BMW launched its q-ship 8-Series coupe in 1990 with the bow of the 850i. Bearing the internal designation of E31, the stylish 2-door coupe initially sported a V-12 engine and was designed as a state-of-the-art luxury grand touring car. Later iterations included the 840Ci (powered by a V-8 engine), the 850Ci, and ultimately the range-topping 850CSi. For a long while the BMW 8-Series suffered from years of deferred maintenance due to high repair expenses, and values languished. Lately, however, the car has become appreciated for its refined driving characteristics, its overbuilt nature, and a resurgence in interest in BMWs from the 1980s and 1990s.