BMW has just released a cool retrospective video of the E31 8 Series, naming it the most successful German twelve-cylinder coupe ever. The three and a half minute clip focuses on Niels Hamann, a long-time 8er admirer turned BMW product manager, as he talks through the E31’s long list of pioneering technologies.
The list includes an aerodynamically sculptured shape that made it the first car with a drag coefficient of less than 0.3 (this was back in 1989), B-pillarless design that led to having seat belts integrated into the front seats, steering-linked rear suspension and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), the last of which is now standard across the BMW range.
It may seem like an odd time to revisit the E31 BMW 8 Series, 14 years after its production ceased in 1999. Until that is, you draw connections to the recently unveiled BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe Concept – a modern interpretation of a V12 BMW luxury coupe that draws inspiration from the great Eight.
Sheer coincidence? We think not.
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Gr8est. Hands down !
having seen a couple in KL before, the real car is even more beautiful in real life. :)
Thanks for sharing this article, never knew there’s a 8er.
BMW should conceptualize and produce this Moving Master piece in their production line.
The exterior is shape is one of a kind, please don’t down size it’s engine.
I will book it if I hit the lottery jackpot this weekend
There is one for sale at bmwclubmalaysia at the moment.
one of the best coupes on the planet, can it’s kinda cheap in the US too, you can get one around USD8000-9000. not bad for a V12 engine.
however, problem include excessively expensive maintenance, and being a v12, drinks petrol like the world’s about to end.
FFFffff…One of my fav car!!!
Such a beauty with excellent flair. The interior is so marvellous! I mean the Pinifarina Grand Lusso concept. Wondering whether those at Munich are going to give it a life.
Well, didn’t the Citroen XM, also launched in 1989 had a drag coefficient of 0.28? And the first Opel Omega also had 0.28, in 1986. We’re talking executive sedans, not sporty coupes.
Still a remarkable feat and a great car of course, and absolutely gorgeous (you can’t say that about the Omega…).
Oh, and the Citroen SM, a car similar to the 8 series (sporty GT coupe): 0.26. Launched 1970.
I remember then the car was called heavy, slow and thirsty.
Hmmm.. First car to get below 0.3 Cd?
I recall about 1/2 dozen cars or so that match or beat that even before the 8er was launched.
Greatest german V12 coupe ever?
The e31 certainly ahead of its time in terms of technology and design engineering. So much so that BMW spent so much on it that it hurt their books.
Great looks and technology showpiece but the 850i/ci V12 didn’t sell that well. While the car was a marvel, the V12 (BMW’s first) was not. Rather sedate and underpowered and only 2 valves per cyl initially. The 840i/ci V8 sold far better.
Also the V12 is just 2 straight 6 siamesed together so I don’t think maintenance was overly expensive. It just double of the same parts found in the straight 6. Even the ECU was doubled
However the V12 did spawn more powerful engine variants including the heavily reworked V12 used in the Mclaren F1
The Audi 100 had a drag coefficient level of 0.28 in the early 80’s!
last time can see in kl, now long time not see anymore
One green 8 in Kuching costs RM90,000 but without the owner, transfer is almost impossible. Been sitting there for almost a decade. Wheels are the multispoke BBS from the early 90s. Awesome..
Was a beautiful beast back then and still is. Remember that it was launched in a grand way in Malaysia during that time and price tag was around RM800k. Unfortunately, didn’t sell well.
Some months back, saw one unit near my house. Car was in workshop for quite a long time. Mechanic told me this car many problems.
Anyway, if I had one, I would keep it.
The 8 Series is a truly beautiful machine. Seen a few on KL roads, the stance it has is amazing. Not in favour of the pop-up headlamps though. Been fantasizing on the stillborn M8 for a very long time…