine 316 Rep 2,748 Posts Drives: 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (8) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	yeah, beware of HUGE probs. Just to let you know, the most common complaint on these is a "burning smell from the rear"... which is the fusebox in the trunk melting. And then you're stuck with about $7000 repair, replacing the complete wiring harness.
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