The revival of the BMW 8 Series nameplate didn’t go as smoothly as the Munich high-wigs might’ve expected. There have been some hiccups along the way, despite being a compelling product. Not long ago, we heard dealers complaining about the BMW 8 Series pricing, and that may very well be the reason why the 8 Series is not selling as it should. Pecuniary issues considered, the BMW 840i might the best choice in the range right now.
That’s what the guys from Savagegeese set out to find out. They took the BMW 840i out for a spin to see whether it rises to the challenge. As you may well know, the 840i is the cheapest 8 Series you can get and for that, you also get cut from a couple of features. You don’t get all-wheel drive and that may be a plus to some. You also get a B58 3-liter straight six under the hood, which is a great motor, but might be perceived by some as “not enough.”
That’s one of the points outlined in the review. Even though this is probably one of the best straight six turbocharged mills ever made and yet, the fact that it is available in every model range, from the 3 Series up, makes it a bit too “common” for a car that’s asking for six-figures. Then there’s the fact that it doesn’t feel as luxurious and as special as it should at this price tag. Furthermore, it might not be enough fast off-the-line for $100,000.
That’s why I still consider the M850i to be the best pick of the range right now. But my choices and my view of the 8 Series are not important. What’s important is the final argument about the character of the car made by the guys here. I won’t ruin it, but it’s quite an eventful review with some unexpected twists.
Let’s take a look!
Loved the no BS attitude from Mark regarding this car. I completely agree with what he said.
Who the hell gets an 8 series and gets the 6 cylinder? Some loser buying for the badge, that’s who. Pathetic. They shouldn’t even offer it.
I’d rather just get the 5 series and save 40 grand, but the incompetent rich must know something I don’t.
That’s what I did. Still ordered the V8 though.
Enjoy removing the engine to replace the valve seals. Should only be about $6G at a good independent. Might as well add the Shell blasting of the intake valves while you are at it as the V8 must be removed for that too.
Let the next owner worry about it. After 3 years, its not my problem.
Leasing makes sense when looking that way at a car.
I used to buy them. I was ending up $15-20k upside down on every one when it was time for a new one. Didn’t make sense to keep losing money on them, so I started leasing. Now BMW takes the hit. My X3 goes back in 3 months. Book value is like $28k, and buyout is $41k. That $13,000 is better in my pocket than a major corporations.
There is a german TV show comparing the M8 Comp. with the Porsche 911 Turbo S. The results are devastating. The Porsche is as expected on a different level for it’s price but remember: several decades back BMW was known to produce Porsche killers for bargain money. Today it’s overpriced underachieving luxury boats like the 8.
In fairness, 911 is a different breed of car. No way a front-engine 8er (a GT car pretending to be sportscar) with all its heavy weight is able to compete 911 (a sportscar that can do GT duties).
BMW need to make M Next. That’s the BMW that would be able to compete 911.
I think the entire point of the new 8 Series was to add two numbers to the nameplate and then massively inflate the MSRP. They ask for 20k more than the previous 6 Series and then give people 5 digit discounts who believe they made the best deal in their life. BMW still ends up making a lot of additional margin (hence why it doesn’t have to sell as good as the 6 Series) and people think you drive a 100k car.
So I don’t get why this guy is complaining about the MSRP for the entirety of the video. It’s nowhere near what you end up paying, especially when you consider the lease deals. The whole “pay 10k more and you get a 911” is even more stupid. If you want to get a 911 to a decent spec you’ll end up paying 130k which is 40-50k more than what you pay for this. Completely different pricing strategies. It’s almost as pointless as the video where Doug Demouro explained for 20 minutes why the i3 wasn’t worth 53k when the thing could be leased for 300$ per month.
Agree mostly of what he said. The price is obviously a big mistake, because despite the cabin is upscale, its definitely far from top of the line expectation. Then the B58, even 3 series, along with X3 gets an improved 380 horses version, and this is the 8 series. Shouldn’t the B58 needs to at least match that? Then what I said all along is that, the 8 series is too big, the 6 series is perfect, but BMW puts a full stop on the 6. Besides adjusting the price, BMW could at least beef up the base model offering, if they don’t want to do too much, just up the displacement sightly, even 300cc, it will make this base model at least more interesting, along with a more unique interior touches to make it a better standout, they didn’t do that either, that really means its not a complete finished product, only in engineering angles, its complete, but for top of the line, is subpar.
