2019 BMW 8 Series

MY2019 is the launch year of the second-generation (G15) 8 Series, and in the US it was sold only as the M850i xDrive; the 840i six and the M8 did not arrive until MY2020, so the V8 is by definition the volume trim.

The N63 twin-turbo V8 delivers 553 lb-ft, above the top of the coupe band.

BMW quotes 3.6 s; instrumented tests ran quicker (MotorWeek and others 3.3–3.5 s), so the manufacturer figure is conservative.

The revised twin-turbo V8 pulls effortlessly with minimal lag and a muted, cultured character suited to a GT; some reviewers wanted more aural drama but not more smoothness.

The ZF-sourced 8-speed Steptronic Sport automatic with paddles shifts quickly and smoothly and rarely hunts; it is the class reference automatic.

xDrive AWD is standard on every 2019 8 Series, rear-biased with an electronically controlled M Sport rear differential; no low range, but sophisticated performance AWD.

For 2019 there was exactly one powertrain — the M850i xDrive V8 with AWD and the 8-speed automatic — with no six-cylinder, hybrid or electrified alternative.

The only 2019 8 Series, the V8 M850i xDrive, is EPA-rated 20 MPG combined — near the bottom of the coupe band.

A heavy twin-turbo V8 AWD GT manages 18 MPG in EPA city testing.

Tall eighth gear helps, but the V8 still tops out at 25 MPG highway.

An 18-gallon tank at the 20 MPG combined rating yields roughly 360 miles.

Premium fuel at 20 MPG combined puts annual fuel cost well beyond the top of the coupe band.

The sole 2019 powertrain is EPA-rated on premium fuel; there is no regular-fuel option.

NHTSA lists the 2019 8 Series coupe (2 DR AWD, the M850i xDrive) but has not crash-tested it. The frontal, side and rollover fields all read 'Not Rated', and the framework records an untested vehicle as 0 stars.

2019 is the launch year of the G15 generation. IIHS has never crash-tested the 8 Series, so there is no TSP/TSP+ award and no published crashworthiness result. The score sits at the low end for an untested car rather than for known poor results, since BMW's related CLAR-platform cars test well.

In 2019 the only US model was the M850i xDrive. It comes standard with Active Driving Assistant, which includes frontal collision warning with city collision mitigation and pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, Active Blind Spot Detection and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise and active lane keeping still require the $1,700 Driving Assistance Professional package, which is thin for a $111,900 GT.

Standard AEB is BMW's city collision mitigation with daytime pedestrian detection. IIHS has not evaluated the 8 Series for front crash prevention, so this score is inferred from BMW's shared sensor stack and marked down for the missing test and the lack of night pedestrian detection.

Active Blind Spot Detection and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on the M850i. Front cross-traffic alert and side collision avoidance with active steering intervention need the optional Professional package.

Lane departure warning is standard but only warns. Active lane keeping and the Steering and Lane Control Assistant come in the $1,700 Professional package. With that package fitted, BMW's lane centering is smooth on marked highways.

Full-speed Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is optional, in the Driving Assistance Professional package. When fitted, it works smoothly with the steering assist and traffic jam assistant. Making it optional on a flagship GT caps the score.

The Professional package includes steering and traffic jam assistance, but there is no full-speed hands-free mode. BMW's hands-off Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, which works up to about 40 mph on limited-access highways, reached US cars only from the 2020 model year.

The M850i has adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams, and BMW Laserlight is part of the 8 Series lighting equipment. The hardware is strong, but IIHS has never rated these headlights, so the score rests on the equipment rather than on measured performance.

The low seating, long hood, wide C-pillars and shallow rear glass of this GT coupe leave blind zones at the rear quarters. On the 2019 M850i, Parking Assistant Plus is standard, with Surround View and 3D View, Park Distance Control and a rear-view camera, which makes up for much of that.

