2020 BMW 8 Series

MY2020 is the second year of the G15 generation and the first in which the 840i (B58 3.0L turbo six, 335 hp) joined the launch M850i xDrive; the 840i is the volume trim, with the 4.4L twin-turbo V8 M850i topping the non-M range at 523 hp.

The B58 six delivers 368 lb-ft from 1,600 rpm, strong low-end pull for a GT; the V8 offers 553 lb-ft.

BMW quotes 4.7 s for the 2020 840i xDrive Coupe (4.9 s RWD); instrumented/third-party figures run as quick as 4.4–4.5 s, so the claim is conservative. The M850i xDrive is about 3.6 s.

The B58 inline-six is one of the smoothest, most responsive turbo sixes on sale, with negligible lag and an early torque peak; the optional V8 is similarly effortless.

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

For 2020 the Coupe is offered as RWD 840i or with rear-biased xDrive AWD on the 840i xDrive, standard on the M850i xDrive; no low range, but sophisticated performance AWD with an available M Sport differential.

Two gas engines (turbo I6 and twin-turbo V8) across RWD and AWD, plus the separate M8 introduced for 2020; no hybrid, PHEV or EV option.

The volume AWD 840i xDrive Coupe is EPA-rated 23 combined for 2020; the RWD 840i manages 25 and the V8 M850i xDrive falls to 20.

A heavy AWD luxury GT; the turbo six manages 21 MPG in EPA city testing for 2020 (one better than the 2021 rating).

Tall eighth gear helps highway economy, but weight and AWD cap it at 27 MPG.

An 18.0-gallon tank at the 23 MPG combined rating yields roughly 414 miles of range.

Premium fuel at 23 MPG combined puts annual fuel cost beyond the top of the coupe band.

Every 2020 8 Series Coupe trim is EPA-rated on premium fuel; no regular-fuel option.

NHTSA lists both 2020 8 Series Coupe variants (2 DR RWD, 2 DR AWD) but has crash-tested neither; every frontal, side and rollover field reads 'Not Rated'. Per the framework an untested vehicle records 0 stars.

2020 is the second model year of the G15 generation (new for 2019) and the year the six-cylinder 840i joined the line-up. IIHS has never crash-tested the 8 Series, so it holds no Top Safety Pick or TSP+ and has no published crashworthiness results. It is scored at the low end for untested vehicles, not as a known poor performer, because BMW's related CLAR-platform cars test well.

On the volume 840i, standard equipment covers only frontal collision warning with low-speed city AEB and daytime pedestrian detection. Lane departure warning, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert come in an optional Driving Assistance package, and adaptive cruise and lane keeping need the $1,700 Professional package. That is thin standard content for an $87,900 GT.

Standard AEB is limited to low-speed city collision mitigation with daytime-only pedestrian detection. IIHS has not evaluated the 8 Series' front crash prevention, so the score is inferred from the shared BMW sensor stack and discounted for the lack of a test result and of any night-pedestrian capability.

Active Blind Spot Detection and rear cross-traffic alert are optional on the 840i, in either Driving Assistance package; front cross-traffic alert and side-collision avoidance need the Professional package. The features are available on every trim, but the volume trim does not get them by default.

No lane assistance is standard on the 2020 840i; even lane departure warning is in an option package. Active lane keeping and Steering and Lane Control Assistant come with the Driving Assistance Professional package, and when fitted BMW's centering is generally smooth on marked highways.

Full-speed Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go is optional (Driving Assistance Professional), not standard. When fitted, the combination with steering assist and traffic jam assistant is refined and well integrated, but leaving it optional on a flagship GT caps the score.

The only hands-off option is Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, part of Driving Assistance Professional. It allows hands-off driving up to about 40 mph on limited-access highways, so it covers congestion only, with no full-speed hands-free capability.

Adaptive LED headlights are standard, and BMW Laserlight is available. The hardware is strong, but IIHS has never rated the 8 Series' headlights, so the score rests on equipment rather than measured performance.

Typical long-hood GT coupe sightlines: low seating, wide C-pillars and a shallow rear window leave rear-quarter blind zones. Park distance control and a rear-view camera are fitted, but Surround View with 3D View is part of the optional $1,100 Driving Assistance Package on the 840i.

The coupe is a 2+2 with LATCH anchors in both rear seats, but rear headroom and legroom are severely limited and access is through long two-door openings past tilted front seats. A rear-facing seat is barely practical, and only two child seats can ever fit.

The 2020 840i Coupe, in the second model year of the G15 generation, is a 2+2 grand tourer with two rear buckets, so it seats four.

Front headroom is generous for a low-slung coupe. Some sources list 39.1 in, depending on roof configuration.

