The Secret BMW M8 Is The Only V12 Powered M-Car Ever Made: The E31 Story — Jason Cammisa Revelations

Summary

The script tells the story of the BMW E31, a car that was technologically advanced but fell short in delivering a thrilling driving experience. Initially seen as an embarrassment, it was saved by BMW's Motorsport division, which transformed it into the V12-powered M8, a car that finally matched its stunning looks with performance. Despite being a hidden gem, the M8 suffered from a lack of recognition due to BMW's reluctance to use the M badge, leading to a limited production and a missed opportunity for a flagship model.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The BMW E31 was criticized for being beautiful yet boring to drive, failing to live up to its high-tech appearance with a dull driving experience.
• 🚗 The 850i was intended to showcase BMW's cutting-edge technology, including multiplexing buses and elastokinematics, but it missed the mark on what wealthy buyers actually wanted.
• 🔧 BMW Motorsport's intervention transformed the E31 into the V12-powered M8, which solved the driving experience issue, but it was not widely recognized due to the absence of M badges.
• 💡 The E31's development began in the early 1980s with a focus on new technology and aerodynamics, aiming to be a flagship vehicle with an unprecedented low drag coefficient.
• 💸 The M70 V12 engine was expensive and complex, using two engine management systems and being the first German 12-cylinder engine in over 50 years.
• 🛠 The E31 featured many industry firsts, such as a tire pressure monitoring system, moisture sensors, and electrically variable wiper pressure, showcasing BMW's technological ambitions.
• 📉 Despite high initial demand, the 850i received negative reviews for its lack of excitement and was outperformed by the Mercedes 500 SL in terms of sales and customer satisfaction.
• 🛑 BMW had to reduce production and reconsider their strategy, leading to the development of the 850 CSI with M's involvement, which significantly improved the car's performance and driving dynamics.
• 🏎️ The 850 CSI, essentially an M8 in all but name, received high praise from automotive magazines for its transformation into a serious sports car with a fun driving experience.
• 🏷️ The lack of M badges on the 850 CSI may have contributed to its low profile and rarity, with only 1,510 units produced, making it one of the rarest M cars.
• 📚 Two key lessons emerged from the E31's story: the importance of aligning with customer expectations and the significance of M badges for M cars, which BMW has since embraced.

Q & A

What was the main issue with the BMW E31 850i according to the script?

The main issue with the BMW E31 850i was that despite its impressive looks, it had a dull driving experience and failed to deliver on the performance that its appearance promised.

What was the original intention behind the creation of the BMW E31?

The original intention behind the creation of the BMW E31 was to be a rolling showpiece for ultra-nerdy future tech and a self-congratulatory flagship vehicle to showcase BMW's technological advancements.

What technological features were initially planned for the E31 that highlight its focus on innovation?

The E31 was initially planned to include solar panels for the AC system, an acoustic notification radar system, a tire pressure monitoring system, and moisture sensors that activated windshield wipers and closed sunroofs.

What was unique about the E31's engine in terms of its development?

The E31's engine was unique because it was the first 12-cylinder engine to come out of Germany since before the war, created by combining two 2.5L single cam two-valve per cylinder M20 straight sixes from the E30 325i.

Why was the BMW E31's V12 engine not considered particularly advanced despite its high-tech appearance?

The V12 engine was not considered particularly advanced because it was essentially two independent straight sixes, each with its own set of components, including two completely independent fuel supplies.

What was the significance of the BMW 850i's multi-link rear suspension?

The multi-link rear suspension, known as the integral rear axle, was significant because it allowed for precise wheel control without harshness and was known for stability, which was a key component in many of the world's best handling cars.

Why did the BMW 850i receive negative reviews from automotive magazines?

The BMW 850i received negative reviews because it was considered boring to drive, with no steering feel, not much speed, no excitement, and no noise from the V12 engine, which was a major letdown for a car of its supposed sporting character.

