Description
1992 BMW 850i E31 V12
139, 000 Miles
MCH 813D
5. 0-Litre V12 | Full Body Kit | Dateless Registration Included | Stamped Service Book | Extensive History File | Approx. £10, 000 Spent in Recent Years
The BMW E31 8 Series remains one of the most distinctive and technically ambitious grand tourers BMW has ever produced, and this 1992 BMW 850i, first registered on 7 August 1992, represents an opportunity to acquire a great-looking V12 example that has benefited from considerable expenditure.
I have owned this car for a number of years and during that time have spent a huge amount of money maintaining, improving and recommissioning it.
A few years ago, I commissioned a complete repaint of the vehicle, which still presents very well today. More recently, the majority of the expenditure has been concentrated on the mechanical and electrical side of the car, systematically working through the various age-related jobs that inevitably arise on an E31.
Taking the repaint, mechanical work, electrical repairs and numerous replacement parts into account, I estimate that approximately £10, 000 has been spent on the car over the last few years alone, excluding my original purchase price.
In reality, the BMW probably now owes me in excess of £18, 000.
I have therefore made the decision to price the car sensibly to sell, rather than continue spending money attempting to recover everything I have invested in it.
Extensive Recent Expenditure
Amongst the work and replacement parts during my ownership have been:
* Comprehensive engine service
* Engine oil and filter
* New air and cabin filters
* 12 new NGK spark plugs
* Brake fluid renewed
* Automatic transmission fluid
* Power-steering fluid
* Two new fuel pumps and screens
* Heater matrix and associated pipework
* Replacement ABS module
* Extensive front suspension work
* Replacement front control arms/ wishbones
* New rear coil springs
* Rear lower-arm bushes and associated suspension components
* Camber bolts and associated hardware
* Complete E31 brake pipe set
* New heated rear screen
* Replacement electric sunroof motor
* Replacement door catch/ central-locking actuator
* Replacement wheel and tyres
* Exhaust clamps and hangers
* Numerous additional E31-specific components purchased and replaced as required
There are invoices within the recent history including £2, 000 with a BMW E31 specialist for extensive servicing and mechanical work and a further £2, 105. 19 mechanical invoice, together with numerous separate invoices for suspension, electrical components and other parts.
Extensive Electrical Work
Anyone familiar with an E31 will appreciate that the electrical systems can be one of the most time-consuming areas of these cars to put right.
Rather than simply accepting non-working equipment, a considerable amount of specialist auto-electrical work has been carried out over several years, systematically working through the car.
This has included attention to:
* Central locking
* Electric windows
* GM/ control module
* Electric seats
* Pop-up headlamps and associated relays
* Indicators and hazard lights
* Wipers and washers
* Heated rear screen
* Horn
* Reverse lights
* Number-plate lights
* Interior heater fan
* Instrumentation
* Various relays, wiring, connections and electrical circuits
The history contains numerous invoices from specialist auto-electricians documenting this work.
Bodywork & Appearance
During my ownership, the car underwent a complete repaint, and it continues to present very well.
It also features a full body kit which has been fitted to the vehicle for many years, giving the car a particularly purposeful appearance and considerable road presence.
Completing the look is the excellent dateless registration MCH 813D, which is included in the sale.
History
The expenditure during my ownership is only part of the story.
The BMW comes with a substantial history file containing considerable historic invoices and receipts together with its stamped service book, demonstrating expenditure and maintenance stretching back over the car’s life.
This is therefore not an E31 with little or no provenance. There is a substantial paper trail accompanying it.
139, 000 Miles – Drives Well
The car has now covered 139, 000 miles.
It was MOT’d in March 2025 and has effectively not been used since, with much of the intervening period spent attending to the various mechanical and electrical jobs described above.
It starts, drives well and looks extremely well, and the wonderful V12 remains the heart of the car.
However, I want to be completely transparent about what is being offered.
It Does Need Some Finishing
This is not being advertised as a concours or completely finished example.
There remains a relatively small amount of work and detailing that could be completed by the next owner to take the car to the next level and turn it into a really lovely example.
After spending approximately £10, 000 over the last few years and with the car now owing me probably in excess of £18, 000, I have reached the point where I simply don’t want to keep spending money chasing every final detail.
I would rather price the car sensibly and let the next owner finish those remaining jobs themselves.
That is reflected in the asking price.
Technical Specification
Model: BMW 850i E31
First registered: 7 August 1992
Mileage: 139, 000 miles
Registration: MCH 813D
Engine: 4, 988cc M70 V12
Power: Approx. 300 bhp
Torque: Approx. 450 Nm
Transmission: Automatic
Drive: Rear-wheel drive
Body: 2+2 pillarless grand touring coupé
Brakes: Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS
History: Stamped service book and extensive invoice/ receipt file
The E31 was an extraordinarily sophisticated and expensive motor car when new. Its combination of a naturally aspirated V12, pillarless coupé body, pop-up headlights and unmistakable low-slung styling makes it one of BMW’s most recognisable modern classics.
Our View
This car is perhaps best summed up very simply:
It looks well. It drives well. It has a great history. And a huge amount of money has been spent on it.
Approximately £10, 000 has been invested during the last few years alone, including the complete repaint and extensive mechanical and electrical recommissioning.
It comes with its stamped service book, extensive history file and dateless MCH 813D registration.
There are still some relatively minor jobs and finishing details for the next owner to attend to, and we are not trying to disguise that fact.
The car probably owes me more than £18, 000, but I am pricing it sensibly to sell.
For somebody who understands these cars and is prepared to complete the final details, this represents an opportunity to acquire a very striking V12 BMW E31 850i with a considerable amount of expensive work already behind it.
