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Your vehicleHome›BMW›8 Series› 2021
BMW · Convertible

2021 BMW 8 Series

Gas
Subcompact Cars
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
60 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical 5
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA 0
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 25 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019

The 2021 BMW 8 Series is sold in the U.S. as a gas convertible with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 840i Convertible, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D.

BMW 8 Series — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
BMW 8 Series · Photo: Dinkun Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
840i ConvertibleGasRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo222925$3,300
840i CoupeGasRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo233025$3,300
840i Gran CoupeGasRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo222925$3,300
840i xDrive ConvertibleGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo202723$3,550
840i xDrive CoupeGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo202723$3,550
840i xDrive Gran CoupeGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo202723$3,550
M850i xDrive CoupeGasAWD4.4L 8-cyl turbo172520$4,100

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42996, 42920, 43002, 42922, 42921, 42938, 43641.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
840i Convertible, 840i Coupe, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Convertible, 840i xDrive Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, M850i xDrive Coupe3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 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.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length191.3–200.0 in
Width (body, without mirrors)74.8–76.0 in
Height53.1–55.1 in
Wheelbase111.0–119.3 in
Track, front64.2 in
Track, rear64.6–65.7 in
Curb weight4,486–4,769 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear53/47 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.

Also on file Beside the 2021 8 Series
Other years The 2026 8 Series Recalls BMW recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 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 →

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Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Power Train

36,823 vehicles
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2026 840i, 840i xDrive, 2021-2023 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, and 2024-2026 750e xDrive vehicles. The connection between the driveshaft and the rear differential may become damaged, possibly resulting in a loss of power to the rear wheels or a vehicle rollaway. Risk An unexpected loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. In addition, a damaged driveshaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Fix Dealers will inspect the connection between the driveshaft and rear axle differential, and apply adhesive or replace the driveshaft and rear axle differential, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 8, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 2, 2026.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFRemedy instructions PDFDealer notice PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V525000 reported Aug 12, 2026 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Electrical System

145,102 vehicles 59% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 340I, X6, 2020-2025 840I, 2020-2022 740LI, 2019-2020 X7, and X5 vehicles. After repeated attempts, the starter motor may overheat from an electrical overload. Risk An overheated starter motor can ignite nearby combustible material in the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. This recall includes vehicles repaired under recall 24V576 and those owners will need to have their vehicle repaired again. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov November 17, 2025.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V644000 reported Sep 25, 2025 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Back Over Prevention

13,858 vehicles 98% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe, 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le, 745Le xDrive, X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 740i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, M760i Drive, M760Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive Alpina, Alpina B7 xDrive, and 2021 4 Series Coupe 43 Risk If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V096000 reported Feb 19, 2021 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

893 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, and 2021 M3, M3 Competition, M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, X5 xDrive45e, 745 Le xDrive. The rotor and shaft within the integrated brake system may not have been welded properly and could separate during a hard braking event, possibly resulting in a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and braking assistance. Risk A loss of ABS and a reduction in braking assistance can increase the risk of a crash. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V062000 reported Feb 10, 2021 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Electrical System

812 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 M340i xDrive, M440i xDrive Coupe, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 840i Gran Coupe, 840i xDrive Gran Coupe, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been assembled properly, which can cause increased electrical resistance at the connections. Risk Increased electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator assembly, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V761000 reported Dec 9, 2020 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

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 2021 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.

NHTSA VIN check →BMW’s own VIN lookup →

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 2021 BMW 8 Series, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2021 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 database

No owner complaints on file with NHTSA for this model year.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

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 →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 124
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-07-17
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 123 service bulletins, 1 warranty extension

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Steering, Engine, Structure.

  • B110426 Service bulletin
    2026-07-17 · 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.
  • B010126 Warranty extension
    2026-05-06 · 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 bulletin
    2025-08-21 · 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-
  • B611305 Service bulletin
    2024-01-11 · Electrical System
  • The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.
  • B360121 Service bulletin
    2024-01-08 · Steering
  • At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking, maneuvering)with a large steering angle, the front end can be slightly axially misaligned. This can be felt (jerking)/ heard via an acoustic acknowledgement (clunk) as seen at the 11 second mark of the video. See attached video V36 01 21.
  • B610524 Service bulletin
    2024-01-05 · Electrical System
  • The Central Information Display goes black intermittently due to resets of the Head Unit (HU-H3). FaultB7F8F9 – “HU-H: Reset” will be stored in the HU-H3.
  • B160123 Service bulletin
    2024-01-05 · Fuel System, Gasoline
  • A vehicle arrives at your center to be diagnosed for a micro-leak in the fuel evaporative (EVAP) system(NVLD natural vacuum leak detection). For this condition, the following fault is stored in the DME: 190302 - fuel tank ventilation and scavenging air system, micro-leak: leakage more than 0.5mm For: Model vehicles other that the ones listed above, or for EVAP faults related to a “large leak,
  • B320223 Service bulletin
    2024-01-04 · Steering
  • SITUATION Unusual noises occur only when operating the steering column in the axial direction. 1. A one-time thump sound at the start of movement Shortly after the steering column starts moving, retracting, or extending, a one-time thump noise is heard. See attached video V32 03 23 2. Humming noise while steering column extends in the axial direction. The sound is only heard when the steering

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 →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2026 A 1 0 24 mpg2025 C 2 0 24 mpg2024 C 2 2 24 mpg2023 D 4 0 24 mpg2022 C 2 7 25 mpg2021 this page D 5 0 25 mpg2020 F 7 4 25 mpg2019 B 3 9 20 mpg

Common questions about the 2021 8 Series

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 BMW 8 Series have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2021 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 2021 BMW 8 Series?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2021 BMW 8 Series yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it D (60/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 BMW 8 Series?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 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 2021 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.

How clean is the 2021 BMW 8 Series?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 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 2021 BMW 8 Series?

The manufacturer has filed 124 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 BMW 8 Series, most often covering equipment, electrical system, steering. The most recent is dated 2026-07-17. 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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations7 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates7 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls5NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaintsnoneNHTSA complaint databaseNo owner has filed one. On a car that sold in small numbers this says very little either way.
Crash ratingsnoneNHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins124NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No 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 NHTSAnoneNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWe had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe 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.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2026 8 Series The 8 Series model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 1 recall.Recalls Every BMW recall on file All campaigns filed against BMW vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this 8 Series by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

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.

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