2021 BMW 8 Series

The volume 2021 840i xDrive Coupe uses BMW's B58 3.0L turbocharged inline-six rated 335 hp; the M850i xDrive's 4.4L twin-turbo V8 tops the non-M range at 523 hp. MY2021 is a carry-over year within the second generation (G15, launched 2019).

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

BMW quotes 4.7 s for the AWD 840i xDrive Coupe (4.9 s RWD); third-party listings cite as quick as 4.4 s, so the manufacturer claim is conservative. The M850i drops to about 3.6 s.

The B58 inline-six is widely regarded as one of the smoothest, most responsive turbo sixes on sale, with negligible lag and a 1,600-rpm 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 2021 the Coupe is offered as RWD 840i or with rear-biased xDrive AWD on the 840i xDrive and 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 configurations, plus the separate M8; no hybrid, PHEV or EV option.

The volume AWD 840i xDrive Coupe is EPA-rated 23 combined for 2021; the RWD 840i manages 25 and the V8 M850i xDrive falls to 20.

A heavy AWD luxury GT; the turbo six manages 20 MPG in EPA city testing.

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 2021 8 Series Coupe trim is EPA-rated on premium fuel, which BMW requires for these engines; no regular-fuel option.

NHTSA lists both 2021 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.

The 2021 is the third model year of the G15 generation, which arrived for 2019. IIHS has never crash-tested it, 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 (5 Series, X5) test well.

On the volume 840i, forward collision warning with low-speed city AEB (pedestrian detection) and lane departure warning are standard. Blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert sit in the optional $1,100 Driving Assistance Package. Adaptive cruise and lane keeping need the $1,700 Driving Assistance Professional Package. That is thin standard content for a $85K+ GT.

Standard camera/radar AEB with pedestrian detection, described as low-speed (city) collision mitigation. IIHS has not evaluated the 8 Series' front crash prevention, so the score is inferred from the shared BMW sensor stack and discounted for having no direct test result and no night-pedestrian data.

Active Blind Spot Detection and rear cross-traffic alert are optional on the 840i, in the Driving Assistance Package; the M850i gets more equipment as standard. Front cross-traffic alert and Lane Keeping Assistant with Active Side Collision Protection need the Professional package. The features are available on every trim, but the volume trim does not get them by default.

Only lane departure warning (alert only) is standard. Steering and Lane Control Assistant (centering) and active lane-keeping come with the optional Driving Assistance Professional Package. 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 of adaptive cruise, 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 with automatic high beams 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. A rear-view camera and park sensors are standard, while Surround View is part of the optional 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 2021 840i xDrive Coupe (G15, second generation, launched for MY2019) is a 2+2 grand tourer with two rear buckets, so it seats four. 2021 is a carry-over year for the body.

Front headroom is generous for a low-slung coupe.

Front legroom is ample for tall drivers.

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

Rear legroom is token 2+2 space, suitable for children or short trips only.

The trunk is usefully sized for a two-door GT, though shallow under the sloping decklid.

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

Multi-way power front sport seats with adjustable bolsters and thigh support are excellent over long stints. The rear buckets are cramped but rarely used.

Adaptive dampers give a compliant Comfort mode with tight body control. Run-flat tires on 19/20-inch wheels add some sharpness over broken pavement.

Wind and road noise are well suppressed at highway speed, with some tire roar from the wide run-flats.

Dual-zone automatic climate and heated front seats are standard on the 840i. Ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel and heated armrests come through packages.

The entry 2021 8 Series Coupe is the rear-drive 840i (3.0L turbo I6) in the pre-facelift G15 generation. The price is far above the coupe band ceiling, so it scores at the bottom.

The volume build is the AWD 840i xDrive Coupe ($90,900 base). Common Executive/M Sport/Premium package content puts a typical build 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. CarEdge's model-wide figure is far lower (~$4,900), but Edmunds' figure is year- and trim-specific.

In 2026, about five years on, KBB values a 2021 840i Coupe at ~$39.5k fair purchase price against an $88k MSRP (~45%). Dealer listings of $37k–$50k bracket that figure. CarEdge's model-wide average (~51%) is boosted by newer and M-badged cars.

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-yr/50k 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/BMW Assist trials. That beats Mercedes and Audi, which include little free maintenance, but there are no fuel or charging credits.

$97,000 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (45% retained, or about $43,650) leaves about $53,350 in depreciation. Add the projected $20,122 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $73,472 in total.

The 2021 8 Series is a carry-over year of the G15 generation (launched 2019) and is built at Dingolfing, which won a J.D. Power Gold Plant Quality Award in the 2021 IQS. Low sales volume means Consumer Reports has little survey data for a model-specific verdict. The 2020 car scored 79/100 with J.D. Power, so this sits at the top of the average band.

In the J.D. Power 2022 VDS, which covers 2019 models, BMW logged 187 problems per 100 vehicles, slightly better than the industry average, and ranked about 15th. That puts BMW mid-pack: behind Lexus and Porsche but ahead of the bottom-third luxury brands.

Four NHTSA campaigns cover the 2021 8 Series coupe. One replaced the integrated brake system for loss of ABS and brake assist. Another updated rear-camera software. A third, 25V644, addresses starter overheating with fire risk; it re-does the earlier 24V576 repair. A 2021-only 48V battery-connection fire recall (20V761) names the 840i Gran Coupe rather than the coupe. None is a do-not-drive notice, but brake and fire campaigns put this year above typical recall activity.

The volume 840i pairs BMW's B58 3.0L turbo inline-six with the ZF 8HP automatic, one of BMW's best-regarded modern combinations with a good high-mileage record. The M850i's N63 twin-turbo V8 has more oil-consumption and heat-load risk, and the starter recall affects the 840i, which keeps this score below the top tier.

