£6,900 • £6,000 - £7,000
1991 BMW 850i The car that changed the world
United Kingdom • 6 Dec 2025
Vehicle Details
AI Listing Summary
This 1991 BMW 850i, with its V12 engine and low ownership, is a rare find. However, it's currently a recommissioning project, needing work to return it to its former glory after being cherished but then left unused due to the owner's ill health.
Condition
3
The car is described as a 'recommissioning project' with an expired MOT due to ill health of the owner, indicating it has been sitting for a few years. While it comes with many invoices and documents, the overall state requires substantial reconditioning to bring it back to its former glory.
/ 10
Automatic
Transmission:
WBAEG22030CB57465
Chassis No:
Odometer:
110,000 miles
D1 CHO
Reg Number:
RHD/LHD:
[RHD/LHD]
It’s not often you come across a car like this BMW 850i, the one with the V12 before they got a little more sensible and made the V8.
There’s nothing wrong with a V8, but the V12… wow! This example was registered on 1/8/1991 to its first owner and it has only had another 5 owners on top of that, so quite low ownership in relative terms.
The BMW is finished in diamond black with contrasting grey leather - a very BMW colour combination.
The current owner has owned it since 2001 and has cherished it until a few years ago when the last MOT expired due to ill health.
Therefore, we have to tell you it is a recommissioning project, but one that is very much worth doing due to what it is.
There are very few of them left now, and in fact not that many got sold in the day due to their expense and the fact that the UK was in a recession at the time.
This makes it even more desirable to own.
At the UK launch to the BMW dealer network at the NEC in Birmingham, it was stated that at the time ...
Points of note
£5,500
Lowest Price (Since 2020)
£17,490
Median Price (Since 2020)
£131,800
Highest Price (Since 2020)
World Record
If this vehicle sells at the mid-point of its estimate it will set a new world record for the [enter model]
Bottom 10%
The sale price places it in the bottom 10% of sold prices we've ever seen for the BMW 8 Series (E31) 850i
Lowest Price
If this vehicle sells at the mid-point of its estimate it will be the lowest price we've seen for the [enter model]
Average Price
The mid-point of the vehicle's estimate places it near the average price we see for the [enter model]
Rare Sale
This vehicle comes to market rarely. In auction records we've only seen [enter number] sold before
Icon
This vehicle comes is an icon of the game. Any collection would benefit from having one
Previous Sales
Gallery
MOT Information
Invalid
Test Failed on Jan 17 2025
Latest MOT Mileage
108,887 miles
Registration Date
1991-08-01
MOT History
Failed
On Jan 17 2025 with 108,887 miles
There were 17 defects noted.
Major:
- Nearside Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))
- Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))
- Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))
- Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Inner sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))
- Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
- Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
- Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))
- Offside Rear Position lamp lens seriously defective (4.2.1 (b))
- Windscreen wiper not working Both (3.4 (a))
- Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen Both (3.5 (a))
Advisory:
- Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))
- Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))
- Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material All (1.1.11 (c))
- Nearside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))
- Offside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))
- Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement To hub (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Passed
On Dec 03 2022 with 108,802 miles
There were 3 defects noted.
Advisory:
- Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened All 4 brakes discs corroded due to standing. (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material All pipes front and rear covered in grease and slight corrosion. (1.1.11 (c))
- Coil spring corroded All 4 springs corroded. (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Passed
On Oct 02 2021 with 107,246 miles
There were 9 defects noted.
Advisory:
- Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Coil spring corroded All 4 road springs. (5.3.1 (b) (i))
- Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Front to rear brake pipes. (1.1.11 (c))
- Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Failed
On Oct 02 2021 with 107,246 miles
There were 10 defects noted.
Advisory:
- Nearside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Coil spring corroded All 4 road springs. (5.3.1 (b) (i))
- Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Front to rear brake pipes. (1.1.11 (c))
- Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Pass after Rectification at Station:
- Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))
Passed
On Mar 24 2020 with 106,886 miles
Passed
On Mar 26 2019 with 105,947 miles
Failed
On Mar 25 2019 with 105,947 miles
There was 1 defect noted.
Major:
- Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))
Passed
On Dec 22 2017 with 105,746 miles
Passed
On Nov 05 2015 with 104,566 miles
There was 1 defect noted.
Advisory:
- slight engine oil leak
Failed
On Oct 17 2015 with 104,565 miles
There were 6 defects noted.
Fail:
- Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings Jacking point. (6.1.B.2)
- Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
- Offside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
- Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)
- Nearside Front Lower Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) leaking Pipe from reservoir . (2.3.3b)
Advisory:
- Slight engine oil leak.
Passed
On Oct 18 2014 with 103,127 miles
There were 5 defects noted.
Advisory:
- Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
- Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
- Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
- Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
User Entered:
- n/s/f jacking point missing
Passed
On Sep 26 2013 with 101,625 miles
Failed
On Sep 25 2013 with 101,625 miles
There were 5 defects noted.
Fail:
- Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)
- Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)
- Offside Rear Fuel pipe leaking (7.2.3)
- Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
Passed
On Oct 05 2012 with 100,228 miles
Passed
On Oct 17 2011 with 99,820 miles
Passed
On Sep 04 2010 with 96,667 miles
There was 1 defect noted.
User Entered:
- tyres low rear suspsension bushes worm brake pipes and petrol pipes clean and greased
Passed
On Sep 02 2009 with 95,530 miles
There were 7 defects noted.
Advisory:
- Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
- Nearside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
- Offside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
User Entered:
- Fuel pipe/s corroded
- Oil leak
- n/s/f jacking point rubber missing.
- o/s/f tyre wearing on inner edge.
Passed
On Sep 02 2008 with 94,821 miles
Passed
On Aug 31 2007 with 92,546 miles
Passed
On May 15 2007 with 92,545 miles
Passed
On May 23 2006 with 86,884 miles
Failed
On May 16 2006 with 86,875 miles
There were 8 defects noted.
Fail:
- Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm rubber mounting bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
- Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm rubber mounting bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
- Offside Front Headlamp excessively damaged so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)
- Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
- Nearside Front Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)
- Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching by more than 10mm within zone 'A' (8.3.1b)
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
- Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)
MOT Mileage Trend
