2022 BMW M8 Convertible Review: Bad Hair Days Have Never Been Better

After taking a hiatus in 2021, the BMW M8 Convertible is back with a bang. For 2022, the sought-after Competition Package is standard, which means that the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine under the hood now produces a massive 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Aside from the limited edition BMW M5 CS, the M8 Convertible is the most expensive M car available, which places this performance GT in the line of fire from some staunch competition from the likes of the Bentley Continental GT Convertible, Mercedes-AMG SL, and Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet. Packed with tons of luxury and tech inside the cabin and performance punch that will leave you with a racing heart and bruised kidneys from a standstill, three seconds is all it takes for the drop-top M8 to reach 60 mph. While not as opulent or expensive as some rivals nor as agile as others, the M8 Convertible strikes an interesting balance in the world of high-end convertible GTs.

New BMW M8 Convertible Exterior

The 2022 BMW M8 Convertible is a handsome-looking machine from the outside and gets some subtle M Performance touches to set it apart from the standard 8 Series. The M8 Convertible features 20-inch M Star-spoke wheels, Shadowline exterior trim, an M rear spoiler, a black power-folding soft top, twin exhaust tailpipes on either side of the body, signature M grills, and LED lighting. The optional M Carbon package adds a ton of carbon fiber that makes the M8 Convertible look seriously mean. The Bentley Continental GT Convertible is a more mature-looking vehicle, but in the world of four-seater super convertibles, these two cars will appeal to two very different people.

Dimensions

With a total length of 191.8 inches, the 2022 BMW M8 Convertible isn't a small car; in fact, it dominates the road with its presence and looks intimidating in one's rearview mirror. The M8 Convertible is 74.9 inches wide and 53.3 inches tall.

This big BMW weighs a hefty 4,560 pounds and has a weight distribution of 52.9/47.1 front to back. While the car's size gives it the presence expected of that M8 badge, it does mean that this open-top doesn't feel as agile as smaller M cars.

Exterior Colors

The broad-shouldered M8 Convertible is offered in your choice of 12 different colors. No-cost options include Alpine White (the only non-metallic color), Black Sapphire, Brands Hatch Grey, Marina Bay Blue, Donington Grey, Bluestone, Barcelona Blue, and Motegi Red. For an additional $1,950, you can add colors such as Dravit Grey, Aventurin Red, and Ametrin, while for $5,000, you can paint your M8 in Frozen Bluestone. If we were buying, we'd keep things simple and go for Alpine White or a shade of grey.

M8 Convertible Performance

Die-hard M Performance fans will say that a convertible can never be a true performance car. If you want the sharpest and fastest, you need a roof, and that might still be true in certain cases, but modern convertibles are so good that they only come with a minor performance penalty. In the case of the M8 Convertible, the newly standard Competition package makes this drop-top German bomber even sharper than before. Sure, it's a large car with a hefty curb weight, but stab the throttle, and the M8 Convertible will leave your head spinning and your passengers begging for more.

According to the manufacturer, that 617-hp twin-turbo V8 engine under the hood will propel the BMW M8 Convertible from 0-60 mph in just three seconds, and with the M Driver's package, the speed limiter gets a reset from 155 mph to 189 mph. Needless to say, the 2022 BMW M8 Convertible isn't just good for cruising around and looking good; it can shake a tail feather when asked to.

Engine and Transmission

The physics behind the M8 Convertible is astonishing. To get a 4,500-pound convertible up to 60 mph in only three seconds takes copious amounts of power, torque, and grip, and BMW has managed to achieve what only a few years ago would be unthinkable. This car launches out of the blocks like Johnny Knoxville out of a cannon and keeps pulling up to whichever speed limit is in place. The BMW M8 Convertible's performance specs are brilliant and this is thanks to a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces a massive 617 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via a razor-sharp eight-speed automatic transmission.

As with so many other modern sports cars, the M8 Convertible is an absolute pleasure to drive on a day-to-day basis, and the engine behaves well in city traffic. There's no need to feather the throttle to avoid smoky launches, and only when you want to move does the car respond with enthusiasm. Low to mid-range torque is impressive, but this V8 also likes to sing to the redline, and once the road opens up, we highly recommend giving it the beans at least twice a day. More than a GT, the M8 is one of those sports convertibles with a true dual personality.

