2021 BMW 8 Series Review

Name: 2021 BMW 8 Series
Brand: BMW

Price: $51,663

BMW 8 Series M850i xDrive Coupe Exterior Shown

Great

8.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Among luxury sport coupes, choices tend to focus on comfort or performance. The 2021 BMW 8 Series is remarkable for its ability to deliver both in abundance. On top of that, the interior is elegantly modern and has plenty of new technology features. Choosing between it and the venerable Porsche 911 will be tough.

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Average price: $48,233

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Appraise My 2021 BMW 8 Series

BMW 8 Series model years

BMW 8 Series for Sale

BMW 8 Series types

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

What's new

Lane departure warning now standard
Android Auto smartphone integration added
Part of the second 8 Series generation introduced for 2019

Overview

Written by automotive expert Kurt Niebuhr

4/22/2021

Now in its third year since its 2019 reintroduction, the BMW 8 Series is one of the best grand-touring luxury cars on the market. The 8 Series is available as a coupe or convertible and with either a turbocharged six-cylinder engine or turbo V8. And it's rapid as well as comfortable and easy to drive for hours on end. For 2021, BMW has added a few standard features to the 8 Series, including, finally, Android Auto compatibility, as well as lane departure warning.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

12 listings

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2021 BMW 8 Series
M850i xDrive Coupe
$51,663
- 39,838 miles
- 8cyl automatic
- 3 mi away
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
Close
Located in Sterling, VA
Clean CARFAX. AWD 2021 BMW 8 Series M850i xDrive 8-Speed Automatic Sport Black Sapphire Metallic 4.4L V8 32V TwinPower Turbo Active Blind Spot Detecti...
Features and Specs:
20 Combined MPG (17 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
WBABC4C09MCE91854
Stock:
MCE91854T1
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
08-11-2026
Price Drop
2021 BMW 8 Series
M850i xDrive Coupe
$48,995
fair price
$305 above market
- 52,212 miles
- 8cyl automatic
- 47 mi away
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
Close
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
Features and Specs:
20 Combined MPG (17 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
WBABC4C05MCG37229
Stock:
EAG3791
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
08-09-2026

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You'll for sure want to cross-shop the 8 Series against Porsche's ever-capable 911, but you could also line it up against the Lexus LC 500, which comes as both a coupe and convertible for 2021. Overall, we're impressed with how this big BMW stacks up against its pedigreed rivals. Read our Expert Rating below for further in-depth analysis and our review of the 2021 8 Series.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Great

8.1

out of 10

We drove the 2021 BMW 8 Series on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the 8 Series drive? We have high expectations for this segment when it comes to performance, and the 8 Series meets or exceeds them. We tested the M850i coupe at our test track and it ripped from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. That's quicker than sportier cars such as the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT C.

The brakes are touchy at low speeds, so you'll occasionally make an inelegant stop. Otherwise, the 8 Series is extraordinarily easy to drive, from the everyday commute to its high limits. Standard all-wheel drive, controlled body roll, and accurate, responsive steering encourage you to drive harder.

Comfort

9/10

How comfortable is the 8 Series? The 8 Series gets all the high marks expected from a fine luxury sport coupe. Adaptive dampers work wonders to absorb bumps and ruts for a better ride than rivals offer. The front seats are well shaped for hours of relaxed touring, though the aggressive side bolsters — while adjustable — can be confining. Wind and road noise is impressively silenced, yet you can still hear just enough of the burly V8 to be inspired.

What's most impressive is that the 8 Series is somehow this comfortable without diluting its superb overall performance. The customary sacrifices with respect to ride quality and noise are blissfully absent.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The cabin's look and feel are a huge asset. The primary controls are well placed and require little attention to operate, though with practice, some users might prefer the available gesture controls. Thanks to ample shoulder room, you won't bump your passenger as you swipe to change songs. But there's little room in the back. 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 monitoring and surround-view camera system help. Overall, none of these drawbacks are unusual for this class.

Technology

7.5/10

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. 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 but most are optional.

Storage

8/10

How’s the storage? The 8 Series is surprisingly utilitarian. The trunk is massive for the class and can accept surprisingly large, bulky cargo. The liftover height for the trunk is low too. Up front, BMW's designers gave the 8 Series a fair number of spaces for holding personal items. Pockets, bins and cupholders are moderately sized, and the rubberized wireless charging pad ensures your phone will stay put.

Want to use your 8 Series as a family taxi? Little kids in booster seats will be OK, but good luck trying to fit a big child safety seat in the back given the lack of space.

Fuel Economy

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates fuel economy for the M850i at 20 mpg combined, which is slightly better than average among competing V8 coupes. Those figures are attainable if you have restraint. Most of our test drivers didn't, and our test M850i ended up posting fill-ups in the low teens.

Value

8/10

Is the 8 Series a good value? The 8 Series is remarkably well equipped in its base form, and that's especially true when you compare it to a similarly priced Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe and Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. In many ways, you get an optimal blend of the Mercedes' opulence and the Porsche's dynamic abilities. Even if you're generous with options, the 8 Series is a relative bargain.

BMW's basic and powertrain warranties are good for four years/50,000 miles, which is standard in the class among German rivals. Complimentary maintenance is offered for three years/36,000 miles, which is increasingly rare in the luxury class.

Wildcard

8.3/10

The 8 Series has the presence and performance to bring a smile to your face whether you're gazing it from afar or wringing it out on a fun road or racetrack. We give it extra points for its ability to satisfy both luxury- and sporty-minded drivers at the touch of a button.

2021 BMW 8 Series trim level differences

The 2021 BMW 8 Series is offered in three trims: 840i, 840i xDrive and M850i xDrive. All are available in either a coupe or convertible body style. (There's also a four-door 8 Series Gran Coupe, which is reviewed separately.) Compare the 2021 BMW 8 Series trim levels in-depth.

Which 8 Series trim does Edmunds recommend?

Our choice would be the M850i xDrive, even though the standard 840i is more than competent. The M850i's twin-turbo V8 engine adds authoritative power we think is worth the extra money and better suited to the car's personality. To that, we'd add the Driver Assistance and Driver Assistance Professional packages for their additional driver assist features.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$239/mo

$230/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

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Reliability

The 2021 BMW 8 Series has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and no recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Recalls

There are no recalls for the 2021 BMW 8 Series

Warranty

4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 12 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 4 years / unlimited miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

BMW 8 Series Reviews

Owner Reviews

5.0

7 reviews

5(100%)

4(0%)

3(0%)

2(0%)

1(0%)

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2021 8 Series Features & Specs

Type:

Coupe

Trim:

840i

Est. Market Value	$36,929
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$239/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the 8 Series models:

Frontal Collision Warning: Alerts the driver if a front collision is imminent. The system applies the brakes if the driver doesn't respond in time.
Lane Departure Warning: Alerts the driver if the vehicle begins to wander out of its marked lanes.
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.

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