BMW's 8 Series Convertible is a big step forward from its predecessor, thinks Jonathan CrouchTen Second Review
BMW's 8 Series Convertible is a properly desirable luxury GT Cabrio that's more affordable both to buy and to run than its closest rivals, cabriolet versions of the Mercedes' S-Class and Porsche's 911. It may not be an out-and-out sports car, but it's the most exceptional open-topped car of this kind that the Munich marque has yet made.Background
If every BMW is still to be the 'Ultimate Driving Machine' promised by the advertising, then that slogan must mean many things. Sharp, rewarding handling for most is what this brand is all about, but in some market segments, other virtues are just as important.Take up-market large luxury convertibles. Cars like Mercedes' S-Class Cabriolet and the Porsche 911 Cabriolet are all about Grand Touring - fast, stylish cruising, something BMW has more experience in providing than you might expect, with a product heritage in such cars stretching back to the 327 Sports Convertible of the late Thirties. And all the way forward to this car, the 8 Series Convertible.
This model's predecessor, the 6 Series Convertible, was a relatively rare sight on British roads. Despite a hefty price tag, it offered performance, rear-seat room and boot space all little better than a BMW 4 Series Convertible costing half as much.
It was a car that sold on cachet - and that wasn't enough to tempt significant numbers of wealthy buyers from their Mercedes, Jaguar and Porsche models. This 8 Series model, though, is a different proposition.
Driving Experience
At the end of a day spent in pursuit of the kind of business that makes possible the purchase of a car like this, you want to be rewarded on your route home by a gloriously emotive soundtrack when you fire the engine and nose out into the traffic.That's undoubtedly delivered by the M850i version, along with an alfresco driving experience free, as you would expect, from all the roof-down buffeting and body shake that you'd get in a cheaper convertible.
This means that you'll be tempted to lower the roof more of the time, especially as it can be done in just 15s at speeds of up to 31mph.
Raising it again cocoons you in a cabin almost as refined as you'd find in the alternative Coupe and four-door Gran Coupe models that BMW also offers in the 8 Series range. Unfortunately, the ride is somewhat firmer than some will want.
And of course, it's fast. Even in the base 840d xDrive diesel variant, you have a 320hp in-line six-cylinder petrol unit capable of sixty from rest in just 5.2s on the way to a top speed that would be well into the lock-you-up-and-throw-away-the-key area of licence confiscation were it not for a limiter that cuts in a 155mph.
There's also a rear-driven 340hp petrol 840i sDrive variant. Otherwise, this car comes with a 4.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V8, developing either 530hp in the M850i or a stonking 625hp in the top M8 Competition variant.
All the powerplants on offer are torquey, with more than enough pulling power to make unnecessary as many as eight ratios in the ZF automatic gearbox.
Use them, and you can access performance that, in the case of the M850i, will catapult you to 62mph from rest in a Porsche-worrying 3.9s. The M8 Competition trims that to 3.3s. Toupees will need to be very firmly tied down.
Design and build
It uses a new 8 series platform, and its dimensions correspond to the BMW 8 Coupe series almost precisely.The focus on body stiffness means that only a small amount of additional individual measurements and weight gain are required in this design.
The exact character line tracks the airflow path between the front and rear wheels as the point surfaces around the front wheels and doors are scattered across the top of the rear wheels. The roof is light and provides superb acoustic insulation.
When closed, it sits firmly on top of the interior, thus retaining its Coupe-like silhouette without sacrificing design.
A wind defector is a standard. It can be set in the rear seat area to reduce turbulence when roofing drops. When it is not needed, it can be folded to half its size and stored in the boot. The integrated neck heater in the reverse front seat is also standard.
There is very little backseat space, but back seat backrest can be divided into 50:50 and, thanks to the through-loading facility, the luggage compartment capacity can be extended as needed. With a soft-top closed, storage capacity is 350 litres.
To ensure the load compartment offers the space and versatility as much as possible, a soft-top compartment can be removed and through-loading the facilities used even when driving with the top down.
Markets and Models
Prices start at around £79,000 for the 840i sDrive, climbed to about £83,500 for the 320hp diesel 840d xDrive, about £107,000 for 530hp M850i xDrive and about £131,000 for the M8 625hp.Wish all ordinary executive luxury of course-leather seats and the BMW Live Cockpit Professional package, which gives you a 12.3-inch screen binnacle dial tool and a 10.25-inch center-Dash Infotainment screen.
All the 8 Series convertible models get a 4WD xDrive, adaptive M Suspension and ' integral active steering, 'which turns the rear wheels either in the same direction as the front wheels or the opposite direction (depending on the vehicle's speed).
It allows for easy road changes, helps you arrow through city traffic and facilitates more restrictive spinning circles with parking easier. Plus, there is the M Sport braking system, and you get the ' Sport ' version of BMW's smooth-shifting 8-Speed automatic paddle-shift transmission, which means that the standard control rollout.
Cost of ownership
Just because you spend £85,000-£130000 on your luxury convertible, that doesn't mean you'll pay through your nose to stay on the road. Even M850i with V8 turbocharged gasoline is capable of up to 24.8 MPG (WLTP) and CO2 emissions combined with 228g/km (NEDC). Diesel 840d increases that for 39.8 MPG and 161g/km.Routine maintenance is dictated by ' condition-based services ' that monitor oil levels and machine wear, taking into consideration how long it has been and how far the car has travelled since garage visits before.
To help plan for a fixed work fee, at the time of your purchase, you will be offered a ' BMW inclusive service ' package that lasts three years and 36,000 miles.
With this, after one-off payments, you will have peace of mind as all the standard work on the car has been paid for this period, including items such as oil, spark plugs and filters.
On the warranty package. BMW offers a warranty that lasts for three years, no matter how many miles you finish. You can also make sure your car is through BMW, although as most 8s will be funded with company money through a rental deal, the cost of this broker will likely be bundled into.
Summary
There are only two ways I can imagine anyone who was disappointed with this BMW. If you hope to be an Out-and-Out sports car. Or if you can't afford it. The first is unrealistic. Buy this type of car, and you buy Grand Tourer.That's what the target market wants. And this 8 series is indeed very good at GT Motoring. However, at the same time, it is significantly more dynamic to be able to compare with the 6-predecessor series if you want to start throwing it.
As for the price, yes they are tall but realistic you can't have a complaint about it either, given that the rival brand asks for the same amount.
More significant, faster and slimmer than ever, for me, it is the most desirable brand of convertible Bavaria ever made. A car you can comfortably choose more than a Porsche, a Mercedes or a Maserati? You have to believe it.
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