Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online! Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online!
Automotive Forums .com - the leading automotive community online! 
-
Latest | 0 Rplys
Go Back   Automotive Forums .com Car Chat > BMW > 8 Series
Reply Show Printable Version Show Printable Version | Email this Page Email this Page | Subscription Subscribe to this Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 12-13-2001, 11:22 AM   #1
tigerirons
AF Regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 84
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Why put an end to a great car?

How come BMW decided to cancel production of the 8 series?
tigerirons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2001, 11:39 AM   #2
DVSNCYNIKL
R.I.P. DAD 3/25/11
 
DVSNCYNIKL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Mount Vernon, New York
Posts: 6,253
Thanks: 10
Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts
Send a message via ICQ to DVSNCYNIKL Send a message via AIM to DVSNCYNIKL Send a message via Yahoo to DVSNCYNIKL
Not definite on this answer, but from what I see, I think the M series cars like M3 and M5 kinda tapped into it's market. I believe that these cars are able to provide the performance that the 8 series gave at a higher price tag. This is not true, just what I think might of contributed to it's demise. Maybe someone else can shed light on this topic.
__________________
Why do banks charge you a "non-sufficient funds fee" on money they already know you don't have?
DVSNCYNIKL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2001, 07:12 PM   #3
pcoghlan
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I guess everyone will have their own opinion on this. Mine is that the 8 series was simply attacking too small a market for BMW. BMW didn't consider it core to their business. Volumes were heading the wrong way and they simply had enough. Also, the cost of manufacture was high and I remember reading somewhere that even with the high cost to the public they still lost money on each one sold.

It only bothers me in so far as support going forward. I have a VERY late 1999 car (registered in september) and I intend to keep it for a LOOOOOONG time.

Paul
pcoghlan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2001, 09:47 PM   #4
tigerirons
AF Regular
Thread starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 84
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I thought they stooped selling the 8 series in 1997
What stylistic changes did the 8 incur during those two years?
tigerirons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2002, 01:31 PM   #5
WilberM3
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 13
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
what ive heard was that while the 8 series was the successor to the 6 series, the 8 series lost for BMW its core 6 series market by making it way too heavy compared to the 6 coupe and also way more expensive. and i think youre right, the new luxury/supercoupe 8 was cornered too small of a niche market. weight wise, i think its bloated, but stylistically i think its beautiful.
WilberM3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2002, 01:59 PM   #6
pcoghlan
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 3
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
tigerirons

They stopped production in May 99, I think. I am not aware of any major stylistic changes in that period.

Paul
pcoghlan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2002, 11:46 AM   #7
Club E31
AF Newbie
 
Club E31's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 45
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via ICQ to Club E31 Send a message via AIM to Club E31 Send a message via Yahoo to Club E31
First, I'd like to say that the 8 series were showed in 1989 !!!
It was selled for 10 years by BMW...
In 90,91 a 92 sales were GOOD, but there was the Petrol crash, Economic went down, so few people were able to buy these cars
Even with the 850Csi & the 840 in 92 , they weren't able to sell them
And they really BAD advertise it..
It was the flagship of BMW
If you own a BMW now, think that all your new stuff, electronic, suspension, etc.. comes from the E31 !

For info BMW stopped production of the 8 in 1999 in Europe, and 1997 in the USA

If this car arrived 5-6 years later, with the Computer BOOM in 1999-2000, Everyone in the Silicon Valley would own an 850Csi, that's for sure ;-)
__________________
BMW 8 Series Worldwide Owners Group Moderator

www.ClubE31.com

Forum at Forum.ClubE31.com
Club E31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2003, 01:13 AM   #8
Copper
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 14
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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
__________________
2002 Toyota DBL-Cab Pre-Runner V6
1991 BMW 850i
1999 Ford Crown Victoria P71 Interceptor
Copper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2003, 10:01 PM   #9
etype2
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 10
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
To Club T31: The San Francisco bay area has the highest per capita BMW sales,and no wonder, you have to pay 600k for a modest 3 br ranch on the peninsula.
etype2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2003, 10:05 PM   #10
etype2
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 10
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I think it was overprised and they had strong competition from Lexus,et al
etype2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2003, 10:16 PM   #11
etype2
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 10
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Copper: All good information except I don't think you meant to say the 850 was the longest running model.

I bought a 76 530i new. It was 11 k !
I think the the first 5 series came out in 1975.
etype2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2003, 10:22 PM   #12
etype2
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 10
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I forgot, my 93 850si has the same cheap white plastic flashlight in the glovebox as my 76 530i had. No design changes in 13 years. For 80-90k I would expect a nice hand tooled magnesium flashlight. lol
etype2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2003, 02:01 PM   #13
Copper
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 14
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Etype2: Actually the E31 BODY STYLE was the longest produced, not the model. The 5 Series had many body styles: E28, E34, and the current E39. The 8 Series only had one that never changed: The E31

Copper
__________________
2002 Toyota DBL-Cab Pre-Runner V6
1991 BMW 850i
1999 Ford Crown Victoria P71 Interceptor
Copper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2003, 06:04 PM   #14
etype2
AF Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 10
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Copper,
Ok,I understand what you are saying
etype2 is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Great Cars for Less nessie123 Car Buying Q & A 2 05-30-2009 04:51 PM
For Sale Great Car mods for basically any car! Jstone616 Cars/Parts for Sale/Exchange 0 05-18-2009 02:25 PM
a GREAT car modification site! Jstone616 Jetta/Vento/Bora 0 05-18-2009 02:21 PM
Slick road puts end to street race - Richmond Review Automotive News Automotive News Desk 0 09-23-2006 10:50 AM
Why Christmas was great L-Spec COMPLETELY off-topic 26 01-02-2006 09:28 PM

Reply

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD

Go Back   Automotive Forums .com Car Chat > BMW > 8 Series

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:45 AM.

Community Participation Guidelines | How to use your User Control Panel

Powered by: vBulletin | Copyright Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
 
 
no new posts