This 2+2 coupe has LATCH anchors in both rear seats, but rear headroom and legroom are severely limited and the only access is past the tilted front seats through two long doors. A rear-facing seat is barely practical, and the car can never take more than two child seats.

The 2019 launch-year G15 8 Series was sold in the US only as the M850i xDrive Coupe, a 2+2 grand tourer with two rear buckets.

Front headroom is generous for a low-slung coupe.

Front legroom is mid-band for coupes and ample for tall drivers.

The fastback roofline leaves little rear headroom; adults touch the glass.

Rear legroom is token 2+2 space, suited to children or short trips.

The trunk is usefully sized for a two-door GT, though shallow under the sloping decklid; automatic trunk lid operation is standard.

Storage is conventional: a modest armrest bin, small door pockets and a wireless charging tray that reviewers found awkward to reach. The rear seats mostly serve as a parcel shelf.

Standard multi-way power sport seats in Merino leather are excellent over long stints; ventilation is a $900 option. The rear buckets are cramped.

Adaptive M Suspension gives a usable Comfort mode, but the standard 20-inch wheels with 30/35-series run-flat tires add sharpness over broken pavement compared with the later 840i on 18s.

Wind noise is well suppressed at highway speed, though the wide staggered 20-inch run-flats transmit some tire roar.

Automatic climate control and heated front seats are standard; ventilated seats, heated armrests and a heated steering wheel come in the inexpensive Comfort Seating Package rather than as standard.

For MY2019, the launch year of the G15 generation, the Coupe came only as the V8 M850i xDrive. The six-cylinder 840i did not arrive until MY2020. At nearly $113k it sits far above the coupe band ceiling.

The M850i xDrive is the only 2019 Coupe trim, so it is the volume trim. Typical Executive, Driving Assistance Professional, Bowers & Wilkins and paint options push a common window sticker to about $120k.

Edmunds' 2019 page refused automated access (403). The same-generation Edmunds projection for the M850i xDrive Coupe is about $16.4k for 5-year maintenance plus repairs, driven by the twin-turbo V8, staggered 20-inch performance tires and large brakes. CarEdge's $5,293 figure looks implausibly low for a V8 flagship and was not used.

In late 2026, nearly 8 model years on, KBB puts a 2019 M850i xDrive Coupe at a $42,300 fair purchase price and a $39,100 private-party value against a $112,895 sticker (about 35–37%). Backing out roughly two years of depreciation gives about 40% at the five-year mark, which is weak and typical of V8 flagship luxury coupes.

BMW's New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years or 50,000 miles, which is par for German luxury brands.

BMW offers no separate, longer powertrain warranty. The drivetrain is covered only by the 4-year/50,000-mile NVLW, which is the band minimum.

BMW Ultimate Care covers factory-scheduled maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles. Also included are 4-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance and ConnectedDrive service trials. That beats Mercedes and Audi, which include little free maintenance, but there are no fuel credits or longer-term perks.

$120,000 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (40% retained, or about $48,000) leaves about $72,000 in depreciation. Add the projected $16,400 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $88,400 in total.

2019 is the launch year of the G15 generation, and the US got only the M850i xDrive coupe. J.D. Power and Consumer Reports publish no model-specific reliability rating for 2019 because volume is so low. The 2020 car later earned strong J.D. Power quality marks, but a first-year, V8-only flagship warrants average-plus rather than top-tier.

In the late-2010s J.D. Power dependability studies BMW sat in the upper half of the field and finished above industry average, placing 8th in the 2020 VDS. That is behind Lexus and Porsche but ahead of most European luxury rivals.

Three NHTSA campaigns name the 2019 8 Series. Two are rear-view camera fixes. One is a small powertrain recall: a high-pressure fuel pump that may not have been attached properly, which can crack the pump flange and leak fuel. The later starter-fire and integrated-brake campaigns cover 2020 and later, not 2019. Activity is typical, with one fuel-leak item.

