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Re: 850CSi truly an ///M? (archive)
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Posted by Jim Surdick on April 06, 2000 at 12:31:09:

In Reply to: 850CSi truly an ///M? posted by Greg K on April 06, 2000 at 10:12:04:

In response, the answer is yes. There was an "M8" prototype built. A photo and short description was outlined in a previous edition of the Roundel magazine put out by the BMW Car Club of America (BMWCCA). Can't recall the exact issue (August of '99 is sticking in my head for some reason). I will repost with the correct month edition tonight from home. The prototype was a lightweight version with 4 valves per cyl. and dual overhead cam and was referred to in the article as a Ferrari killer. Seems the BMW board at that time killed it because it didn't fit the "corportate goals" at that time. It incorporated a lot of carbon fiber and lightweight materials.

Jim Surdick
'92 Laguna Green 850i 6spd
BMWCCA#148638

: Previous Post... "Not kind of like an ///M version. It is an ///M version built at the ///M factory with an ///M vin # period."

: Very true and a good point. The CSi's were built at M-works, vin numbered as other M's, and engined serialed as S, just like other M's. But let's be clear, BMW chose not to designate it an M8, it was in the end a CSi. BMW made this the one and only exception to their hand-built models.

: Many theories exist as to why they made the 850CSi the only exception. About a year ago a BMW tech. returned from training in Munich and told me he drove a four valve per cylinder DOHC V12 850. Could it be that BMW was saving the M8 designation for this engine or even did apply it to a few prototypes? When you consider other M-cars, the M5's and M3's, the one stand-out difference from their non-M siblings is the presence of a four valve per cylinder DOHC head. The differences between the 850CSi S70 engine and the 850i/Ci M70 engine are very minor (increased displacement of .2L, increased compression, reprogrammed ECU, cam profile, increased intake, increased exhaust). I'd wager that had BMW equipped the 850 with its DOHC 4-valve head, the 850CSi would have been the 500 hp M8. Has anyone ever seen one of these prototypes?



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