The original 8 series was released in 1990. It was a stunning and luxurious modern Grand Touring coupe made by BMW that even came with a 12-cylinder engine. Unfortunately, the first 8 Series didn’t do so hot in the market. In 2020, they decided to bring back the 8 series but this time, ready for the modern era. The 8 Series comes in (funny enough) eight different flavors of forms and functionality. In this article, we’re going to be talking about the equal parts utilitarian, equal parts out-of-control fun: 2024 BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe. The M badge used to come in two varieties of the M8, but now only the M8 Competition remains.

If you need a useful daily driver in the luxury car segment but want the adrenaline hit of a twin-turbocharged V8 that can max out at a speed of 190 mph, then the M8 Gran Coupe is for you. One more fun factoid about the M8 Gran Coupe is that “Gran Coupe” is actually just another way of referring to its coupe-like appearance with four doors. The 3 Series GT is another BMW product that shares a similar “odd” badging, but thankfully, the 3 Series GT is no more. In this article, we’re going to go over the powertrain, dimensions, technology, and all the different things you need to know if you’re planning on buying a 2024 BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe.

This guide provides comprehensive information provided by the manufacturer. HotCars sourced additional data for reliability (from J.D. Power), EPA gas mileage (Fueleconomy.gov), safety ratings (IIHS), and recalls (NHTSA). We evaluate five different metrics when determining a rating for each model. You can
read our Methodology page
for more information about how our rating system works.

What’s New For 2024?

What’s New For 2024?

BMW hasn’t made any changes to the M8 Grand Coupe for the 2024 model year.

Exterior Dimensions

Engine Specifications And Performance

The M8 comes stock with a single powertrain. The highly sought-after S63 bi-turbocharged 617-hp V8 can also be found in the X5 M and the X6 M, among others. It spits out a mighty impressive 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Hurling this 4,200-pound beast from off the line to 60 in a supercar-worthy 3.0 seconds.

Drivetrain-wise, the M8 Gran Coupe comes with its patented xDrive all-wheel drive system. Don’t let that make you think you can’t powerslide in it. The M8’s intelligent xDrive system actually comes with a differential that allows you to engage maximum hooning. For example, it will let the driver make the vehicle’s rear axle more biased or the front axle depending on what their driving needs are.

Helping stop all two tons of this metal are the 6-piston compound brakes. If those aren’t sufficient, you can also opt for the carbon ceramic version. For transmissions, we’re looking at BMW’s 8-speed M Sport transmission system that will obviously help the driver achieve the best gear ratios possible. Adding to that is their special wet sump oil system for maximum pressure in tight corners. Rounding out the M8’s powerhouse is the variable valve system that you can customize depending on what drive mode you are in.

Performance Specifications

BMW is known for its bulletproof turbochargers. The S63 is no different. It comes with its twin-scroll bi-turbocharger that elicits zero turbo lag, giving the M8 617 horses at 6,000 RPMs. If a governed speed of 155 mph isn’t enough for you, then you can purchase the $2,500 “M Driver’s Package.” This strips the governor off to unveil a top speed of 190 mph.

Interior Technology And Comfort

Best Interior Features Of The 2024 BMW M8 Gran Coupe

• 11 different upholstery options.
• 4 different trim options.
• Alcántara roofliner that matches upholstery.
• Optional front and rear heated seats.
• M Carbon Bucket seats.

On to the place you’ll be deciding how much of your tires you want to shred – the cockpit. There hasn’t been any considerable update to the interior since the 8 Series was relaunched in 2020, but that doesn’t make it any less indulging. The interior is a mix of BMW’s elegance and sporty nature with mostly leather appointments on the dashboard divided into two-tone colors if you so choose. The center console is driver-focused and slightly beveled towards the driver. There are silver trimmings lining the air vents and center console with a dash of piano gloss black. The M8 is more about the leather appointments rather than the trims. The trim seems to only be located on the center console and there are four options to choose from.