BMW's flagship coupe uses extended Merino leather, CraftedClarity glass controls, and aluminum, wood or carbon trim. Reviewers say the materials suit its roughly $86K price and compete 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. That plant won J.D. Power's Gold Plant Quality Award in 2021, and reviewers report tight, consistent assembly with no widespread rattle or panel-gap complaints.

BMW has roughly 340 U.S. dealers, with dense coverage in metro areas and thinner coverage in rural ones. Its J.D. Power service satisfaction is mid-pack among luxury brands. For 2021 the car came with 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance (BMW Ultimate Care) and a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty, which helps early ownership.

Once out of warranty, the 8 Series costs what a flagship BMW costs 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 U.S. volume limits the aftermarket. The B58 engine and the shared drivetrain parts are widely available.

The pre-facelift 2021 car uses a 10.25-inch central touchscreen. The 12.3-inch screen arrived with the MY2023 LCI.

iDrive 7 is quick and logical, with touch, rotary controller, voice and gesture inputs, plus physical climate keys.

Wireless Apple CarPlay is standard, and wireless Android Auto was added for 2021. It can project onto the cluster and head-up display.

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

A 16-speaker, 600-watt Harman Kardon system is standard, and the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond system is optional.

A 12.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional digital cluster is standard. It is crisp, though BMW's gauge graphics draw some criticism.

BMW Operating System 7 supports Remote Software Upgrade and map updates. The 2021 Android Auto addition arrived through this platform.

The BMW app covers remote lock/unlock, climate, vehicle finder and Remote 3D View. NFC Digital Key support is limited compared with later UWB systems.

Wireless charging and four USB ports are standard; the rear seats get limited charging.

Comfort Access proximity entry and push-button start are standard. Remote engine start and NFC phone-as-key are available.

Front and rear Park Distance Control and a rearview camera are standard. Parking Assistant Plus (surround view, Reversing Assistant, automated parking) is optional.

A full-color head-up display is standard even on the 840i.

This is a two-door 2+2 with 33.6 in of rear headroom and 29.5 in of legroom. Loading a car seat means folding a front seat and working through one door, so it frustrates daily family use.

Forward AEB with pedestrian detection is standard, and lane departure warning became standard for 2021. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise are optional packages, and the coupe has no NHTSA or IIHS crash ratings.

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

The smooth B58 six, ZF 8-speed and Comfort damper mode make traffic easy. The car's width and low seating are minor annoyances.

The 840i xDrive is rated around 24 mpg combined on premium fuel. Wide run-flat tires, brakes and dealer service carry flagship-luxury costs.

At about 191 in long and 75 in wide, with a turning circle of roughly 38–39 ft and limited rear-quarter visibility, the car is bulky in town. Standard parking sensors help.

There is no US tow rating, no hitch and minimal payload. It has no work role.

Merino leather, delicate trim and low-profile run-flats make it fragile for hard use.

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

It is a natural grand tourer, with superb front seats, a quiet cabin and a supple Comfort mode. 29 mpg highway from a roughly 17-gal tank gives about 500 miles of range.

xDrive AWD handles snow and rain, but low ground clearance, a long front overhang, and no roof rails or hitch keep it on pavement.

The 14.8 cu ft trunk fits weekend luggage, and the folding rear seatbacks add length. The narrow opening and lack of a hitch or roof rails limit bulky gear.

Adaptive dampers, xDrive and available Integral Active Steering give composed, grippy handling. The roughly 4,200 lb curb weight blunts agility compared with 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.

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

The inline-six is silky, near-silent at cruise and pleasant when worked. Some synthesized sound is used in Sport mode.

The long wheelbase and wide track give a large turning circle for a coupe.

The low seating position has wide power adjustment and well-placed controls, including the rotary iDrive and physical climate keys. Coupe rear-quarter visibility and long doors are the caveats.

It is a quick, characterful GT (0–60 mph in about 4.7 s) that is rewarding on a winding road, though it is a GT first and a sports car second.

The 2021 840i Coupe is 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 Driving Assistant. Ventilated seats, Bowers & Wilkins audio and the fuller Driving Assistant Professional cost extra.

For ~$88k–$91k the 840i delivers 335 hp, 0–60 mph in 4.7 s (xDrive) and a luxury GT cabin, undercutting Mercedes-AMG and Porsche alternatives. It costs more than a Lexus LC 500 and lacks the 911's dynamic sharpness. Fair value, not a bargain.

The 2021 Coupe body offers three choices (840i RWD, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive), with two engines and RWD/AWD. Convertible and Gran Coupe bodies and the separate M8 widen the family. There is no manual, hybrid or EV.

US sales for the whole 8 Series family run only in the low thousands per year and slipped after the 2019 launch. The two-door Coupe is the smallest slice behind the Gran Coupe, so it is a niche flagship in a shrinking large-luxury-coupe segment.

BMW is a top-tier aspirational luxury brand with a deep enthusiast base, and the 8 Series badge carries flagship status and E31 heritage. Its pull in this price band is slightly below the Porsche 911's.

As a slow-selling flagship, the 8 Series carried BMW Financial Services lease support and sizable dealer discounts early in 2021. The semiconductor shortage tightened inventory through the second half of the year and cut those deals back.

MY2021 is the third year of the G15 generation that debuted for MY2019. The platform and tech were current, but the 10.25-inch screen and pre-facelift styling were superseded by the MY2023 LCI, so 2021 buyers were about two years from a refresh.

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 has not made 10Best or won major comparisons.