BMW · 1990–1999

BMW 8 Series (E31)

The BMW E31 is the first generation of the BMW 8 Series. It is a grand tourer built by BMW from 1990 to 1999 as a 2-door coupé, powered by either a V8 or V12 engine. Whilst it did supplant the original E24 based 6 Series in 1990, it was not a direct successor, but a new model class with a substantially higher price and performance than the 6 Series.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: BMW E24 · Successor: BMW 6 Series (E63)

All BMW 8 Series data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years → + Compare

Development

Development of the 8 Series began in July 1981, with the design phase reaching completion in 1986, although the launch was delayed due to still-strong 6 Series sales. 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, with substantially improved performance, as well as a higher price. Over 1.5 billion Deutsche Marks were spent on total development ($1.13 billion USD or €990 million in 2025). BMW used CAD tools, still unusual at the time, to design the car's all-new body. Combined with wind tunnel testing, the resulting car had a drag coefficient of Cd=0.29, a major improvement from the previous BMW M6/635CSi's 0.39. Eighteen prototypes for an 830i were built, but the trim level was not put into full-scale production. The V8-powered 840ci would later serve as the 8 Series' entry-level model. The 850i offered the first V12 engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission on a road car. It was one of the first vehicles to be fitted with an electronic drive-by-wire throttle. Together with the Z1, the 8 series was one of BMW's first cars to use a multi-link rear axle. CAD modelling allowed the 8 Series unibody to be 3 kg (6.6 lb) lighter than that of the 6 Series (E24). However, the production 8 Series 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. Some of the car's weight may have been due to its pillar-less "hardtop" body style which lacked a "B" pillar.

Sales

Sales of the 8 Series were affected by the global recession of the early 1990s, the Persian Gulf War, and energy price spikes. As a result, plans for the high performance M8 variant were dropped in 1991. BMW pulled the 8 Series from the North American market in 1997, having sold 6,920 cars. BMW continued production for other markets until 1999 having sold 30,609 in all markets. The base price for an entry-level 8 series in the early 1990s started in the US$70,000 range, which is US$172,504 in 2025.

Models

The production totals for each model are: 840Ci with the M60 engine: 4,728 840Ci with the M62 engine: 3,075 850i / 850Ci with the M70 engine: 20,072 850Ci with the M73 engine: 1,218 850CSi with the S70 engine: 1,510 840Ci. The 840Ci was offered with two different engines. The first used the 4.0-litre M60B40 V8 engine having a power output of 210 kW (286 PS) and was produced from mid-1993 to late 1995. From mid-1995, production phased in the newer 4.4-litre M62B44 V8 engine, which had better fuel economy and more torque, though power output remained unchanged. The 840Ci was available with a 5-speed automatic transmission, though European cars were given the option of a 6-speed manual transmission. The only external features distinguishing the V8 model from the V12 models were the quad round exhausts, which were square in the V12 models. The 840Ci stayed in production until May 1999. 850i/Ci. The 850i was the first model of the 8 Series launched in 1990 with the 5.0-litre M70B50 V12 engine having a power output of 220 kW (300 PS). It was available with either a 4-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual gearbox. Around the time of the introduction of the 840Ci in Autumn 1993, the 850i was renamed the 850Ci. From October 1994, BMW installed the new M73B54 V12 engine in the 850Ci, the new engine being from the newly launched E38 750i. Thus, cars with 850Ci badging used both the M70 and M73 engines, with those built before 10/94 using the older E32-type M70. As the displacement of the M73 increased to 5.4-litres and the compression ratio went up, the power output increased to 240 kW (326 PS). 850CSi. As a top-of-the-range variant of the 8 Series, the 850CSi took over from the prototype M8 variant. The 850CSi used the same engine as the 850i, which was tuned so significantly that

Engines

2017 United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates for cars equipped with automatic transmission: 840Ci: Fuel type: Premium city: 14 miles per US gallon (17 L/100 km; 17 mpg‑imp) highway: 19 miles per US gallon (12 L/100 km; 23 mpg‑imp) combined: 15 miles per US gallon (16 L/100 km; 18 mpg‑imp) 850Ci: Fuel type: Premium city: 12 miles per US gallon (20 L/100 km; 14 mpg‑imp) highway: 19 miles per US gallon (12 L/100 km; 23 mpg‑imp) combined: 15 miles per US gallon (16 L/100 km; 18 mpg‑imp)

Transmissions

The 840Ci (4.0/4.4 L V8) models were equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission. The 850i/850Ci (V12) models each use either a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission, a 5-speed automatic transmission was fitted from mid-1994. The high performance 850CSi model only came with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Prototype models

=== 830i === The 830i was a proposed variant that did not reach production. As the potential entry-level model, the 830i was to use the 3-litre V8 with 160 kW (215 hp) from the 530i and 730i, known internally as the M60B30. Eighteen cars were produced, thirteen of which had an automatic gearbox fitted. The model was dropped in favour of the 840Ci and almost all of the 18 cars were dismantled; one car is in a BMW museum. 850i Cabrio. The 8 Series had been planned from the start with a convertible version in mind. Although the 850i Cabrio was developed to production readiness, it never went into production. At a relatively late date it was decided that this model was unlikely to recover the cost of putting it into production. A prototype in red resides in the BMW Museum in Munich. Although an official convertible variant never entered production, there have been aftermarket companies who have converted small numbers of 8 Series coupés into convertibles. M8. The M8 was originally envisioned as a Ferrari competitor equipped with a special version of the S70 V12 engine, with modifications including a displacement increase to 6064 cc, dual overhead camshafts for each cylinder bank, individual throttle bodies with roller valves, four valves per cylinder, carbon fibre intake manifolds and continuously variable valve timing. As a result, it was estimated the M8 would achieve a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph), with a power output of 471 kW (640 PS) and 650 N⋅m (479 lbf⋅ft) of torque. A common misconception is that this is the same engine that powered the McLaren F1. The S70/2 used in the McLaren F1 was not based on the prototype 48-valve V12 used in the M8, and was a completely new design. The car was given two intakes by its rear arches for engine and differential oil cooling. I

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

BMW 8 Series (E31)

Manufacturer

BMW

Production

February 1990 – May 1999

Successor

BMW 8 Series (G15)

Assembly

Germany: Dingolfing, South Africa: Rosslyn, Pretoria (BMW South Africa)

Designer

Klaus Kapitza (1986)

Class

Grand tourer (S)

Body style

2-door coupé

Layout

Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive

Engine

Petrol:, 4.0 L M60B40 V8, 4.4 L M62B44 V8, 5.0 L M70B50 V12, 5.4 L M73B54 V12, 5.6 L S70B56 V12

Transmission

5-speed automatic Getrag ZF 5HP24 (V8), 4-speed automatic Getrag ZF 4HP24 (V12), 5-speed automatic Getrag ZF 5HP30 (V12), 6-speed manual Getrag 420G (V8), 6-speed manual Getrag 560G (V12)

Wheelbase

2685 mm

Length

4780 mm

Width

1854 mm

Height

1330 -

Kerb weight

1855 -

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11959928CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_8_Series_(E31)CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1374595101 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BMW_840_Ci_1.jpgCC BY-SA 2.5 · Photo: JanS · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

More from BMW