NPoCP: The Ultimate Driving Edition

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg) 11/11/2014 at 13:57 • Filed to: None

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If there was one thing I had to say I don't like about the old BMW 840i/850i, it's that engine didn't really made enough power. Sure, they were brisk, but any flagship Bimmer, especially one with a V12, should be seriously rapid. Luckily, BMW heard the cries of people like me (but not me, I didn't exist yet), and released this, the low-production !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . The old V12 from the 850i was enlarged to 5.6 liters, and now made 380 horsepower instead of 325. Routed to the rear wheel via a six-speed manual, this means the CSi can power to 60 miles an hour in under six seconds, and run right up to the electronic 155mph limiter with ease. With just 1,510 produced and just 250 brought to the U.S., this is not a common car. And this particular example, with just 28,000 miles on it, appears to be an exceptional example. Naturally, it's not cheap, but at $80,000, it seems like a future classic destined to increase in value. Plus, if what you want is an investment-grade V12 manual GT car that's sure to appreciate, it's both cheaper and prettier than the sightly rarer !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I posted a while ago. Personally, if I had a ton of money to blow and a dream garage that needed filling, this would be in it. Did I mention that I think it looks absolutely stunning? Still, $80,000 is a lot of money for a car which can be had in a slightly less powerful format for less than half that. Is it worth it for you guys?

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rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:04

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Not worth it. You are getting into 550 Maranello money. I owned a 6SP 850i for about 18 months a few years ago after wanting one since new. I didn't have much in the way of maintenance issues, but the car just wasn't exciting in the way it should be.

I did have the chance to drive a blown 850Ci a couple of years ago making around 550WHP. That was a lot more exciting in an "I'm going to die and/or break something very expensive" sense.

bob and john > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:06

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crap pipe. but I do see this going for 60K if it was a nice example.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > bob and john 11/11/2014 at 14:07

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I would ay it is a nice example, from what I can tell.

And yeah, it's an awesome car, but the price is a little steep.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 11/11/2014 at 14:09

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That's exactly what I've heard multiple times. It looks exciting. It's exciting on paper. Its *idea* is exciting. Nope - isn't actually exciting, not the way it should be.

bob and john > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:10

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I know. so Id say this is a 60K cart. not 80.

Sn210 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:12

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CP! I'm surprised they haven't dropped the price at all either. Cherry_man posted this same one back at the beginning of Sept

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/80k-850csi-any…

Alex B > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:14

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Nope. Too much. For that kind of money I would get an old Bently or Rolls Royce. Or Mercedes SL 600 (1993).

n54 & s38 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:21

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Throwing stars are also backwards, at least on the left side.

KatzManDu > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:21

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That's the most I've seen a CSi for. Usually they're around $40k.

I almost bought a 850i. I'm kind of kicking myself, but I really couldn't afford it at the time.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:23

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Why are so many BMWs sold with grey leather? It doesn't look as good as tan or red, it doesn't hide dirt as well as black, and as it ages it looks terrible. Yet I bet 50% of all BMWs I see for sale from the 90s to early 2000s have it.

It's a CP any way. Though it's local-ish to me.

n54 & s38 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:23

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For less money, I'd buy either an E28 M5 or an E30 M3, both of which are more fun cars, are more historically significant (first M variant of the 3 & 5 series, not counting the E12 M535i) and are more likely to appreciate as time goes by. There's just not the same market for the 8 series. CRACKPIPE!

Steve in Manhattan > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:25

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I believe it was Clarkson who said nothing good could come out of a car designed in France, built in Italy, engine wherever, and I'm sure I screwed that up, but you get the gist.

JGrabowMSt > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:42

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If it wasn't powered by a BMW V12, it would have been perfect.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 14:48

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CP, the smoking tire podcast had a segment where these cars rapidly dropped in value and its appeal. A nice running 8 series can fetch 8 to 9k depending on the motor, I've seen 840is for less.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Alex B 11/11/2014 at 14:56

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In that case, have I got a deal for your!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > n54 & s38 11/11/2014 at 14:57

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Huh?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/11/2014 at 14:59

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Leather colors, ranked:

1. Brown

2. Tan

3. Beige

4. Red

5. White

6. Black

7. Everything Else

113935^276. Grey

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:00

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I can agree with this list. Maybe move red up in front of beige.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/11/2014 at 15:01

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The best I'd do is to tie them.

n54 & s38 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:03

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The point of the blades is supposed to face forward. They're different covers for the left and right side. Like this:

" http://tinypic.com?ref=faqud " "

"

OPPOsaurus WRX > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:03

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I'd put white at the bottom. it never is clean

For Sweden > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:05

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No. Blue leather best leather.