What was the outcome of BMW's decision to involve their Motorsport division in the development of the E31?

Involving the Motorsport division resulted in the creation of the only V12 powered production M car ever, which solved the E31's dilemma by finally making the car drive as impressively as it looked.

Why did BMW not initially put an M badge on the exterior of the E31 when it was transformed into an M car?

BMW did not put an M badge on the exterior because they were deluded about flagships and did not realize that in customers' minds, an M badge signified a BMW flagship, leading to the car being called the 850 CSI instead.

What were the key performance upgrades made by BMW's Motorsport division to the E31 to create the 850 CSI?

The key performance upgrades included boring and stroking the M70 engine to 5.6L with higher compression, lighter pistons, a forged crank, a higher redline, hotter cams, a less restrictive exhaust, and a six-speed manual transmission with a limited-slip differential.

How did the reception of the 850 CSI differ from the original 850i, and what did critics say about the changes?

The 850 CSI received much more positive reviews compared to the original 850i, with critics praising it as a symbol of power, a statement of supreme technical accomplishment, and a serious sports car that was fun to drive.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 The BMW E31: A Tale of High-Tech Missteps

The BMW E31, introduced as a high-tech flagship vehicle, initially failed to impress due to its dull driving experience despite its sleek looks. It was designed with advanced features like multiplexing can buses and elastokinematics, which were not as appealing to its target demographic of wealthy individuals as power and luxury. The car was intended to showcase BMW's technological prowess but missed the mark on performance and excitement. The script also mentions the E31's aerodynamics and the first German 12-cylinder engine since pre-war times, which was expensive and complex but not as advanced as anticipated.

05:01

🔧 The Evolution of the BMW 850i into the M8

The BMW 850i's disappointing reception led to a significant transformation by BMW's Motorsport division, resulting in the creation of the V12-powered M8, the only production M car with a V12 engine. This model addressed the original car's shortcomings by enhancing its driving dynamics, but it was not widely recognized due to the absence of M badges on its exterior. The script outlines the car's technical specifications, including its innovative suspension design and the world's first throttle by wire system, which contributed to its improved performance.

10:04

🏁 From Flop to Flyer: The 850 CSI's Redemption

In response to the 850i's lackluster performance, BMW revised the model, resulting in the 850 CSI, which featured a more powerful engine, improved handling, and a sportier overall package. The script details the engine upgrades, including an increase in displacement, higher compression, and a higher redline, which contributed to a significant boost in horsepower and torque. The CSI also received performance enhancements such as quicker steering, stiffer suspension, and larger brakes, as well as subtle M badges that were not immediately noticeable, reflecting a shift in BMW's approach to branding its high-performance vehicles.

15:06

🤔 Lessons Learned: BMW's Missteps and Market Realizations

The narrative concludes with a reflection on the lessons BMW could have learned from the E31's journey. The script suggests that BMW should not have allowed its R&D department to overshadow customer preferences and that the M badge is a crucial identifier for its high-performance vehicles. The 850 CSI's limited production numbers and the lack of M badges on the M8 are highlighted as missed opportunities. The script also humorously notes that BMW has since learned the importance of the M badge, even suggesting they would apply it to a Rolls-Royce if possible.

Keywords

💡BMW E31

The BMW E31 refers to the 8 Series line of automobiles produced by BMW between 1989 and 1999. It is a significant subject of the video, as it discusses the vehicle's design, performance, and the various technological features that were innovative at the time. The script mentions how the E31 was initially seen as an 'embarrassment' due to its underwhelming driving experience despite its good looks.

💡Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics is the study of how air moves around objects. In the context of the video, aerodynamics was a top priority for car manufacturers to reduce fuel consumption, especially at high speeds. The E31 had the lowest drag coefficient of any BMW at the time, which is highlighted as an achievement in the script, showcasing the car's performance and efficiency.

