BMW M8 Competition vs M850i
BMW has become very good at offering a “lite” version for their sports cars. When it comes to the M2, there’s an M240i. The M3 has an M340i, and the M4 has the M440i. When it comes to the 8 series, which is the highest class BMW offers, it’s no different. The vehicle line-up of “true M” and “M Performance” has always been a topic of interest amongst the car community, primarily around the notion of “which one is better”.
In this blog post, you’ll learn about BMW’s “lite” (but it’s not so lite) version of the M8 Competition along with some spec and price differences.
What’s The Beef?
There has been a constant back-and-forth in the BMW community for quite a long time when it comes to “M” and “M Performance”. The key differences to remember are that there are three spec packages with BMW if you’re going in any “M” direction:
M (m2, m3, m4, m8).
M Performance (modified standard BMW - m240i, m340i, m440i, m 550i, m850i).
M Appearence (sportier looking standard BMW).
"M Performance" is in reference to BMWs that have upgraded features such as brakes, suspension, and engine, but don’t have the track-focused performance of an “M”. There’s a price difference as well, but the cost doesn’t say much. For example, the m850i is more expensive than an M4, so does that mean the m850i is “better” than the M4? The answer to that question is, of course, “it depends”, but the point is that the cost of the vehicle isn’t a clear indicator.
So, what’s the beef? Ego. It’s an ego thing. Nothing more, nothing less. Yes, there are better upgrades, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put the upgrades in an M Performance package.
Now that you know a bit about the backstory of M’s, let’s start to dive into the key differences.
BMW M850i Specs
Here is the spec breakdown:
4.4-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo V-8, 32-valve 523-hp engine.
523 hp.
Sport exhaust system
Driving Dynamics Control with ECO PRO, COMFORT and SPORT modes.
8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and Launch Control.
Two-door or four-door
The weight is 4,758 lbs.
The M850i is a beast of a car. If you drive it, you’ll absolutely feel the V8 power and that combined with a twin-turbo makes for an amazing driving experience. Another important mention is that it’s an incredibly comfortable car to drive. If you’re hitting “higher speeds”, you definitely won’t feel it. It’s a very smooth ride.
If you’re in the market for a BMW that has a V8, is incredibly faster, pushes you back in your seat, and looks phenomenal, this is a great sports car.
💡I had a 2022 BMW M850i, so I can attest to the fact that it’s a beautiful vehicle. There’s also a 4-door model, so if you need to put people in the back, it makes life much easier.
If you’re interested in seeing an M850i that’s modded, beautiful, and fast, check out Jim’s M850i, which you can find here: https://www.instagram.com/jim_finch17/
Jims M850i
BMW M8 Competition Specs
Here is the spec breakdown:
4.4-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo V-8 engine
617 horsepower
Variable valve control (Double-VANOS and Valvetronic)
High-precision direct injection
Transmission: 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission, Sport and Manual shift modes, Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and Launch Control.
Suspension is an Independent double wishbone front suspension, Coil springs, and Multi-link rear suspension.
The weight is 4,480 lbs.
If you’re wondering, yes, the engine is the same as in the M850i. It’s just tuned differently, which is why you get the extra horsepower.
The reason why the M8 is lighter than the M850i is because typically with “sports cars”, especially M’s, you’ll find that the materials used are lighter. For example, you may find a carbon fiber roof, lighter suspension parts, and sometimes even fewer “luxury” features because although the M850i is a beast, it’s meant to be more luxurious than sporty.
Cost Difference
Alright, the moment everyone is waiting for. What’s the price difference on these two cars?
MSRP on a 2025 BMW M8 Competition starts at roughly $150,000 and will go up to $162,000 if you get a convertible
MSRP on a 2025 BMW M850i starts at roughly $110,000 and goes up to $127,000.
Altogether, you’re talking about a $40,000 price difference. Because of that, when you’re thinking about what car you’d like to go with, you really have to be sure that you want it for a particular reason (unless you’re just rich, then have at it). For about $20,000, you can make the M850i much faster than an M8 Competition. You’ll just have to figure out what’s most important to you - the price point or the clout.
A big thing to note is that with the BMW M8 Competition, the value of the car the second you drive it off of the lot is big. The depreciation is higher than that of the majority of other vehicles. The primary three reasons are:
It’s initial price tag.
It’s less sought-after in comparison to other BMWs (like an M4).
If someone is going to buy an M8, chances are they have the money to buy a new one, so the used ones sit and collect dust.
