The 2026 BMW 8-Series is positioned in the luxury grand tourer segment and is available as a two-door coupe, open-top convertible, or four-door Gran Coupe. It competes with models such as the Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, and Audi RS7. This model year continues as a carryover of the second-generation design that debuted in 2019, with ongoing refinements but no major structural changes. The base powertrain consists of a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine producing 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive; all-wheel-drive xDrive is optional on select variants, and higher-performance models use a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 with 523 horsepower and standard xDrive.
The 8-Series features BMW's iDrive 8 infotainment system presented on a curved dual-display setup with 12.3-inch screens for the digital instrument cluster and central touchscreen. Standard connectivity includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in navigation, a head-up display, and ConnectedDrive services for real-time traffic information and remote vehicle status monitoring. Driver assistance systems provide standard forward collision warning and lane departure warning, with the optional Driving Assistance Professional package adding Active Cruise Control with stop-and-go functionality and Highway Assistant for limited hands-free highway driving. BMW supports ownership through the My BMW app, which enables remote locking/unlocking, climate preconditioning, and trip planning, alongside over-the-air software updates and subscription services for enhanced navigation and driver aids.
What You're Really Signing Up For
- Precise location tracking via telematics, with data shared to third parties and law enforcement.
- Interior cameras and microphones collect data on you and surroundings, hard to delete.
- Extensive personal data gathered and used for marketing inferences.
- Non-intuitive infotainment tied to over-the-air updates.
Top Reported Issues
The most frequently mentioned problems by owners
Extensive personal data collection
BMW's vehicles and My BMW app collect vast amounts of personal information including name, email, ph...
Precise location tracking
The vehicle's telematics unit uses GPS to continuously track precise location, direction of travel, ...
Data sharing with third parties
BMW shares collected personal, location, and vehicle data with affiliates, dealers, service provider...
Interior cameras microphones snooping
BMW vehicles and app are equipped with interior/exterior cameras and microphones that capture video,...
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the 2026 BMW 8-Series
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