Handling and Driving Impressions

BMW's M division is known for building tail-happy RWD sports cars, and the brand's range of cars have traditionally sent power to the rear, but with so much power on offer, the switch to all-wheel drive just makes more sense. Luckily, however, BMW allows keen drivers to switch the xDrive AWD system to RWD only when the need arises, allowing for some wild slides. On the everyday commute, the M8 Convertible is comfortable enough and won't crush your spine on rougher roads, but it's still stiff compared to a more luxury-orientated car like the Bentley Continental GT Convertible, or even the outgoing Mercedes-AMG S63 Convertible.

The M8 Convertible is fitted with M-specific adaptive suspension and M-specific kinematics and elastokinematics, which does an impressive job of keeping this large performance vehicle planted in the corners, but it's the chassis' natural grip that impresses most - this thing clings to the tarmac for dear life. Unfortunately, a lot of the car's weight sits over the front axle, which means the M8 can push into corners when driven with too much speed. The braking system is powerful enough for a car of this size but is unfortunately devoid of any significant feel.

M8 Convertible Gas Mileage

With a curb weight of over 4,500 lbs, this AWD twin-turbo V8 sports car was never going to be a fuel-sipper. The M8 Convertible will manage 15/21/17 mpg according to the EPA, which is not fantastic, even by V8 standards, and those figures are sure to drop if you drive with a heavy right foot. Most owners won't be bothered, though, since this is a car built for the well-to-do who have no issue filling up every second or third day.

With a 20.1-gallon fuel tank on board, the 2022 BMW M8 Convertible has a maximum range of around 342 miles.

M8 Convertible Interior

German luxury cars tend to set the standard when it comes to interior design and build quality, and while the BMW M8 Convertible's interior does have a quality feel about it, we can't help but feel that it is a bit unimaginative. Mercedes-Benz does a more emotive cabin, and Audi pulls off the space-age feel better. What you have here is an interior that looks more or less like that of every other BMW with a few M parts thrown in to make it feel more sporty. You do get niceties such as extended Merino leather upholstery, carbon-fiber interior trim, and cool-looking ambient lighting, but we wish BMW put more effort into making this M car's interior stand out a bit more. Quality, however, can't be faulted.

Seating and Interior Space

The 2022 M8 Convertible's most prominent party trick, other than the fact that it could probably make you puke on a hard launch, is the fact that it can seat four lucky people. Unfortunately, those in the back seat won't have as good a time as those in the front, especially if they're six-footers or taller. At least headroom isn't a problem with the roof down, but the rear-seat legroom is extremely tight. If it's a true four-seater luxury you're after, you'll have to forego the drop-top and go for the M8 Gran Coupe. Those in the front, however, get lots of legroom and comfy M Performance power-adjustable seats.

M8 Convertible Trunk and Cargo Space

Convertibles are never expected to do much heavy lifting, but when you're capable of carrying four people, you'd better provide enough trunk space for a few of their belongings. Thankfully the M8 Convertible offers a decent amount of trunk space, 12.4 cubic feet to be exact, and provides enough room for a few weekend travel suitcases.

The interior offers a center console storage compartment, a pair of cupholders in the front, padded door pockets in front, and a glovebox.

Features

Not only is the M8 Convertible fast, but it's luxurious too and comes stuffed with all kinds of premium tech. Standard for 2022 are features such as a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, BMW's Live Cockpit Professional system with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, heated and ventilated front seats with power adjustability, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, comfort keyless entry, and soft-close doors. For especially chilly days, even the front armrests are heated. BMW also includes driver assistance features such as lane departure warning, frontal collision warning, a rearview camera, and automatic city collision mitigation and braking.

Infotainment

Everyone knows that a drop-top BMW needs a banging stereo system, even if said BMW is a 2022 M8 Convertible that makes glorious V8 sounds. The M8 features a 10.25-inch central information touchscreen display running iDrive 7.0 software. This system features navigation, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and SiriusXM satellite radio with a one-year platinum subscription. Navigating through the menus is easy enough for those familiar with the iDrive software and controls.

Sound is channeled through a Harman Kardon surround-sound system with a 408-watt amplifier and 12 speakers. Smartphone integration is via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. We'd recommend 1 Thing by Amerie.

M8 Convertible Problems and Reliability

The 2022 model year has no recalls at the time of writing, but earlier models have suffered slight defects. The 2020 model was recalled five times with issues including a malfunctioning rearview camera, a possible loss of braking assistance and ABS, faulty seat belt sensors, a transmission wiring harness that can short circuit, and another recall regarding the review camera.

