BMW 850 Shooting Brake & Aftermarket Parts

The BMW 850 Shooting Brake is a rare and unique custom-built vehicle based on the BMW 8 Series (E31) grand tourer, modified into a shooting brake (a two-door station wagon-like body style). Although BMW never officially produced a factory shooting brake variant of the E31, several independent coachbuilders and custom shops have created one-off or limited-production versions over the years.

Overview of the BMW 850 Shooting Brake

BMW 850 Shooting Brake: The BMW E31 8 Series, produced from 1989 to 1999, was a high-performance luxury grand tourer known for its sleek design, powerful engines, and advanced technology. The 850i, 850Ci, and 850CSi models featured V12 engines, making them some of the most powerful BMWs of their era. The shooting brake conversions were designed to add practicality and uniqueness while retaining the elegance and performance of the original car.

Exterior Design & Styling

The shooting brake conversion involved extending the roofline and modifying the rear section to create a longer, wagon-like silhouette. The changes typically included:

Extended roof and hatchback-style rear for added cargo space.
Custom rear windows to maintain a seamless look.
Modified rear bumper and taillights to blend with the new body shape.
Some versions retained the pop-up headlights of the original E31, while others had custom modifications.

Interior & Practicality

The interior of the BMW 850 Shooting Brake remained largely unchanged from the standard coupe, featuring:

Luxurious leather upholstery and wood or aluminum trim.
A 2+2 seating arrangement, though the rear seats may have been adjusted for better cargo space.
A more spacious trunk, making it more practical for long-distance touring.

Engine & Performance

Since the conversion mainly affected the bodywork, most shooting brake versions retained the original BMW V12 engine options:

850i/850Ci: 5.0L M70 V12, producing 296 hp (220 kW) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque.
850CSi: 5.6L S70 V12, producing 375 hp (280 kW) and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque, making it the most powerful E31 variant.
Transmission options included a 4-speed automatic, 5-speed automatic, or 6-speed manual in certain models.
Rear-wheel drive provided classic BMW driving dynamics, with a balanced chassis and adaptive suspension for a smooth ride.

Rarity & Legacy

The BMW 850 Shooting Brake is an extremely rare car, with only a few custom-built examples in existence. Some notable conversions were done by independent coachbuilders, making each unit highly valuable and collectible today. The unique combination of V12 power, luxury, and shooting brake practicality makes it a dream car for BMW enthusiasts and collectors.

Would you like more details on a specific shooting brake conversion, or are you interested in modern BMW shooting brakes like the Z3 Coupe or the M8 Touring concepts?