1991-1999 BMW 8-Series Coupe "And when they say great white sharks... they mean the kind in big, black cars." This buyer's guide is for an altogether different type of coupe than the last one.  While the appeal of the NSX was the raw connection if offered between the driver and the road, the appeal of an 8-series BMW is the way it effortlessly munches highway miles, the powerful and unique engines under the hood, and it's mildly thuggish demeanor.  If you're looking for a big, stately coupe that will get noticed but you don't have to mortgage the house for, the 8-series might be worth a look. Background The 8-series coupe (E31) debuted in 1991 as the replacement for the highly-acclaimed 6-series (E24) coupes from the 70's and 80's.