BMW covers the 2022 BMW M8 Convertible with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, a 12-year corrosion warranty, a four-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a three-year/36,000-mile maintenance plan.

Warranty

M8 Convertible Safety

Safety rating agencies tend to avoid smashing expensive German sports cars, so, unfortunately, there is no official NHTSA review of the BMW M8 Convertible, but you can sleep easy knowing that BMW has put a lot of time and effort into keeping its high-end customers safe.

As with any modern vehicle sold in the US, the new BMW M8 Convertible comes standard with a rearview camera, a tire-pressure monitoring system, traction and stability control, ABS brakes, and a host of airbags, including seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and driver and front passenger airbags. Icon adaptive LED headlights with Laserlight technology guide you through the dark, and advanced driver assistance systems such as lane departure warning, frontal collision warning, automatic city collision mitigation and braking, and post-crash braking are all standard. By specifying the optional Driving Assistance Professional package, the BMW is equipped with an advanced camera/radar-based driver-assistance system that includes a traffic jam assistant, active blind-spot detection, a surround-view camera system, front/rear parking sensors, and automatic parking assistance.

Verdict: Is the 2022 BMW M8 Convertible A Good car?

The BMW M8 Convertible is back and better than ever. Now in Competition guise from the factory, the M8 Convertible packs a bigger punch and is more finely tuned to bring an exhilarating driving experience. In a straight line, there is very little that will keep up with this German drop-top, and despite its weight disadvantage, it's still a hoot to throw around in the corners. As an everyday driver, the M8 Convertible offers decent practicality. Its trunk will swallow the groceries, and four adults can squeeze in the cabin for city trips. As you'd expect from a high-end BMW, the interior is lavish, and the level of tech is impressive. Fast four-seater convertibles such as the Bentley Continental GT Convertible do the grand tourer thing better but at a highly inflated price. BMW offers a bunch of tasty options, but even in vanilla spec, this is one highly capable sports car and one of the quickest ways to lose your toupee.

What's the Price of the 2022 BMW M8 Convertible?

This is one of the most expensive new BMWs money can buy. The BMW M8 Convertible's price starts at an MSRP of $139,500, nearly $10,000 more than the coupe and $35,800 more than the M5 sedan. This price does not include a $1,000 gas guzzler tax or the $995 destination and handling fee. Fully loaded, the 2022 M8 Convertible will set you back close to $170k, which still doesn't come close to the $220k+ price tag of the 2022 Bentley Continental GT Convertible.

What BMW M8 Convertible Model Should I Buy?

There's only one car to choose from, so we'll tell you what we'd do if we had the money. Firstly, we'd get one in Marina Bay Blue metallic and add the M Carbon Exterior package for the increased intimidation factor. We'd also include the M Driver's package and the added safety afforded by the Driving Assistance Professional package. The total cost of the BMW M8 Convertible in this specification comes to $151,195, including the $1,000 gas guzzler tax and a $995 destination fee.

2022 BMW M8 Convertible Comparisons

2022 BMW M8 Convertible vs Mercedes-AMG E53 Convertible

Last year, Mercedes-AMG still offered the mighty S63 Convertible, but unfortunately, that's no longer the case in 2022. The most potent four-seater convertible you can now get your hands on is the smaller E53. This luxurious drop-top is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with hybrid technology and produces a decent 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. The Merc can't touch the BMW M8 in terms of performance, but it does look great, and we prefer its interior styling. On the road, it's a pleasure to drive and is best suited to fast touring than all-out track racing. Rear-seat space is good, but the Mercedes doesn't offer as much trunk space. If it's all-out performance you're looking for, and the price isn't an issue, go for the BMW.

2022 BMW M8 Convertible vs Bentley Continental GT Convertible

The BMW M8 Convertible is by no means an economy car, but compare anything to a Bentley, and you're bound to make it look pedestrian. The 2022 Bentley Continental GT Convertible must be one of the best-looking and most opulent four-seater convertibles available today. Powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine, this Brit produces 542 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. It is rapid in its own sense but will never be able to keep up with the M8 in a straight line, never mind a few corners. Where this vehicle truly shines is in the way it carries its occupants. The drive is composed and comfortable, and the interior is absolutely opulent. The tech levels aren't too bad, but that is not the Bentley's most significant selling point. With a trunk size of only 8.3 cubic feet, the Bentley isn't as practical, and its price tag of over $220,000 might put some off. If you want to go fast, get the BMW, but if you want to arrive in style, the Bentley is your only choice.