Pop Up All The Headlights: 1991 BMW 850i

You know what I love better than a gorgeous coupe fitted with a V12 powerplant offered for a reasonable price?  One with pop-up headlamps...because fixed beams are for chumps.  Yeah, there is only once choice -- the BMW E31 8-series. Between 1989 and 1997 BMW sold only 7,000 of the shark nose E31 in North America, a luxury grand tourer meant not to just supersede the E24 6-series, but to also eclipse it in performance, price and prestige.  Find this 1991 BMW 850i offered for $15,995 in Smithfield, UT via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Vee Twelve Days of Christmas: 1991 BMW 850i

All I want for Christmas is a V12...that's it.  No fancy bluetooth integrated steering wheel and ear heaters or a backup camera that was tuned for THX by George Lucas -- I JUST WANT 12 cylinders of gasoline power. Find this 1991 BMW 850i here on eBay offered for $11,950 in Ozone Park, NY with a few days to go.

The Loneliest Bimmer: 1991 BMW 850i

The BMW 8-series was only introduced and sold for one single generation --which is odd given the current proliferation of the BMW model ranges.  The old 6-series is back and can be had as a 4-door, there is even something called a 4-series, but why haven't they brought back the old 8?  Probably because they can't figure out how to top the OG E31 version.  Find this 1991 BMW 850i offered for $13,900 from a small dealer near Houston, TX. Tip from Jeff.

Kermit's M3: 1991 BMW 850i

The BMW E31 8-series was launched in 1989 as a replacement for the outgoing E24 6-series but moved considerably more upmarket with high end amenities and only V8 or V12 power.  Interestingly enough they were never available with Kermit green paint or an engine/trans from the E36 M3, so today's salvage found 850i is indeed an oddity.  Find this 1991 BMW 850i with M3 powertrain here on copart bidding for $3,600 in Atlanta, GA.  Tip from Rob "The Hack Mechanic".

Zee Vee Twelve: 1992 BMW 850i

You are a wealthy banker in 1992 you need a ride that will impress your mistress, but won't break down on the way to your coke dealer...so no finicky supercars.   Domestic options are  limited (Cadillac Allanté -- hah!), so the logical thing to do was head down to your local fancy German car dealer and pickup something red.  A Porsche 964 turbo was certainly an option, but if you wanted something that looked fast but wasn't going to end up sliding backwards into a ditch, the wise banker would head to his local BMW dealer and pickup an 850.  Find this 1992 BMW 850i offered for $7,500 in West Springfield, MA via craigslist. Tip from Jdah.

Coffee Brake: There Is No Replacement for Depreciation

Welcome to another edition of Daily Turismo's Coffee Brake, where the brakes are smoking hot and the coffee is in a cold drum. Today's Coffee Brake question comes from DT reader Scirocconuts who writes "Maybe you could do one of those reader questions where the topic is this: find the car with the biggest difference between sticker price and current price (adjusted for inflation).  Must be in good enough shape to be a daily (or at least weekend) driver."  Challenge accepted.

10k: Future Classic: 1992 BMW 850i 6-speed

In 1989 BMW released the E31 generation 8-series luxury coupe.  From a casual glance, it may look like a successor to the E24 generation 6-series, but it was an entirely different breed of automobile --not simply sharing a chassis with something as pedestrian as the executive class 5-series, but a purpose built luxury machine designed and engineered with the aid of CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) and FEA (Finite Element Analysis).  Klaus Kapitza's (famous for his work on the Ford Capri, Escort, Sierra & BMW Z-13 prototype) slippery design has withstood the test of time and looks as dynamic today as it did when it was new in the showroom.  Find this 1992 BMW 850i 6-speed offered on ebay for $11,995 or best offer in Madison, WI with 7 days to go.

10k: Shark Bait: 1991 BMW 850i 6-spd V12

Between 1989 and 1997 BMW sold only 7,000 of the shark nose E31 8-series in North America, a luxury grand tourer meant not to just supersede the E24 6-series, but to also eclipse it in performance, price and prestige.  It was available in base configuration with a V8, but real ballers splurged for the V12, something your Porschephile neighbor couldn't get in his 928.  Today buying an 850i is similar to finding a good used circus lion.  They are cheap, your friends will want to come over to see it, it will drink lots of fuel and someday it will bite your head off.  Find this 1991 BMW 850i 6-spd for sale in SF Bay Area, CA for $9850 via craigslist.  Tip from Eric R.

15k: Super Coupe: 1991 BMW 850i E31 V12 6-spd

The E31 chassis BMW 8-series was an upmarket grand tourer from BMW, their first attempt in many years at building a real luxury halo car.  It cost more than $70,000 in 1990 money when new and featured the latest in automotive technology..which is now obsolete and falling apart, and therefore prices are nice.  Find this 1991 BMW 850i V12 6-spd for $16,750 in Novato, CA via craigslist.  Another Bay Area Bimmer from Kaibeezy.