The BMW M8 is perhaps the most unassumingly potent model in the Bavarian manufacturer’s extensive lineup. In 2019, BMW introduced the all-new 8-Series as its new flagship model, and the M8 was its manic, high-performance sibling. From 2022 onwards, the car was available only in the ‘Competition’ guise, which essentially includes all the M Division has to offer, including comprehensive updates to the car’s chassis.
By design, the 2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe is a Grand Tourer (albeit on steroids) and an incredibly good one. Its inherent nature to chew up miles on the highway is accompanied by an equally strong sense of home on a racetrack. This is BMW’s largest M car, but it doesn’t behave so in the slightest.
Buying a 2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe will cost you upwards of six figures, but if you’re someone who’s seriously considering it, the price is no object. This guide will tell you the options you should consider speccing your car with, issues you might have to deal with, and what you can do to keep your vehicle running smoothly.
What Engine Does the 2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe Have?
The BMW M8 Competition Coupe is powered by an iteration of the S63 engine. The S63 is a V8 that is the epitome of BMW’s performance engines and, perhaps, one of the most capable units in its segment. On the standard M8, the engine produces a staggering 591 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.
Since the M8 receives the ‘Competition’ treatment as standard for 2022, peak power is up to 625 hp, making the 2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe the most powerful production BMW M coupe (barring the limited edition BMW M5 CS that produces 635 hp). Other changes that the Competition brings include a modified induction system and more rigid engine mounts.
This 4.4-liter engine is paired to an eight-speed e ‘M-Steptronic’ automatic gearbox and a rear-biased xDrive system that can disengage power to the front axle.
How Fast Is the 2022 BMW M8 Competition?
The 2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe is as fast as Grand Tourers come. Despite its 4295 lbs weight, it can catapult to 60 mph in just 3 seconds. The urgency with which it accelerates doesn’t take that much of a hit even past the 60 mph mark, with this massive sedan crossing the 124 mph barrier in just 10.6 seconds.
BMW has electronically restricted the top speed of the 2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe to 155 mph. However, get your hands on the M Driver Package (more info below), and you can raise the limit to 190 mph. Evidently, this is a ridiculously quick machine, and it has the technology to make this performance safely accessible even to the average driver.
Is BMW M8 a Supercar?
The BMW M8 may not fit the conventional supercar definition, but it comes incredibly close. So close that it can put some of its ‘supercar’ rivals to shame. It accelerates just as ferociously, offers an extensive suite of electronic driver aids, and has a competent chassis that can make its way around a racetrack like nobody’s business. It also has poor gas mileage and just two doors. In our opinion, it checks a lot of the right boxes.
2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe Interiors, Design, and Features
The 2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe finds itself in a rather interesting middle ground — it takes the competition to full-fledged sportscars while offering the level of refinement and comfort you’d expect from a luxury sedan. However, it manages to walk the fine line between either side of the spectrum almost effortlessly.
Thanks to a long list of electronic rider aids, you don’t have to be a professional driver to fully experience the performance that the M8 Competition Coupe has to offer. Helping push the car to its limits while also compensating for any lack in skill are an M Sport Differential, M Driving Dynamics Control, Dynamic Stability Control, and Adaptive M Suspension with electronically controlled dampers.
Alas, all the electronic wizardry in the world can’t outperform the laws of physics. The M8 is a massive vehicle, and one of its few flaws is that more than half of its weight is over the front axle, which can result in a somewhat front-heavy feeling while braking hard into a corner.
The xDrive system on the M8 Competition Coupe also allows you to channel all power to the rear wheels with just the tap of a button. We recommend saving the burnouts and power-sliding for a more controlled environment like a racetrack. Plus, the car is more fun to drive with all-wheel-drive enabled, and multiple owners have reported that the rear-wheel-drive forces them to feel disconnected from the road.
