Used 2021 BMW 8 Series

The 2021 BMW 8 Series is a range of large luxury grand touring machines. They all have the power and comfort for trans-continental road trips, along with the agility and ability to shine on twisting mountain passes. They’re also super-stylish and tech-rich.

Although rear-seat space in an 8 Series is not as accommodating as, say, a Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe, passengers who aren’t too tall can still enjoy the ride. Those who don’t care about rear-seat requirements can find similar performance in slightly smaller and less expensive alternatives such as the Audi RS 5, Lexus RC F, or Mercedes-AMG E 53.

The 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-day machine like an Audi RS 5.

Yet for a big, 2-door grand touring coupe that weighs nearly 4,500 pounds, the 2021 M850i xDrive is surprisingly nimble. That’s due to the sporty chassis, quick-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission, and a beast of an engine.

The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 roars, propelling the coupe from standstill to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, or 3.8 seconds for the heavier convertible (make that 4.4 and 4.6 seconds for the less powerful 840i xDrive coupe and convertible). Powering past the 100-mph mark happens soon after.

Braking at the end of the straight and aiming into a corner, the xDrive’s all-wheel drive and standard 4-wheel steering system work well to propel the 8 Series through turns with ample speed and minimal roll. Go in too hot, and the traction/stability systems intervene (even in the Sport mode) to keep from running off the tarmac and into an embarrassing viral video.

Few owners will drive an 8 Series in such a manner, but these cars can be pushed to extremes. Which gives some idea of how thrilling everyday driving can be.

The 2021 BMW 8 Series coupe, convertible, and Gran Coupe are all 4-seaters. Rear accommodations are naturally more cramped in the 2-door versions, and the headroom is in short supply across the board. All three styles have folding rear seats allowing access to the trunk.

Although the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is generally more spacious, life becomes better for those up front in the 8 Series, where ample legroom is supplemented by a set of supremely comfortable 20-way power-adjustable seats.

The interior can be covered in soft Merino leather with a variety of colors and accent trims, including metal or wood. The dash is typical BMW, designed with the driver’s ergonomic needs taking precedence above all else.

A large 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 with many configuration choices.

The 8 Series has a design that’s both muscular and contemporary, defined by smooth curves, sculpted sides, and BMW’s trademark twin-kidney grille, which itself has morphed over recent years.

The coupe features a steeply raked rear roof that carries over to the 4-door Gran Coupe. The Gran Coupe rides on a 119-inch wheelbase as opposed to the coupe’s 111 inches, and is nine inches longer overall. The 8 Series convertible has a traditional fabric roof, in only two color choices.

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 ruins the illusion somewhat.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)
BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system is standard in the M850i xDrive and optional in the 840i models. It optimizes traction in all driving conditions, putting power to the ground more effectively than a rear-drive arrangement, allowing these versions to shave a few tenths of a second off the sprint from standstill to 60 mph.

Despite the 840i not being as powerful or expensive as the M850i xDrive, it still comes with a ton of standard features. Such as heated/20-way power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-assisted soft-closing doors, power-operated trunk, and rain-sensing wipers.

On the tech front, every 8 Series has a 10.25-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, the latest iDrive 7.0 system, Wi-Fi, wireless charging, and a 16-speaker/600-watt Harman Kardon audio system.

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

We recommend the Driving Assistance Professional Package ($1,700) for partially autonomous driving features like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assistance. The Comfort Seating Package ($1,050) adds ventilated front seats with active bolstering (plus neck-warming for the convertible that blows warm air from vents in the seats).

Other options include high-performance tires and extra engine cooling, rear-wheel steering, a kaleidoscope of interior and exterior cosmetics and material choices, glass interior controls, a carbon-fiber roof for coupe models, and a terrific 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 developing a completely respectable 335 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque.

The M850i xDrive has a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 making a wonderful 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque.

Every 2021 8 Series has an 8-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is the default arrangement. The xDrive suffix indicates the presence of all-wheel drive (AWD).

The even more powerful BMW M8 variant boosts the V8’s output to 600 horsepower, or 617 with the Competition package.

Driving characteristics of the 2021 8 Series can be tailored with Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ modes of the Driving Dynamics Control. In an effort to save some of the requisite premium gasoline, the 8 Series has an engine stop/restart feature that cuts power at idle. It can be disabled by pressing 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), 20/27 mpg (xDrive coupe, 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), 17/24 mpg (convertible, Gran Coupe)

4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (M8 Gran Coupe, M8 Competition Gran Coupe)
600 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (617 hp in M8 Competition)
553 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/21 mpg