The 2024 8 Series convertible excels at long highway journeys. It has a well-constructed interior and a sublimely comfortable ride. It'll entertain you on a curvy back road and keep up with the competition when you leave a set of stoplights, but this Bimmer simply excels at long-distance comfort.Read full review
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.
Pros
Both available engines offer ample performance
Comfortable for long-distance cruising
More cargo room than you might expect
Luxurious and refined interior
Cons
Rear seats aren't of much use
Swoopy styling reduces outward visibility
Getting advanced driver assist tech requires two packages
What's new
The BMW 8 Series returns with no significant changes for 2024
Part of the second 8 Series generation introduced for 2019
Overview
The BMW 8 Series coupe first debuted in 1990 and ran until 1999. Some 20 years later, it was revived with a second generation, replacing the sleek 6 Series as BMW's largest coupe, supported by the smaller 4 Series and 2 Series. As with its predecessor and the 6 Series, this 8 Series isn't an all-out sports car. Rather, it's a touring coupe or convertible with an abundance of performance. That means it's easy to live with, yet it's exciting enough for enthusiastic drivers.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 BMW 8 Series M850i xDrive 2dr Coupe AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.49 per gallon for premium unleaded in Texas.
As a touring coupe or convertible, the BMW 8 Series is an excellent road trip vehicle for two sophisticated travelers. The ride quality is smooth yet provides the driver with a feeling of connectedness to the car and road. The well-shaped seats and quiet cabin further reduce long-distance fatigue. At the same time, the 8 Series is an entertaining companion on a curvy mountain road thanks to the adaptive suspension that can be firmed up to further sharpen handling. Power is more than adequate with the base 840i, but those with an appetite for performance would do well to look into the V8-powered M850i or the top-performing M8, which is reviewed separately.
Competitors to consider
The 2024 BMW 8 Series can go toe-to-toe with the best sport touring cars out there, as pointed out in our Expert Rating below. That includes the iconic Porsche 911 that is always evolving and offers an extraordinarily deep roster of models. New this year is the Mercedes-Benz CLE, which replaces the C-Class and E-Class coupes and convertibles. While the CLE is not as sporty as the 8 Series or the Porsche, favoring luxury and refinement over performance, future Mercedes-AMG models should be competitive. Further off to the luxury side is the shapely Lexus LC 500.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our Verdict
The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Good
7.9
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The 2024 8 Series convertible excels at long highway journeys. It has a well-constructed interior and a sublimely comfortable ride. It'll entertain you on a curvy back road and keep up with the competition when you leave a set of stoplights, but this Bimmer simply excels at long-distance comfort.
How does the 8 Series drive? The 840i with the base six-cylinder engine has more than adequate power, and the eight-speed automatic transmission delivers smooth, lightning-fast shifts. At our test track, our 840i convertible test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a quick 4.8 seconds. Dynamic back-road driving from this big grand tourer is impressive too, with relatively flat cornering and impressive braking performance.
There are a few drawbacks to the base 8 Series convertible, including heavy but vague steering, poor throttle calibration at slow speeds, and a lack of braking feel. Those are small gripes when you consider the car's overall aptitude.
Comfort
9/10
How comfortable is the 8 Series? The 840i's ride quality is excellent. The adaptive suspension soaks up almost all road imperfections. It's still smooth sailing even in Sport mode. Combine that with one of the quietest cabins in its class, and you've got a car that begs to be taken on a long road trip. The front seats are very comfortable for hours on end. The rear seats are a bit less comfortable, but they're adequate for small children, which is expected in this class.
The buttons for the climate control are a bit confusing at first, but the air conditioning and heated seats work well. The seat ventilation feature, on the other hand, doesn't provide much cooling effect.
Interior
8/10
How’s the interior? The cabin's look and feel are impressive. The primary controls are well placed and require little attention to operate. But there's little room in the back for anyone other than small children. The seats are essentially two nicely upholstered luggage buckets.
The front seats are highly adjustable, so there's no issue finding an ideal position. Visibility is slightly compromised due to the thick pillars and lack of visual references, but the standard blind-spot warning and surround-view camera system help. Overall, none of these drawbacks are unusual for this class.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Save as much as $11,904 with Edmunds Click on the trim you’re interested in to see what Edmunds suggests you should pay to get a good deal. Savings vary by trim; $11,904 refers to estimated savings off of MSRP for the M850i xDrive trim.
