SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

               Date of Report: (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
                    September 24, 2003 (September 19, 2003)





              AMERICAN INSURED MORTGAGE INVESTORS - SERIES 85, L.P.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        California                      1-11059                  13-3257662
(State or other jurisdiction          (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation)                File Number)           Identification No.)







                              11200 Rockville Pike
                            Rockville, Maryland 20852
   (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code, of Registrant)

                                 (301) 816-2300
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



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Item 5.  Other Events.

     Attached  as an  exhibit  to this  Current  Report  on Form  8-K is a press
release issued by the General  Partner on September 19, 2003  announcing the
September distribution  to the  Partnership's  unitholders.  The  above
referenced  press release is incorporated by reference herein.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed with this report:

     Exhibit 99.1 - Press Release dated September 19, 2003



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SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  the  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                                    AMERICAN INSURED MORTGAGE
                                                    INVESTORS - SERIES 85, L.P.

                                                    By: CRIIMI, Inc.
                                                        General Partner




Dated: September 24, 2003                           By:/s/ Mark A. Libera
                                                       -------------------------
                                                       Mark A. Libera
                                                       Vice President
                                                       General Counsel

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
No.                                Description
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*    99.1 Press Release dated September 19, 2003

*    Filed herewith.