1993 BMW 850 Ci (E31) |

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1993 BMW 850 Ci (E31)

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£10,950

Mileage~108,590 on the clock.
TransmissionAutomatic
Engine5.0L
LocationWesterham

SOLD

1993 BMW 850 Ci (E31)

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Alan Stuart

Professional Consigner and Photographer

The E31 8 Series was a masterclass from BMW, with engineering and styling ahead of its time.

Being the first generation of the 8 Series, the BMW E31 took many great features and styling from previous incarnations of its models. As a refined grand tourer, comfort and design were at the forefront of BMW decision making with performance a big consideration. This is reflected in the monstrous 5.0L V12 engine that the BMW manages to tame under the bonnet. With a 4 speed automatic gearbox, the car is comfortable cruising along covering motorway miles and equally happy in around short town trips.

This 850 Ci comes to market with relatively few miles being added to the clock over its ownership with just over ~200 miles being covered in the last 5 years. It has been in current ownership for ~16 years, and it's not to say that the car hasn't been loved during this time, considerate work has been a part of the BMW's maintenance including the suspension being rebuilt and the underside of the car having considerable restoration given to it to bring it up to a great standard. Alongside this work, the diff and the bearings and seals on the prop shaft have also had work carried out to them. The 850 Ci comes to market with a great looking interior with grey leather electric seating - contrasted with a glorious "Calypso Metallic Red" exterior finish and a recent MOT being covered off ready for its new owner.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Alan after meeting Chris the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

A real draw for this car was its handsome colourway and contrasting interior, a desirable colour scheme that is so different from the rest of the pack.

With relatively few miles added to the car over the past few years Chris lets us know that he just doesn't use the car as much as he'd like to. "The car is something I truly admire and love the way it drives out on the road, the reality is that I just don't really get the time to use it".

Having actioned some practical work on the BMW in his past ~16 years of ownership, important decisions such as having the suspension rebuilt, reconditioning the underside of the car and servicing the diff and bearings and seals on the prop shaft having definitely contributed to the prolonged future of this classic 850 Ci. Chris will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section.

Chris

Vehicle Owner

Chris saved £1,800* when they
sold their BMW with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

This GT boasts BMW excellence and attention to detail in the styling, a really refined modern classic with its handsome German craftsmanship.

Wheels and Tyres

Fitted with the optional 17" 2 piece wheels, we think they are the perfect choice for the V12. The nearside wheels on the BMW have been renewed including the tyres, although we did note that the spare wheel would need some refurbishment work. The offside rear wheel is original and shows a little sign of ageing around the valve section with some lacquer lift.

Take a look over the exterior gallery section for a close up view of the wheels and tyres on the 850 Ci.

Bodywork

With panels aligning nicely, doors and shut lines looked great across the car. There was a little sign of corrosion on the nearside rear roof section which may be worth taking care of at a later date. A small ding was present behind the drivers door on the panelling section but given the condition of the rest of the car, wasn't a big cause for concern.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the gallery section for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in "Calypso Metallic Red" this paint really stands out from the pack with its contrasting grey interior. Looking closely at the finish we did note a couple of stone chips on the bonnet area and a slight scratch on the nearside front bumper. Further towards the rear of the car there was a slight scuff on the nearside rear quarter although nothing major.

We've taken high resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves. The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

Overall the glass presented itself nicely with no major stone chips or major marks. There were some signs of the laminate beginning to lift on the rear window which we noted walking around the car.

Take a look through the exterior gallery and review video, we take you across all the areas of the car as if you were standing there for yourself. This way, you can see in greater detail what a handsome looking car the BMW really is.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

With its sculpted interior, the cabin of the BMW is a refined and relaxing place, eating up the miles with ease.

Seats and Carpets

With a classic grey leather interior, the cabin gives a refined sense of luxury. The rear seating looks like it's barely been used as it shows in a lovely way. The front electric seating functions were also seen to be working through forward, back, up and down movements. The drivers seat is missing a trim clip which can be replaced at a later date and on our visit didn't represent a major cause for concern.

Wear was respectable on the floor sections although with some thorough attention we felt the condition could be improved. Being particularly picky the carpets could benefit from some cleaning care being given to bring them back up to quality. Roof headlining showed itself really nicely looking clean and dry throughout.