💡V12 Engine

A V12 engine is a type of internal combustion engine with 12 cylinders arranged in a V configuration. The script discusses the M70 V12 engine used in the 850i, which was notable for being the first 12-cylinder engine to come out of Germany since before the war. It was created by combining two M20 straight sixes, and despite its high cost, it was lightweight and a symbol of the car's technological prowess.

💡Throttle by Wire

Throttle by Wire, also known as 'drive by wire', is an electronic system that replaces the mechanical linkage between the accelerator pedal and the throttle valve. The video script mentions that the V12 engine used the world's first throttle by wire system, which was an innovative feature at the time, allowing for more precise control and balancing of output between the two engine halves.

💡Elastokinematics

Elastokinematics is a branch of vehicle dynamics that deals with the geometry of wheel movement. The script describes the integral rear axle of the E31, which used pioneering elastokinematic design, allowing for precise wheel control without harshness and contributing to the car's stability and handling.

💡CAN Bus

A Controller Area Network (CAN) bus is a vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other within a vehicle. The E31 was the first mass-produced vehicle to use a CAN bus, which is highlighted in the script as an example of the car's advanced technology, enabling multiple modules to share wiring and communicate via digital signals.

💡850 CSI

The 850 CSI, as mentioned in the script, is a high-performance version of the 850i developed by BMW's Motorsport division. It featured significant upgrades including a larger and more powerful S70 V12 engine, quicker steering, stiffer suspension, and larger brakes. The script emphasizes how the CSI transformed the driving experience, making it more exciting and sporty.

💡M Badge

The 'M' badge signifies vehicles produced by BMW's Motorsport division, known for their high performance and enhanced driving dynamics. The script discusses the importance of the M badge and how its absence on the E31 contributed to its initial lack of appeal. It also reflects on how BMW later recognized the significance of the M badge for its customers.

💡Rear Wheel Steering

Rear wheel steering is a system where the rear wheels can be steered in the same or opposite direction as the front wheels, improving maneuverability and stability. The script mentions that the 850 CSI got rear wheel steering, which was a notable feature enhancing the car's handling and performance.

💡Nurburgring

The Nurburgring is a famous motorsport circuit in Germany, often used for testing and developing high-performance vehicles. The script mentions that the BMW 850i completed 400 test laps of the Nurburgring, indicating the car's rigorous testing and development process to ensure its performance capabilities.

💡Market Expectations

Market expectations refer to the anticipated features, performance, and value that consumers expect from a product. The script discusses how BMW misread market expectations with the 8 Series, prioritizing technological innovation over what customers actually wanted, which led to the initial failure of the 850i and lessons learned for future models.

Highlights

The BMW E31 was criticized for its dull driving experience despite its impressive aesthetics.

BMW's Motorsport division created the only V12 powered production M car, resolving the E31's performance issues.

The E31 was designed with an array of futuristic technologies, including solar panels and tire pressure monitoring.

The E31 featured the lowest drag coefficient of any BMW at the time, emphasizing aerodynamics for fuel efficiency.

The 850i's V12 engine was constructed from two M20 straight sixes, showcasing BMW's innovative engineering.

The E31 was the first vehicle to use a throttle by wire system, balancing output between the two engine halves.

The 850i's multi-link rear suspension was a pioneering design, influencing future high-performance vehicles.

Despite technological advancements, the 850i was criticized for being heavy and underperforming compared to its luxury status.

BMW's use of CAN bus in the E31 was an industry first, showcasing digital communication between vehicle modules.

The 850i's debut was overshadowed by Mercedes' technologically advanced R129 SL, affecting sales and customer perception.

BMW reduced 850i production due to poor sales, cancelling plans for additional models like the two-seat convertible.

The E31's Motorsport transformation into the M8 addressed performance shortcomings and received critical acclaim.

The M8 featured an S70 engine, an evolution of the M70 with increased power and torque.