Everyday Ride and Comfort
Despite many of its hardcore track-oriented features, the M8 Competition Coupe can be pretty sedate on the public road. The active suspension does an excellent job soaking up bumps and makes the car glide over broken stretches of road. And since it’s a sibling to BMW’s flagship sedan, it gets a host of creature comforts on the inside.
The seats are clad in a bespoke, beautifully stitched Marino Leather upholstery, with the option of personal customization. Speaking of seating, the M8 Competition Coupe technically does have a rear row of seats, but no average-sized adult will be able to fit in there comfortably — the M8 Coupe is effectively a two-seater.
New for 2022
For 2022, the manufacturer also introduced some minor updates. These included the addition of a larger 12.3-inch central infotainment system. It’s one of the best in its class and comes with a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. For 2022, buyers also had the option to equip their car with a special M 50 Years Emblem and a new combination of Black Full Merino Leather with Sakhir Orange Alcantara Cloth upholstery.
The BMW M8 Competition Coupe comes equipped with some serious kit as standard equipment. Apart from what we’ve mentioned above, the car comes with heated and ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable M Sport steering wheel (also heated), automatic climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, Active Guard with Lane Departure Warning, Frontal Collision Warning, and Automatic City Collision Mitigation and Braking, and M Seat Belts.
However, as with every modern-day BMW, there is optional equipment that you can add to your M8 Competition Coupe. However, since this car is so well-equipped as standard, the list of add-on features is relatively brief.
Optional Equipment and Packages
Some of the equipment and features you could choose for your 2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe were solely cosmetic and offered as complimentary additions. For instance, you could choose to color the calipers on the M Compound brakes in red or black for no extra cost. Likewise, the Alcantara headliner could also be optioned in the upholstery color.
However, you’d have to spend some serious money for more functional updates. While the M Sport seats are standard fitment, for $4,500, you can opt for the M Carbon bucket seats. If you want some carbon treatment on the car’s exterior, you should also choose the $5,400 M Carbon Exterior Package. This package includes a new air curtain, front diffuser, rear spoiler, mirror caps, and exhaust tips made of carbon.
If you’re planning on frequenting the racetrack, we suggest adding the M Carbon Ceramic Brakes. They shave 42 lbs off the car’s weight and drastically improve braking performance.
You also have the option to choose from a couple of optional packages — a bundle of features and equipment. For the 2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe, you can select the following:
Driving Assistance Package
Since the M8 Competition Coupe includes Active Guard with Lane Departure Warning and Automatic City Collision Mitigation and Braking as standard, the $100 Driving Assistance Package adds Pedestrian and Frontal Collision Warning.
These features provide braking assistance based on speed conditions.
Driving Assistance Professional Package
The Driving Assistance Professional Package includes the Extended Traffic Jam Assistant and the Active Driving Assistant Pro.
The former brings partially automated steering input on select roadways up to 40mph. Meanwhile, the Active Driving Assistant Pro adds camera and radar-based driver assistance systems like a Lane Keeping Assistant, Lane Change Assistant, Emergency Stop Assistant, and Evasion Aid assist.
Many owners typically avoid equipping their car with this package since the assistance and safety warnings can be loud and intrusive. However, they do improve safety, and it’s definitely worth considering.
Reliability and Maintenance
The BMW M8 Competition Coupe is still a brand new car, so almost nothing can be said about its long-term reliability. However, initial impressions are quite positive, and it’s clear that the German manufacturer has put together a well-designed and soundly engineered machine.
The S63 engine that powers the M8 has had a problematic past, but after being around for over a decade, BMW has ironed out most of its more serious mechanical issues. Nevertheless, we’ve listed some of the more common problems the engine faced in the past, so you’ll know what may lay in store for you as an owner.
Rod Bearing Problems
One of the issues that used to turn away prospective buyers of the S63 was related to the rod bearings. There are multiple posts on forums of someone having faced the dreaded issue, with even more questioning whether it’s something to still be worried about.
