BMW 8 Series Review (2023)

Introduction

Although it seems like only yesterday that BMW launched the 8 Series range, the German company has already given its flagship coupe and convertible models a little mid-life refresh. In comes some slightly updated styling features and some fresh technology, while the old diesel engine is predictably out on its ear.

If truth be told, it’s a pretty minor update, but then the 8 Series was already among the best grand tourers on the market, so there’s an air of ‘if it ain’t broke’ about the new model. But in a market festooned with high-quality rivals, is that attitude – and a light refresh – enough to keep the big BMW up there with the best in its class, or is the 8 Series in need of some much more comprehensive overhaul?

At a Glance

The 8 Series is instantly recognisable as a grand tourer, slotting in between luxury saloons such as the 7 Series and sports cars like the Porsche 911. With the big bonnet, broad shoulders and long wheelbase, it’s a car designed to cross continents at high speed in style and comfort. Think of it, if you will, as a budget Bentley Continental GT.

But unlike the Bentley, the 8 Series is offered in a choice of three different body shapes, each with its own attributes. The two-door Coupe s the sportiest option, while the Convertible offers more style and posing potential, and the five-door Gran Coupe is the practical option, with more space in the back and a bigger boot.

All three, however, come with a plush, high-tech, well-built cabin and a three-engine range that provides plenty of power. The old diesel engine is gone, but you can still choose between a straight-six and two V8 petrol engines, all of which provide ample performance. And because it’s a BMW, you know it’ll drive like a good grand tourer should.

Key Features

A car like the 8 Series has to be a master of all trades, but key to the experience in any BMW – and particularly this one – is the engine range. All three options are among BMW’s best, with the 3.0-litre straight-six petrol a particular highlight, despite being the budget choice. It’s smooth and refined and powerful, albeit not as potent as the rip-roaring V8s fitted to the M850i xDrive and the M8 Competition models (below). Both are spectacular in terms of noise and performance.

The other key features of any luxury coupe should be its looks and the way it drives, and the 8 Series has mastered both of those, too. Yes, the update is minor and the looks haven’t changed much at all, but it still looks every bit as svelte as it did when it was launched, and it manages to balance sportiness, muscle and beauty with remarkable effect, especially in convertible form.

Then there’s the way it drives, which is another common highlight among BMW products. In the 8 Series, that means you get remarkable agility for something as big and heavy as this, and the innate balance is almost good enough to give it the feel of an overgrown Z4 sports car. Combine that with supple suspension and that mountain of power, and you’ve got the ingredients of a great grand tourer.

Performance & Drive

With the arrival of the new model, the 8 Series range has shrunk slightly, thanks to the removal of the 840d diesel version from the line-up. That leaves us with the 840i, M850i and M8 Competition, all of which come with petrol engines.

The basic 840i uses BMW’s brilliant 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine to produce an ample 333hp, all of which goes to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. In the two-door Coupe, that’s enough power to get you from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds, which is pretty brisk. But the six-cylinder engine is all about smoothness, and refinement is where it really comes into its own.

If you want more power, though, you’ll want one of the 4.4-litre V8 engines. The M850i xDrive gets almost 200hp more than the 840i, with 530hp heading to all four wheels. That reduces the 0-62mph time considerably, taking it below the four-second mark at the cost of some extra fuel consumption and pollution.

But the piece de resistance is the M8 Competition’s 625hp version of the same twin-turbocharged V8. Available in conjunction with all three body styles and fitted with all-wheel-drive as standard, the M8 Competition Coupe takes the 0-62mph time down to 3.2 seconds.

Power, then, is not an issue for any version of the 8 Series, and nor is handling prowess. BMW has applied its trademark steering and pedal feel to the 8 Series, and that gives you immense confidence in its capabilities, which are equally immense. Naturally, the M8 Competition is the most focussed of all the 8 Series models, and it offers incredible agility, but the slightly softer 840i and M850i versions still drive beautifully thanks to the car’s brilliant balance. They ride more pleasantly, too, with a little more subtlety over rough surfaces than the M8 Competition.

If we had to choose, we’d probably go for the M850i xDrive for its balance of power, handling, performance and comfort, as well as the wet-weather security provided by BMW’s all-wheel-drive technology.

Running Costs & Emissions

Running an 8 Series isn’t likely to be a cheap venture, given the only engine options are so big. Without the old 840d diesel providing long-range efficiency, it’s left to the three petrol alternatives, none of which is capable of more than 35mpg. And if you get a bit bolshie with your right foot, you’ll be lucky to see an average of more than 30mpg.

Naturally, the 840i is the most efficient choice, with the 4.4-litre M850i xDrive and M8 Competition models proving really quite thirsty. A drop-top M850i xDrive will do about 26mpg.

Remarkably, emissions are slightly better than those figures suggest, with most 840is sneaking under the 200g/km mark. Even so, you’re looking at paying the highest rate of company car tax, and with prices starting at around £80,000, the 8 Series won’t be the cheapest company car in the world.

Interior & Technology

The new 8 Series’ interior is largely much the same as before, which means you get the same dashboard with a digital instrument cluster and a big infotainment screen as standard. The design is quite clean, modern and Germanic, with lots of chrome and leather, along with the two screens.

Compared with some cars, it’s hardly the most modern interior you’ll see, but ergonomically it’s fantastic, putting every bit of switchgear exactly where you want it. And because BMW has refrained from placing the new Operating System 8 touchscreen in the 8 Series, you still get conventional heater controls, which is something of a bonus.

Despite not having the latest touchscreen, the 8 Series’ display is still brilliant. It’s bigger than before, yet it still relies heavily on the ‘iDrive’ rotary controller that lives on the centre console, and it has classically been among the best systems on the road. That’s partly down to the clear, intuitive menus and displays, but also because once you’ve learned your way through the system, the iDrive controller allows you to use it almost without looking.

