Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

BMW 8 Series review

Muscle car performance and proportions give BMW’s 8 Series old-school appeal, but it’s packed with the latest technology

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Price
£84,095 to £134,955
  • Strong engines
  • Impressive tech
  • Very luxurious
  • Some rivals feel sharper
  • Fidgety low-speed ride
  • Tiny rear seats
Find your BMW 8 Series
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

The range-topper within BMW’s sports car lineup, the 8 Series aims to mix luxury grand touring with an engaging driving experience. The design is more traditional than some of BMW’s more recent unveilings but still has plenty of presence on the road thanks to its sheer size. The cabin’s fit and finish, along with the technology on board means the 8 Series impresses inside and out.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There’s 4x4 drive from the devastatingly quick V8 M850i or M8 Competition models, while a big boot makes the coupe a genuinely practical grand tourer, if you accept that the confined rear seats are only for occasional use. Otherwise the four-door Gran Coupe variant effectively addresses any accommodation problems.

About the BMW 8 Series

Almost 20 years after the first 8 Series went off sale (the wedge-shaped one with the pop-up headlights), the second generation model launched in 2018. Although the original was coupe-only, to replace the 6 Series’ range of bodystyles the current BMW 8 Series is offered as a two-door Coupe, a four-door Gran Coupe version with an extended wheelbase and a Convertible that sits at the top of the range. BMW introduced a light facelift for the range in early 2022 incorporating subtle styling tweaks, along with extra onboard technology and equipment (pictures in this review are pre-facelift model).

Don’t let the name fool you, in terms of powertrain the 8 Series shares nothing with the now defunct i8 hybrid when it went on sale. Those looking for frugality should check out the 316bhp 3.0-litre diesel 840d xDrive - although you’ll have to look at used models as it’s no longer on sale. This leaves a petrol-only lineup: the 328bhp 840i, the 523bhp M850i xDrive, with a 4.4-litre twin-turbo and the M Competition - which uses the same V8 engine tuned to 616bhp.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Once you’ve chosen a body style and engine, BMW makes life relatively simple because there are no trim grade options beyond those imposed by your engine choice. The entry-level 840i only comes in M Sport guise, while you’ll find the M850i under “M Models” if you delve into the configurator.

Naturally equipment levels are lavish even on M Sport cars, but BMW will try to upsell you into a range of expensive add-on packages. These include the £1,500 Visibility Pack for laser headlamp upgrades, the M Sport Pro pack for 20-inch alloy wheels and dark chrome exterior finishes, the £3,000 Comfort Plus Pack for features including heated armrests, ventilated seats and electric window blinds, and the £6,000 Technology Plus Pack which includes a 1,400 Watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system, a full package of active driver assistance features, on-board video recording and Parking Assistant Plus. The £19,000 Ultimate Pack includes all of the above, plus additional features such as a TV receiver.

While the BMW 8 Series offers a distinct blend of comfort and sportiness that sets it apart, it enters a market that’s not short of rivals when it comes to expensive GT models. With list prices starting from around £77,000 for the cheapest Gran Coupe four-door to almost £143,000 for the M8 Competition convertible, the roster of potential competitors includes the sportiest of rivals such as the Porsche 911, along with more relaxed offerings like the Lexus LC.

The Gran Coupe goes head-to-head with the Audi A7 Sportback and Mercedes CLS. All 8 Series get an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all bar the 840i feature xDrive four-wheel drive.

Inside BMW’s own range there’s not much that comes close. Buyers looking for ultimate luxury might consider the larger BMW X7 SUV, while those wanting sporty thrills will arguably be better satisfied behind the wheel of a BMW M4 or M5.

For an alternative review of the BMW 8 Series, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    840i sDrive 2dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £71,725

Most Economical

  • Name
    840d xDrive MHT M Sport 2dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £77,260

Fastest

  • Name
    M850i xDrive 2dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £101,290
Executive editor

Paul was employed across automotive agency and manufacturer-side sectors before joining Auto Express in 2020 as our online reviews editor. After a brief sojourn at a national UK newspaper, Paul returned as executive editor where he now works closely with our commercial partners.

Skip advert
Advertisement

More on 8 Series

Best used luxury cars 2024
Best used luxury cars - header image
Best cars & vans
10 Jan 2024

Best used luxury cars 2024

An ultra-comfortable ride and a premium driving experience can be yours with the best used luxury cars
Mercedes-AMG SL 55 vs BMW M850i: 2023 twin test review
Mercedes-AMG SL 55 and BMW M850i - front tracking
Car group tests
4 Mar 2023

Mercedes-AMG SL 55 vs BMW M850i: 2023 twin test review

Mercedes has let AMG loose on the latest SL. We put it to the test against BMW’s M850i Convertible
New BMW M8 Competition 2023 review
BMW M8 Competition - front cornering
Road tests
1 Feb 2023

New BMW M8 Competition 2023 review

The M8 Competition has received a mid-life update, but is it enough to take on the luxury sports car segment?
Skip advert
Advertisement
New BMW M850i xDrive 2023 review
BMW M850i - front tracking
Road tests
27 Jan 2023

