5 Minutes
Overview: A Grand Tourer’s Final Salute
As BMW shutters production of the modern 8 Series Gran Coupe, the Munich marque has prepared an elegant swan song. The 2026 BMW M850i Edition M Heritage is a limited-run tribute—restricted to 500 examples—celebrating the original 1990s E31 8 Series. Unveiled during Monterey Car Week, this special edition pairs retro color cues with contemporary M performance and luxury, creating one of the most collectible 8 Series variants to date.
Design and Heritage Colors
Five Iconic Finishes
The Edition M Heritage is offered exclusively as the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and is available in five BMW Individual colors inspired directly by the E31 palette: Bright Red, Mauritius Blue metallic, Cosmos Black metallic, Oxford Green metallic, and Daytona Violet metallic. Each paint is complemented by a standard M carbon fiber roof featuring the signature tri-color M stripes, visually linking past and present.
Exterior Details and Wheels
On the road, the Heritage edition stands out on 20-inch Orbit Grey Style 895M dual-spoke alloys wrapped in summer performance tires. The M Sport Professional package is standard equipment and includes M Sport brakes with black calipers, M Shadowline lighting, and Extended Shadowline exterior trim—details that emphasize a sporty but refined grand tourer stance.
Interior: Exclusive Materials and Craftsmanship
Inside, the M850i Edition M Heritage raises the bar beyond the regular 8 Series. M Sport seats are upholstered in BMW Individual Black Full Merino Leather combined with Alcantara in a diamond-pattern layout. Alcantara is extended across the headliner, dashboard, and upper door panels for a cohesive, premium cabin feel. M tri-color stitching decorates seats, seat belts, and door panels, and a unique, non-illuminated M badge is inset in the front headrests.
Key interior highlights include a matte carbon fiber center console, a glass gear selector, and a glass iDrive controller. Small but meaningful touches underscore the model's limited-run status: the door sills and cupholder cover are engraved with M850i Edition M Heritage and 1/500.
Technology and Equipment
BMW offers the Heritage edition as a single, fully loaded specification. Standard inclusions cover the premium Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System and the Driving Assistance Professional Package. Effectively, buyers only choose the exterior color; there are no optional packages to add beyond paint selection.
Performance and Specifications
Under the hood, the special edition retains the proven N63 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8. Output remains 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, routed through an 8-speed Steptronic automatic to BMW xDrive all-wheel drive. Performance figures are unchanged: 0-60 mph in approximately 3.9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. These numbers keep the M850i competitive against other high-powered luxury grand tourers.
Market Positioning and Competitors
The Edition M Heritage is positioned as a collector-focused, top-tier version of the 8 Series. With its limited run, bespoke paint options, and full equipment list, it targets buyers who want a luxurious performance GT with strong provenance. In the market, it competes with cars like the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door and higher-spec Porsche Panamera models, offering a blend of grand touring comfort and V8 performance with distinctive BMW M styling.
Pricing, Production and Delivery
MSRP for the 2026 BMW M850i Edition M Heritage is set at $130,400, plus $1,175 destination and handling. Production is scheduled to begin in November 2025, with deliveries expected in the first quarter of 2026. Given the 500-unit limit and full equipment standardization, resale interest and collector appeal are likely to be strong.
How It Compares to Regular M850i
Compared with a standard M850i, the Edition M Heritage differentiates itself through exclusive BMW Individual paint options, unique interior surfacing, and limited-edition badging. Mechanically the cars are identical, so the Heritage model is primarily a cosmetic and rarity upgrade rather than a performance variant.
What Colors Did the E31 8 Series Offer in North America?
For enthusiasts curious about the original 8 Series palette, here are the US-spec E31 colors historically available:
- Alpine White II (218)
- Alpine White III (300)
- Arctic Silver Metallic (309)
- Brilliant Rot (308)
- Bright Red Hellrot (314)
- Calypso Red Metallic (252)
- Cosmos Black Metallic (303)
- Diamond Black Metallic (181)
- Glacier Blue Metallic (280)
- Lagoon Green Metallic (266)
- Mauritius Blue Metallic (287)
- Orient Blue Metallic (317)
- Oxford Green Metallic (324)
- Black I (086)
- Black II (668)
- Sterling Silver Metallic (244)
With the M850i Edition M Heritage, BMW bridges its past and present by reintroducing beloved E31 shades on a modern V8 grand tourer. For collectors and enthusiasts, it is both a tribute and a final chance to own a flagship 8 Series with a direct nod to BMW history.
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