The only 2019 US powertrain is the M850i's 4.4L N63 twin-turbo V8 (latest TU3 revision, 523 hp) with the ZF 8HP automatic. The ZF gearbox is well proven. The N63 family is known for oil consumption, valve-stem-seal and coolant/heat-related problems. Later revisions improved it, but its long-term reputation still sits well below BMW's inline-sixes.

BMW's flagship coupe uses extended Merino leather, CraftedClarity glass controls, and aluminum or carbon trim. Reviewers judged it worthy of its ~$112K price and on par with Mercedes and Lexus GTs. Sharing iDrive 7 hardware with cheaper BMWs dilutes its exclusivity slightly.

The car is built at Dingolfing alongside the 5 and 7 Series. Reviewers report tight assembly with no widespread rattle or panel-gap complaints. As the first production year there is no initial-quality award to point to (the J.D. Power Quality Award came for 2020), so it sits a little below later years.

BMW has about 340 US dealers, dense in metro areas and thinner in rural ones, with mid-pack luxury service satisfaction. 2019 buyers got 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance (BMW Ultimate Care) and a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty.

Out of warranty, the twin-turbo V8 8 Series is expensive to keep. N63 service work (turbos sit inside the V, so labor hours are high), adaptive suspension, Integral Active Steering, laser lights and body panels are mostly dealer-priced and 8-Series-specific. Low US volume also limits the aftermarket.

The launch-year car uses a 10.25-inch central touchscreen; the 12.3-inch center screen arrived only with the MY2023 LCI.

iDrive 7 is quick and logically laid out, with touch, rotary controller, voice and gesture inputs and physical climate keys; early OS7 menus drew some criticism for depth.

Wireless Apple CarPlay was included only as a one-year trial before a paid subscription, and Android Auto was not offered at launch; 2019 cars became eligible for Android Auto via BMW's mid-2020 software update and BMW later dropped the CarPlay fee.

Native navigation with live traffic is standard via Live Cockpit Professional, and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant handles natural-language commands.

A 16-speaker Harman Kardon system is standard and the 1,375-watt Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround system is among the best factory audio available.

A 12.3-inch fully digital cluster is standard; crisp and configurable, though BMW's OS7 gauge graphics drew some criticism.

OS7 cars support Remote Software Upgrade, and 2019 cars later gained features such as Android Auto by update, but early-build coverage was patchy and some updates required a dealer visit.

The BMW Connected app covers remote lock/unlock, climate, vehicle finder and status, but phone-as-key (BMW Digital Key) came only with July 2020 production.

A wireless charging tray is standard but awkwardly placed; front USB ports are provided while rear-seat charging is limited.

Comfort Access proximity entry, push-button start and an automatic trunk lid are standard, with remote engine start; there is no phone-as-key for this model year.

The M850i includes front/rear Active Park Distance Control, Parking Assistant with Back-Up Assistant and a camera system with Top, Panorama and 3D views as standard.

A latest-generation full-color head-up display with larger projection area is standard on every 2019 8 Series Coupe.

On this two-door 2+2 a front seat must fold for rear access, and with 33.6 in of rear headroom and 29.5 in of legroom, installing a car seat through one long door is awkward.

Collision and pedestrian warning with city braking is standard, but adaptive cruise and lane-keeping/side-collision assist are optional on a $112k car, and the coupe was never crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

Front-seat comfort is excellent, but the rear is child-sized with no dedicated rear climate, and the 14.8 cu ft trunk limits luggage for four.

The V8 and 8-speed are effortless in traffic and Comfort mode settles the suspension, but the 20-inch run-flats, width and low seating are minor daily annoyances.

The twin-turbo V8 returns about 20 mpg combined on premium fuel, and staggered 20-inch performance run-flats and M Sport brakes carry flagship costs.

It is long, wide and limited in rear-quarter visibility, but standard Parking Assistant, 3D surround cameras and rear-wheel steering make it manageable.

