Video: BMW E31 8-Series – A History Lesson

By Manuel Carrillo III - July 8, 2013

The BMW channel on YouTube has been profiling select models throughout the carmaker’s history. This video profile of the BMW 8 Series is especially delicious because it focuses on why this model was so important to the future of BMW and the innovations it pioneered not only for the brand, but also for the entire automotive industry.

When BMW set out to design this car, their goal was a drag coefficient of less than 0.30. They achieved 0.29 thanks to the 8 Series’ long hood and a tight seal on the side glass — that’s the feature now common on most coupes and convertibles where the windows descend half an inch when you open the door.

The 8-Series was the first BMW with stability control — a welcome feature when equipped with the 380-horsepower 12-cylinder engine. Four-wheel steering was offered as well.

While the 8er is great for the innovations it heralded, it is the little things that make it special to this day. The logarithmic movement of its CinemaScope pop-up headlights make it seem as though the car is seductively opening its eyes, happily awakening to your presence. Not only is the center stack angled toward the driver, it is also tilted upward, enhancing that in-command feel.

What are your favorite things about the E31? Is BMW showcasing this classic to build excitement for a new 8 Series?