Despite its performance, the M8 was not visibly distinguished with M badges, affecting its market recognition.

The 850 CSI, a more performance-oriented version, received positive reviews and was considered a serious sports car.

The E31 story highlights the importance of aligning vehicle features with customer expectations for success.

The rarity of the 850 CSI and its M8 lineage makes it one of the most unique and sought-after BMW models.

The E31's story serves as a lesson for BMW on the significance of clear branding and meeting market demands.

Transcripts

[Music]

being beautiful shouldn't be a

crime had the BMW E31 been ugly it

probably wouldn't have been called an

embarrassment to all who rode in it

their words not mine but look the 850i

had a real problem it's incredible good

looks wrote checks that it's utterly

dull Driving Experience just couldn't

cash that is because the 850i was meant

to be a rolling showpiece for Ultra

nerdy future Tech when BMW deluded

itself into thinking Rich old men would

get turned on by things like

multiplexing can buses and elasto

kinematics when they actually just

wanted more sex and more power and so

the 850i was a complete

failure until BMW took it to its

Motorsport division which created the

only V12 powered production M car ever

that solved the E31 dilemma the car

finally drove the way it looked

unfortunately no one knew about it

because BMW didn't bother putting a

single M badge on its exterior this is

the story of the BMW M8 that you didn't

even know existed

[Music]

[Music]

