2020 BMW 8 Series
The 2020 BMW 8 Series is sold in the U.S. as a gas convertible with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 840i Coupe, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 4 complaints, most often about the steering.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 840i Coupe | Gas | RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 23 | 30 | 25 | $3,300 |
| 840i Convertible | Gas | RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 22 | 29 | 24 | $3,400 |
| 840i Gran Coupe | Gas | RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 22 | 29 | 24 | $3,400 |
| 840i xDrive Convertible | Gas | AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 20 | 27 | 23 | $3,550 |
| 840i xDrive Coupe | Gas | AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 21 | 27 | 23 | $3,550 |
| 840i xDrive Gran Coupe | Gas | AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 20 | 27 | 23 | $3,550 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41697, 41699, 41726, 41700, 41698, 41727.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 840i Convertible, 840i Coupe, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Convertible, 840i xDrive Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe | 3 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Convertible/Cabriolet |
| Doors | 2 |
| GVWR class | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 3 L |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 335 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 4 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | AWD/All-Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Transmission speeds | 8 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: 8-Series, Gran Coupe, xDrive GC). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 191.3–200.0 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 74.8–76.0 in |
| Height | 53.1–55.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 111.0–119.3 in |
| Track, front | 64.2 in |
| Track, rear | 64.6–65.7 in |
| Curb weight | 4,486–4,769 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 53/47 to 55/45 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 2-door Convertible, 2-door Coupe, Gran Coupe. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2020 BMW 8 Series is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (7)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseElectrical System
Electrical System
Back Over Prevention
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Air Bags
Back Over Prevention
These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
Whether any of this applies to one specific 8 Series
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. BMW publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 BMW 8 Series, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2020 BMW 8 Series
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this 8 Series →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported
14 per 10,000 built · BMW reported 2,781 8 Series built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 2
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
The contact owns a 2020 BMW 840I. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle abruptly decelerated and nearly came to a complete stop. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated.
My vehicle mileage was about 50,000 miles and well maintained by BMW dealership in my area. I was driving to work when suddenly my vehicle alerted me to a fault on display panel showing a power supply fault. The message said i should stop driving and call roadside assistance. The vehicle was towed to BMW dealership.
The lane keeping driving assistance/driving assistance pro on the 2020 Bmw 840I gran coupe produces a sudden loud "bark" when the assistance system loses sight of the lane markers. That often happens in intersections but can happen anywhere where the lane markers are worn.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by BMW itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 36 per 100,000 built. Every 8 Series model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- 15 years or 150,000 miles · BMW warranty extension 1613911200The NVLD modules limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the vehicles original in-service / first delivery date.
- 15 years or 150,000 miles · BMW warranty extension 1390900300For this vehicle, the EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles, from the original 10 years/120,000 miles…
- 15 years or 150,000 miles · BMW warranty extension 1153900200For this vehicle, the engine coolant thermostat limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles, as determined from the original in-service date.
The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every BMW warranty extension (46) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Engine, Steering, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.
- B011524 Warranty extension2026-07-28 · Engine
- The NVLD modules limited warranty for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the vehicles original in-service / first delivery date.
- B110426 Service bulletin2026-07-17 · Electrical System
- The manual starting of electronic engine oil level measurement from inside the vehicle, usually afterperforming an engine oil service task, is inoperative or it may lock up at between a 15% to 30% completionrate.
- B840226 Service campaign2026-07-10 · Electrical System
- Once the Telematics Module (TCB2) enters sleep mode, a BMW Data Services trigger for Remote Services(remote engine start, lock/unlock/climate conditioning) will not be able to reactivate the TCB2. Due to this issue, Remote Services will not function in the vehicle when parked and locked.
- B010126 Warranty extension2026-05-06 · Engine
- The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.
- B521125 Service bulletin2025-08-21 · Electrical System
- If the seat ventilation is deactivated via the switch or due to parking the vehicle, the fans in the seat cushionor under the seat cushion surface are unpleasantly loud. The fans speed up loudly twice and then turn off. The functionality of the fans is not impaired. This behavior only occurs after the vehicle had been programmed to I level S18A- 25-07-520 and higher; upto, but not including S18A-
- B270220 Service bulletin2025-03-27 · Power Train
- There is a jerking or shuddering during either or both of the following: Cornering or accelerating from low speeds Driving with low to medium loads There are no warning lights or Check Control messages.
- B010121 Warranty extension2024-11-14 · Engine
- For this vehicle, the engine coolant thermostat limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles, as determined from the original in-service date.
- B610321 Service bulletin2024-02-28 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Evaporative Emissions — Canister
- SITUATION BMW AG is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Recall (effective April 23, 2021) on a certain Model Year 2020 - 2021 BMW vehicles that were produced between August 13, 2019 and December 11, 2020. Do not deliver to a customer, a New, Certified Pre-Owned or Used vehicle subject to an emissions recall, until the vehicle is repaired. Do not use or sell replacement equipment/parts subject to
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
8 Series by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2020 8 Series
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2020 BMW 8 Series have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 7 recall campaigns for the 2020 BMW 8 Series, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V644000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2020 BMW 8 Series?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2020 BMW 8 Series yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it F (55/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 BMW 8 Series?
Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 BMW 8 Series, the best EPA combined figure is 25 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2020 BMW 8 Series?
Transport Canada measured it at 191.3–200.0 in long, 74.8–76.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 53.1–55.1 in tall, on a 111.0–119.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,486–4,769 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2020 BMW 8 Series?
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 BMW 8 Series, most often about steering, unspecified, electrical system. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2020 BMW 8 Series?
The EPA smog rating for the 2020 BMW 8 Series is 3 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2020 BMW 8 Series?
The manufacturer has filed 175 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 BMW 8 Series, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-07-28. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 6 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 6 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 7 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 4 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | none | NHTSA NCAP | NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe. |
| Service bulletins | 175 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | none | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | No defect investigation has been opened. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 12 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.