1991 BMW E31 850i - 5.0L V12 - Original Paint, Garage kept, No crashes, Nice!!!

Up for sale is my V-12 1991 BMW 850i in Calypso Red, ith black leather seats and grey carpets / headliner. It has all the bells and whistles you could expect from a 1991 model year luxury coupé, ncluding the pop-up headlights (yes, hey work), n auto-tilting passenger-side mirror that looks down when you put the car in reverse to help you parallel park without scratching the rims (that works too), nd the auto-closing windows which roll themselves up after you pass 100 MPH to reduce drag (so do they)... It’s got way too many features to list here, nd I’m betting if you’re checking out this listing and seriously considering a ’91 850, hen you’re already familiar with what they are, o let’s just jump into what makes this one unique.
Shortly after purchasing the car, upgraded to 19” BMW wheels and swapped out the factory exhaust for a $5k stainless steel Supersprint system (both cats, -pipe, nd mufflers). Within the last 25,000 miles, have rebuilt the transmission, eplaced both throttle bodies, uel lines, nd oxygen sensors, pgraded to Bilstein shocks and struts, nd had a BMW dealer perform the scheduled maintenance “Inspection 1” at 100k miles. More recently, ithin the past 5,000 miles, have replaced both batteries, he fuel pump, oth front upper and lower control arms, he A/C compressor (blows SUPER-cold now), he fan clutch, he water pump, nd the thermostat. All tires have plenty of tread left on them, nd if you’ve got time to drive across the country, his would be the perfect car to do it in. I’ve always felt very in-control of the road when I drive it, nd often get compliments and questions whenever I'm stopped at a red light.
That said, he car was built in December 1990, nd it’s still rocking the original paint at 25 years old. As you’d expect, here are a few scratches here and there, hips from pebbles on the highway (see photo below for example of a chip above the right front wheel well), nd minor imperfections if you look closely enough. The leather on the rear seats and the passenger seat is in excellent condition; but, he driver’s seat has a small wear hole next to the memory buttons. It’s been there since I’ve owned the car and I haven’t noticed it getting any bigger over the years, o I never did anything about it; but, ’ve got to mention it. The OEM cup holders inside the glove box are a joke, o I added a set of aftermarket ones in the center console. The gauges (fuel, emp, tc.) will occasionally flicker for no reason, he windshield wiper fluid won’t last in the reservoir, nd the batteries will run down if you leave the car sitting for too long without taking it for a spin or connecting them to a tender... Remember, t’s 25 years old. It’s entitled to the occasional eccentricity.
Included with the car are the BMW first aid kit, il pouch for the trunk, wners’ manual and dealer list in leather folio, pare cartridge for the 6-disc CD changer, nd logo key ring. Note that the original 16” wheels will be offered for sale separately, fter the car sells, n case the car’s buyer wants them for himself. The price will be $500 plus shipping.











19" BMW OEM "Style 125" aluminum wheels with 5 double-spokes

275/30 ZR 19's in the back

245/35 ZR 19's up front

Upgraded stainless steel Supersprint mufflers are throaty (but in a very elegant way)



6-disc CD changer in trunk

Tool kit in trunk lid



Note minor scratches on the door sills


Back seats were very rarely used

Headliner looks good as new. Sunroof works perfectly.

Driver's side airbag in steering wheel

"Auto-dimming" mirror has been permanently dim (even when you turn the switch to "off") for several years now. Not sure what's going on there. Not a big enough issue for me to research.


Vehicle may have a few more miles (less than 200, hough) on it by the time of auction close

All pixels in the information display work perfectly.




There is a first-aid kit in the compartment between the two rear seats

Note there is no passenger airbag. They were not offered in 1991.


Note small wear hole in the driver's seat next to the memory buttons. I have not noticed it getting any worse since I've owned the car.

Note small rock chip above front passenger wheel well

Vinyl first aid kit (above) and its contents (below)


Leather owner's manual cover (above) and its contents (below)


Original and spare cartridge for the 6-disc CD changer

Logo keychain included. Thanks for looking!
(from BMW Press Release) The BMW 8 Series stands out as a landmark model in a BMW Coupe lineage that dates back to the 1930s. A clean-sheet design, he car tagged "E31" by its maker launched its challenge to the world's finest sports coupes with a design oozing avant-garde elegance, rresting performance attributes, n exceptional wealth of innovations and a sprinkling of exclusive luxury. The BMW 850i presented at the 1989 International Motor Show in Frankfurt represented a demonstration of the Munich-based carmaker's development expertise, evealing not only a cutting-edge new design line but also an unparalleled array of technological details making their automotive debuts. The design of the wedge-shaped body - headlined most strikingly by a long, wooping bonnet (housing retractable headlights), mooth lines, he absence of B-pillars and a steeply cut rear end - showcased the dynamics and grace of the new coupe with equal élan. The BMW 850i, oreover, ollowed the BMW 750i luxury Sedan introduced two years earlier as the second post-war German car to be powered by a 12-cylinder engine.
The 5.0-litre unit developed 220 kW/295 hp and peak torque of 450 Newton metres (332 lb-ft) to propel the 1,790 kg 2+2-seater from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 seconds. The motoring press heralded the BMW 850i as a "coupe of velvet and silk" and the "perfect symbiosis of power and comfort". After its first road test in the car, erman car magazine "auto, otor und sport" wrote: "BMW has given the 850i all the high-tech weaponry it needs to take top spot." And turning its attentions to the chassis technology of the BMW 8 Series, Auto Bild" magazine commented: "It needs to be experienced to be believed, referably through high-speed corners on the motorway: bumps, xpansion joints - shocks that are sure to trigger sudden jolts of adrenaline in other cars - leave the 850i driver totally unruffled."
Among the other new features of the BMW 8 Series were the belt system integrated into the seats, n electrically adjustable steering column with memory function, n automatically dimming rear-view mirror, emote-control central locking and a high-performance onboard computer. A multiplex electrical system featured for the first time, ith data transfer from several different systems via the same conduit enhancing reliability and reducing weight. Both the front and rear side windows of the luxury Coupe could be fully retracted. And, n another new addition, he front side windows were automatically lowered or raised when the doors were opened or closed, mproving sealing and reducing wind noise as a result. A total of 30,621 examples of the BMW 8 Series were produced up to 1999.
Check out this neat BMW 850 dealer training video from 1989:
https://youtu.be/g2arsZosaFM