The M850 - Best GT Car in the BMW Lineup? (Plus 2 year review)

[M3N4CE]

Yes it's an exceptional GT car in the middle of some of the most beautiful landscapes. Please consider a high res camera and high res lenses you will be very pleased with photos taken with them forever.

[BackOnBlack]

I really enjoyed the story and pictures, thank you very much.

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by xmanpro

Awesome journey ! Congrats on the front page!

Thanks, Xman! I have a feeling your car would be just fine, too.

[MagnificoRoad]

Originally Posted by 2011ninja

I have a road trip planned for Destin, Florida from Connecticut.

2022 G80 6 MT M3

Hey fellow CT-ite! I’m tripping it down to FL as well in a few weeks. Have you mapped out your route or are you hightailing it straight down I-95 to get there the quickest? I’m “destined” to arrive at Amelia Island as opposed to the West coastline where you’ll be (never been to Destin, I hear it’s beautiful). Are you driving straight through or stopping overnight somewhere?
(2023 G16 840i Gran Coupe)

[snowbimmer]

2011ninja & MagnificoRoad:

No Interstates. They are verboten. See the little towns along the way. 😆😆

[MagnificoRoad]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

2011ninja & MagnificoRoad:

No interstates. They are verboten. See the little towns along the way. 😆😆

Have you… been to Appalachia lately? I don’t yet have a license to carry 😜

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by MagnificoRoad

Have you… been to Appalachia lately? I don’t yet have a license to carry 😜

Blue. Ridge. Parkway.

Get you most of the way. Scoot down to Savannah. Boom.....Amelia Island just down the Georgia coast.

You're welcome. 😎

[MagnificoRoad]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

Blue. Ridge. Parkway.

Get you most of the way. Scoot down to Savannah. Boom.....Amelia Island just down the Georgia coast.

You're welcome. 😎

Thanks! Wait, what?
You are either a wicked-fast googler or you demured previously, and you've actually spent more time traveling on this side of the USA than have I. 🤯

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by MagnificoRoad

Thanks! Wait, what?
You are either a wicked-fast googler or you demured previously, and you've actually spent more time traveling on this side of the USA than have I. 🤯

Several work conferences in FL...one actually at the Amelia Island Ritz. Been all thru the Eastern colonies. Alas, in non-BMW rental cars. Ick. Regretfully drove past the Spartanburg plant once because I didn't build in enough time to visit it. Dumbass. I did, however, get to drive 100 mph around both the Atlanta and Charlotte Speedways - once with colleagues, once with the wife.

My goal is to someday pick up a car at Spartanburg and then drive it home.

Thru Nova Scotia. (It's not THAT far out of the way)🤣🤣

[MagnificoRoad]

[QUOTE=snowbimmer;31100187]Regretfully drove past the Spartanburg plant once because I didn't build in enough time to visit it. Dumbass. I did, however, get to drive 100 mph around the Atlanta and Charlotte Speedways.

My goal is to someday pick up a car at Spartanburg and then drive it home.

Thru Nova Scotia. (It's not THAT far out of the way)🤣🤣

Perchance…for an SRG w/Tartufo?!! Do it.

How were those speedways and what did you drive (or ride in)?

I went around the full outdoor track at Moroso Motorsports Park (subsequently Palm Beach Int’l Raceway and now closed &#128557 in a Ferrari F40 LM at 185mph. Full disclosure it was friends & family day, no I wasn’t at the wheel.
Here’s the track. A little Dramamine wouldn’t’ve hurt

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by MagnificoRoad

How were those speedways and what did you drive (or ride in)?

I went around the full outdoor track at Moroso Motorsports Park (subsequently Palm Beach Int’l Raceway and now closed ��) in a Ferrari F40 LM at 185mph. Full disclosure it was friends & family day, no I wasn’t at the wheel.

Here’s the track. A little Dramamine wouldn’t’ve hurt

Mercy sakes, you win hands down

A bunch of us were in an 8 passenger van each time, hanging on for dear life. It was cool, though, when the driver stopped on Atlanta's 28 degree banking. She slid back the door. We all tumbled out and rolled down onto the apron. It's shocking how steep 28 degrees is.

[MagnificoRoad]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

Here’s the track. A little Dramamine wouldn’t’ve hurt

Mercy sakes, you win hands down

A bunch of us were in an 8 passenger van each time, hanging on for dear life. It was cool, though, when the driver stopped on Atlanta's 28 degree banking. She slid back the door. We all tumbled out and rolled down onto the apron. It's shocking how steep 28 degrees is.

Let’s be real here. You win 🥂

[2011ninja]

Originally Posted by MagnificoRoad

Hey fellow CT-ite! I’m tripping it down to FL as well in a few weeks. Have you mapped out your route or are you hightailing it straight down I-95 to get there the quickest? I’m “destined” to arrive at Amelia Island as opposed to the West coastline where you’ll be (never been to Destin, I hear it’s beautiful). Are you driving straight through or stopping overnight somewhere?
(2023 G16 840i Gran Coupe)

I’ll probably stop in Charlotte or Atlanta.

