My BMW 850CSI and a friend's Ferrari F355 | FerrariChat

My BMW 850CSI and a friend's Ferrari F355

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by Alx007, Apr 27, 2008.

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  1. Alx007

    Alx007 Rookie

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    Hello,

    I am quite new to this forum. I am a great car fan, but my 2 favorite brands (for as far as I can remember) are Ferrari and BMW :)

    Yesterday, I went to meet a friend which owns a Ferrari F355 and we had a great drive in the Alps.

    I thought I would share some pictures :)

    [​IMG]

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    [​IMG]

    The BMW behaved quite well versus the Ferrari even on the twisties, but I just loved driving the Ferrari, the F355 is one of the nicest in my opinion.

    It is and feels lighter than the BMW...and I just fell in love with that sound... I WANT ONE!!!

    Regards,

    ///Alex
    Geneva, Switzerland
    1996 380 HP Techno Violet BMW 850CSI
    http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b183/M_Alx/
     
    Alx007, Apr 27, 2008
    #1
  2. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    Nice pictures and Welcome to F-chat.
     
    agup48, Apr 27, 2008
    #2
  3. Ducman491

    Ducman491 Formula 3

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    Nice BMW, I have always like the 850. I saw one in Cleveland Ohio the other day and it is still a great looking car.
     
    Ducman491, Apr 27, 2008
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  4. Alx007

    Alx007 Rookie

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Alx007, Apr 30, 2008
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  5. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

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    Very pretty - both cars and the scenery. I have always liked the 850 as well. OMG, it is so hard to remember when I thought the BMW was one of the prettiest cars on the planet.

    BTW, Welcome to the FerrariChat, and - Does yours (850) have the manual or the automatic?

    James - BTW2, I have a 993, an old 95 ZR-1 Corvette, and a single mirror Testarossa.
     
    James_Woods, Apr 30, 2008
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  6. Alx007

    Alx007 Rookie

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    Thank you :)

    That's a great collection of cars you have there - congratulations!

    My 850 has a 6-speed manual gearbox (all CSIs were). Actually, the CSI is considered an M8 in the papers.

    Here's a picture of the engine attached.


    Regards,
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Alx007, Apr 30, 2008
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  7. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

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    Good for you on the manual. These are very rare, --especially-- with the manual transmission, here in the states.

    I guess you are going to be looking for a Ferrari sooner or later - are you pretty sure on the 355?
     
    James_Woods, Apr 30, 2008
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  8. Auraraptor

    Auraraptor F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Welcome to Fchat!
     
    Auraraptor, Apr 30, 2008
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  9. Alx007

    Alx007 Rookie

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    There was a total of 1510 850CSIs produced worldwide, 225 of which went to the USA.

    I have always loved Ferrari, but I cannot see myself without at least one BMW in my garage...

    The F355 is one of my favorite modern Ferraris, but I'm quite scared about maintenance. Even owning a V12, I think Ferrari is just in another league.

    I am also interested on the 328s; my father used to own a Mondial 3.2 Quattrovalvole and it was a very nice engine.

    The 348 is OK, but I would rather have a 328 or an F355 (a manual one please!).

    Any advice is greatly appreciated.

    Thank you,
     
    Alx007, Apr 30, 2008
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  10. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

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    Just my opinion, but with a BMW of this status, you should be looking at a Testarossa or a Maranello - just so your new Ferrari will not get an inferiority complex!
     
    James_Woods, Apr 30, 2008
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  11. Alx007

    Alx007 Rookie

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    Thank you James,

    Indeed, once you have a V12, a V8 might look like a downgrade, but I just loved that V8 sound :)

    I would love a black F355! A Maranello might still be a little out of my league for now...

    That's funny, but when my friend drove my BMW he told me it reminded him of the Maranello - what a compliment! :)
     
    Alx007, Apr 30, 2008
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  12. Devilsolsi

    Devilsolsi F1 Veteran Rossa Subscribed

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    Are those the stock mirrors on the 850? (nice car btw)
     
    Devilsolsi, Apr 30, 2008
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  13. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

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    That's why I said Maranello - I could see where it would be a relatively similar experience. But I can see why you would want a contrast in the driving feel between the two.

    In my case, I was going to go with a 355 because I wanted the smaller, lighter feel of the car. However, after just looking at a Testarossa (especially that engine - you can see the metal casting just like in your 850 - maybe even better) I decided to take a drive in one.

    It is a LOT heavier in feel (and more difficult to drive) than a 355; not even any power steering! on a lot bigger car. But, I had the Porsche 993 for the light feel, and the ZR-1 for the front engine V8, so Testarossa it was.

