BMW introduced the 840Ci as the V8-powered entry point to the first-generation 8 Series, internally known as the E31. The 8 Series had debuted as a dramatic grand touring coupé, and the 840Ci arrived for model year 1993 as BMW broadened the range beyond the original V12-only image. It was positioned as a more attainable alternative to the larger 850 models, while still carrying the same long-hood, pillarless coupé styling and technology-forward character that made the 8 Series memorable.
The first 840Ci cars used BMW’s 4.0-liter V8 and gave the E31 a different personality from the flagship V12 variants: still refined and fast grand touring, but with a lighter, more accessible character. In 1996, BMW updated the model with a 4.4-liter V8, keeping the 840Ci name while revising the engine for improved torque and drivability. That mid-cycle change is part of the model’s history, but it did not create a separate nameplate; it remained the same 840Ci within the E31 family.
The 840Ci stayed in production until the 8 Series ended in 1999, closing the book on BMW’s original luxury coupé line for more than a decade. Among enthusiasts, it is often seen as the sweet-spot E31: less rare and less intimidating than the V12 cars, yet still very much a showcase for BMW’s 1990s engineering and design ambition. Its combination of understated performance, distinctive styling, and limited-production exclusivity has helped the 840Ci remain one of the most sought-after versions of the classic 8 Series.