Not going to press it like a cannon ball run but I’m sure I’ll enjoy the drive.

I’ll be crawling through Virginia they are the worst.

Valentine 1 has served me well so should be fun.

Last year we flew to Bahamas. I absolutely despise flying so this year is stress free.

I think I’m going in August

Got some short trips planned

Niagara Falls
Ocean City

All is good!

The 840 is gonna be awesome ride!

[Bankerbry]

Such an amazing commentary and truly beautiful pictures! Talk about living the life, this makes me want to hit the open road.
I love the passion you have for your 8 series and the enjoyment you get every time you drive it! These vehicles are truly amazing and imo are superior in almost every category when compared to the competitors.
Thank you for posting!

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by 2011ninja

Outstanding!

I have a road trip planned for Destin, Florida from Connecticut.

2022 G80 6 MT M3

Thanks. Wow - that's a good, proper road trip. You should have a blast in your M3

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by MT6

Amazing trip and write up

Originally Posted by zamboni

Excellent write up and thanks for sharing the epic trip photos.

Originally Posted by bholler

Legendary

Thanks, guys. Happy to do it.

Cheers

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

This brought back some memories from my road trips out west, especially 395 and hwy1 (in a measley ol’ 3 series!) and telluride (in a Tahoe, boo). Thank you for sharing! My guess is the M850 is the perfect GT.

Thanks. 395 and Hwy 1 are great - especially Hwy 1. I've done it 3 times since 2015. The wife prefers driving north, so she doesn't have to look out over the abyss - 2,000 feet below.

Telluride is unreal - no matter how you get there. Mercy.

You guess the M850 is almost the "perfect" GT. Well, the trunk could be just a tad deeper.

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by John Casey

Please delete all of the Utah photos immediately. It's a terrible place to be. Everyone move to Colorado instead.

Your state is fabulous. I had been thru there many times over the years. But until I toured all the main parks in the M5 in 2019 I never realized how much I liked looking at the marvelous red and orange rock formations all around the Colorado Plateau. I've looped through 2 more times since 2019. Can't wait to go back. Park City is the perfect Day 2 stop for us. One could spend a LOT more time in Zion.

I was always fond of this iconic view on Hwy 163 at Forrest Gump Point


BTW, a Donington F90 is still one of the best looking cars on the planet - IMHO. Just sayin'

"Delete all of the Utah photos......." Hahaha - funny stuff. I see what you did there.

[Colinv6]

Absolutely unreal pictures, lovely car and I enjoyed every word of the story. Very well written sir!

Got me wishing I could ship my F82 over from the UK and visit some of those places with it, for me Utah in particular looks incredible!

We have the Lake District over here but I’d just love to do a proper USA road trip. One day for sure! I love the USA

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by Colinv6

Absolutely unreal pictures, lovely car and I enjoyed every word of the story. Very well written sir!

Got me wishing I could ship my F82 over from the UK and visit some of those places with it, for me Utah in particular looks incredible!

We have the Lake District over here but I’d just love to do a proper USA road trip. One day for sure! I love the USA

Wow. Thanks for the nice words. Lake District, hell, all of Scotland on my bucket list.

And, Wow! What a nice M4. From your threads and other pictures, it seems to be meticulously maintained and cared for. Very nice build. Very nice.

The half-year in mothballs would kill me, tho.

As an aside, with apologies to John Casey, you might check this out, since you like Utah so much.
https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1784425

(It's not Utah's fault. Utah can't help itself)









(OK, this last one is technically Arizona - it's on the border with Utah)

It was my first travel thread and we hit most of the major sites as we went through Utah. I hadn't even thought of doing a thread at the time, so the landscape to car picture ratio is high.. But, that's OK - it's UTAH!

[mckman]

Nice pics and writeup! Your 8 series looks great out in the wilds of the western USA. The perfect blend of comfort, power, and wide open roads with beautiful scenery.

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by HP Guy78

Just awesome read. 👏

Appreciate it. Thx.

Originally Posted by deemo319

I recall your original post when you got the M850 and took it on an epic trip.

Now you have a two year up date and to say you are doing exactly what the car was built for, long drives and arriving at your destination relaxed.

Your pictures are just gorgeous and they only make me want to visit the western states that much more. Although, I am going to say that I will resemble Clevon Little in Blazing Saddles when I go out west.

Your detailed and thorough descriptions of your car and experiences traveling the western states behind the wheel makes for great reading and the pictures only enhance your story. Well done.

Whoa. Thanks. Just do it. Drive on out. But don't go to Rock Ridge, though. Those people are soooooo dumb. And don't punch out any horses. (I saw Mongo and his wife, Susan Clark, in a clothing store at the Beverly Center in LA - back in the day. I wanted to go up to Alex and say "Aw, Mongo just pawn in the game of life." Like that never happened to him before. I let them be.)