    Maybe you should hang out on one or two of the specific Ferrari forums here (like 355) and tell them that is what you are looking at; in my case I did this for a year before buying and it probably saved me $30,000 and a lot of trouble on the TR.

    Good luck, James
     
    James_Woods, Apr 30, 2008
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  14. Alx007

    Alx007 Rookie

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    Thank you again for your precious advice James :)

    If you can, please post some pictures of the Testarossa, I would love to see it!

    Devilsolsi: Yes, those are stock mirrors on the CSI - they were released in that model before the M3 actually.

    Regards,

    Alex
     
    Alx007, Apr 30, 2008
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  15. DMOORE

    DMOORE Formula 3

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    Forget the Maranello, you already have a big V12 gt. Go with the 355. Apples and oranges. Variety.....spice of life.



    Darrell.
     
    DMOORE, May 1, 2008
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  16. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

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    OK - I am rapidly using up my power to post - but if this works; yehm, here we go!
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    James_Woods, May 1, 2008
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  17. Alx007

    Alx007 Rookie

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    What a nice car!

    It looks like new! Thanks for sharing!
     
    Alx007, May 1, 2008
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  18. dave_fonz_164

    dave_fonz_164 Formula 3

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    Got to drive a manual 850 a couple years back. Beautiful car inside out, but the driving experience left me numb. Id still have one!
     
    dave_fonz_164, May 1, 2008
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  19. Alx007

    Alx007 Rookie

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    The CSI is a completely different car comparend to the "standard" 850i/Ci. :)
     
    Alx007, May 3, 2008
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  20. steveirl

    steveirl Formula 3

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    Alx, the pics are great, thanks for sharing. As you are a 12 cylinder junkie, I think James might be right, maybe save a little a buy a Testarossa. They are ridiculous value for money right now, nothing comes close, and the flat 12 is to die for, a legendary engine. Take a drive in one, and I bet you will prefer it to a 355, great as the 355 is. Just keep a little moola aside for the maintenance. They are tough enough.
    I also have a CSi, and it always amazes me how little people know about them. Its evident in this thread too with the questions that have been asked, eg. is it a manual or auto.
    For those that do not know, the CSi was developed and built in limited numbers by BMW Motorsport between 1993 and 96. It is effectively the eventual production M8. Suspension, brakes, drivetrain all uprated, a subtle body kit, large round exhausts and new mirrors developed for this car are the only external clues. The engine is the type S70 V12( stadard 850 had the M70) as used in the McLaren F1, a detuned 24v version of this engine with 5.6 liter capacity, 380bhp and 412lb/ft torque. Performance figures were 0 to 100km in 5.6 sec and top speed limited to 155mph, delimit the car and it will exceed 180. Just 1510 were built to order and it cost 40% more than a standard 850.
    To drive it feels like a somewhat more refined and slightly less racy 550 Maranello. I love the car, it really is a sports GT of towering ability, with build quality that is hard to find today.
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    steveirl, May 3, 2008
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  21. Alx007

    Alx007 Rookie

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    Thank you Steve,

    I have seen your car in other topics and it's just fabulous!

    I think I will keep the CSI forever; it's the only one produced in that color (TechnoViolett) and with just 35'000km, it is like new!

    I still have to drive a Testarossa though; this car was one of my favorites (with the Countach) when I was younger :)

    Here are some more pictures of my CSI (the interior pictures just don't do justice to it: it's a lot nicer and darker in reality).


    Regards,

    Alex
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Alx007, May 3, 2008
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  22. GENERAL LEE

    GENERAL LEE Karting

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    I absolutely LOVE the 850! I always wished they would have done an "M" version.
     
    GENERAL LEE, May 3, 2008
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  23. steveirl

    steveirl Formula 3

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    They did! The CSi is the M version.
     
    steveirl, May 3, 2008
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  24. Alx007

    Alx007 Rookie

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    Steve is right, the CSI is considered an M version.

    In fact, the car's registration papers indicate M8 for the model.

    [​IMG]

    The chassis number begins with WBS (which is the case for all ///M cars) instead of WBA (used in "standard" BMWs).

    Regards,

    Alex
     
    Alx007, May 4, 2008
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  25. rosso_fanatic

    rosso_fanatic Formula Junior

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    Love the 850CSi! Definately on my dream car list. I'd be willing to bet they're going to be quite valuable one day when people realize their signifigance and rarity. I mean come one, the same V12 as the McLaren F1? Who wouldn't want to be able to claim that. Forget about Ferrari. Get another 850CSi in a different color. hahah!
     
    rosso_fanatic, May 5, 2008
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