BMW 8 Series Review 2024

BMW 8 Series At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
Whichever 8 Series you go for, though, you’ll get a car that’s handsome to look at, a joy to sit in and stuffed full of luxury kit, including the best infotainment system in the business.

+Comparatively, quite good value for money, engines give stonking performance and refinement, infotainment system is the best in the business.

-Steering could offer more feedback, cramped rear seats might as well not be there, arguably not as glamorous as some rivals.

New prices start from £79,685
Insurance Groups are between 45–50
On average it achieves 93% of the official MPG figure

While most big luxury coupes of this type take the softly-softly grand tourer approach, the BMW 8 Series offers buyers something a little more sporty and exciting. It won’t match a Porsche 911 in the bends, but it’ll have the measure of most other rivals, yet it’s also comfortable enough to perform grand touring duties when called upon. The 8 Series is also handsome to look at and pleasant to sit in, and a range of terrific engines is offered, but it’s the diesel version that makes the most sense and gives the car a unique selling point among rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, Lexus LC, Aston Martin DB11 and Bentley Continental GT.

The word ‘flagship’ gets kicked around a lot in the car world, especially by posh companies like BMW. The 7 Series has served as the firm’s flagship luxury saloon for several years, whereas the X7 sits on top of the firm’s popular SUV range. However, having gone one better than both of those cars in terms of the number in its name, you could argue that the 8 Series is the company’s real flagship.

What is it? Well, it’s a large luxury coupe with four seats and two doors (convertible and four-door versions are also available, which we’ll review separately), putting it up against cars as diverse as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, Lexus LC, Aston Martin DB11, Bentley Continental GT, even the Porsche 911.

But what does the 8 Series bring to the party that the others don’t? Well, that will much depend on which version you go for.

Let’s begin with the 850i range-topper. Powered by a snarling petrol V8, it has the performance and soundtrack to match its rivals. It’s also similar to the Mercedes for price, and way cheaper than the Aston or Bentley.

Having said that, though, it also feels pretty similar to those cars in terms of the job it does. No bad thing considering the quality of the rivals we’re talking about, but by the same token, there isn’t much to mark it out against its rivals.

The 840d diesel version, on the other hand, is a very different matter. No rival offers an equivalent, and that immediately gives the 8 Series an appeal that no other car does.

Aside from the improved economy and extended touring range a diesel gives you, the engine is quiet, smooth and effortlessly muscular. Granted, diesel isn’t exactly as popular these days as it once was, but for high-mileage drivers looking for a bit of luxury and style, this will be a very tempting package.

It’s also a very enjoyable car to drive, with sportier handling than most rivals, but with a ride that’s comfortable enough to satisfy as a daily driver. Settle for one of the more humble versions, and it even manages to look like pretty good value for money compared with most rivals.

BMW 8 Series handling and engines

Driving Rating
Most big coupes are comfortable grand tourers rather than all-out sports cars, but the 8 Series is sportier than most.

BMW 8 Series 2024: Handling and ride quality

All versions except the 40i (which we haven’t tried) come with four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering, while all cars come with an adaptive suspension that firms things up or softens them off according to which of the various driving modes you select.

Whichever you select, though, the 8 Series is enjoyable to drive. It has bags of grip and traction, and sharp body control also helps to deliver really crisp direction changes. Even better, it really manages to shake off its considerable size and weight down a country lane, making it feel more athletic than most big coupes. The steering doesn’t deliver a great deal of feedback, but other than that, it’s really good

But does this impressive handling ability translate into a bone-shaking ride? Well, no. Sure, you won’t feel as cosseted as you will in a Bentley or Mercedes, but this is still a comfortable car, keeping things serene and civilised on the vast majority of surfaces, and never feeling harsh.

BMW 8 Series 2024: Engines

We haven’t yet tried the 840i, which uses a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine developing 340PS. We have driven the 840d, though, which has a 320PS diesel engine of the same size and configuration. Its main talent lies in the ease with which it builds speed. It delivers huge low-down pull, so you can execute overtakes without breaking a sweat, and the power delivery is as smooth as it is effortless.

The 850i, meanwhile, has a 4.4-litre petrol V8 with 530PS. Again, there’s a mammoth slice of low-down torque, which means you can deal with the vast majority of driving situations without having to tap into the upper half of the rev range, just like you can in the diesel.

However, the main difference comes when you really plant your right foot: while the diesel’s willingness to rev is more limited, the petrol just keeps on pulling.

All versions drive through a brilliant eight-speed automatic gearbox. It changes smoothly and gently when you’re taking things easy, and quickly and intuitively when you’re getting a move-on.

