5 Most Expensive BMWs Ever Made
BMW vehicles are already among the most expensive on the market, but there are some that truly go above and beyond when it comes to the selling price. BMW has had several vehicles that are worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars over the years. These five, though, end up setting the standard for the most expensive BMWs ever made.
5. 1990 BMW M8 E31 Prototype
Auto manufacturers tend to keep most of their projects a secret, and BMW kept their development of the BMW M8 E31 prototype hidden for about 20 years. Featuring a maximum output of 640 horsepower and a 6.0-liter V12 engine, the E31 was meant to be able to overtake Ferraris and McLarens that were out on the road while reaching top speeds of over 186 miles per hour.
In 2010, BMW finally revealed the prototype that they had been working on, and what truly could have been for the 8 series. There was only one unit made, with an estimated value of over $1 million. Of course, if BMW were to ever sell the car, it would certainly fetch a lot more than that at auction due to its rarity. The powerful supercar would more than likely be worth tens of millions.
4. 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage Concept
The 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL is one of the auto maker’s most notorious vehicles, and BMW wanted to pay tribute with a concept vehicle that would be an upgraded and updated version. The end result was the 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage, which was dubbed “The Batmobile” by some due to its appearance.
Featuring a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged hybrid i6 engine and 500 horsepower, the Hommage changed the exterior design quite a bit, leading to some criticism. BMW announced in 2022 that there would be a new 3.0 that made it to production lines, but the Hommage concept was incredibly rare and valued at $1.5 million.
3. 1958 BMW 507 Series II
In 2019, a 1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II was put up for auction in Arizona, and the winning bid ended up being $2,175,000. Only 252 of these cars were made that featured a 3.2-liter V8 engine and were $11,000 upon their release. Needless to say, the value of the 507 Series II models skyrocketed over the years and had been in the hands of a few different collectors during that time.
Interestingly enough, the 507 was a major loss for BMW as the cars were expensive to make and didn’t sell as quickly as they had hoped. Even Elvis Presley owning one didn’t help the notoriety early on, but the 507 has become a thing of legend ever since, as many feel it looks like it’s taken straight from a classic James Bond film.
2. 1991 BMW Nazca M12
BMW teamed up with Italian designer Fabrizio Giugiaro to come up with a concept that would be thought of as a car that could compete in Formula 1 and featured a V-12 engine. With that, the hyper-futuristic Nazca M12 was born in 1991 and debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show. The car was tweaked slightly to create the Nazca C2, but the original is the most coveted due to its rarity.
The concept car never made it to production despite being one of the most powerful cars that BMW had ever created. The rarity then contributed to its value, and the Nazca M12 is estimated to be around $3 million. Those that have sene it wish that they could’ve gotten one of these on the streets of Italy.
1. 1957 BMW 507 Touring
The 1958 version of the 507 isn’t the only BMW to be worth millions, as the one that was made the year prior was also an expensive one that didn’t become as popular (at the time) as BMW had thought. The 1957 version of the 507 was the first, with the car selling for as high as $5 million.
The particular 507 that earned that much at auction was the touring version that was used by John Surtees, who won the 1956 Motorcycle World Championship and took exceptional care of the car for the remainder of his life. While most surviving 507s aren’t exactly up to code, Surtees’ was in top shape.