Dashboard

The dash area across the BMW showed nicely with no scuffs, scratches or untoward marks that we observed on our visit. Everything looked to be as it should sitting nicely within the drivers reach for efficiency.

Our interior gallery section takes you over some closer images of the 850 Ci's dashboard, head over and see the cars interior in finer detail.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A classic black 4 spoke BMW steering wheel sits in place at the drivers hands. No fuss and no nonsense involved here with the wheel designed to keep the driver focused on the road ahead. We noted no signs of major wear or marking on the wheel showing in a respectable condition, the same to be said for the automatic gear selector too.

We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

VIEW ALL

'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

With a recent MOT under its belt, this 5.0L V12 Bavarian beast is a car that is equally at home cruising on the motorway as it is roaring in the foothills of a mountain.

Engine and Gearbox

On the cold start we found no issues on our observations with the 850 Ci firing up without hesitation. Take a look at our "On The Road" video where Chris shows us the engine start up.

The engine showed no signs of struggle when driving and the 4 speed automatic gearbox working through its paces without issue. We took the car on a drive around some local roads with the current owner to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. On the drive we run through the gears and get an overview of how the car performs.

Suspension and Brakes

Coming out of its October MOT there were no noted issues with suspension or braking. Out on the road the stopping power and control felt civilised and worked as to be expected. Early in Chris's ownership, he has some underside work completed by marque specialists "Munich Legends", this included welding and fabrication work on the jacking points and suspension mounts.

Take a look at our 'On the Road' video to see in real time how the car responds to the road and driving. Chris takes the car through its functions whilst driving whilst giving his overview of the car.

The Drive

With its precise and light steering the car handles beautifully going through the motions out on the road without issue or complaint. The car is a really relaxed and comfortable place to be with an inviting ride and its balanced control.

The 5.0L V12 is capable of delivering some seriously quick performance with its 4-speed automatic gearbox but equally remains at home on a casual journey through town and city.

Electrics and Other

The 850 has working electric seats with forward, back, up and down functionality. On our visit we also tested the sunroof and found no issues with its operation moving through the motions and retracting as it should. A multi-disc CD changer is available for the new owner located in the boot.

We tested the electric mirrors on the car which were no longer working via the door function button, however when putting the vehicle into reverse, the mirrors dipped to show the curb which may suggest a switch that needs fixing in future. Chris mentioned that the air con will also need re-gassing in the Summer months.

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History and Paperwork

Coming from ~16 year ownership, the 850 Ci has completed relatively few miles over more recent years wearing its mileage proudly and showing no signs of struggle out on the road.

The current owner Chris has covered ~8,000 miles in his ownership, more recently just ~200 in the last 5 years. Chris has always been considered about his approach to maintenance and care for the car with important factors such as the underside of the car having considerable restoration completed on it with the suspension being rebuilt as part of this work. More recently, the diff and the bearings and seals on the prop shaft have also had work carried out to them.

With a recent MOT being conducted and valid until October 2023, the only advisory showing was a slight oil leak under the engine. Speaking to Chris, he lets us know that this has been an advisory for a few years on the car but has never shown him an issue when using the car. This is reflected in the MOT checks when reviewing the past history on the BMW.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
11.10.2022	MOT	108,579
11.10.2021	MOT	108,482
06.10.2020	MOT	108,439
08.10.2019	MOT	108,398
09.10.2018	MOT	108,378
05.10.2017	MOT	108,343
17.10.2016	MOT	108,114
05.10.2015	MOT	107,991
11.10.2014	MOT	107,934
04.10.2013	MOT	107,616
10.10,.2012	MOT	107,357
07.10.2011	MOT	107,183
21.09.2011	Service	107,109
15.10.2010	MOT	105,717
02.10.2009	MOT	105,420
13.10.2008	MOT	104,263
05.09.2007	MOT	102,974
08.09.2006	MOT	101,561
07.06.2006	MOT	100,263
07.06.2006	Service	100,263
06.06.2005	Service	95,685
08.06.2004	Service	93,302
18.02.2002	Service	82,704
26.10.1999	Service	72,123
14.07.1998	Service	62,893
28.07.1997	Service	53,093
06.03.1996	Service	39,493
06.09.1994	Service	21,578