The Secret BMW M8 Is The Only V12 Powered M-Car Ever Made: The E31 Story — Jason Cammisa Revelations
Summary
TLDRThe 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
🚗 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.
🔧 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.
🏁 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.
🤔 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡BMW E31
💡Aerodynamics
💡V12 Engine
💡Throttle by Wire
💡Elastokinematics
💡CAN Bus
💡850 CSI
💡M Badge
💡Rear Wheel Steering
💡Nurburgring
💡Market Expectations
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
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
Browse More Related Video
He Made Airplanes, Then Turned It Into A Billion Dollar Car Brand!
BMW iX M60, czyli hejt w komentarzach! (TEST PL/ENG 4K) | CaroSeria
COLLECTING EUROPE'S FASTEST 830BHP BMW X3M!! **FIRST DRIVE**
BMW M5 CS vs Aston Martin DB12 | Llandow Laps | Episode 1: Grand Tourers-ish
4 Great Leicas That Are Affordable!
Mazda MX-5 ND | The Buying Story and why not a GT86?
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)