Overpriced for a 3.0 straight 6. Needs a 4.0lt straight 6 with 48volt hybrid powertrain
I think you ae missing the point the video was trying so hard to make, the issue was not a lack of performance or engineering .
What you have here the down side of the Russian Doll school of styling. You see the same problem in every manufacturer who had adopted this idea.
The idea is to give the cheaper models the same luxury look and feel as your more expensive models. This helps you sell more of these models. All the German luxury manufacturers have used this to achieve record sales of there entry level models.
The down side is your top end product looks and feels just like your entry level product. The Seven series has had this problem for years. The Carbon core might be amazing engineering but a customer can’t see or feel it.
The new X7 has been a success, but it sells at a much lower price point then many expected when it was marketed as Seven series equivalent model, not an seven seat X5. Now there always was going be demand for a model like the X7, but they didn’t try selling the Eight series for X7 money did they.
BMW has always struggled to crack the price point that both the Seven and Eight series models sell in. Mercedes used to be successful in this market with its S class, but the E class is so good and so similar many wonder if a S63 really worth the extra money over a E63?
BMW high end models need a big dose of differentiation, and they need it now!
SPOT ON !!!
It’s really a new 6 with 8 pricing. BMW marketing had a brilliant plan…
It’s kind of sad.
Spot on. ‘Must’ve seen the initial design (probably as a next gen 6 series) and told themselves, “this looks too beautiful”, and convinced themselves they had to find a way to take more money from buyers. They probably came up with the plan to change the name higher to 8 series meaning they can charge more money. It’s backfired woefully. Seems buyers aren’t as dumb as BMW had hoped!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/784fb563c99e065a1a5845cbd198ad9b8c564149ccf057d92b692a2fd55e2518.jpg
It’s not a horrible car to look at. It’s the price tag that actually gives people horror!
Jack understands this car and Mark has no clue what a GT car is about.
Note that this is the only RWD 8 coupe bu that it comes with all the suspension, brake and E-LSD differential goodies of the V8 models. This car is built to cruise on the open road in great comfort and with totally adequate performance and good fuel economy to allow long stretches of driving. But handling, braking and chassis control are not afterthoughts on this car.
More experienced BMW drivers will remember the E9 2800CS and 3.0CS and the 635CSi. While the 8 is larger and more luxurious, those cars are what this 8 Series is targeting. With COVID-19 occurring for quite a while longer, I can see many junior executives preferring to travel in an 8 series as opposed to being in a flying contaminated cattle cart that airline has become.
A sad by-product of fly-over travel is that appreciation of what a true GT can deliver is lacking in most of the population who dream of 2.5 ton SUV on the Interstate. Perhaps we may be in for a short revival in adult only travelling.
Yeah, agree. It`s a very-very good car. But can you get a Porsche with the interior, instrument cluster, infotaiment etc. of the 911 for like 40 grands? I think not. But a BMW on the other hand… In this segment you can`t measure everything with performance numbers, and technical specs – you HAVE TO include exclusivity in the market positioning. If you want a car that is competition for the 911, you have to make it more special, add some gimmics and stand apart from the everyday models (the 1-3-5) in the lineup. (Like the AMG GT….)
No head-up display on 911.
Problem is, BMW didn’t pitch 8er as a GT. They threw it into contention with 911. Huge mistake. 911 is firstly a sportscar/supercar that can also do GT duties. 8er is a GT, period. M8 is a performance GT that can do some sportcar performance duties. Funny thing is, Porsche is/was developing (or contemplating) a 2 door Grand Tourer to battle 8er and S-Class coupe but poor execution by both BMW and Merc may mean Porsche doesn’t bother. Bentley Conti GT remains de facto ruler up & down that segment.
Not according to Matt Farah. He thinks the M8C is better than the Aston and the Bentley.
A new 928 would always be welcome, but Porsche knows it will cut into 911 sales somewhat.
They are right. It`s a very good car, but nowhere good enough to justify THAT kind of money. The low sales are the proof…
BMW takes the blame for trying to pitch 8er as a “sports car” in the realm of 911. That immediately set the bar to a point 8er, as currently configured, was never going to hit. 8er is a GT. If they approached it that way in design, and then marketing phase, they’d face less image/brand/sporty expectations for the car. Besides, everyone knows 8er is actually 6 series in all but name. If they’d labelled and priced the car in 6 series image, they wouldn’t be facing any of the sales problems they’re currently having with the car.