However, the main disadvantage of not having the new system is the ageing digital instrument cluster, which feels a bit cluttered. There’s nothing especially bad about it, and it looks quite good in the binnacle, but it isn’t quite as clear or as easy to configure as the newer system.

Whatever you think of the instrument cluster, though, the BMW’s build quality is excellent. Every switch, latch and dial feels beautifully made, while all the components fit together perfectly. The materials are great, too, and that helps to make the 8 Series feel like a luxury product.

Practicality & Boot Space

Big grand tourers such as this aren’t necessarily designed for practicality, but they still need enough space to carry at least two people and some luggage. In the 8 Series, that’s no problem at all, although how practical the car really is will depend on which version you choose.

Pick the Convertible, and you get 350 litres of luggage space, which is about the same amount you’ll get from a Volkswagen Polo. That’s respectable in anyone’s book, and with the rear seats offering a sort of glorified parcel shelf (they aren’t really big enough for passengers, especially if they’re grown-ups), you’ve got plenty of room for a weekend away.

In many ways, the Coupe is more practical, with a larger 420-litre luggage bay that’s noticeably larger than that of a VW Golf. Admittedly, the BMW’s boot isn’t such a good shape, but it is spacious enough for most people’s everyday needs. The catch is that the sloping roofline limits space in the back.

So if you want to use the back seats with any kind of regularity, you’ll need the Gran Coupe, which has five doors and a slightly higher roofline. That means rear headroom is acceptable unless you’re tall, and rear legroom is perfectly adequate for most people’s needs. You also get a bigger and more usefully shaped boot, which measures 440 litres with the back seats upright.

Safety

The BMW 8 Series has not yet been tested in the Euro NCAP crash test, but we’d expect the big coupe to fly through the tests if it’s ever subjected to them. That’s partly because every BMW (except the Z4) tested by Euro NCAP since 1998 has received four or five stars, and most of those received five-star ratings. The German company has made some very safe cars over the years, and its latest safety assistance technology has received a 92% score from the crash testers in the BMW X1 and 2 Series Active Tourer.

Speaking of safety systems, the 8 Series has plenty on board. Cruise control, parking sensors and a rear-view camera are all included as standard on every model, as well as a high-performance braking system and autonomous emergency braking that can prevent or mitigate accidents if the driver fails to respond to a hazard ahead. Customers can also specify extra equipment, including extra parking assistance tech and the Driving Assistant Professional pack, which includes radar-based cruise control and lane centering tech to keep the car in the middle of a lane.

Options

The 8 Series specification is essentially dependent on which engine you choose. If you go for the 840i, you get the M Sport specification, which is normally quite high-end on most BMW models. In the 8 Series, that means you get the M light alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights and an automatic tailgate, as well as electrically adjustable heated seats, a Harman Kardon sound system and two-zone climate control. M Sport models also come with extended leather upholstery and adaptive suspension, as well as the usual navigation system.

It’s a comprehensive specification, but the M8 Competition (below) manages to add to it with a host of sporty upgrades, including sportier body styling and snazzier wheels, as well as an uprated braking system and more sculpted seats. The M850i xDrive, meanwhile, sits between the two, offering some of the sporty M8’s nature without getting too hardcore.

Naturally, BMW offers a range of optional extras for all three models, including a Visibility Pack that provides so-called ‘laserlights’ and darkened light housings, while there’s also a Technology Plus Pack that gives customers an uprated Bowers & Wilkins sound system, as well as some extra driver assistance tech.

M8 Competition customers also get the option of the M Driver’s Pack, which raises the top speed to 190mph and comes with a BMW M Intensive Training course. And those who want the M Pro Pack get all that, plus some gold-callipered carbon-ceramic brakes. If you want all that and more, you can get the Ultimate Pack, which costs £21,000 from a dealer, and includes the M Pro Pack, M Carbon Exterior Styling and the Technology Plus Pack.

All that makes the more conventional options sound a bit dull, but BMW will still sell you a range of glorious paint jobs and some lovely alloy wheel designs, not to mention some really smart interior colour scheme options.

Rival Cars

The 8 Series competes with a broad range of cars, including sportier numbers such as the Porsche 911 and more expensive models, including the Bentley Continental GT. At this price point, there are no duffers out there, and every model is worthy of its place in the market.

Many will be drawn to the Lexus LC (below) which looks phenomenal from every angle and backs that up with a wonderful V8 engine, while the new Maserati GranTurismo should turn some heads, too. The new Italian isn’t available in the UK just yet, but it’s a cracking grand tourer with Maserati’s brilliant new V6 engine and an all-electric version on the way.

Also hailing from Italy is the Ferrari Roma, which is a beautiful car with a magical ability to eat the miles. The Aston Martin DB11 shouldn’t be overlooked, either, and nor should the beefy new Mercedes-Benz SL. But perhaps our favourite of the 8 Series’ rivals is the Bentley Continental GT (below), which is wonderfully made, great to drive and supremely comfortable, while the big V8 engine is a masterpiece. The truth is, though, that while the 8 Series doesn’t come cheap, the Bentley is on another level.

Verdict & Next Steps

The 8 Series has always been a great grand tourer, no matter whether you choose the Coupe, Gran Coupe or Convertible, and BMW’s updates have not impacted that capability. The new touchscreen won’t be to everyone’s taste, and the loss of the diesel engine is a pity, but this is still the same handsome and muscular GT car we know and love, and it remains one of the most commendable cars in its class. Yes, some rivals have a bit more glamour and excitement, but few have the same level of sheer competence that makes the 8 Series so compelling.

Where to next?

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*Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top five leading independent car website reviews of the BMW 8 Series. 

**Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 06/04/23.