This Guy Bought A $7500 BMW 850i, So You Don't Have To

Tyler Hoover - purveyor of questionable but heroic used car choices - has a new ride with a V12 and big bill potential

01 Dec 2017

The BMW 8-series is a car I’m sure many of us have examined in the classifieds, tempted by its striking flanks and generally tempting prices. With a reputation for ruinous running costs though, taking the plunge is easier said than done. Particularly with one of the V12-powered 850i examples.

Happily, there’s a man who knows no fear when it comes to buying once expensive, heavily-depreciated cars that are more complicated than the plot of Inception. We’re talking about YouTuber and columnist Tyler Hoover, who’s just sold his E65 BMW 745i - originally purchased for just $3400 - and spent the proceeds on this 850i.

It wasn’t the cheapest in the United States, but it was the cheapest on Auto Trader USA, weighing in at just $7500. His plans for the car involve a manual gearbox conversion, so this is one to watch with interest.

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

Well at least it’s not cheapest in the country, that means it’s not a complete basket case. That V12 is both old and complicated, so if something will go wrong, it will be a nightmare.

I’d like to buy a 840ci someday and put a modified 500 hp 2JZ in it. To give it power it deserves and make it more reliable.

2J?! Swap out the engine that was in the Mclaren F1? You’re crazy!

JZ in a 8 series, yuck

Or a turbo s54

Put a S85/S62 in it. Give it the power it truly deserve!

Reliability? Yeah no. Oh well~

Ugh, 2jz… LS is much better, don’t pull the “too common” card, 2jz is just as boring if not more boring than the LS. Also the LS weighs as much as a 2jz, could be less tho if you start putting bigger turbos and such on the 2jz