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BMW 8 Series

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BMW 8 Series: The flagship grand tourer, reborn. The classic E31 850i V12 and the modern twin-turbo 8 Series.
Photo: MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The flagship grand tourer, reborn. The classic E31 850i V12 and the modern twin-turbo 8 Series.

The BMW 8 Series is the brand flagship grand tourer. The original E31 (1990-1999) was a striking pop-up-headlight coupe offered with V8 and V12 engines, a high-tech halo car of its era. BMW revived the name with the G15 (2018+), a modern coupe, convertible, and Gran Coupe powered by turbo sixes and a twin-turbo V8, topped by the M8. The 8 Series sits above the 6 Series lineage as BMW most luxurious and powerful GT. The classic E31 850CSi is a rising collectible, while the modern 840i and M850i blend pace with luxury. On WhipJury, 8 Series submissions favor the classic E31 and the modern M850i.

8 Series highlights

E31 (1990-1999). Pop-up headlights, V8 and V12 power, the 850CSi a collectible halo.

G15 (2018-present). Turbo six and twin-turbo V8, coupe, convertible, and Gran Coupe; M8 flagship.

8 Series on WhipJury

The classic E31 and the modern M850i draw the most attention.

Frequently asked questions about BMW 8 Series

What is the classic 8 Series?
The E31 (1990-1999), a pop-up-headlight grand tourer offered with V8 and V12 engines. The 850CSi is the performance halo and a rising collectible.
Did BMW bring the 8 Series back?
Yes, the G15 8 Series launched in 2018 as a modern coupe, convertible, and Gran Coupe, with the M8 as the high-performance flagship.
What is the M850i?
The top non-M 8 Series, using a twin-turbo V8 with around 523 horsepower and M xDrive. It sits just below the full M8.
Is the 8 Series reliable?
The classic E31, especially the V12, is complex and maintenance-intensive. Modern 8 Series cars are generally robust with proper care.
What is the 8 Series Gran Coupe?
A four-door version of the modern 8 Series, combining grand-touring style with practicality, also available as the M8 Gran Coupe.

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