1991 BMW 850i - 57,000 miles

One of the very best BMW 850s we’ve ever seen, this stunning low-mileage example has just 57,000 miles on the odometer, a full service history, has been recently lightly recommissioned, and sits on a set of genuine Alpina wheels fitted with new Pirelli P-Zero tyres.

With just four previous keepers, it was stored between 2012 and 2018 as part of a car collection on the Isle of Man, from which the vendor purchased it. He used to sell classic cars professionally, so he knows a good ‘un when he sees it and he bought this BMW 850i with a view to reselling it. However, he fell in love with it and has used it as his own personal transport for the past year.

He has spent far too much money since then sorting out the few little niggles that even the best-maintained classic develops. Now pushed for space, he is confident enough in the quality of his car to offer it on a No Reserve basis…

While most big BMWs look their best when finished in a somber dark metallic, we really like the vivid red this one is finished in. The early nineties were a time of hope and excitement, and we think the vibrant tone really sets off the 850’s stance and swooping, purposeful looks.

The paintwork was a little tired after being stored for so long, so the owner went to the trouble and expense of having the nearside rear wheelarch resprayed to tidy it up, followed by a whole-car three-stage machine polish, and then a ceramic coating to protect it. The driver’s door has had some paint in the past too, but we only know about that because the owner told us. The combination of top-notch paintwork, which was then carefully polished and sealed, has left the car in a stunning condition and we defy anyone to be able to distinguish the new from the old.

The underlying metalwork is very, very good too. Taut, even shut lines and ripple-free flanks speak of only the gentlest of use – and more than a hint of OCD in its upkeep. This means that the pop-up headlights work perfectly, as does the metal sunroof, which opens and closes easily and seals tightly.

The genuine 17-inch Alpina alloy wheels are in fine order, and shod with matching new Pirelli P-Zero tyres. Yup, that’s right; it’s got matching tyres from a well-respected manufacturer, which is always a sign of a careful, meticulous owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount of money keeping his high-performance car in the very best possible condition.

The car’s original alloy wheels are included in the sale.

The underside of the 850 is especially impressive, even for such a low mileage vehicle. It’s almost as clean as the coachwork following a new coat of underseal to replace the peeling, flaking original which had started to draw the attention of the MOT tester who didn’t like the look of the light surface rust that had started to form.

The seatbelts are built into the front seats (and yes, we know that the Range Rover Classic beat them to it by twenty years…), the four-way steering wheel adjustment is electrically operated, the air-conditioning is programmable, and the rear-view mirror dips automatically: be in no doubt, the 8-Series is as sophisticated inside the cockpit as it is underneath the bonnet.

It’s beautiful, too and the light-grey leather interior in this example is in great shape and bears only the lightest of patinas. Simple, classy and elegant, it all works as well now as it did the day it left Germany, which is quite something given the starship complexity.

The only area that needs attention is the leather driver’s seat, which has worn a little. We would normally tell you that this is fine and that light patination of this sort isn’t an issue. But not in this case; the rest of the interior- including the other seats - is almost showroom fresh, we’d be tempted to have a professional take a look and see about re-colouring the affected areas. We don’t think it would be especially expensive and would bring the driver’s seat up to the same high standard as the rest of the car.

Because the headlining is clean and taut, and the carpets, door cards, and dashboard are all fabulous. The boot is as clean and tidy as the rest of the car, and it contains the toolkit, which includes a warning triangle, and a CD multichanger. The OE first aid kit still lives in its cubbyhole under the armrest on the backseat.

A recent new air-conditioning condenser and dryer, along with an R134a conversion, has left the air blowing ice-cold. The OBD/trip computer is prone to failure, which is what happened to this example. That was sorted with a recent replacement.

We could waffle on for a lot longer but that’s all it would be, waffle. There’s nothing to say other than it all looks great and works faultlessly. Why not pop along and take a look for yourself? We promise you won’t be disappointed.

Oh, and in case you were wondering whether or not to pop in a bid, we should mention that there’s a period Readers Digest road atlas on the rear parcel shelf – and the owner had finally agreed to include it as part of the sale. #justsaying

The 5.0-litre M70 V12 engine develops 295bhp and 332lb/ft of torque, enough to whisk the 850i to 62mph in 7.1 seconds, which is mightily impressive considering the BMW’s 1,745kgs kerb weight.

But the 850i was no low-budget bruiser. The 8 Series was the first production car in the world to feature a drive-by-wire throttle and the engine had not one, but two computers to control it. Fear not, though because all of that technology conspired to produce a very reliable car, even after two-and-a-half decades of use.

The combination of a very low drag co-efficient (the same as a modern Porsche 918…), that mighty V12 engine, the seamless automatic gearbox and one of the nicest interiors of its generation make this the ideal grand touring car in which to whisk a loved one across Europe.

The engine bay is stuffed full of V12 loveliness, and is as well-cared for as the rest of the vehicle. Much recent expense, including two recent OE fuel pumps, has cured a fuelling issue. Other work includes two new BMW batteries, a new radiator, and front and rear discs and pads.

The steering rack has been adjusted too, and the secondary water pump for the interior heater has been changed.

The car’s servicing regimen is up-to-date, and the latest work to be done was the comprehensive Inspection II, which includes fresh engine and gearbox oil, brake fluid, coolant, spark plugs, and filters.

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever and the last two tests have been free of advisory points. The MOT history, alongside the service history records, also confirm the car’s recorded mileage as being correct.

The MOT certificate itself runs out in August 2020.

The car comes with a huge number of expired MOT certificates plus a thick sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it. It also has a stamped service history book, as well as the original owner’s handbook and wallet.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been refurbished and maintained to the very highest standard.

With prices of the iconic E24 6-Series coupes having soared beyond the reach of mere mortals, the E31 8-Series has taken its place as the Go To coupe for lovers of Bavarian heavy metal.

This means that prices have started to creep up over the past few years, especially for low-mileage, potential museum-quality examples like this; the mean price for 850s sold in the last couple of years is over £30,000, with the most expensive going for more than £70,000.

Yet, we predict this example will fetch between £15-24,000. Why so low? Well, it’s fitted with an automatic gearbox for a start, and we have seen a slight softening in the value of even the best examples in the past year and so this listing represents an outstanding opportunity for someone to get behind the wheel of BMW’s classic super coupe at a very reasonable price point.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at The Market HQ in Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive. 

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.