There are 11 different upholstery options to choose from, including “Extended Merino Leather” or “Full Merino Leather.” The full leather will cost around $3,500 and comes in a myriad of two-tone and monotone colors. The seats themselves look bolstered and comfortable. They also have the “M8” badge at the bottom of the headrest for ultimate bragging rights. If you don’t think those will bolster you enough and want to make your M8 a tad lighter, you can opt for the $4,500 “M Carbon Bucket Seats” that will give you even more bragging rights.

Technology

The M8 comes with touchscreen functionality as well as tactile buttons to appease all audiences. Size-wise, the infotainment is 12.3 inches and the touchscreen (but can also be controlled by the center console controller), the meter display is fully digital and 10.25 inches, plus there’s a heads-up display. Housed in the operating system, you can find a 360-degree camera with an augmented reality version of your M8, helping you park it perfectly. The HVAC controls are tactile buttons, but there are minuscule screens on the side of each center vent displaying the direction of airflow and the temperature. The M8 also comes with rain-sensing windshield wipers and soft-closing doors. If the standard audio setup isn’t for you, you can also opt for the $3,400 Bowers & Wilkins 1,400-watt sound system.

Interior Dimensions

Safety And Reliability

Since its re-release, there hasn’t been a JD Power reliability score. According to CarEdge, the first ten years of maintenance on the M8 Gran Coupe will set you back around $14,548 with a 40% chance of it needing major repairs within that time frame. IIHS nor NHTSA have come out with any crash test results either. Fortunately, there are no complaints or recalls for the 2024 model year, but there were a few (complaints) when it first came out. According to Car Trade, the M8 comes equipped with 6 airbags including curtain-style ones.

Driver Assistance Features

If you decide you’d rather let your M8 control most of the driving, there are a bevy of options to let that become reality. At $100, the “Driving Assistance Package” is a no-brainer. It includes all the assistance features you come to expect in a modern car, like blind spot monitoring and emergency braking/collision avoidance. The “Driving Assistance Professional Package” further maximizes this peace of mind with a few more features. These include lane change assist, park assist pro, and traffic jam assist.

• Active Driving Assist with emergency braking.
• Parking Assistance Plus.
• Active Blind Spot Detection.
• Adaptive Cruise Control.

IIHS Crash Testing

IIHS has not conducted a crash test on the BMW M8 Gran Coupe or the 8 series in general.

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

NHTSA has not conducted a safety test for the BMW M8 Gran Coupe.

• Recalls (NHTSA): 0
• NHTSA Investigations: 0
• NHTSA Consumer Complaints: 0
• Awards: N/A

Warranties

BMW wants you to know and feel that everything on your M8 is bespoke, including the warranty packages. Standard on all BMWs, the full warranty is for 48 months or 50,000 miles (whichever number comes first). The same mileage and time frame goes for the powertrain warranty. The roadside assistance has unlimited miles and 48 months. The bespoke factor comes into play when you decide which parts of your high-value M8 Gran Coupe you want to protect. You can choose to protect almost every part of the vehicle individually right down to your keyfob. If you’d rather choose a bundle, you can, and it is transferable to the next owner depending on how long you set your care package for.

2024 BMW M8 Gran Coupe Versus Its Competitors

It’s the battle of the German Hoonigans! While the M8 Gran Coupe can and does compete with everything from a Ferrari SF90 to a Corvette Z06, it was only befitting to compare it to two other vehicles of the same breed. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Coupe has four doors and four different powertrains to choose from. The 2024 Audi RS7 has one powertrain, four doors, and an insane amount of tech. Do these stack up to, or exceed, the M8 Gran Coupe?

How The BMW M8 Gran Coupe Compares To The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63 S Coupe

• 	2024 BMW M8 Gran Coupe	2024 Mercedes-Benz GT63 S
  Model	M8 Gran Coupe	GT63 S AMG
  Engine/Motor	4.4 Liter Twin-Turbocharged V8	4.0 Liter Twin-Turbocharged V-8
  Horsepower	617 Horsepower	630 Horsepower
  Torque	553 Pound-Feet	664 Pound-Feet
  Drivetrain	AWD	AWD
  Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	9-Speed Automatic
  MSRP	$138,800	$160,995
  Make	BMW	Mercedes-Benz
  0-60 MPH	3.0 Seconds	2.9 Seconds

It probably takes longer to say ‘2024 Mercedes-Benz GT63 S AMG‘ than it takes the car to reach 60 mph. It actually beats out the BMW M8 Gran Coupe by .1 seconds at a cool 2.9. Beating out the Beamer is the AMG 4.0 liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing an incredible 630 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. That’s an insane amount of power, but equally insane is the price tag. Albeit there’s nothing cheap about the M8 either, the GT63 S has a starting price of a wild $180,000 and can top up to $200,000 when it’s all said and done.