BMW 8 Series 2024: Safety

The 8 Series hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP yet, and because it’s likely to sell in such low numbers, it probably never will be.

It comes with most of the safety gear you expect - airbags and traction aids and all that - plus a couple things you might not, such as a head-up display and headlamps with a handy automatic high-beam function.

Automatic emergency braking is also provided, but it’s a little disappointing (although not entirely surprising) that some of the cleverer driver-assistance systems - such as active cruise control with lane-keeping assistance and stop-and-go functionality - are left on the options list. No version gets a spare wheel. The 850i comes with a pot of tyre sealant, while the 40i and 40d come on run-flat tyres.

Engine MPG 0-62 CO2
840d xDrive 46 mpg 4.9 s 160–169 g/km
840i - 5.0–5.2 s 164–191 g/km
M850i 29 mpg 3.7–3.9 s 224–242 g/km

Real MPG average for the BMW 8 Series

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

93%

Real MPG

19–47 mpg

MPGs submitted

19

BMW 8 Series interior

Interior Rating
The big BMW's interior design is rather conservative, but there’s no question over the quality of the materials used.
Dimensions
Length 4843–4851 mm
Width 2137 mm
Height 1341–1346 mm
Wheelbase 2822 mm

Full specifications

BMW 8 Series 2024: Practicality

The seats up front are as roomy and as comfortable as you’d expect, with plenty of handy storage spaces dotted around. However, the two in the back are very cramped, considerably more so than in the Mercedes S-Class Coupe, and even a modestly-sized adult will find their knees pressing into the seat in front and their hardo pressing into the headlining.

Smaller children in booster seats will probably be ok, but you might struggle to get bulky child seats in the back, not just because of the tight space, but also because of the small opening that results from tipping the front seat forward to gain access to the rear. This also makes getting in and out of the back seats pretty undignified.

The boot is a decent size, but the space is rather narrow and shallow and the opening is rather small. You’ll get a couple of sets of golf clubs in, but nothing much bulkier than that. A powered tailgate is provided across the range.

BMW 8 Series 2024: Quality and finish

Every surface is dense and lustrous, and most of them are as much a treat for the fingertips as they are for the eyes.

It’s all attractively finished, too, with splashes of brushed chrome trim and stitched leather here and there. Flush-fitting panels and sturdy assembly also helps everything feel like it’s built to last. Granted, it can’t match the hand-made feel of a Bentley Continental, but it’s a match for the Mercedes S-Class Coupe, and considerably better than an Aston Martin DB11.

BMW 8 Series 2024: Infotainment

Happily, the infotainment system you get in the 8 Series is the best in the business. It comes with navigation, DAB radio, Bluetooth, a wifi hotspot, wireless phone charging and a whole bunch of clever connected services. Apple Carplay is also supported, but Android Auto isn’t, although it will be in time.

The best thing about the system, though, is that it’s so easy to use. It has touchscreen functionality, but it can also be operated using shortcut buttons and a scrolling wheel on the centre console, which makes it much simpler and less distracting. It’s also really intuitive to use, with logically arranged menus, easy-to-find features and graphics that are fast and sharp.

BMW 8 Series value for money

Value for Money Rating
Owning an 8 Series is never going to be cheap, but if you have any sort of eye on fiscal matters, you’ll definitely want to choose the diesel.

BMW 8 Series 2024: Prices

At the time of writing, prices started at around £74,000 for the 840i, while the 40d checked in just above £78,000.

If it’s the 50i that takes your fancy, you’ll be looking at an outlay of £102,000. Obviously, the various options and packs - of which there are dozens - will take prices even higher: the Ultimate Pack (we’ll describe this later in the Models and Specifications section) on its own will set you back up to £19,000. The 8 Series is not a cheap car, then, but to be fair, you were probably never under any illusion that it would be.

Despite that, though, the big BMW still looks like pretty good value, comparatively speaking. Prices are a bit lower than those of a Mercedes S-Class Coupe, and a lot lower (we’re talking fifty grand here) than those of an Aston Martin DB11 or Bentley Continental GT.

Even better, in percentage terms, the 8 Series holds onto its value better than any of its rivals, meaning it’ll depreciate less relative to its list prices, so it will provide better protection for your investment than the rest.

That should also help keep monthly payments down for those who buy on finance, although at the time of writing, we couldn’t find any finance deals for the 8 Series on BMW’s own website.

