Best looking BMW ever

[bradc]

Following on from my 850CSi purchase...

[Roadrunner]

Sorry Brad, but the 635CSL has it beaten in my eyes :) Yours comes a close second though ... ;)

[bradc]

There is an option for the E24 6 series :)

[stuey]

Mid 70's 3.0 CSL in racing clothes does it for me I'm afraid, (850 very close second, best looking post 70's Beemer)

[WildCards]

Happily give my right arm for this. Or a 2002 Ti

[Kieran]

I think there's a certain lumbering grace around the E23 7 series.

[HJM]

Got to be the M1 - but thats because it looks like an Italian wedge :pimp2:

Otherwise old M6.

Not sure BMW's (except for the M1) are really good looking (if that what you mean by best looking), more purposeful :inquisiti

H

[Kieran]

Not sure BMW's are really good looking (if that what you mean by best looking), more purposeful :inquisiti

Seconded. /yes

[Paul Beazer]

Kieran, is there a special turd polishing attachment for your porter cable?

[Kieran]

Kieran, is there a special turd polishing attachment for your porter cable?

/lol

[stuey]

i love this 3.0 csl pic

[psbarham]

M635 csi , or a csl batmobile in andy warhol paintwork :pimp2:

[Wodjno]

http://www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/rm/join.asp

[Wodjno]

WTF is happening to this site :inquisiti

[valleyforge1]

ill back wildcard up on that 2002 ti

[Nutter_John]

WTF is happening to this site :inquisiti

well said that man

[psbarham]

WTF is happening to this site :inquisiti

dunno , but welcome to pipeandslippers.com incorparating sodthemirrorsandindicatorsidriveabmwandownthefrick ingroad.org

[KiwiTT]

Favorite BMWs - M5 E39, 850 CSi, M635 CSi, M3 E46

The M5 just nudges out the 850 CSi, by practicality.
The 850 CSi beats the M635 CSi, by modernised looks
The M635 CSi beats the M3 E46, by it's simply classic status
The M3 beats the rest, by being the best of the rest.

[ANTHONY]

sorry not a bmw kinda person

[Ryan]

Favorite BMWs - M5 E39, 850 CSi, M635 CSi, M3 E46

The M5 just nudges out the 850 CSi, by practicality.
The 850 CSi beats the M635 CSi, by modernised looks
The M635 CSi beats the M3 E46, by it's simply classic status
The M3 beats the rest, by being the best of the rest.

I like those very same cars! especially the E39 and E46's, they're the last BMW's that actually resembled BMWs IMO

[KiwiTT]

Bangle bungled

[d i c k i e s]

brad, is there any other bmw that looks very similar to the 850CSi ?

Cos im pretty sure i just saw one drive up my street 2 days ago. He lives around the corner from me? and he has it garaged up all the time. think its like his weekend car.

[bradc]

There are about 50-70 8 series in NZ. There were 52 sold new in NZ and obviously some have made their way to NZ via England like mine. There is only one other 850CSi though, and it is in Tauranga. The rest are 840i and 850i's.

I've seen about 5 on the roads my entire life!

[WildCards]

There are about 50-70 8 series in NZ. There were 52 sold new in NZ and obviously some have made their way to NZ via England like mine. There is only one other 850CSi though, and it is in Tauranga. The rest are 840i and 850i's.

I've seen about 5 on the roads my entire life!

Pfft, they're as common as @rseholes over here! :p

[d i c k i e s]

looks very similar to yours... just couldnt tell ya what it was. dark blue too?

[Paul Beazer]

There are about 50-70 8 series in NZ. There were 52 sold new in NZ and obviously some have made their way to NZ via England like mine. There is only one other 850CSi though, and it is in Tauranga. The rest are 840i and 850i's.

I've seen about 5 on the roads my entire life!
Brad, whats the difference between an 850i and an 850CSi??:inquisiti

[WildCards]

As a top of the range sports tourer, the 850CSi took over from the prototype M8. In fact, in certain documents the car is actually referred to as an M8 and that is no misnomer. The 850CSi used the same engine as the 850i, but developed to a level where BMW thought it warranted a new engine code and was named the S70B56. The modifications included a capacity hike to 5.6 liters and power up to 380 bhp.

Apart from the engine a whole range of modifications were introduced and many of the options for the other models were standard now. The 850CSi had modified suspension with reduced ride height, stiffer springs and dampers and wider wheels, with the options of forged alloys. The front and rear bumpers were reshaped with aerodynamic performance in mind. Four round stainless steel exhaust pipes replaced the square ones. Steering rear axle, electro hydraulically operated which BMW called AHK. Switchable throttle response. Uprated brakes with floating vented disks and 4 pot calipers. The 6 speed manual gearbox was the only transmission option.

The US version did miss a few of the features on the European models. AHK was not available, as were the M-style door mirrors. The brakes were kept the same as the 850i and the engine and final drive had to do without an oil cooler each. Because of this the engine power is slightly reduced to 372 bhp.

In late 1996 production stopped as the S70 engine could not be made to comply with new emission regulations without substantial re-engineering, something that was uneconomical to do because of the low volumes it sold.

[MGV6]

The best looking Beemers are the earlier 3 series 320/323/325/330 Sport models. Like this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/251532.htm

[bradc]

yeah what he said ^^ the 850i has about 300hp or so, the 850CSi has 380hp. check out www.e31.net if you want to know more

[White Lightning]

I voted for the old 6-series. Although, the 850 would be a close second.