The BMW’ S’ engines — S54, S65, and S85 — have all had reports of faulty rod bearings, but the issue is nowhere near as typical as you might think. It would take abysmal maintenance to cause damage to the rod bearings, as this issue is most commonly triggered by oil starvation. The risk of rod bearing failure on a modern-day S63 is improbable with proper care.
However, if it does happen, a rod-bearing failure can cause irreversible damage to the engine. One of the first signs you’ll notice is engine knocking. When the bearings start to wear out, they will affect the movement of the pistons and damage the crankshaft. This results in a deep tapping sound from within the engine commonly referred to as the dreaded “rod knock.”
Another symptom you should look for is metal shavings in the engine oil. Depending on the extent of damage, rectifying a rod bearing issue will easily cost you a few thousand dollars, so we hope it’s something you never have to deal with.
Excess Oil Consumption
Generally, a turbocharged engine will inherently consume more oil than a comparable naturally-aspirated counterpart. This happens because the oil also needs to cool and lubricate the turbos. The S63 engine features a twin-turbo setup, so it’s quite the guzzler by nature. However, the earlier iterations of the engine and the standard N63 that it was based on had quite the notorious reputation for consuming way more oil than expected.
There are several reasons behind excessive oil consumption, so narrowing down the root of the issue can be tricky. The usual suspects include failed piston rings, crankcase vent hose leaks, cracked turbocharger oil seals, or a faulty valve stem seal. Shortly after the standard N63 engine debuted, BMW acknowledged this problem and redesigned the valve guides with tighter clearances.
Again, this problem was resolved by the manufacturer shortly after the engine was launched, so it’s unlikely you’ll have to deal with it now.
VANOS Solenoids Problem
The BMW S63 features variable valve timing technology on the intake and exhaust valves, or what BMW calls double-VANOS. The German manufacturer has used this tech on nearly all its cars launched over the last couple of decades, but it has some weak points that will cause premature failure.
The most commonly problematic part is the VANOS solenoids. These solenoids are responsible for actuating the position of the cams, meaning they are constantly working while the engine is running. Unsurprisingly, they will wear out over time and eventually fail. The issue is when they fail sooner than expected.
The VANOS solenoids should last over 100,000 miles by design, but numerous owners have had to replace them much earlier. The silver lining is that the solenoids are inexpensive; however, the S63 features four of them, so the costs, including labor, can add up.
If there’s an issue with the VANOS, you should be able to sense a rough idling, stuttering, and a considerable drop in performance.
Ignition Coil Failure
The ignition coils are another component that is more likely to fail because of poor maintenance and negligence rather than poor manufacturing quality. Since this is a high-performance, turbocharged engine, you’ll have to ensure that the coils are in working condition more often than you would on a standard motor. The S63 can be pretty demanding of its coils.
If one of them fails, the rest may follow suit depending on the nature of the issue that caused the original failure. With an ignition coil failure, you will likely experience the same symptoms as VANOS failure — shaky idling, engine misfiring and stuttering, and sudden drops in power.
Vehicle Maintenance Programs
BMW offers multiple maintenance packages on its newer cars, including the 2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe. The BMW Ultimate Care package that comes standard includes scheduled maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles, whichever comes first. You also get unlimited Roadside Assistance for 4 years/unlimited miles.
Additionally, you can opt for the BMW Ultimate Care+ package that covers the brakes, wipers, and clutch, up to a specific mileage that varies depending on how much you pay.
Prices range from $700 to $6,449 for the BMW Ultimate Care+ 4 Bundle, which includes replacing the wear-and-tear components mentioned above for 7 years or 125,000 miles.
Is BMW M8 Worth Buying?
Brand new and off the dealership floor, the 2022 BMW M8 Competition Coupe has a base price of just over $130,000. That’s a serious amount of money, but it’s still a price tag that undercuts that of multiple sportscars by a fair margin.
The M8 may not be as instantly recognizable or ostentatious as some of its low-slung rivals, but it’s still a supremely capable machine. And while not as practical as the average executive sedan, it’s comfortable, luxurious, and leaves you with almost no reason to put its keys down.
