My next car has to be an 850csi!

[ESM3]

yeah really, why a csi with the body shit. If you want a CSI IMO you should retain the stock look. Its a CSI! So rare why stab it? Just what I think.

[Dinan540i]

Originally posted by Lukas
I just love the 8 series especially the 850csi.

Magnus, why not get a 1991 850i 6 speed, but the Zeemax kit on it, order some deep dish six spokeds, and send the car to Dinan for Twin Turbo treatment? I'd say that's $30,000 for the car and $30,000-$40,000 for the mods. So $60,000-$70,000 for a 700hp beast with a fresh engine and bodywork.

BTW: I believe Dinan strokes the 850i to 5.7 for their turbo so getting a CSI doesn't help.

I'm not sure Dinan will still do the Tubros, but if he does, it will be more than 40k.

[Magnus]

I's all relative

Here's the Dinan twin T 850ci

[LLuke@bmwe30.net]

HOLY SHIT!

1. That TT setup whoops ass!
2. LOOK AT THAT ENGINE COMPARTMENT! NO ROOM!

Your telling me the Dinan Turbo system costs more then $40,000? That nucking futz!

[BMWBOY]

I dont really like the the 850csi, my dads friend has one and it does nothing for me, it looks dated, i prefer there merc 500SL

[Josh]

Unfortunately, Dinan does not sell those kits anymore. They barely stock enough replacement parts for existing kits. They had some trouble sourcing some of the parts and they really weren't a hot seller due to the price.
On a base 850i 5.0 liter V-12, the parts for the kit sold for $19,000. Depending on how complete the kit was it produced between 525 to 528 hp @ 5250 rpm and 549 to 603 torque @ 4000 rpm at roughly 10 lbs of boost on stock internals.
The stage 2 kit used a low compression stroked 5.6 liter V-12 that produced 607 hp @ 5500 rpm and 666 torque @ 4500 rpm. This kit started at $59,000 just for the parts and new motor.
There was another option from Dinan. Stroker motors.
Starting with Stage 2:

6.0 Liter V-12 at 9.5:1 Compression producing 434hp @ 5000 rpm and 525 torque @ 3500 rpm

Stage 3, using a more agressive set of cams:

451 hp @ 5250 rpm and 515 torque at 4000 rpm

The price for these motors was roughly $20,000+

I do not believe either of these engine options are still available but other motor shops can build you such a motor and beyond.

[LLuke@bmwe30.net]

I bet for $30,000 a small but qualified BMW shop could tear down the V12, stroke it to 6.0, lower the compression, slap on a pair of turbos, and add all the other goodies.

[Dinan540i]

Originally posted by Josh
Unfortunately, Dinan does not sell those kits anymore. They barely stock enough replacement parts for existing kits. They had some trouble sourcing some of the parts and they really weren't a hot seller due to the price.
On a base 850i 5.0 liter V-12, the parts for the kit sold for $19,000. Depending on how complete the kit was it produced between 525 to 528 hp @ 5250 rpm and 549 to 603 torque @ 4000 rpm at roughly 10 lbs of boost on stock internals.
The stage 2 kit used a low compression stroked 5.6 liter V-12 that produced 607 hp @ 5500 rpm and 666 torque @ 4500 rpm. This kit started at $59,000 just for the parts and new motor.
There was another option from Dinan. Stroker motors.
Starting with Stage 2:

6.0 Liter V-12 at 9.5:1 Compression producing 434hp @ 5000 rpm and 525 torque @ 3500 rpm

Stage 3, using a more agressive set of cams:

451 hp @ 5250 rpm and 515 torque at 4000 rpm

The price for these motors was roughly $20,000+

I do not believe either of these engine options are still available but other motor shops can build you such a motor and beyond.

Yes, they don't do ANY turbos anymore. Go to the site and check out the road tests section, there is an MT article about the car, it costs 145k.

[Magnus]

BMWBOY! That's cool...apples & oranges!
The car is hot stock, but a little understated. I'd put the wide-body on it, minus all the skirts. I'd source cleaner versions, I hate the little flips on them.

A friend of mine has the 850i 6speed, it's his daily driver (C500 is for weekends). It pisses me off how he flogs the beast, he's hitting 140k. He also offered it to me cheap but his driving sucks.

Anyway he has "work?" done to it. It's really funny watching him do 50mph on a highway so that I may catch up to him!

