8 Series VIN-Database

Exterior Color Summary 1990-1999

Color Overview

Welcome to the first of many data-rich pages from the Inventory Project. This section represents the aggregated color data for the model years 1990-1999 BMW 8 Series.

The majority of 8er production (95.7% or 29`309 cars) came from a catalog of only 25 colors.
The remaining production (4.3% or 1`312 cars) came from 100 colors.

Exterior Color Summary 1990-1999

(All 8 Series Models built from 1989 through 1999)

TypeColorCode8990919293949596979899Total
BlueÄGÄISCHBLAU METALLIC336





XXXXX45
Blue
…
Christoph
March 29, 2026 at 8:36 PM
0

Color Combinations

Color Combo Overview

Color Combination (definition): The combination of the exterior color (farbe) with an interior upholstery color. With 125 exterior colors and 34 interior/upholstery colors applied to the 8 Series, there were potentially 4`250 different possible color combinations with 806 combinations actually in use.

1DIAMANTSCHWARZ METALLIC (181)LEDER NAPPA/SCHWARZ (0226/M4SW)1`765
2DIAMANTSCHWARZ METALLIC (181)LEDER WASSERBUEFFEL/ANTHRAZIT (0180/M6AT)1`214
3MAURITIUSBLAU METALLIC (287)LEDER
…
Christoph
March 28, 2026 at 11:20 PM
0

Worldwide Shipping M62

Background

Development of the successor to the highly successful M60B40 engine in the E31 began in December 1994 and continued throughout 1995. Starting in March 1996, the 840Ci was delivered with the 4.4-liter V8 M62B44 engine and, optionally, with a Steptronic transmission (ZF 5HP30 until September 1996, thereafter ZF 5HP24) or the already familiar and proven 6-speed manual transmission from Getrag.

Despite its larger displacement, the M62’s peak output remained unchanged at 286 hp compared…
Christoph
March 28, 2026 at 8:51 PM
0

Worldwide Shipping M60

Background

The BMW 8-series started out with one type of engine only, the V12 M70B50. Almost three years into the production BMW expanded the choice by offering the S70B56 marking the top end of the line complemented by the then new M60B40 V8 engine. Initial plans to offer the less powerful M60B30 3.0L V8 engine were scrapped after only 18 prototype units.

The 840Ci henceforth was the entry model of the 8-series and soon surpassed the sales figures for the aging M70B50 and also its successor the…
Christoph
March 26, 2026 at 8:22 PM
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Worldwide Shipping M73

Background

The BMW M73B54 V12 engine with a cubic displacement of 5.4L succeeded the M70B50 5.0L V12 in the 850Ci in autumn 1994 and was henceforth used solely in conjunction with the ZF 5HP30 5-speed Steptronic gearbox until the BMW 8-series production ended in May 1999.

The M73 850Ci was built in two LHD variants only: EG41 for the ECE market and EG43 for the North American customers

The M73 850Ci is the lowest production 8-series model and with only 1218 produced units can be considered "rarer"…
Christoph
March 24, 2026 at 11:16 PM
0

Worldwide Shipping S70

Background

The BMW S70B56 V12 engine is, despite its deviations from the philosophy of the M-GmbH, a true BMW Motorsport engine and hence the 850CSi is a true BMW M car. This is also reflected in the VIN of the CSi.

Ordinary BMW cars share the first three letters of the VIN – WBA – whereas the VIN´s for all cars manufactured under the reigns of the Motorsport division start with WBS beginnen.

This does not make the CSi an M8, at least not in the way the original M8 was devised. The CSi is a…
Christoph
March 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM
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BMW 8er Series - VIN/Chassis Information

BMW has assigned specific chassis number ranges for each variant of the 8 Series. Most of these numbers were actually used in production, but some were not. In cases where a chassis number was not used, one or more of the following reasons apply:

  • Market conditions prevented the complete expansion of the allocated chassis number range.
  • Due to a manufacturing defect, the car was withdrawn from public sale.
  • The transition to the new model/calendar year required a reorganization of the production
…
Christoph
March 14, 2026 at 8:30 AM
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Production figures by year

Production by year

Automobile manufacturers handle their production statistics based on two information dimensions:

  • Model Year
  • Calendar Year

Model Year

The Model Year is defined as the period of time an auto manufacturer determines its sales, marketing and engineering support for a particular vehicle. The Model Year view is utilized by Japan, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, and other coutnries.

In the USA, the Model Year cannot exceed the January of the previous year. For example, a…
Christoph
March 10, 2026 at 11:23 PM
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Dakar Yellow 2

Exterior Color (D): Dakargelb 2
Exterior Color (E): Dakar Yellow 2
Color Group: Yellow
Color Type: Standard
Color Code: 337
BMW Part Number: 51 91 1 052 364
8er's Produced: : 38
Commentary:

  • Special order color through BMW Individual


Color images were derived from multiple sources, including BMW AG, PPG/BASF automotive color charts, and owner vehicles. Republishing content is expressly prohibited.



Forum access to the VIN data of all 8 Series E31, 14,000 registered vehicles with pictures, prices,…
Christoph
February 1, 2008 at 8:08 AM
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Aspen Silver

Exterior Color (D): Aspensilber
Exterior Color (E): Aspen Silver
Color Group: Silver
Color Type: Metallic
Color Code: 339
BMW Part Number: 51 91 1 052 332
8er's Produced: : 4
Commentary:

  • Low production color
  • This color was applied to two 8er models:
    • M60 840CiA - 2
    • M73 850CiA - 2
  • North America and Germany received this color
Color images were derived from multiple sources, including BMW AG, PPG/BASF automotive color charts, and owner vehicles. Republishing content is expressly prohibited.



