2019-10-01_CAR_UK

140140 CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK | OCTOBER 2019

1

Is this car proof that BMW

has re-discovered its

big-coupe mojo?

When, do we think, was BMW

last in possession of its big-coupe

mojo? For a couple of generations,

the modern 6-series (which the

new 8-series replaces) was a good

car. But it wasn’t an E9, which is

the big BMW coupe Munich pervs

(guilty) go gaga for. I’ve driven a

couple of E9s, including a 3.0 CSL,

and they are sensational, even now:

not actually that big, of course,

with an engine like strong surf,

real adjustability and an effortless,

elegant style alien to contemporary

BMW design.

The 8-series is not an E9. The

truth is – like everybody’s big

coupes – BMW’s has grown too

big, too heavy and arguably too

complicated. Blame everything

from connectivity to crash

structures. The M850i is vast

but that huge footprint does not

translate directly into cabin space

(just a boot deeper, length-wise,

than the Mariana Trench), and

there’s little of the E9’s handling

delicacy here. But as a big GT and

everyday fast car, the M850i’s

proved mesmerising, and far more

convincing and enjoyable in this

role – effectively that of Audi’s RS

models – than the RS5 I ran. So yes,

this car is proof of the return of a

mojo – just not perhaps that mojo.

2

Surely weighing 1890kg

is a problem?

Yes, it is. First off, it blunts

the fabulous twin-turbo V8 of much

of its savagery. All-wheel drive, swift

BMW M850i

Month 7

The story so far

BMW’s spanking new flagship

big coupe, which we liked on the

launch, then placed fourth (and

last) in a Giant Test

+Idiotproof; ballistic; pretty

• Expensive; heavy; thirsty

Price £99,525 (£108,405 as

tested) Performance 4395cc

V8, 523bhp, 3.7sec 0-62mph,

155mph Efficiency 26.2-

26.9mpg (official), 27mpg

(tested), 224g/km C02 Energy

cost 21p per mile Miles this

month 304 Total miles 7805

yet cultured auto ’box and still the

523bhp M850i never manages to

feel ballistic. It’s quick, sure, but it’s

not the supercar the raw numbers

would suggest.

That mass blunts braking

performance and agility, too,

despite the rear-wheel steering’s

best efforts. Oh, and if you really

enjoy the car’s body control (strong),

grip (really strong) and traction

(scarcely believable) you’ll savage the

tyres, naturally. Our fronts – fronts!

• cried enough at 6000 miles, not
  through silliness but uneven tread
  wear. Some owners blame the
  Bridgestone run-flats. (Reliability
  was complete, the car asking only
  for new front rubber, a coolant
  top-up and fuel.)
  Neither can the car’s obesity
  and routine real-world 25mpg be

Logbook

Er, 2.5 out of five ain’t bad?

Back in the April 2019 issue, we asked five questions of our then-new M850i, BMW’s

all-wheel-drive V8 flagship coupe. 8000 miles later, the answers are in. By Ben Miller

G oodbye