2024 BMW 8 Series M850i xDrive pricing in Montgomery, TX
How’s the tech? The standard audio system is powerful and clear enough that you don't need to bother with the optional (and pricey) Bowers & Wilkins upgrade. But if you're willing to shell out the extra cash, it does provide excellent sound quality, even with the top down. The infotainment system features a crisp, responsive screen and easy-to-navigate menus. Alternatively, you can use voice controls if you don't want to fiddle with the iDrive controller. The system is quite accurate, but because it is cloud-based, it can be slow to respond. All of the 8 Series' advanced driving aids work well.
Storage
7/10
How’s the storage? It can be tough to criticize the trunk space in a convertible, but the 840i is neither small nor inexpensive. As such, we expected a bit more efficient use of space. With the top up, the trunk has a decent capacity of 12.4 cubic feet. That puts it well ahead of the 911 Cabriolet and the Lexus LC 500 convertible.
But all that capacity vanishes if you'd like to put the top down as you need to deploy a trunk divider, which essentially leaves space for two half-full grocery bags. The rear seats do fold for longer items — assuming the top is up — but the opening is quite narrow.
It's much better on the inside, where both front passengers will find ample room for their personal items, especially in the long, padded door pockets. The rear seats do have anchors for car seats, but they're better used for holding bags and jackets.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Fuel Economy
7.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? The 840i convertible gets an EPA fuel economy estimate of 24 mpg combined (21 city/29 highway), which is a bit higher than most rivals. Our test car got 23.4 mpg on our highway-heavy 115-mile evaluation route. That's a bit disappointing considering the bias toward highway driving on our route.
Value
8/10
Is the 8 Series a good value? You're bound to have high expectations when you're shopping for a six-figure convertible, and the 840i delivers. It has premium build quality, along with excellent interior materials. We would avoid the optional glass controls and a few other packages, though, to keep the cost down.
BMW's four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty is average for the class. Three years of free maintenance is a bit less common, however, and it helps the 8 Series' score here.
Wildcard
8/10
At its heart, the 8 Series convertible is a road-trip kind of vehicle. It's quiet as a mouse on the highway and comfortable over any surface. And when the roads get twisty, you can still have quite a bit of fun behind the wheel. This convertible also has plenty of get-up-and-go. Looks are subjective, but the 8 Series feels pretty stately whether you're staring at it in a parking spot or cruising down the coast.
Which 8 Series does Edmunds recommend?
We're confident most drivers will have a surplus of power with the entry-level 840i trim. While we find the M850i inspiring for its V8 burble, we'd suggest genuine performance enthusiasts skip it and step up to the high-performance M8. We also recommend adding the optional Driving Assistance packages for the driver assist features and adaptive cruise control.
Alerts you if a front collision is imminent. The system applies the brakes if you don't respond in time.
Lane departure warning
Alerts you if the vehicle begins to wander out of its marked lane.
Active Guard
Detects an imminent collision and then pre-tensions seat belts, closes the windows, and keeps the brakes applied to prevent a secondary collision.
FAQ
Is the BMW 8 Series a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2024 8 Series both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.9 out of 10. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that carrying capacity for the 8 Series ranges from 10 to 12.4 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a BMW 8 Series. Learn more
What's new in the 2024 BMW 8 Series?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2024 BMW 8 Series:
The BMW 8 Series returns with no significant changes for 2024
Part of the second 8 Series generation introduced for 2019
To determine whether the BMW 8 Series is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the 8 Series. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the 8 Series's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2024 BMW 8 Series a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2024 BMW 8 Series is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2024 8 Series and gave it a 7.9 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2024 8 Series is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2024 BMW 8 Series?
The least-expensive 2024 BMW 8 Series is the 2024 BMW 8 Series M850i xDrive 2dr Coupe AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $106,300.
Other versions include:
M850i xDrive 2dr Coupe AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $106,300
M850i xDrive 2dr Convertible AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $116,000
If you're interested in the BMW 8 Series, the next question is, which 8 Series model is right for you? 8 Series variants include M850i xDrive 2dr Coupe AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A), and M850i xDrive 2dr Convertible AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A). For a full list of 8 Series models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
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