Enginesandgearboxes.co.uk is undoubtedly the UK’S leading in new, reconditioned and used supplier online; we undoubtedly have the largest stock of BMW 8 series Gearboxes in the UK. We provide fully guaranteed second hand gearboxes parts direct to your door at discounted prices and all have a 100% warranty with free postage, we constantly strive to help our customers save huge amounts of money on BMW 8 series Gearboxes every day.

The BMW 8 Series Gearbox

The 8 Series supercar offered the first V12 engine mated to a 6 speed manual gearbox on a road car. Of the 830i 18 cars were produced, 13 of which had an automatic gearbox fitted.

The 840Ci was available with a 5 speed automatic gearbox, though European cars were given the option of a 6 speed manual gearbox. The only external features distinguishing the V8 model from the V12 models were the quad round exhausts, which were square in the V12 models.

The 840Ci was available with a 5 speed automatic gearbox, though European cars were given the option of a 6 speed manual gearbox. The only external features distinguishing the V8 model from the V12 models were the quad round exhausts, which were square in the V12 models.

The 850i was the first model launched in 1991 and was available with either a 4 speed automatic gearbox or a 6 speed manual gearbox.

As a top-of-the-range sports tourer, the 850CSi took over from the prototype M8, the 6 speed manual gearbox was the only gearbox option.

Alpina B12 was only available with a 4 speed automatic gearbox. The larger B12 5.7 Coupe was based on the 850CSi, with a 6 speed manual gearbox.

When you take apart and look inside a gearbox, you will find a huge assortment of parts in a fairly small space. Among other things, you see :

What’s in an automatic gearbox

  • An ingenious planetary gear set
  • A set of bands to lock parts of a gear set
  • A set of three wet-plates clutches to lock other parts of the gear set
  • An incredibly odd hydraulic system that controls the clutches and bands
  • A large gear pump to move gearbox fluid around

Manual gearboxes you will find a lay shaft, collar and folks.

Manumatic gearboxes Manumatic is a portmanteau word, combining the words manual and automatic, that applies to a class of automotive gearboxes. Manumatic most often refers to an automatic transmission; with some elements of manual transmission control (e.g. a gear can be manually selected instead of having the computer control all shifts). This type of transmission was introduced in the beginning of the 21st century. Different car manufacturers have been using a variety of labels for their manumatic transmissions, such as ‘tiptronic’, ‘Geartronic’, ‘Touchshift’, ‘Sporttronic’, and others.

BMW 8 Series Gearbox Overview

The 840Ci (V8) models were each equipped with a 5 speed automatic transmission. The 850i / 850Ci (V12) models each carry either a 4 speed automatic gearbox, 5 speed automatic transmission, or a 6 speed manual. The 850CSi model only came with a 6 speed manual gearbox.

Fuel economy for the 840 (V8) using quality fuel

town: 15 miles per US gallon (16 L/100 km; 18 mpg)
urban: 20 miles per US gallon (12 L/100 km; 24 mpg)
combined: 17 miles per US gallon (14 L/100 km; 20 mpg)
Fuel economy for the 850 (V12) using quality fuel

town: 14 miles per US gallon (17 L/100 km; 17 mpg)
urban: 20 miles per US gallon (12 L/100 km; 24 mpg)
combined: 16 miles per US gallon (15 L/100 km; 19 mpg)

Is it the one to buy

If you ever wanted evidence that the price of new cars has fallen then you need look no further than the BMW 8 series. At its launch in 1991 a top spec 850i auto coupe would have cost £62,000. Today you can buy its successor, the 645Ci coupé, for less than £52,000.

The trend is magnified in the used car market where the price of luxury motors has fallen through the floor. This means that you can pick up an early 8 series for just £6,000.

When they were launched it wasn’t the most rapid coupe you could buy but it was one of the smoothest. With 5 litres under the bonnet and around 4,180lb of car to shift, it also wasn’t the most economical car, and owners will tell you that they spend a lot of time and money visiting petrol stations.

In mid-1993 BMW introduced a cheaper, more economical 8-series. The 840 weighed nearly 220lb less and would have been more than a match for the existing 850 had BMW not done something about it. But it did, handing the original 850 over to BMW Motorsport, its tuning division, it revolutionised the car’s dynamic ability through a series of changes to the transmission, suspension, steering and aerodynamics. These second-generation 850s are the ones to buy.

With dwindling sales BMW stopped producing the flagship 850 in 1996, although the 840 remained available until 2000. Today a second-hand 8-series is a rare sight on a BMW forecourt, the majority of used examples selling privately or passing through specialist used car dealers. But if you can find one and you want to experience luxury motoring for a fraction of the original cost, there are few cars to match it.

Transmission V12 are available with 6 speed manual or five-speed auto; V8 with five-speed manual or auto. All are strong and rarely cause problems.

Why use us

We are the gearbox specialists, it’s all we do, and we do it well and we are the best at offering any make or model of gearboxes.

All our automatic and manual gearboxes are available new, second-hand and remanufactured or reconditioned to the highest standards. All our gearbox components meet or exceed all original manufactures specifications, and most of the time the BMW 8 series Gearbox components are sourced from our specialist breakers. You can buy with confidence from us, knowing that you have the best quality BMW 8 series Gearbox with the best warranty protection. We have an extensive network of industry contacts to ensure you find what you are looking for.

Carl Wilson
Carl Wilson
You won't believe it, I'm native Scotsman. Enthusiast. Car lovers. Almost finished rebuilding my Reliant Saber