Re: 850/840 (archive)

: I am interested in an 8-series.
: I am in the Chicago area, and I am looking for one under $30,000 for sale.
: Since I have never driven this car, does anyone know what
: 0-60 time is?
: 1/4 mile time?
: Top end?
: Horsepower?

: Should I go with the 8 or an M5, a board I was reading says the M5 is faster- top end and off the line.
: Also, is it true that the E34 M5's 3.6L 6 cylinder produces more power than the 850s 5.7L V12???

: Thanks,
: Matt

Hey Matt,

The age old question: which BMW to buy? At LEAST you are buying a BMW!!

Anyway,

The M5 is faster off the line than the normally aspired E31. The 850CSi, however smokes it.

Since you are looking in the $30K price range, you may want to look for a good used 91-93 850i Six Speed. Chipped with Jim C. or Dinan, you will see quite a performance increase. The stock M70 5.0L V12 produced 296HP (BMW brochures round up to 300HP) You can expect to see about 322-340Hp with a chip (depending on which one you go with.

For off the line speed, you are looking at around 6.6 (stock) to 6.3 chipped and with modification (Justin, Stephen, Jason and others) around 6.0 0-60 times. The M5 stock has a 5.6/5.8 0-60 time.

For top end, no the M5 is not faster. The speed on the M5 and 8 is electronically limited to 155MPH, with this restricter off you would be saying "so-long" top the E31.

You may have some trouble finding a really nice E34 M5 with only 400 or so produced. Maybe I'm wrong about that but before I bought my 850i, I lookied for a clean M5 as well. I drove both and I'll tell you flatly there is no comparing once you drive/own an 8 Series. Something about the way the car looks/feels/drives makes it the king of the road.

Drive both. Go with the one you like. Service cost are similar (see below related post). E34 people will tell you to go with.. uh... and E34 M5, E31 people will tell you the E31 is the way to go.

But, remember most of us E31 owners have or have had the other BMWs as well, so we know the differences pretty well. Lots of M3 owners here on this board and a few (not telling, I'll have to kill ya!) M5 owners as well. Hell, I own a E36 and X5 myself. The other owners have not had an E31 yet so most make assumptions based on fiction about it.

Keep this in mind and whichever you choose, you will be getting a great car!!

Sean

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