this episode of Revelations is brought

to you by the Hagerty Drivers Club which

includes a subscription to our

award-winning magazine 24/7 flatbed

roadside assistance and far more join or

get more info at the link

below the E31 Story begins in the early

1980s when BMW's head of R&D said

internally that his team knew when it

was time that a model lineup must be

reborn into a completely new vehicle and

so the replacement for the e24 6 series

would be a completely new vehicle

meaning nothing like the

e24 only problem was to Dr V gang's

dismay the ancient 6 series was outs

selling all expect

ations however if there's one trait that

seems to permeate all German car

Executives it's the ability to ignore

success and insist on Reinventing the

wheel and so rit's six series

non-replacement wouldn't be just a

regular Grand Touring Coupe based on a

sedan it would be a delusion of grandeur

a celebrator self- congratulatory

Flagship conceived solely to show off

his team's obsession with new technology

initial plans for the eight included

solar panels on its roof to power the AC

system an acoustic notification radar

system that could see through fog to

warn of impending objects in its path a

tire pressure monitoring system and even

moisture sensors that activated

windshield wipers and closed sunroofs

Jetson stuff 40 some years ago they

spent a billion of today's dollars

developing it the last BMW developed

with an effectively unlimited budget and

the first to be developed using Cad and

so even though it was five honking

inches wider than the six series its

structure weighed about the same and was

a third stiffer despite the lack of

b-pillar still reeling from the fuel

crisis aerodynamics was a top priority

for everyone because it dramatically

reduced fuel consumption especially at

Autobon speeds and so the E31 had the

lowest drag coefficient of any BMW ever

and a delusional Autobon Flagship would

require of course the first 12-cylinder

engine to come out of Germany since

before the war the 300 horsepower all

aluminum V12 was created by siesing 2 2

1/2 L single cam two valve per cylinder

M20 straight sixes from the E30

325i so ironically the high-tech new

showpiece v112 wasn't particularly

Advanced it also wasn't cheap BMW

boasted that the M70 V12 cost more than

twice as much as two of those straight

sixes did combined meaning it was four

times the price but hey at least it was

lightweight because the V12 weighed less

than the V8s from Porsche and

Mercedes but being the first German

speaking V12 in more than 50 years there

existed no engine management system

capable of running the thing so BMW just

installed two of them this runs as two

independent straight sixes it has two of

everything to Distributors to mass

airflow sensors to ignition coils to

fuel pumps in fact it has two completely

independent fuel supplies so if one side

of the engine dies it just keeps running

as one of those and still makes enough

power to cruise at a buck 25 the V12

used the world's first throttle by wire

system using two throttles to balance

output between the two engine halves and

it was bolted to a four-speed automatic

or a brand new six-speed manual the

first ever to be made it to a 12

cylinder the 850i shared its front

suspension design with the 7 Series that

had debuted a few years earlier but the

rear end was an entirely new clean sheet

design in place of the tried andr

semi-trailing arm rear end that BMW had

pioneered in the late 1950s was the

company's first ever multi-link rear

suspension the integral rear axle is an

ingenious suspension design known for

its ability to separate the bushings

that determine ride quality from the

bushing things that determine handling

so you can have very precise wheel

control without harshness thanks to its

pioneering use of elasto kinematics it

was also known for stability which meant

that the engineers could dial out some

of the under steer without it becoming a

handful at the limit we could do an

entire episode on it because the

integral rear axle is still used today

and it's been a key component in many of

the world's best handling cars so on

paper the E31 recipe included everything

you'd need for a spectacular performance

car unfortunately on a scale it included

all the weight of a luxury car at more

than 4,200 lb the 850i weighed within

100 lb of the long wheel-based four-door

limo like 750

iil ironic since BMW boasted of all the

weight saving technology inside the E31

including its wiring this is the first

mass-produced vehicle to ever use a can

buas and that's standard fair today but

it means multiple modules can use

digital signals to talk to each other

and chiefly therefore share wiring the

list of the E31 industry firsts is

enormous and the kind of thing that

could give someone with a name like

ritler are

stiffy read all of those if you want but

let me just give you one example this

car has a system that electrically

varies the amount of pressure that the

wiper arms put on the windshield to

ensure that it wipes properly all the

time conceivably to stop the spray

nozzles from getting an

infection then so shortly after

completing 400 test laps of the

nurburging the BMW 850i made its debut

at the 1989 Frankfurt motor show this

was a good time to be a rich German car

fan the same year Mercedes debuted the

r129 SL another technological tour to

force with a engine at an even bigger

price they both sold out instantly with

the 850i racking up enough deposits to

account for its first 3 years of

production and then the magazine reviews

arrived and the Mercedes were all

glowing and gushing and the 850i well

they didn't have too much nice to say

about it it is very pretty and uh it has

the uh least susceptibility to side

Winds of any BMW ever produced and uh

not the ultimate driving

machine the reviews were brutal the 850i

was boring with a capital B no steering

feel not much speed no sex and worse

absolutely no noise from the V12 BMW was

so hellbent on making a car to show off

its technology that it forgot to make a

car that would show off at all this was

on purpose

let's quote BMW directly for an

explanation opening up the rear

silencers a practice that is favored and

cultivated among the Italian sports car

producers results often in an

unacceptable noisy Mission and

constitutes a public

nuisance huh y Chas I

nuisance the

850i is built in accordance with a

general acoustic concept that is calling

for an extremely low and pleasant

interior noise level and despite the

car's evident sporting character for it

to be

quiet and environmentally acceptable to

the World At Large stop this story is

become

tiresome and stupid do we believe

someone who will be purchasing the grand

coupe the size of burgish gladbach but

only two seats will give one flaming

schnitzel Fork about any of this

n oh now is the time on Revelations when

we

[Music]