BMW 8 Series 2024: Running Costs

According to official WLTP figures, the diesel's maximum average fuel return is just upwards of 40mpg, which is significantly better than the equivalent figures of 34mpg for the 40i and 25mpg for the 50i. Bear in mind, too, that these are laboratory figures that you’ll only have a prayer of getting anywhere near if you drive very gently. 

Insurance won’t be cheap, either. The 40i sits in group 45, making bills a fraction more palatable, but both the 40d and 50i sit in group 50, the most expensive group there is. On road tax, meanwhile, you’ll pay the flat rate of £150 per year, and between years two and six of your car’s life, you’ll also pay a £325 surcharge on top, taking your annual outlay to £475 during that period.

You’ll also part with a steep first-year tax payment - between £1305 and £2175 depending on the version - but that will be rolled up into the car’s list price.

On all versions, company car drivers will pay Benefit-in-kind on 37% of the car’s value, which will make it extremely expensive. Perhaps more concerningly than all that, though, is the fact that BMW finished stone-dead-last in the manufacturer standings of the 2019 JD Power Vehicle Dependability Survey, which doesn’t provide much confidence over how reliable it’ll be.

 

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BMW 8 Series models and specs

Unlike most cars, the 8 Series doesn’t have trim levels as such. The various versions are separated mainly by the engine they have, but other than one or two other minor differences, (such as a few styling tweaks of what sort of braking system they get) all are pretty much the same in terms of luxury kit.

Each version is very much a luxurious high-end offering, and that means your standard kit includes leather upholstery, heated front seats, two-zone climate control, keyless go, ambient interior lighting, a powered tailgate, all-round parking sensors and a reversing camera.

There are also dozens of optional extras, many of which are bundled up into packs. Most of these packs, meanwhile, are also bundled up and offered as one fantastically expensive mega-pack, called the Ultimate Package. This gives buyers all-sorts, including soft-close doors, ventilated front seats, 360-degree camera, TV functionality and a Bowers and Wilkins Surround Sound audio system.

Dimensions
Length 4843–4851 mm
Width 2137 mm
Height 1341–1346 mm
Wheelbase 2822 mm
Miscellaneous
Kerb Weight 1730–1930 kg
Boot Space 350–420 L
Warranty 3 years / Unlimited miles
Servicing 12000–18000 miles
Costs
List Price £79,685–£110,130
Insurance Groups 45–50
Road Tax Bands Alternative fuel, H–L
Official MPG 28.8–46.3 mpg
Euro NCAP Safety Ratings
Adult -
Child -
Pedestrian -
Overall 5

Currently on sale

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
840i sDrive M Sport 840i sDrive Auto Start/Stop 2dr £79,685 - 5.2 s
M850i xDrive M850i BiTurbo xDrive Auto Start/Stop 2dr £110,130 - 3.9 s

On sale until August 2022

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
840d xDrive M Sport 840d xDrive 48v MHEV Auto Start/Stop 2dr £78,710 - 4.9 s
840i sDrive M Sport 840i sDrive Auto Start/Stop 2dr - - 5.0 s
M850i 4.4 xDrive Auto 2dr - 28.8 mpg 3.7 s
M850i 4.4 xDrive First Edition Auto 2dr - - 3.7 s

On sale until April 2021

Coupe
Version List Price MPG 0-62
840d 3.0 xDrive Auto 2dr - 46.3 mpg 4.9 s
840i 3.0 Auto 2dr - - -

Model History

June 2018

BMW unveiled the 8 Series Coupe

With exterior dimensions of 4,843mm in length, 1,902mm in width, 1,341mm in height and a wheelbase of 2,822mm, the two-door coupé has a powerful stance on the road. It comes as standard with LED headlights - the slimmest lamps of any BMW model to date.

Optional BMW Laserlight with variable road illumination and Selective Beam has a high beam range of around 600 metres. Blue accents inside the trademark twin headlights are the hint at its presence.

Narrow exterior mirror bases are mounted directly on the side window weather strips to further enhance the airflow.

The new multifunctional sports seats in Extended Merino leather upholstery offer high levels of long-distance comfort and excellent lateral support during fast cornering. The headrests are integrated into the backrests and can be adjusted as required both for height and fore/aft positioning. The seat position is adjusted electrically, while a memory function for driver and front passenger comes as standard.

There are large door pockets, a roomy glove compartment, two cupholders and a large storage compartment under the armrest’s divided cover flaps for stowing travel accessories, beverages and other items. Thanks to the low seating position of both rear seats, it has been possible to design the head restraints as an integral part of the backrests.