505Turbeaux > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:06

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Leather colors ranked - by someone who has owned all of these

1. Red

2. Green

3. Black

4. Grey

5. Tan

6. Beige

. White

I had a Vanden Plas with white leather. It probably looked like shit the day it rolled off the dealer lot and had an ass in it

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/11/2014 at 15:09

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But when it is, it looks amazing:

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > For Sweden 11/11/2014 at 15:10

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A lighter blue might be okay. That, for me, is a late 80's color in a modern car.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > 505Turbeaux 11/11/2014 at 15:12

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If you switched red with grey you'd have the exact opposite of mine (more or less).

505Turbeaux > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:14

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yeah, differing opinions. Mine revolve mainly on how I like the look, and how well they hold up

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > 505Turbeaux 11/11/2014 at 15:16

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That's part of it. I know white holds up poorly, but in my eyes it looks so damn purdy when clean I don't care. Other than that, yeah, I'm judging based on how they look.

OPPOsaurus WRX > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:20

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and then 5 minutes later you take a turn too fast and your buddies big mac is all over the plac etheres a nice skid mark, sweat stains and dirt but thats gunna get all over it anyway

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/11/2014 at 15:22

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Bit of an exagertion, but I get your point. I'm going based on how it looks clean, even though I know how easily it gets dirty.

505Turbeaux > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:22

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yeah for me red and green are the best. Dont deny yourself..

and while we are talking about 850's

OPPOsaurus WRX > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:24

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i've always wanted a white on white countach until i just saw that black one. damn

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > 505Turbeaux 11/11/2014 at 15:24

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I'm impartial on the first one. The second one is cool because it's retro. As for that last one...

RallyWrench > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:28

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That price is through the roof crackpipe. These can be found for under 50k all day, and the low mileage isn't worth it. These atrophy from sitting as badly as any car, and I'd rather have one that was used & maintained regularly. I did the heads on one with 125k a couple years ago, and it was tight as a drum. Still a big, heavy car, and the steering & brake feel is disappointing, but it is far better then the base Ci.

Alex B > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:35

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Haha, I know. Your article opened my eyes to them. :)

Textured Soy Protein > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 11/11/2014 at 15:53

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I've tried out a 6-speed 850i and agree—it's mostly a big GT with decent power and not enough headroom.

Textured Soy Protein > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:55

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To me the 850CSi is kinda like the Porsche 928 GTS. You can get older versions of the 928 for cheap, but the GTS (and the GT to a lesser extent) commands exponentially higher prices.

I love the looks of the 8-series, but having driven one (granted it was an 850i not CSi), I think I'd probably go for the 928 GTS if I wanted the early-mid 90s German executive GT coupe that's the way-more-expensive, best, last version of its model line.

Textured Soy Protein > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/11/2014 at 15:59

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Brown, tan, beige, and gray leather only looks good if that's not the whole color of the interior. You need some contrast. A darker dash top and parts of the door panels. Darker carpets and floor mats.

Bad red interior:

Good red interior:

Contrast. You need it.

HeathJokerSick > JGrabowMSt 11/11/2014 at 16:07

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I own a 97 840ci with the 4.4 V8 and the ZF 5HP30 steptronic trans. Entire suspension was overhauled with CSI springs and swaybars and custom valved Bilsteins. Every bushings front and rear was replaced or swapped for spherical bearings. While the car is heavy, it is a blast to drive now. CSIs are just too much for something that you can't daily.

Also, 255 of them were imported.

JGrabowMSt > HeathJokerSick 11/11/2014 at 16:16

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As the owner of an SL600, I understand completely.

How's the V8 to drive?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Textured Soy Protein 11/11/2014 at 16:26

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Agreed.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Alex B 11/11/2014 at 20:29

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Wait, I'm confused...why would you spend that much money on an SL600? I went on my local craigslist after Harry's video made the rounds last week and found several in good condition and decent miles in my general area for well under $15k, a few even under $10k that looked perfectly fine. I kind of really want one. An automatic Mercedes...who would've thought.

Alex B > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 11/11/2014 at 21:34

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Well I didn't mean pay that much money for one, but rather I would like an SL600 instead.

HeathJokerSick > JGrabowMSt 11/14/2014 at 00:30

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Happy. I have 30K into the car, mileage and dollar wise (idiot). Love it.

HeathJokerSick > HeathJokerSick 11/15/2014 at 13:18

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Edit: 225 imported. That's what I get for trying to be a numbers dork.

JGrabowMSt > HeathJokerSick 11/16/2014 at 19:07

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Where are you located? I feel like we totally need to meet up sometime with these cars. It would be perfect if you had the V12, but V8 will still be fun.

HeathJokerSick > JGrabowMSt 11/17/2014 at 04:05

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SF Bay Area. Unfortunately, the V8 is the best of these cars if you want it on the road or in bits in the driveway/garage.

JGrabowMSt > HeathJokerSick 11/17/2014 at 11:22

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Bugger. If youre ever on the east coast with it, let me know!

HeathJokerSick > JGrabowMSt 11/17/2014 at 14:35

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No doubt it woul make the trip, but I would need a reason to make the drive. Would love to do a cross country trip with it.