Some facts about the E31:
1. The car was produced worldwide from 1989 to 1999. The longest model BMW has ever produced.
2. After the car was shown at the German auto show in 1990, the car sold through a year's worth of production in 2 months.
3. If you wanted to purchase a new 1991 850i in 1991, you had to be put on a waiting list that sometimes was a three year wait.
4. From 1991-1993 the car was selling for $20K over sticker at some dealerships.
5. The 850CSi was produced from 1994-1995 and only 1510 were made worldwide. 250 were officially imported to the US. The Euro 850CSi was called by BMW : M850CSi. These cars paperwork is listed as an M8. In BMW's own book about "M" cars the list the 850CSi. By the way, the ONLY two vehicles that were actually produced by BMW M GmbH
(BMWMotorsport)Garsching,Germany were the M5's(up to the E34's)AND 850CSi's. None of the M3's and the current M5's(E39) have been assembled at Motorsport---they are/were assembled in the same factory as the rest of the "regular" cars at Dingolfing, Germany
BMW had originally hoped to sell 85,000 E31 cars in multiple variations. Total worldwide sales was: 30,621. The car was being produced right in the middle of a very bad recession that also killed the 300ZX, Supra, and RX-7. The car was never intended to be a light, throwable sports car. BMW and Mercedes Benz were both trying to define a new market called "Sport Luxury". The MB SL500 was the direct competitor to the * Series. These days there are a few others in that market, which is very niche: Aston Martin (DB7 Vanquish, Vantage) Bentley's new Continental GT, and of course the new SL from MB lives on.
BMW was a victim of their own success with the 8 Series. The design was so inticing, sexy, and Ferrari-est, that people and auto critics really thought it to be a super sports car based on looks alone. In comparison the MB SL was a bit bland. So, BMW insisted that the car was not a super sports car and no one listened. No one questioned that the MB SL500/400/320 was NOT a super sports car though (oddly enough). So BMW did two things:
1. They eliminated the six speed as an option in the car hoping that people would realize once and for all that the car is a GT.
2. To answer the critics and to beef up the cars sportier image, they produced the 850CSi. Anyone who drives a 850CSi and thinks it heavy, slow, or poor at anything must have an F1 as a daily driver. The car is wicked fast, and will out handle a M3. Top speed is 180+ The fastest (without the rev limiter) production car BMW has ever produced.
Ok, so in summary: The E31 8 Series is a Grand Tourer (GT) not a super-sports car. There are a lot of modifications that can be done third party to make the 850i/Ci and 840 perform very close to the stock CSi. There is gobs of power that can be tapped ino with the 850i 5.0L and 5.4L 12 cylinder engines. This car was designed to go fast, in style. It's a looker, but remember, it's a cruiser. If you want to throw around a car at the track, get a Porsche 993/996.
Also keep in mind that BMW never marketed this car. How many TV ads do you remember? How many print ads? None. They sold so well right off the production line that BMW never bothered. Yes, they did make a profit, and no the other "M" cars did not cut into it's sales since the car was considered above the 3 and 5 Series even with the "M" package.
The mystery of this car is a double edged sword: On the one hand since not much is known about it the public is really facinated when they see one. On the other hand, there is a lot of very bad infomation and speculation about the car as well. Take some time to get to know that facts about the car and you will be amazed with the technology and performance that BMW came up with 12 years ago. Most of the equipment is now standard on newer BMWs.
Sean