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

The fastback roofline leaves little rear headroom, so 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 it is shallow under the sloping decklid.

Storage is conventional: a modest center armrest bin, small door pockets and the wireless charging tray. Nothing is clever, and the rear seats mostly serve as a parcel shelf.

The standard multi-way power sport seats are excellent over long stints, and multi-function seats are available. The rear buckets are cramped but rarely used.

Dynamic Damper Control is standard and gives a compliant Comfort mode. The base 18-inch wheels ride better than the optional 19s and 20s, though the run-flat tires still add sharpness over broken pavement.

Wind and road noise are well suppressed at highway speed for a flagship coupe. Some tire roar comes through from the wide staggered run-flat tires.

Automatic climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated front armrests are standard. Ventilated front seats are optional through the Comfort Seating Package.

MY2020 is the first year the six-cylinder 840i joined the G15 Coupe line-up, below the M850i xDrive that launched alone for 2019. At nearly $89k it sits far above the coupe band ceiling.

The volume build is the AWD 840i xDrive Coupe ($91,795 with destination). Common Executive, M Sport and Premium package content puts a typical window sticker in the mid-to-high $90ks.

Edmunds projects very high maintenance and repair spend once BMW Ultimate Care lapses after year 3. That reflects staggered 20-inch performance tires, large brakes and dealer labor rates for a flagship GT.

In late 2026, about six years on, KBB puts a 2020 840i xDrive Coupe at a $37,730 fair purchase price against a $91,795 sticker (~41%). Backing out roughly a year of depreciation gives about 43% at the five-year mark, which is weak even for a luxury coupe.

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 trials. That beats Mercedes and Audi, which include little free maintenance, but there are no fuel credits.

$97,000 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (43% retained, or about $41,710) leaves about $55,290 in depreciation. Add the projected $22,432 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $77,722 in total.

2020 is the second model year of the G15 generation (launched 2019) and the first US year of the 840i. J.D. Power gives the 2020 8 Series a quality & reliability score of 85/100 ("Great") and names it a Quality Award winner, which is top-tier. Consumer Reports has little model-specific survey data because so few are sold, so the score stays in the low 80s rather than higher.

BMW placed 8th in the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study and finished better than the industry average. It ranked about 15th in the 2022 VDS. That is solidly mid-pack to upper-mid: behind Lexus and Porsche, but ahead of most European luxury rivals.

At least four NHTSA campaigns name the 2020 8 Series coupe. One replaced the integrated brake system. Two cover starter overheating with fire risk: 24V576, plus 25V644, which re-does that repair. The fourth fixes rear-view camera software. Another camera campaign and a seat-belt/airbag recall list 840i/M850i models; the seat-belt filing names the Gran Coupe. No do-not-drive notice was issued, but repeated brake and fire campaigns put this year at the low end of typical.

The volume 840i, new to the US for 2020, uses BMW's B58 3.0L turbo inline-six with the ZF 8HP automatic, a well-proven pairing with a good high-mileage record. The M850i's N63 twin-turbo V8 has a history of oil consumption and heat-load problems, and the 840i starter campaigns keep this score below the top tier.

As BMW's flagship coupe, it uses extended Merino leather, CraftedClarity glass controls, and aluminum, wood or carbon trim. Reviewers rate the cabin as matching its roughly $85K starting price and on par with Mercedes and Lexus GTs. Sharing iDrive 7 hardware with cheaper BMWs dilutes its exclusivity slightly.

The 8 Series is built at Dingolfing alongside the 5 and 7 Series. The 2020 model won a J.D. Power Quality Award, which reflects few problems in the first 90 days of ownership. Reviewers report tight assembly with no widespread rattle or panel-gap complaints.

BMW has about 340 US dealers, dense in metro areas and thinner in rural ones, with mid-pack luxury service satisfaction. 2020 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 8 Series costs flagship-BMW money to keep. Many parts are 8-Series-specific and dealer-priced, including the adaptive suspension, Integral Active Steering, laser lights and body panels, and low US volume limits the aftermarket. The B58 engine and shared drivetrain parts are widely available.

The pre-refresh 2020 car uses a 10.25-inch central touchscreen. The 12.3-inch center screen only arrived with the MY2023 LCI.

iDrive 7 is quick and logically laid out. Touch, the rotary controller, voice and gesture give redundant inputs, and physical climate buttons remain.

Wireless Apple CarPlay is standard. Wireless Android Auto was not supported at launch: it arrived for OS7 cars built from July 2020, and earlier 2020 cars received it later by remote or dealer software upgrade.

The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant handles natural-language commands, and native navigation with live traffic is standard through Live Cockpit Professional.

