Used 2020 BMW 8 Series

After its successful return last year, the 2020 BMW 8 Series continues to push the competition with the introduction of a lower-priced 6-cylinder model and 4-door Gran Coupe. In true BMW fashion, these big cars are packed with luxury and technology, deliver impressive performance and are styled to turn heads and make hearts skip a beat or two.

Power for the 8 Series comes from either a 335-horsepower turbocharged inline-6 or 523-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8, the latter standard with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive. Although the 8 series rear-seat space is not as accommodating as in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe, one can have company along for the ride, provided they’re not too tall. Those who don’t care about rear-seat requirements can find similar performance in a slightly smaller and less expensive alternative such as the Audi RS 5, Lexus RC F or Mercedes-AMG E 53.

The new BMW 8 Series has a formidable blend of power and suppleness, with a priority on the former. It’s more potent, faster and more precise than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe, but not a track toy like an Audi RS 5. Yet for a big, 2-door grand touring coupe that weighs nearly 4,500 pounds, the 2020 M850i xDrive is surprisingly nimble. Thank the sporty chassis, quick-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission, and one beast of an engine.

The big Bimmer’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 roars, propelling the coupe from 0-60 mph in just 3.6 seconds or 3.8 seconds for the heavier 8 Series convertible (make that 4.4 and 4.6 seconds for the less powerful 840i xDrive coupe and convertible). In our testing on a track, the 8 Series backed up those numbers and quickly shot us into the mid-100-mph territory.

Out of the straights and into the corners, the xDrive’s all-wheel drive and standard 4-wheel-steering system worked well to propel us through turns with ample speed and minimal roll. In one instance where we came in too hot, traction- and stability-control systems intervened even in the Sport mode to prevent us from running off the tarmac and into a regrettable viral video.

Of course, almost no one will drive an 8 Series in this manner, but the fact that it can be flogged hard and enjoyed in such extreme circumstances is testament that in everyday driving it can also be pushed and enjoyed more than you’d expect.

The 2020 BMW 8 Series coupe, convertible and new Gran Coupe are all 4-passenger vehicles. Rear seats are more cramped in the 2-door versions, and headroom is in short supply across the board. All three models feature folding rear seats that allow access to the trunk providing greater cargo space.

If you’re looking for a more spacious alternative, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class makes a much better choice. Life gets better for those sitting up front where ample legroom is supplemented by a set of supremely comfortable 20-way-adjustable seats. The 8 Series interior can be covered in soft Merino leather in a variety of colors and accent trims including metal or wood. The dash and door panels are typical BMW, designed with the driver in mind first and foremost.

A larger 10.25-inch infotainment display sits above the center console and the heat/vent/air-conditioning controls and is used for audio, navigation and other info. Directly ahead of the driver is a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster that offers numerous configuration possibilities.

Whereas the first 8 Series was angular, wedge-like and brimming with 1990s’ coolness, the latest version has its own muscular, contemporary design. It is defined by smooth curves, sculpted sides and BMW’s trademark twin-kidney grille, here with a progressive horizontal design.

The coupe variant features a steeply raked rear roof that carries over to the 4-door Gran Coupe model. The Gran Coupe rides on a 119-inch wheelbase vs. the coupe’s 111 inches, and is nine inches longer overall. The 8 Series convertible shuns the retractable hardtop trend, offering a more traditional fabric roof but in only two color choices.

All 8 Series cars roll on big 20-inch wheels shod with run-flat tires.

GRAN COUPE
The 8 Series Gran Coupe has all the power, performance and presence of the coupe and convertible, only with a more usable design allowing easy entry to the rear seat. The Gran Coupe’s sloping rear window and high beltline create the silhouette of a coupe, although the blacked-out B-pillar somewhat ruins the illusion.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)
Standard on the M850i xDrive and optional on the 840i models, BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive not only improves traction in all driving conditions, it gets power to the ground more efficiently, allowing the AWD versions to shave a few tenths of a second off the 8 Series’ zero-to-60 time.

While the new inline-6 in the 840i isn’t as powerful or expensive as the M850i xDrive, it doesn’t take a back seat when it comes to standard features. Included in the mix are heated, 20-way-adjustable front seats, leather interior, dual-zone climate control, power-assisted soft-close doors, universal garage remote, power-operated trunk, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

On the tech front, the 8 Series cars include a 10.25-inch infotainment display that is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, the latest iDrive 7.0 system, Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless phone charger, and a 16-speaker/600-watt Harman Kardon audio system.

Standard safety features include lane-departure warning, frontal-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and active blind-spot detection.

We recommend adding the Driving Assistance Professional Package ($1,700) that bundles semi-autonomous driving features like adaptive cruise control and an evasion aid. The Comfort Seating Package ($1,900) adds ventilation to the front seats and heat to the front-seat armrests and steering wheel. The 8 Series convertible offers a neck-warming feature similar to Mercedes’ Airscarf system that blows warm air from near the top of the seats.

Other options include high-performance tires and engine cooler, and the BMW Individual Composition Package that lets you select your own interior and exterior upholsteries, paint colors and more. Individual options include glass interior controls, a carbon-fiber roof for the coupe, night-vision system, and a terrific-sounding Bowers & Wilkins audio system.

The 840i and 840i xDrive coupe, convertible and Gran Coupe are all powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 cylinder good for a respectable 335 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque.

The M850i xDrive models use BMW’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that puts up even bigger numbers: 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Those figures are enough to propel the top-line 8 Series from 0-60 mph in well under four seconds and on to a governed top speed of 155 mph.

If that’s not enough for you, you can move to the even more powerful BMW M8 variant, but you’ll pay a considerable fee for the privilege. The 840i is rear drive (RWD), while the 840i xDrive and M850i xDrive are all-wheel drive (AWD), each using the same 8-speed automatic transmission.

Ride characteristics can be tailored from Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes via the Driving Dynamics Control. In an effort to save drops of its required premium unleaded fuel, the 8 Series uses an engine start/stop system that cuts power at idle. If you’re not a fan of restarts, the system can be disabled with the press of a button.

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6
335 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
368 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/30 mpg (coupe), 22/29 mpg (convertible, Gran Coupe), 21/27 mpg (xDrive coupe), 20/27 mpg (xDrive convertible, Gran Coupe)

4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8
523 horsepower @ 5,500-6,000 rpm
553 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/25 mpg (coupe), 17/25 mpg (convertible, Gran Coupe)