Actors, undoubtedly, lead a charmed life, not only raking in millions per movie but also enjoying occasional perks. In the mid-1990s, Pierce Brosnan found himself on the receiving end of a generous gesture from BMW.
Following the success of Goldeneye, Brosnan was presented with a substantial gift – a sleek 8 Series Coupe in the 850 Ci specification, measuring an impressive 188.2 inches.
This luxurious offering marked the continuation of a three-film partnership between BMW and MGM, with subsequent Bond movies featuring the 750iL and the stylish Z8.
The genesis of this automotive connection can be traced back to the inclusion of the Z3 in Goldeneye, setting the stage for a fruitful collaboration.
A fascinating anecdote from a 1997 episode of The Late Night with Conan O’Brien sheds light on Brosnan’s experiences during the filming of Dante’s Peak.
Caught speeding in Idaho on the very first day of shooting, Brosnan, reaching 120 mph, managed to escape with just a warning.
The intriguing twist was the officers’ curiosity about the mechanics behind the Goldeneye crew’s daring bungee jump at the Verzasca Dam in Switzerland.
In Brosnan’s defense of his excessive speed, he humorously attributed it to the exceptional performance of the BMW, stating, “I didn’t realize it because the car was so good, so smooth!”
Notably, on the first-generation 8 Series, BMW had ingeniously designed the coupe to automatically raise the windows at 100 mph to minimize wind noise.
The 850 Ci, succeeding the 850i, briefly coexisted with its predecessor. During this transitional period, BMW manufactured the 850 Ci with two different engines, namely the M70 and M73.
Brosnan’s model, being more recent, boasted the larger and more powerful 5.4-liter unit, distinguishing it from the 5.0-liter variant.
A glimpse into an old advertisement reveals a 1996 model with 49,820 miles (80,177 kilometers) on the odometer but attempts to contact the current owner in California may prove futile.