There is no US tow rating, no hitch and minimal payload; it is a luxury GT with no work role.

Merino leather, delicate trim, adaptive electronics and low-profile 20-inch run-flats make it fragile under hard use.

There is no tool power outlet, roof rails, hitch or upfit ecosystem.

A natural grand tourer with superb front seats, a quiet cabin and a standard HUD, but the V8's 25 mpg highway rating trims range and adaptive cruise is optional.

Standard xDrive AWD helps in poor weather, but low ground clearance, 20-inch low-profile tires and no roof rails or hitch keep it on pavement.

The 14.8 cu ft trunk takes weekend luggage and the folding rear seatbacks add length, but a narrow opening and no hitch or roof rails limit bulky gear.

Standard Adaptive M Suspension, active roll stabilization, Integral Active Steering and an M Sport differential give strong grip and composure, though roughly 4,500 lb blunts outright agility.

The steering is quick and precise, aided by rear-wheel steer, but filters out most road feedback.

Standard M Sport brakes deliver strong, fade-resistant stops for a heavy GT with a firm, predictable pedal.

The 523-hp, 553 lb-ft twin-turbo V8 pulls with minimal lag and the ZF 8-speed shifts quickly and smoothly; stop/start is well damped.

The V8 is near-silent at cruise and vibration-free; reviewers found its sound muted and partly synthesized rather than characterful.

The long wheelbase and wide track give a large turning circle for a coupe even with standard rear-wheel steering.

The low seating position has a wide power adjustment range and well-placed controls with a rotary iDrive and physical climate keys; rear-quarter visibility and long doors are the usual coupe caveats.

It is ferociously quick (0–60 mph in 3.6 s claimed, low 3s tested) and grippy on a winding road, but reviewers frame it as a refined GT that lacks emotional character.

The 2019 M850i xDrive comes heavily equipped as standard: twin-turbo V8 with xDrive, Integral Active Steering, adaptive M suspension, M Sport differential, Merino leather, Live Cockpit Professional with a 10.25-inch screen and digital cluster, head-up display, Harman Kardon audio and laser/adaptive LED lighting. Ventilated seats, Bowers & Wilkins audio and Driving Assistant Professional still cost extra at a $113k price.

About $113k buys a 523-hp V8 with AWD that reaches 60 mph in about 3.6 s, plus a luxury GT cabin. That is strong pace against a 911 Carrera S or an S-Class coupe at similar or higher money. However, the Lexus LC 500 costs about $20k less, and with no cheaper 840i for 2019, the only way in is the most expensive powertrain.

In its launch year the Coupe was a single trim: the M850i xDrive. It had one engine, AWD only and no RWD choice. The 840i/840i xDrive, Gran Coupe and M8 all arrived for MY2020, so 2019 buyers chose only packages and colors.

The revived 8 Series went on sale in December 2018. In 2019, only the Coupe and Convertible were sold, at low-thousands US volume: a niche flagship in a shrinking large-luxury-coupe segment that would soon be outsold by its own Gran Coupe sibling.

BMW is a top-tier aspirational luxury brand with a deep enthusiast base. The revived 8 Series badge carries flagship status and E31 heritage, though in this price band it pulls slightly less than the Porsche 911.

As an all-new launch-year model, the 2019 M850i initially sold near sticker. Through 2019, BMW Financial lease support and dealer discounts on slow-turning $110k+ coupes became common, with modest rather than aggressive cash offers.

MY2019 is the first year of the all-new G15 generation, on BMW's then-current CLAR platform with the latest Live Cockpit Professional and driver-assistance tech. The 2019 buyer got the newest version, with the LCI refresh years away (MY2023).

Reviewers praise the M850i's ferocious twin-turbo V8, all-weather traction, cabin quality and long-distance GT comfort. They criticize its weight, numb steering compared with the 911, and the price. It did not make 10Best or win major comparison tests.