[KiwiTT]

check out www.e31.net (http://www.e31.net) if you want to know more You have got the best 8 Series coming to you.:scholar:

[richy rich]

The best looking bmw in my book is a crushed 1 /haz

[Kieran]

The best looking bmw in my book is a crushed 1 /haz

/lol

[SGHOM]

I've got the use of a 320d from this w/e :inquisiti I'd rather stick a fork in my eye /pan /pan

[WildCards]

I've got the use of a 320d from this w/e :inquisiti I'd rather stick a fork in my eye /pan /pan


Dare ya

[bradc]

double dare ya!

Richard - the Alpina B12 5.7 is actually the best. It has been bored and stroked 1mm extra and makes about 412hp. Unfortunately there were only 57 and they were all LHD!

[Big Ian]

only 2 shapes of BMW ive liked and ive got both of them :scholar:
my E39 (i'd PX change this for a VR4)
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/jacsuz/100_9010.jpg
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2130011

and my recently purchased
E30 convertable
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/jacsuz/101_0408.jpg
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2908604/1

i'm not a fan of E36, 46, etc, etc .. my E39 is the last of the good shaped BMW the E30 shape is the true BMW shape, 850's are nice but they love there fuel ive also got a soft spot for the 6 series coupe's 635i
like this
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/jacsuz/101_0586.jpg

[WildCards]

Been testing a new 330 coupe all day today with my stepdad, very nice, bloody quick too.

[KiwiTT]

Richard - the Alpina B12 5.7 is actually the best. I like my cars "original", as you know. Alpina is really a "tuning" (i.e. modding) firm, albeit it a good one at that. However the 850 CSi is a "factory" optioned car. Not too unlike my VR-4 :D, except for the 17" alloys.:scholar:

[bradc]

I am thinking about getting m-parallel wheels for it. They are 18x8.0" and 18x9.5" compared to the stock shooting star wheels of 17x8.0" and 17x9.0". They were in fact a factory option on the 850's and on the E38 750's and look really nice to me.

I'm thinking about getting a decat just to open it up a bit, and maybe one of the dinan or conforti ecu's for it, together those mods will give it another 25-40hp.

[Kieran]

Keep it standard and polish it to a concours level - And reap the trophies at car shows!:scholar:

[bradc]

Unfortunately from what I've seen the front bumper isn't in very good condition, check out the pic.

Now you know that I'm not into cleaning cars as much as you, but there is of course a certain amount of pride that one can have when driving through town with a well polished car, especially dark coloured shiney ones.

I just hope that it matches Trigger Mauve well, it would be cool to have the two cars side by side :)

[amsoil]

Best BM,s are the Big Bats
Used to race against them in another life ....... am I really that old (answers not required!)

[gdelargy]

I won't vote (couldn't make up my mind for sure), but the 850s were one of the best. I think if they'd ever made a convertible version they'd have been much more financially successful, but they were released alongside the terrific new Merc SLs, and the big Benz just creamed it in the marketplace.

Like a lot of others, I also liked the 2002ti, the CSL batmobile, and of course the 635; the one posted by scottish_ian is a corker. The M1 was funky by BMW standards, but I didn't think it was an absolute stunner compared to other supercars; far too similar to the DeTomaso Pantera. And since no-one seems to have mentioned it yet, I always liked the old Z1 convertible with the drop-down doors.

As for tuning it, bradc... isn't that engine block, bored out slightly and with some mods to the heads (Vanos, carbon fibre air intake, etc etc), the basis for the McLaren F1? Just cut a hole in the bonnet for the air scoop and you'll be well on your way to 627 naturally aspirated horses...
:D

Regards,
G

[bradc]

It is in the same family, but the 850CSI engine in it's 380hp stock form is fairly well pushed to it's limits, the SOHC heads aren't very good at all, in particular the exhaust passageways are tiny and don't flow very well. About 430hp is the most you could ever really hope for.

[stuey]

. isn't that engine block, bored out slightly and with some mods to the heads (Vanos, carbon fibre air intake, etc etc), the basis for the McLaren F1? ...

Alot of people presume that, but after reading up a while back about F1's, the MaClaren engine is completely different, just happened to also be a BMW v12 of similar capacity, similar code number, at about the same time...

[Throbbe]

M1 for me, but always been a fan of Giugaro coupes

[Big Ian]

i'm not a massive fan of BMW's newer curvy shape but ive got feelings for the new 1 series coupe, launches next week

http://www.carpages.co.uk/bmw/bmw-1-series-coupe-part-1-02-07-07.asp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/car_page_content/36852.html

i can see this car doing very well for BMW, specialy the 306bhp twin turbo .. limited to 155mph

[bradc]

I quite like the new 1 and 3 series coupes as well, but mine is still better!

[Crickle]

Yeah you BMW is good looking brad but not so comfy to sit in. Are they all like that?
Oh did you get it fixed?

[bradc]

Haven't got it yet, but all I need to worry about is the power steering fluid resivoir I think!

As for the comfort of the seats, I have no idea, I haven't been in one yet. Can't wait for it :D

[timiano]

Z4 M Coupe

[KiwiTT]

Must admit Ian the 1-series 135i does something for me too!

BMW back to it's roots, of high performance small cars.

[adam_shaw]

I like the Z3 Coupe, but then I have just bought one... /pan

A more suitable replacement for the VR-4

Greetings to all,

A

[bradc]

The Z3 M Coupe is quite nice :) I always liked the shaper, never met another person that did until now though!

[Kieran]

I've always liked the front of the Z3 - I'm not sure about the bum though.

That said, If i were in the market for a roadster, I'd certainly think about one!:afro: