Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

BMW 8 Series coupe - Reliability & safety

Buyers in this price bracket will expect reliability, while the BMW 8 Series comes loaded with advanced safety tech

Carbuyer Rating

4.0 out of 5

Owners Rating
Be the first to review
Reliability & safety Rating

4.0 out of 5

Starting from almost £75,000 (and rising to over £100,000), customers will expect the BMW 8 Series to be supremely well engineered, but the BMW brand's recent fall in our Driver Power survey ratings could be cause for concern. Safety should be less of a worry, because the 8 Series is one of the brand’s flagship vehicles, with top notch technology and equipment to match.

BMW 8 Series reliability

The BMW 8 Series is a new and highly complex model, so it's impossible to say for certain how reliable it will be. However, the German brand is unlikely to face off against Mercedes, Porsche and Aston Martin without ensuring quality is first-rate. Some customers may also like to know the 8 Series is built in the same Dingolfing plant as the venerable BMW 7 Series limousine - and it shares some parts too.

Less reassuring is BMW's recent form in our Driver Power satisfaction survey, where owners placed the brand 21st out of 29 manufacturers, behind rivals Mercedes, Jaguar and Lexus. Just under 20% of BMW owners reported one or more faults within the first year of driving. Performance and interior quality garnered praise, but respondents weren’t so convinced with the value for money or sat nav in their BMWs.

Safety

Safety is less likely to be a worry because the 8 Series is one of BMW's most advanced cars, with a huge amount of safety technology fitted as standard. An array of cameras, ultrasonic and radar sensors around the car monitor for nearby vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, and can warn the driver and apply the brakes autonomously.

Advertisement - Article continues below

A new head-up display is also fitted, with a viewing area 16% larger than previous versions, updated graphics and additional safety information.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Skoda Elroq revealed! Family EV gets 355-mile range, costs from £31,500
Skoda Elroq front quarter
News
1 Oct 2024

New Skoda Elroq revealed! Family EV gets 355-mile range, costs from £31,500

Renault 4 first glimpse! Retro-renaissance continues with new all-electric small SUV
Renault 4 front fascia teaser
News
1 Oct 2024

Renault 4 first glimpse! Retro-renaissance continues with new all-electric small SUV

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
4 Oct 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024