A Harman Kardon surround system is standard. The optional 1,375-watt Bowers & Wilkins Diamond system is among the best factory audio available.

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

BMW Operating System 7 supports Remote Software Upgrade. 2020 cars received Android Auto and other feature additions over the air, but the cadence trails later systems.

The BMW Connected / My BMW app covers remote lock/unlock, climate, vehicle finder and status. Apple-wallet Digital Key arrived only with MY2021 production, so the 2020 car lacks phone-as-key.

A wireless charging tray is standard and the front has USB ports, while rear-seat charging is limited.

Comfort Access proximity entry and push-button start are standard, with remote start available. There is no phone-as-key for this model year.

Park Distance Control and a rearview camera are standard. Surround View, Parking Assistant and Parking Assistant Plus are optional extras.

A full-color head-up display with a large projection area is standard even on the volume 840i.

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

Only Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation is standard. Blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise sit in the optional Driving Assistance Professional Package, and the coupe has no NHTSA or IIHS ratings.

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

In traffic, the smooth B58 six and ZF 8-speed, the Comfort damper mode and a light-effort cabin make it easy to drive. The car's width and low seating are minor annoyances.

The 840i runs in the low-to-mid 20s mpg combined on premium fuel. Wide staggered performance run-flats, brakes and dealer service carry luxury-flagship costs.

At about 191 in long and 75 in wide, with limited rear-quarter visibility, the car is bulky in town. A roughly 38 ft turning circle and standard parking sensors help, and surround view is optional.

It has no US tow rating, no hitch and minimal payload. It is a luxury GT with no work role.

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

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

It is a natural grand tourer, with superb front seats, a quiet cabin, a supple Comfort mode and a standard HUD. Highway economy near 30 mpg from a roughly 17-gal tank gives about 500 miles of range, though adaptive cruise is optional.

The volume 840i is rear-drive (xDrive AWD is optional). Low ground clearance, a long front overhang and the lack of roof rails or a hitch keep it on pavement.

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

Standard adaptive dampers and Integral Active Steering give composed, grippy handling. The car's roughly 4,000 lb GT weight blunts its agility relative to true sports coupes.

The steering is precise and nicely weighted but filters out most road feedback.

The brakes are strong and progressive with good fade resistance for GT duty, though they are not the M Sport setup of the M850i.

The B58 3.0L turbo I6 (335 hp, 368 lb-ft from 1,600 rpm) and the ZF 8-speed are benchmark-smooth, with prompt tip-in and seamless shifts.

The inline-six is silky, sounds pleasant when worked, and is near-silent at cruise. Reviewers note some synthesized sound in Sport mode.

The long wheelbase and wide track give a large turning circle for a coupe. Optional rear-wheel steering trims it slightly.

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

It is a quick, characterful grand tourer (0–60 mph in about 4.7 s) and rewarding on a winding road, but reviewers frame it as a GT first and a sports car second.

The 2020 840i Coupe comes well equipped for a flagship: Vernasca leather power sport seats, Live Cockpit Professional with a 10.25-inch center screen and digital cluster, head-up display, Harman Kardon audio, adaptive LED headlights and active driver aids. Ventilated seats, Bowers & Wilkins audio and Driving Assistant Professional cost extra.

For about $89k–$92k, the new-for-2020 840i delivers 335 hp, 0–60 mph in 4.7 s (xDrive) and a luxury GT cabin. That undercuts Mercedes-AMG and Porsche alternatives, but it costs more than a Lexus LC 500 and lacks the 911's sharpness. Fair value rather than a bargain.

With the 840i added for 2020, the Coupe offers three choices: 840i RWD, 840i xDrive and M850i xDrive. That covers two engines and RWD or AWD. The Convertible, the new Gran Coupe and the M8 widen the family, but there is no manual or electrified option.

US sales for the whole 8 Series family ran only in the low thousands in 2020, which was depressed by the pandemic. The two-door Coupe is the smallest slice behind the new Gran Coupe, a niche flagship in a shrinking large-luxury-coupe segment.

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.

The 2020 model year coincided with a pandemic-era sales slump. A slow-selling flagship coupe drew BMW Financial Services lease support, subvented financing and large dealer discounts off sticker before the chip shortage tightened inventory in 2021.

MY2020 is the second year of the G15 generation that debuted for MY2019, and the year the 840i was added. Platform and tech were current, though the MY2023 LCI would later bring a larger screen and styling updates.

Reviewers praise the smooth B58 six, the refined cabin and long-distance GT comfort. They criticize its weight, its steering feel compared with the 911, and the price. It did not make 10Best or win major comparisons.