Happy 25th Birthday BMW 8-Series, Here's Why You're Awesome

If we were to draw up a list of what we consider to be the best looking BMWs ever made, the 8-series would be pretty damn near the top. This classy coupe was designed in the late 1980s and made its debut at the 1989 Frankfurt motor show, just as the ageing E24 6-series was coming to the end of its long production run. It wasn’t intended as a direct replacement, though. Instead, the 8-series was festooned with luxury goodness with the hope of creating an elegant GT car with sporting pretensions and performance.

Many of the 8-series’ detractors were hoping for a lighter, sharper machine, but few could deny that the distinctive 8-series was a looker. And despite showing its age a little, it’s still a beauty to behold today: that ultra-low nose; the elongated, sleek body; the lack of B-pillars; it all comes together perfectly. Add in the ‘throwing star’ alloys which appeared on some models (above), and we’re well and truly in love.

The car was initially only offered with a 5.0-litre V12 putting out 300bhp, in the form of the 850i (later renamed the 850 Ci). The 840 Ci joined the range in 1993 with a 286bhp 4.0-litre ‘M60’ V8, replaced in 1995 with the ‘M62’ 4.4-litre. The pokiest version is the 850 CSi, which packs a 5.6-litre V12 capable of 375bhp.

Due to the sheer weight of the car - most models tip the scales at nearly two-tonnes - none are particularly quick; 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds in the CSi is as quick as the range gets. But that doesn’t bother us; the 8-series is a decidedly classy brute, and exudes a level of panache BMW hasn’t quite managed since.

They’re rare, too, just 30,621 had been made by the time production wound up in 1999. As a result, you don’t often see these on the road. Despite the rarity, they’re still incredibly cheap to buy; just £4-5k is enough to bag one in reasonable condition. Sure, it won’t be cheap to run and electrical gremlins are all too common, but we can’t think of many cooler ways to blow a few thousand Sterling.

Here’s to you, BMW 8-series.