One to Buy: 1 of 8 in Giallo Fly 1993 BMW 850 CSi
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Although it never wore the familiar ‘M’ moniker that graced most of BMW Motorsport’s road cars, the E31-based 850 CSi featured even more performance enhancements than many M-badged models.
As you would expect, the 850 CSi came with suitably uprated suspension, brakes, steering and wheels. There was also a model specific aero kit and some sporty bits of interior equipment. However, what stood the CSi out as something truly special was in the engine bay.
While many BMW Motorsport products ran tuned versions of existing engines, the CSi was fitted with a uniquely enlarged version of the parent company’s monster V12. Taken out to 5.6-litres, the S70 B56 motor got lightweight aluminium pistons, more aggressive valve timing, a forged crankshaft, a separate engine oil cooler, the latest Bosch DME 1.7 engine management, an increased compression ratio and a trick exhaust system.
Also new was an electronic engine performance control system (EML) which, via a central control panel-mounted toggle switch, enabled the driver to choose between two modes (Komfort and Sport) that varied throttle sensitivity. In addition, EML managed the CSi-specific gear-dependent rev limiter along with the adaptive idle point detection.
All told, the S70 B65 motor pumped out a mighty 380bhp at 5300rpm and 406lb-ft at 4000rpm. This was transmitted through a custom six-speed manual gearbox with separate oil cooling system, a single-plate clutch, a limited-slip differential, a CSi-specific separate differential oil cooler and rear axle with specially configured 2.93:1 ratio.
Unfortunately, as a consequence of poor trading conditions, barely 1500 copies of the 850 CSi were completed between 1992 and 1996 and, today, these rarely seen flagships have come to be regarded as highly sought collector pieces.
Going under the hammer at tomorrow’s Broad Arrow Auctions’ Villa d’Este sale is one of the most interesting examples of the 850 CSi to have emerged recently: chassis WBSEG91080CC00428.
Ordered as a showroom centrepiece by Berlin BMW main agent, Richard Schiel GmbH, chassis ‘00428’ was configured in spectacular Giallo Fly, one of eight such cars produced by BMW Individual. The car was further optioned with Anthracite Buffalo leather upholstery, fine wood trim, a sunroof, a power rear sunshade and an auxiliary heater.
First registered by Richard Schiel GmbH on August 25th 1993, the BMW remained in Berlin until it was sold to Rudiger Faltz GmbH. In turn, Faltz sold the CSi to a collector from Luxembourg on May 10th 1997 at which point the odometer read 15,800km.
Chassis ‘00428’ returned to Bavaria when a collector from Taufkirchen acquired it on August 10th 2007. Broad Arrow state: “a minor accident affecting the front of the car occurred in March 2009 at 38,206km and was repaired to factory standard by the official branch of BMW in Munich for nearly €15.000 and received a BMW Accident Repair Certificate.”
The car then passed through another custodian before entering the current owner's collection on October 19th 2019. ‘00428’ was then completely refinished in its original Giallo Fly.
This stunning 850 CSi heads to auction accompanied by a well documented history with just over 41,000km on the odometer.