New BMW M850i xDrive 2023 review

BMW's facelift of the M850i might be minimal, but it's still a well-rounded grand tourer
New BMW M8 Gran Coupe 2022 review
BMW M8 Gran Coupe - front
Road tests
27 May 2022

New BMW M8 Gran Coupe 2022 review

A refresh brings more aggressive looks for the BMW M8 Gran Coupe, but they come at a price
New BMW 8 Series X Jeff Koons arrives with comic-strip livery
BMW 8 Series X Jeff Koons - front
News
17 Feb 2022

New BMW 8 Series X Jeff Koons arrives with comic-strip livery

More than 200 hours are sunk into to the BMW 8 Series X Jeff Koons' paintwork alone, and the brand plans to sell 99 examples of the rolling art piece …
New 2022 BMW M8 Competition makes its debut
BMW M8 Competition 2022
News
25 Jan 2022

New 2022 BMW M8 Competition makes its debut

Updated interior design, tech and styling details feature on 2022 BMW M8 Competition, which is available in three bodystyles and produces 616bhp
Updated 2022 BMW 8 Series range features subtle styling tweaks
BMW 8 Series facelift 2022
News
25 Jan 2022

Updated 2022 BMW 8 Series range features subtle styling tweaks

Design updates, more technology and extra kit for new BMW 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and four-door Gran Coupe models
New 2022 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe facelift spied again
BMW 8 SERIES FRONT 4
News
15 Nov 2021

New 2022 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe facelift spied again

BMW’s updated 8 Series Gran Coupe is being readied for launch, with a fresh front end and new LED lights
Skip advert
Advertisement
New BMW M8 CS spotted testing at the Nurburgring
BMW M8 CS - front
News
20 May 2021

New BMW M8 CS spotted testing at the Nurburgring

Hot BMW M8 CS will get a little more power and a lot more aero
BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe 2020 review
Road tests
26 Aug 2020

BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe 2020 review

The new BMW M8 Gran Coupe promises much, we find out if it can deliver
Skip advert
Advertisement
BMW M8 Convertible vs Bentley Continental GT V8 Convertible
Car group tests
20 Jun 2020

BMW M8 Convertible vs Bentley Continental GT V8 Convertible

Can the Bentley Continental GT V8 warrant its £30k price gap over the BMW M8 Convertible?
New BMW M8 Convertible 2020 review
Road tests
8 Apr 2020

New BMW M8 Convertible 2020 review

The high-performance BMW M8 Convertible delivers searing pace and cruising comfort, but it comes at a cost
New BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe 2020 review
BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe - front tracking
Road tests
27 Jan 2020

New BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe 2020 review

The BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe is aiming to deliver the same mix of thrills and comfort as the Porsche Panamera, but can it?
New 2019 BMW M8 Gran Coupe joins performance line-up
BMW M8 Gran Coupe - Los Angeles front
News
20 Nov 2019

New 2019 BMW M8 Gran Coupe joins performance line-up

The new BMW M8 Gran Coupe range-topping four-door coupe arrives at Los Angeles with a 616bhp twin-turbo V8
Skip advert
Advertisement
New BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe 2019 review
BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe - front
Road tests
26 Sep 2019

New BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe 2019 review

The four-door BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe arrives to take the fight to the Audi A7 and Mercedes CLS
New 2019 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe completes line-up
BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe - front
News
19 Jun 2019

New 2019 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe completes line-up

The new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe has arrived to rival the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes CLS
New 2019 BMW M8 Competition storms in with 616bhp
BMW M8 Competition - front
News
4 Jun 2019

New 2019 BMW M8 Competition storms in with 616bhp

New BMW M8 Competition arrives to take on everything from the Mercedes-AMG S 63 Coupe to the new Porsche 911 Carrera 4
New BMW 8 Series Convertible 2019 review
BMW 8 Series Convertible - front
Road tests
10 Apr 2019

New BMW 8 Series Convertible 2019 review

Is the new BMW 8 Series Convertible just as compelling as the Coupe? We find out…
BMW 8 Series vs Lexus LC
BMW 8 Series vs Lexus LC
Road tests
9 Apr 2019

BMW 8 Series vs Lexus LC

The sleek new 8 Series aims to wrestle the crown from our reigning Best Coupe, the Lexus LC
BMW M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition announced
BMW 8 Series Coupe First Edition - front
News
5 Feb 2019

BMW M850i xDrive Coupe First Edition announced

The First Edition BMW M850i will be limited to 400 units, and features exclusive trim and a unique paint finish
Skip advert
Advertisement
New one-off BMW M850i Night Sky edition revealed
BMW M850i Night Sky - front
News
3 Jan 2019

New one-off BMW M850i Night Sky edition revealed

Unveiling of the new BMW M850i Night Sky special edition V8 coupe coincides with a meteor shower on 3-4 January
New BMW 8 Series 2019 review
BMW 8 Series - front
Road tests
21 Dec 2018

New BMW 8 Series 2019 review

We get behind the wheel of the all-new BMW 8 Series in M850i guise, but does the driving experience match up to its stunning looks?