[EVOIIIM3]

Originally posted by Dinan540i


It's only not worth the money if you don't enjoy it or because you don't make enough money to own it. The 8 series have been known to have some computer problems, but seeing as the engines in the 8 series are in other dependable models, it shouldn't be more of a problem than most older Bimmers. I can attest to the fact that BMWs in their middle ages are a fortune to maintain, there is a period when basically everything is going to need refreshing. Once over that, it is no more expensive than most old luxury cars. It is true though that labor on this car is more expensive because of an extremely cramped engine compartment and the CSi's V12 isn't the same as the one in 750iL, simply because the CSi's is a more highly tuned one. Older BMW 8 cylinders are notorious for high maintenance costs and I'm sure this will be the same with the V12. Magnus, it is very simple, if spending anywhere from 3-10k in repairs will break your bank, you will either be broke or have a car that gets dust in your garage waiting for you to get the funds. The 850CSi, unlike the normal 850 and 840 is a bonified exotic, regardless of what people tell you. It fits all the requirements, it's low, superwide, impractical and bloody expensive. It's a fantastic car and a real collectors item if you manage to hold on to it. Keep her Zaino'ed and in perfect condition and you've got a show car. Unless you want to spend major cash keeping her up, you'll only want to drive her on cool sunny days or on the weekends. It's a great car and have fun. BTW, if you want to boost performance, you can really lighten the interior significantly, but this will decrease the value unless you restore it to original at the end.

He ownes a E30 M3, he knows what it takes to keep it running. I bet it's not as expensive as a E30 M3. At least the V12 was in other cars and is basically 2 straight 6 engines. That keeps part cost down.

I also rememeber there was a problem with the throttl engines. The car also has a "limp home" mode that tops out at 80mph

[318 type S]

Imagine projector style headlights on this car. That would be absolutely SICK. Flip up's SUCK. If you get this car, try to put some projectors in there. Not only would that be absolutely nasty, but you'd probably be the only 850 out there with them.

[DannyM5]

He ownes a E30 M3, he knows what it takes to keep it running. I bet it's not as expensive as a E30 M3. At least the V12 was in other cars and is basically 2 straight 6 engines. That keeps part cost down.

Well, put it this way, 2 sets of plug wires for an E36 or E32 6-cylinder would probably run about $450

A set of plug wires for the V12's is $700

Even if parts aren't all that expensive labor will kill you. All the mechanics I know hate working on the 750/850's just b/c there is no room.

As far as engines go, There is an 850i sitting at Korman autoworks getting a 6.0 stroker engine as well as a 6spd conversion (was an auto)... I would imagine this thing being a beast, but I personally dont like the way the 8's drive... The one thing I love about them, Everybody notices you on the road (could be both good or bad though).

[Calypso850]

I have a '91 Calypso Red 6-speed.
In looking for the car, I thought ahead about what extras I would want on the car and waited until the right one came along.

It has:
The CSi body kit including M rear wing & Euro sport mirrors
CSi mufflers
The large Euro CSi floating rotor front discs and cross-drilled rear Brembo's inside 18" M-parallel wheels & Bridgestone S-02's
Lowered with H&R springs and firmed up with Bilsteins
Quicker shifting with a UUC short-shifter
Jim Conforti chips
and various other bits for less than a year or two old Ford Explorer.

It will go through about 2K in upcoming maintenance but I will probably spend more than that to go through the car. Plus it needs more goodies :-)

I drive the car about a 1000 miles a month and enjoy every minute. It is not a lightweight thrasher, more like driving a low-slung tank and a has a definite feeling of momentum! It does better than you think at quick handling though, against lightweight runabouts, I placed 6 out of 26 cars at the last autocross I went to, first time out in the car.

I love watching it drive on the road, it just looks different getting up to speed or coming at you.

The Zeemax kits, from people who have bought them, are of problematic quality. I'd never install one on a CSi and destroy it's value.

[Cone]

Do you have any pics of that? I'd love to see it!

[ultim8DTM5]

Originally posted by Magnus
BMWBOY! That's cool...apples & oranges!
The car is hot stock, but a little understated. I'd put the wide-body on it, minus all the skirts. I'd source cleaner versions, I hate the little flips on them.

A friend of mine has the 850i 6speed, it's his daily driver (C500 is for weekends). It pisses me off how he flogs the beast, he's hitting 140k. He also offered it to me cheap but his driving sucks.

Anyway he has "work?" done to it. It's really funny watching him do 50mph on a highway so that I may catch up to him!

mate's rates are good, for one thing you get it cheap, plus you know how he drives, which is at least better than buying from the typical "one lady owner" who took it autocrossing in her spare time...