Our own Horatiu recently went to Portugal to test the BMW M850i and came away impressed. However, one might feel that our views are skewed because we’re BMWBLOG (they aren’t, we remain as objective as possible). So it’s always good to see what the rest of the industry is saying about the car, to show that we’re willing to give you the most objective information possible.
With the new BMW M850i, most seem quite happy about it. There are some minor complaints but, for the most part, the M850i seems to be a big hit. Though, there seems to be one overwhelming consensus that might contradict BMW’s claims about the car — it’s a sporty grand tourer and not a sports car that can do some touring. It’s a sporty, very high-performance car but, don’t mistake it, the M850i’s first priority is to tour. Quickly.
“The BMW is a tidy dancer but definitely a sizable one. Initial steering responses are good, and the speeds it could reach on even Estoril’s shorter straights left no doubt as to the V-8’s potency. Although a standard rear-steering system tried its best to help, in the tighter turns there was more understeer than any sense of rear-biased torque delivery.” said Car and Driver.
“You will be entirely unsurprised to hear that the M850i felt far happier on public roads. Refinement is outstanding. Portugal was sadly short of the sort of derestricted autobahn where we suspect the M850i would really excel (the engine is turning a lazy 2250 rpm at 100 mph in top gear), but the cabin remains tranquil even at a three-figure cruise. The adaptive damping keeps the ride, and the car’s considerable weight, under tight control.” C&D continued.
Thankfully, its steering is said to be good, according to C&D, with much better feel and feedback than the M550i’s, but not razor-sharp, like a Porsche 911.
Some journalists liked it more than others. “The numbers don’t really do the M850i justice, however, as impressive as they are. Why? Because the 8 Series is about so much more than figures on a chart. There’s an attention to the qualitative side of driving enjoyment that has seemed absent from—or at the least at the very bottom of—the BMW development checklist in recent years. Whether you’re launching onto an on ramp, making a 50-mph pass on a B-road, or simply queuing your way through a city center, the spirit of BMW’s motorsport-bred prowess is engineered into every single part of the car, not just the abundant badging.” said Automobile Magazine.
Autocar was among those that liked it but didn’t love it. “The 8 Series’ ‘Integral Active Steering’ system is more intuitive in use than similar BMW set-ups used to be, but it still doesn’t quite give the car the tactile, enticing, natural-feeling rim you’d like from a big GT. The steering’s somewhat short on both front-end contact patch feel and on-centre stability; it’s too monotone of weight regardless of selected driving mode; and it’s also well capable of taking you by surprise when it at once lightens and quickens at roundabout speeds. That you’re constantly adapting to its changing characteristics remains a slight barrier to the enjoyment of the car’s driving experience.”
There are obviously a few more reviews on the interwebs and it’s worth checking them all out. However, the general consensus is that the BMW M850i is a very good GT car, a car designed to travel great distances in speed, comfort and style. But a good GT is also good at tackling a few twisty curves with real enthusiasm and the M850i can do that too. It’s not the best track car, nor the sharpest car BMW makes, but it’s a damn fun car to drive and it’s comfortable, stylish and luxurious as well. So as a GT car, the BMW M850i seems to excel. Just don’t mistake it for the M8, which is coming soon.
its because its a 850i. they are expecting it to be like a full M car. that car they all want is a M8. the 850i is a 850i i don’t seen any M in it. its a comfy luxury fast GT car and thats what it does. for me its perfect and beautiful. M8 is coming soon anyway
There is a bit an M in it, hence the M850i
One review said it’s like a sexy M5 with a smaller back seat.
You are right.
https://www.welt.de/motor/auto-der-woche/article182612700/BMW-8er-Coupe-konkurriert-mit-Sportwagen-wie-dem-Porsche-911.html
That’s why they still make M’s to be best in everything. M850 isn’t the true M so it doesn’t have to be the best. From the other side for that price and considering that that’s BMW is has to be not just very good but superb.
Considering its performance, the M850i is quite competitively priced.
AC UK also mentioned that its interiors can’t match the competition.
Whats the most baffling thing that i came to know is that this car is derived from 5 series. MT mentioned this not once but twice in its article. I personally feel that BMW has played this one very foxily. Essentially its a successor of last gen 6 series which is simply pretending to be next level of current 7 series. To be considered a pinnacle and a flagship product this should have been at least derived from 7 series if not altogether new platform. As it is this is a challenger car trying to take on established leaders and even then BMW didn’t went all out with efforts. This goes to show how serious they really are about the upper luxury segment.