Forum access to the…
Christoph
February 1, 2007 at 8:21 AM
0

Granite Silver

Exterior Color (D): Granitsilber
Exterior Color (E): Granite Silver
Color Group: Silver
Color Type: Metallic
Color Code: 237
BMW Part Number: 51 91 1 052 069
8er's Produced: : 427
Commentary:

  • This color was a competing alternative to Sterling Silver (code 244) and was offered in all ranges of the 8er except the M62 840 and M73 850.
  • BMW offered this color as an optional darker hue to the launch color Sterling Silver. There were no successor colors in this shade after this color was discontinued.
  • The last
…
Christoph
February 1, 2007 at 8:20 AM
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Salmon Silver

Exterior Color (D): Lachssilber
Exterior Color (E): Salmon Silver
Color Group: Silver
Color Type: Metallic
Color Code: 203
BMW Part Number: 51 91 1 935 037
8er's Produced: : 2
Commentary:

  • Rare color
  • Used in 1 M70 850iA and 1 M73 850CiA; both delivered to Germany
Color images were derived from multiple sources, including BMW AG, PPG/BASF automotive color charts, and owner vehicles. Republishing content is expressly prohibited.



Forum access to the VIN data of all 8 Series E31, 14,000 registered vehicles…
Christoph
February 1, 2007 at 8:19 AM
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Mother of Pearl Silver

Exterior Color (D): Perlmuttsilber
Exterior Color (E): Mother of Pearl Silver
Color Group: Silver
Color Type: Metallic
Color Code: FQ 95-2649
BMW Part Number: Pending
8er's Produced: : 1
Commentary:

  • Special order color through BMW Individual
  • Alternate color code: FE 68-9124 BASF
  • Only one 8er was painted in this color: German market version 1994 M73 850CiA
  • This color, and descendent variations, continue to be applied to other BMW models
Color images were derived from multiple sources, including BMW AG,…
Christoph
February 1, 2007 at 8:17 AM
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Sterling Silver

Exterior Color (D): Sterlingsilber
Exterior Color (E): Sterling Silver
Color Group: Silver
Color Type: Metallic
Color Code: 244
BMW Part Number: 51 91 9 061 827
8er's Produced: : 2231
Commentary:

  • Sterling Silver was one of three launch colors for the 8 Series in 1990 (the other two were Laguna Green and Mauritius Blue).
  • All 8er models were touched by this color worldwide for nearly six years.
  • Artic Silver (code 309) was the successor color beginning with the February 1994 production.
  • The last documented
…
Christoph
February 1, 2007 at 8:17 AM
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Titanium Silver

Exterior Color (D): Titansilber
Exterior Color (E): Titanium Silver
Color Group: Silver
Color Type: Metallic
Color Code: 354
BMW Part Number: 51 91 1 052 565
8er's Produced: : 51
Commentary:

  • Successor color to Artic Silver (309)
  • Color introduced for the final year of the 8 Series production, beginning with September 1998 production
  • The very last Euro M62 840CiA was painted in this color for a German owner
Color images were derived from multiple sources, including BMW AG, PPG/BASF automotive color charts,…
Christoph
February 1, 2007 at 8:16 AM
0

Violet Silver

Exterior Color (D): Violettsilber
Exterior Color (E): Violet Silver
Color Group: Silver
Color Type: Metallic
Color Code: 522
BMW Part Number: Pending
8er's Produced: : 1
Commentary:

  • BMW Individual color
  • Alternate color code: FQ 95-2976
  • Only one special ordered 1996 M62 840CiA was built in this colour.
  • It was delivered to a German citizen and is still active as of 2010
Color images were derived from multiple sources, including BMW AG, PPG/BASF automotive color charts, and owner vehicles. Republishing…
Christoph
February 1, 2007 at 8:15 AM
0

Alpine White 2

Exterior Color (D): Alpinweiss 2
Exterior Color (E): Alpine White 2
Color Group: White
Color Type: Standard
Color Code: 218
BMW Part Number: 51 91 8 102 478
8er's Produced: : 968
Commentary:

Color images were derived from multiple sources, including BMW AG, PPG/BASF automotive color charts, and owner vehicles. Republishing content is expressly prohibited.



Forum access to the VIN data of all 8 Series E31, 14,000 registered vehicles with pictures, prices, offers, reports, approx. 500,000 pictures, 30,000…
Christoph
February 1, 2007 at 8:10 AM
0

Alpine White 3

Exterior Color (D): Alpinweiss 3
Exterior Color (E): Alpine White 3
Color Group: White
Color Type: Standard
Color Code: 300
BMW Part Number: 51 91 1 052 274
8er's Produced: : 396
Commentary:

Color images were derived from multiple sources, including BMW AG, PPG/BASF automotive color charts, and owner vehicles. Republishing content is expressly prohibited.



Forum access to the VIN data of all 8 Series E31, 14,000 registered vehicles with pictures, prices, offers, reports, approx. 500,000 pictures, 30,000…
Christoph
February 1, 2007 at 8:10 AM
0

Dakar Yellow

Exterior Color (D): Dakargelb
Exterior Color (E): Dakar Yellow
Color Group: Yellow
Color Type: Standard
Color Code: 267
BMW Part Number: 51 91 1 052 199
8er's Produced: : 18
Commentary:

Low production 8er color. Special order through BMW Individual.



Color images were derived from multiple sources, including BMW AG, PPG/BASF automotive color charts, and owner vehicles. Republishing content is expressly prohibited.



Forum access to the VIN data of all 8 Series E31, 14,000 registered vehicles with…
Christoph
February 1, 2007 at 8:09 AM
0