Being that they’re both sportback coupes, don’t expect there to be a ton of cargo space. The Mercedes does have the BMW beat by a few cubic feet of space at 12.7, but that’s not much to shake a stick at. There are huge differences in the interior as well. While they’re both “cockpits”, the Mercedes looks to be a tad more luxurious and dynamic looking. Additionally, the Mercedes even somehow looks more “cockpit-like” with the GT63’s center console looking like an airplane control center. There have been some complaints about the MB’s interface which BMW does have over the MB in terms of ease of use.

How The BMW M8 Gran Coupe Compares To The Audi RS7

• 	2024 BMW M8 Gran Coupe	2024 Audi RS7 Performance
  Model	M8 Gran Coupe	RS7 Performance
  Engine/Motor	4.4 Liter Twin-Turbocharged V8	4.0 Liter Twin-Turbocharged V-8
  Horsepower	617 Horsepower	621 Horsepower
  Torque	553 Pound-Feet	627 Pound-Feet Torque
  Drivetrain	AWD	AWD
  Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic
  MSRP	$138,800	$130,195
  Make	BMW	Audi
  0-60 MPH	3.0 Seconds	3.0 Seconds

This isn’t the first time a BMW and an Audi have been pitted against each other. Out of the gate, the biggest difference between these two coupes is the weight difference. While they’re both not light, the 2024 Audi RS7 Performance outweighs the M8 by 700 pounds, making the curb weight 4,900 pounds. The Audi’s powertrain at least makes a strong case with its powertrain. It receives a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and can get to 60 in three seconds flat. It produces slightly more power with 621 horses and 627 pound-feet of torque, but that doesn’t make quite as much of a difference, seeing as the BMW’s power-to-weight ratio is slightly better.

The two Germans share a similar 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive drivetrain. The difference is that the Audi has rear-axle steering, giving it a bit more capabilities around the track. Finally, the Audi has one of the most up-to-date interiors on the market with three different screens, matrix LED headlamps, and even a night vision camera that can detect not only animals but also humans.

How Much Does A 2024 BMW M8 Gran Coupe Cost?

The M8 Competition Gran Coupe comes in one “trim”, technically, with a starting MSRP of $138,800. In fully spec-ing it out with all the bells and whistles, it came to a grand total of $181,479. That does sound like a lot, and it is. Compared to its competitors, however, even if it’s stripped down to the base model version, it’s still a relatively decent price for a near supercar-level power, speed, and capabilities.

Fuel Economy

For a twin-turbocharged non-mild-hybrid system, a combined MPG of 17 isn’t all that bad. Yes, you need to buy premium gas, and your annual fuel bill will be close to $4,000; but you can’t put a price on happiness, can you?

GAS

Is It Worth Buying a BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe?

Even though it’s technically due for an update (at least on the interior), I would like to start this opinion piece out by saying: it’s definitely worth buying. I might be biased though, as I have owned and am a fan of BMW through and through. I think the competitors that I covered in this article do have more to offer in terms of technology and even performance, but the BMW has everything you could need for a vehicle of this nature. For many buyers, it may be more approachable than the Mercedes and Audi in terms of interior design and overall drivability.

M model BMWs in the past have been critiqued for being too customizable in their drive modes, but compared to the MB’s operating system and the sheer number of screens in the Audi, the BMW offers a bit of a respite. If you have to have a ridiculous driving machine, and you also need four doors, then the Gran Coupe is for you. BMWs are known to be some of the best driving machines out there.

Sources: BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, J.D. Power, FuelEconomy.gov, IIHS, NHTSA, Cartelligent, Cartrade