The backrest sections can be folded down either individually or together in order to further increase the load capacity of the 420-litre luggage compartment. The folding mechanism is released by means of levers inside the luggage compartment. Automatic boot lid operation is also a standard feature, while the standard Comfort Access furthermore permits hands-free opening and closing of the boot lid.

The BMW M850i has a 530PS V8 twin-turbocharged petrol engine. This is the latest generation of BMW’s award-winning 4.4-litre eight-cylinder and has been radically revised. Two twin-scroll turbochargers with charge air cooling, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing all form part of the M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology, whose extensive overhaul has given a substantial boost to maximum output, torque and efficiency.

Model

Power
(hp)

Torque (Nm)

0 – 62mph (Seconds)

Top Speed (mph)

Combined (mpg)

CO2 Emissions (g/km)

From
(OTR)

BMW 840d xDrive

320

680

4.9

155*

46.3

160

£76,270

M850i xDrive**

530

750

3.7

155*

28.3

228

£100,045

The new 840d has a 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line diesel with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and delivers a maximum output of 320PS and peak torque of 680Nm.

For a more focussed and sporty handling, Integral Active Steering is fitted as standard to reduce the turning circle when manoeuvring. This also increases agility at moderate speeds and optimises poise and assurance when changing lanes and cornering at high speeds. It becomes more direct as the speed builds but allows the driver to manoeuvre at low speeds with minimal steering wheel movement.

Optional active roll stabilisation further enhances the handling characteristics. Electric swivel motors on the front and rear axles ensure particularly fast and precise compensation of lateral forces.

The car is equipped as standard with Cruise Control with braking function as well as Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking, the latest version of which also alerts the driver when a cyclist is detected. Depending on the situation, the system can bring the vehicle to a halt to either avoid a collision or minimise its consequences.

The BMW Head-Up Display comes as standard in the new BMW 8 Series Coupé and projects relevant driving information onto the windscreen in the form of graphics, is another key safety factor. The latest generation features a projection area enlarged by 16 per cent, optimised graphics and additional content.

The 8 Series Coupé comes as standard with the BMW Live Cockpit Professional, which combines a new display and control concept and maximum connectivity into a superb all-round package. The latest-generation display and control concept consists of a high-resolution instrument cluster behind the steering wheel with a screen diagonal of 12.3 inches and a 10.25-inch Control Display.

February 2022

Updated BMW 8 Series Coupe priced from £74,725

BMW has evolved the profile of its luxury sports cars - the BMW 8 Series Coupé, Convertible, and Gran Coupé, with striking design revisions and specification enhancements that strengthen its blend of performance, refinement and exclusivity.

Notably, a redesigned front section makes for an exterior look that is as exciting as it is elegant. All 6-cylinder petrol variants of the new BMW 8 Series Coupé, Convertible and Gran Coupé continue to come with the M sports pack as standard, ensuring the interior design reflects the level of driving pleasure these cars offer. Convenience and connectivity are further optimised with a larger 12.3-inch Central Information Display as part of the BMW Live Cockpit Professional system.

The BMW “Iconic Glow” kidney grille premiers for the very first time on the 8 Series, which is standard on all model variants, whilst the interior ups the luxury ante with the BMW Individual Merino leather upholstery and galvanic controls as standard features.

Based on changing customer demand, the BMW 840d xDrive variant across all three body-styles has been withdrawn from offer in the UK, leaving a choice of either the range-topping V8 M850i xDrive or the six-cylinder 40i engines – both providing effortless performance. Dependent on the power unit, new 8 Series variants feature four-wheel drive or classic rear-wheel-drive propulsion.

The new BMW 8 Series is priced from costs from £72,225 RPP and is available to order now, with the first deliveries due this Spring.

Model

Power
(hp)

Torque
(Nm)

0-62mph
(s)

Top speed
(mph)

Fuel economy
(l/100km)

CO2 emissions
(g/km)

Starting
Price RRP

840i Gran Coupe

333

500

5.4

155

8.6 – 8.2

197 – 186

£72,225

840i Coupe

333

500

5.2

155

8.3 – 8.0

191 – 183

£74,725

840i Convertible

333

500

5.5

155

8.5 – 8.2

195 – 188

£81,725

M850i xDrive Gran Coupe

530

750

3.9

155

11.0 – 10.8

252 – 246

£101,215

M850i xDrive Coupe

530

750

3.9

155

10.8 – 10.6

247 – 242

£103,715

M850i xDrive Convertible

530

750

4.1

155

10.9 – 10.8

248 – 246

£110,715

What does the BMW 8 Series cost?