dance stop your dancing these buyers

didn't care about any of those very

German considerations especially on a

car that was Dripping with Italian like

visual sex appeal this is what happens

when a company's R&D Department

Engineers a vanity project conceive to

show off what it's capable of with

little or no regard to what was expected

by its

customers and so customers started

cancelling their orders and buying

Mercedes 500 SLS instead despite the

fact that the 500 SL had four fewer

cylinders and cost more but Mercedes had

concentrated on all of the right stuff

its opulent good looks matched the

understated wealth of its customers the

interior both looked and felt expensive

it had jaw-dropping performance and then

a roof that also dropped Mercedes

literally couldn't build these things

fast enough meanwhile BMW had to drop

the 850 I production from a planned 56

units a day to just

12 the coupe was such a flop that BMW

also killed off plans to make a two-

seat convertible version of the E31

which hello should have come first it

also killed off plans to make an M8

which would have been so expensive as to

be completely unsellable there was one

prototype built no headlights but a quad

cam 48 valve independent throttle body

carbon intake 6.1 L 640 horsepower V12

you know the one that BMW made for the

McLaren

F1 oh but Germans don't admit defeat

quite that easily they had to save face

somehow so BMW called M back and said

hey maybe let's not go so crazy let's

make an M8 that costs maybe 25% more

than an 850i rather than one that costs

twice as much and it actually happened

just nobody seems to know about

it probably because in all of its

delusions about flagships BMW didn't

notice that in its customers Minds an M

badge actually signified a BMW Flagship

and so there wasn't a single M badge on

the outside of the car they called it

the 850 CSI but it received exactly the

same treatment that the E36 did a year

later when it was transformed from a

regular 325i to a full m car the

[Music]

M3 exactly the same recipe to be precise

and the first item is a big engine built

by m with an M badge on it finally M70

became S70 when M bored and stroked it

to 5.6 L with higher compression lighter

Pistons a forged crank a higher Red Line

hotter cams and a less restrictive

exhaust it gained 80 horsepower for a

total of 380 and

406 whopping pound feet of naturally

aspirated V12 torque you could have any

transmission you wanted so long as it

was a six-speed manual with a a limited

slip differential and the shortest

overall gearing of any V12 powered

automobile before or

since quicker steering stiffer shocks

Springs and bars plus it was slammed so

low that it had an inch less ground

clearance than today's M4 Euro CSI got

rear wheel steering plus the biggest

Brakes in the world with two-piece

floating rotors and four piston fixed

calipers they all got M goodies like

forged wheels and a front spoiler and a

rear

diffuser and no M badges well except on

the door Sills so perfectly hidden that

neither passengers nor passers by could

see them are you meaning to be joking

there are stinking M badges very

upsetting stupid the UK's Motorsport

magazine which had called the 850i an

embarrassment said the CSI was quote

massively different to the original a

symbol of power and a statement of

supreme technical accomplishment

Germany's auto moto andad said it has

blossomed into a serious sports car and

declared it the best one of them all but

pointing out that the biggest

differentiator to the 850i wasn't just

the performance but that fun was now

part of the equation the US car

magazines agreed saying the CSI was

everything they'd expected from the 8

series from the get-go car and driers

said BMW has perfected the species and

their csi's 5.3 second run to 60 was two

full seconds quicker than the 850i

automatic they said the CSI was the

target should Porsche ever decide to

replace the 928 and that the CSI

rendered the SL

redundant oh and they said one other

thing that it was good enough to be

called the M8 clearly they didn't know

that legally it was was an M8 according

to the government the badges on the back

said BMW 850 CSI but the VIN said the

manufacturer was BMW Motorsport and the

model name on German certificates of

title was

M8 just 225 of the non m8s were sent to

America and they sold out immediately

total production was just 1, 1510 units

making the 850 CSI one of the rarest M

cars of them all and begging the

question would those numbers have been

far higher if BMW had badged it in M8 or

was the E31 fate already sealed with the

failure of the regular

850i we'll never know but it seems there

are two lessons BMW could have taken

away from this whole experience lesson

number one don't let your R&D Department

get in the way of giving customers what

they

want this obviously fell on deaf ears

given the next C to wear an 8 series

badge was the I eight another total

misread of Market expectations in lesson

two what BMW realized is customers want

an M badge on their M

car safe to say BMW has learned that

lesson because today they'd put an M

badge on a three-cylinder Rolls-Royce if

they thought they can get away with it

but back then BMW didn't know it needed

to put an M badge on an M car

a

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