2025 BMW 8 Series

Available as a coupe, convertible, or a 4-door Gran Coupe, the BMW 8 Series is a fine example of a particular kind of car — the luxurious cruiser with plenty of speed at the ready. From the poshest parts of the city to the grandest houses in the country, the 8 Series is a perfect way of going between them, and can provide many driving thrills along the way. Or if smooth running is the order of the day, this BMW will do that,  too. For those buyers who don’t necessarily need space and would rather have poise, power and prestige, an 8 Series will work exceptionally well.

There are no big changes to the 8 Series this year. The current generation debuted for the 2019 model year and there are mutterings that the 8 Series as we know it may not last much longer.

Other wonderful mixes of class and quickness include the Lexus LC, whose coupe variant begins at around $100K. The Mercedes-AMG SL starts at about $113K, and the Porsche 911 Carrera comes in closer to $115K. Alternatives to the 8 Series Gran Coupe include the Audi S7, starting in the high-$80K region, or the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door from approximately $100,000.

Before buying a new 8 Series luxury coupe or convertible, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values of the 8 Series are below average. If that’s important, the Porsche 911 is a star performer here. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 8 Series lineup begins with a fine engine that could easily be as muscular as most buyers will ever want. It’s a smooth 335-horsepower turbocharged 6-cylinder unit capable of propelling the 840i from standstill to 60 mph in a wonderfully entertaining 4.7 seconds. That’s about the same as the 375-horsepower Mercedes-AMG SL 43.

Things get faster and more powerful from there. Naturally, the V8s in the rest of the range all deliver breathtaking driving experiences accompanied by thrilling exhaust notes. The fastest being the M8 Competition, hitting 60 mph in just three seconds.

For a large car of substantial weight, BMW has still managed to make the 8 Series enjoyable to drive. We’ve found it comfortable and civilized at low speeds, yet excitingly responsive to more eager throttle and steering inputs. Extra agility and maneuverability comes courtesy of the optional rear-wheel steering feature. In typical BMW form, the brakes feel strong and confident.

BMW’s M cars are rightly renowned for their power and poise, as are the Alpina versions, and these 8 Series variants follow their scripts beautifully.

Fuel Economy

Neither body styles nor the number of driven wheels appear to have an effect on fuel economy. Every 840i version achieves 24 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is excellent for this rarefied class. The more powerful versions deliver a still-respectable 19 mpg combined.

Even the most affordable new 8 Series comes with real leather upholstery, and not just for the seats, but also the armrests (which are heated) and covering the dashboard. This is an indication of how plush and well-appointed the 8 Series is in general. Other standard details include a power-adjustable steering column, soft-closing doors, ambient lighting, and navigation with over-the-air updates.

We’ve found that the front seats provide plenty of long-distance comfort. In the regular coupe and the convertible, rear accommodations are not so lavish. But they’re not meant to be — this is an 8 Series, not a 7 Series full-size sedan. However, the 4-door Gran Coupe comes with a tolerable 36.6 inches of rear legroom, about 7 inches more than the coupe. We’ve noticed that rear headroom is still a bit tight, though.

No one buys an 8 Series for the trunk space, but there’s room for a couple of weekend bags either in the trunk and/or on the back seats. The coupe and Gran Coupe have more luggage space.

The 8 Series is only about a foot shorter than the 7 Series large luxury sedan, so it’s bigger than many sports cars. In our opinion, though, the size and design give the 8 Series an exceptional presence. More in the tradition of a grand tourer, the 8 Series offers the choice of a regular 2-door coupe, a convertible with power-operated fabric roof, or a Gran Coupe with four doors which still looks sleeker than a 7 Series. Buyers considering the awesome Alpina B8 should know that it comes solely as a Gran Coupe.

Live Cockpit Professional
Otherwise known as a digital instrument cluster, it can be configured to the driver’s liking and is standard in every new 8 Series. We appreciate the system’s user-friendliness.

Full-color head-up display
Projecting vital information onto the windshield directly in front of the driver, this feature is often found on options lists, but it’s standard in the 2025 8 Series.

Harman Kardon surround-sound system
Another item typically offered as an option, this 16-speaker/464-watt setup is standard. We think it’s great, although true devotees of timbre and thunder may want to consider the next offering.

Bowers & Wilkins audio
Sending 1,400 watts of audible gloriousness through 16 speakers, this optional B&W surround-sound system resonates with clarity and detail.

Glass shift lever
It’s a bit of cosmetic frivolity, but this option is definitely a departure from the usual.

M Driver’s package
Available with the M8 Competition, this is a day’s instruction in high-speed driving at a BMW Performance Center. We’d say this is worth doing if possible. It’s always good to learn something new or make a bit of knowledge more concrete.

Six cylinders or eight, what a great decision to ponder. The 840i models have a turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine developing a perfectly fine 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. These cars have rear-wheel drive as standard. All-wheel drive (AWD) is known as xDrive in BMW-ville and is optional with this 6-cylinder engine, or standard across the rest of the range.

Beyond this point, we enter a world of excess. The M850i xDrive bolts two turbochargers to a 4.4-liter V8 to achieve 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. This same engine configuration is in the M8 models as well as the Alpina B8 Gran Coupe, boosted to 617 horsepower (same torque) in the former, or 612 horses and 590 lb-ft of torque in the latter.

All versions of the 2025 8 Series have 8-speed automatic transmissions (some tuned by the M division or Alpina, according to the model).

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

BMW’s new-vehicle warranty (including powertrains) lasts four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. These terms are typical in the luxury sector, especially among German manufacturers. BMW also includes three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

Safety

The 8 Series hasn’t been tested by any independent agencies, but that’s common for such high-end/low-volume cars. BMW’s standard set of advanced safety features includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and low-speed automatic emergency braking, post-crash braking, driver fatigue monitoring, plus automatic seat belt tensioning and window closing if an accident is imminent.