Yes, the company that saved Range Rover and Rolls-Royce know NOTHING about the upper luxury segment.
Where have i said that they know nothing about luxury segment? I have questioned their seriousness – yes, but haven’t said a thing about their knowledge.
It is not derived from G30 5 series. It is derived from the M8GTE which was built on the CLAR architecture.
I would go by what the Auto journals have said. The probability that they have more accurate information is higher.
Good luck interjecting reality on that one, don’t think he has a license, just a keyboard. He knows all from reading, selectively editing & looking @ pictures.
They should have deleted the B pillar and the interior is meh, at least a bespoke steering wheel? and how much does it weigh?
As Bangle said of 645i, B pillar is an engineering choice for a performance car, you can always buy a Cabriolet. M850i weighs less than S63 Mercedes coupe.
Missed opportunity on several points for me, mainly the b pillar and interior, lets see how it competes, time will tell
Original 8 wasn’t a hit when new, now it’s a classic. 850 CSi just auctioned for 6 figures on Bring a Trailer.
Ironically the Original 8 series did not have a B pillar and had a bespoke interior for the time
Did anyone race them? New one is. ’90’s “bespoke” interiors had enough buttons they were described as NORAD defense stations, thus iDrive’s appearance. Moot points since ’90’s financial crisis meant people weren’t buying V12s.
Side crash standards were not as stringent then.
It seems like most of the journos going there thought they’d be driving an M8. Why can’t they just assess it for what it is? But, I agree, most of them got it right. No one, and I mean, no one, will buy this car to do track days. Honestly, not even the M8 will be a track beast. These cars are designed to be quick and safe on normal roads. And that, I gather, it does very well.
The BMW Driving Experience program director announced earlier this month that the M850i will be available for the Nürburgring Nordschleif M Fascination 2 day training in 2019. Probably a bridge prior to the M8 availability in 2020 for the track. I disagree and feel that the M850i is very formidable for the track, especially with a few mods such as ECU tune. Figure the M8 will be $20,000 more than the M850i, that I’m sure could be moded for a third of the price difference, but the owner demographics of a 8 series owner wouldn’t fall into the moder category and more of a status symbol.
I’ve seen a few M6s with Nurburgring stickers in the back window after taking factory delivery & then tracking them before returning home.
Why it is a GT and not a track car.
..
Fish meets meat.
8 Series meets M5, not a bad thing.
It’s nor fish nor meat, it’s a little bit from both.
Don’t you think that BMW itself is doing its best to confuse the bunch by calling this car a sports car. They are categorically mentioning – not just a sporty car. a proper sports car. other stupidity on their part is to constantly pitch it up against Porsche. One can’t figure out what it is because BMW itself has got the lot confused.
Here it is for your reference –
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-8-series-proper-sports-car
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2018-bmw-8-series-lands-goodwood-ahead-november-sales-launch
I’d buy this thing in an instant if they shrunk it by 25%.
Then you would have to be under 5’6″ to fit.
M4.
Top Gear rated this car as 6/10.
This 8er lands on the last place on my Bmw wish list. The only 8er model from Bmw that makes it into my top 20 Billboard charts is the 8 Cabrio. Sad but true.
Here’s the Autobild reference in german language. I hope you guys have a good translation mashine.
https://www.google.de/amp/s/amp.autobild.de/artikel/bmw-8er-g17-2018-13142599.html
That car accupies a confused place in the market. Not exclusive enough to compete with Bentley and Aston, not sporty enough to compete with Porsche, not comfy enough to compete with the S-coupe. It’s closest rival seems to be that Lexus coupe.
Not if you want a GT, Toyota has 5 cu. ft. trunk.
M850i= A sporty looking GT?
M8= A GTish looking sportscar?
Competitors= Porsche 911, Nissan GTR, AMG GT, AMG S63 Coupe, Massarati Ghibli, Aston Martin Vantage, Lexus LFA and many more.
How many of those will be offering 3 different body styles & @ least 3 different drivetrains? Including Diesel?
Well, if people love the 6 series, the new M850 should please them. As for those who don’t like the 6 series, they will hate this car no matter what.
As for those who likes to pitch this new Bimmer towards Bentley, first, its the Bentley that good looking, it doesn’t even seduce you, it looks old no matter what they throw in, and as for those who throws the S Class coupe here, it’s the S Class meant to be an engaging car to drive. Even Aston, might give people all the right clicks, but they have to rely on AMG for its propulsion, plus other critical tech will require outside parties to provide. So it’s all down to who you are.