Compare the2024 Porsche 911VS 2024 BMW 8 Series

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the 911 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The 8 Series doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the 911 and 8 Series offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the 911 with Rear Cross Traffic Alert also has Rear Cross Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The 8 Series’ Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the 911 and the 8 Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 1 place higher in reliability than BMW.

The 911 has more powerful engines than the 8 Series:

As tested in Motor Trend the Porsche 911 is faster than the M850i 4.4 turbo V8 (automatics tested):

As tested in Motor Trend the 911 GT3 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder is faster than the M850i 4.4 turbo V8 (automatics tested):

In a Motor Trend race course test, the Porsche 911 S Coupe was clocked 3.88 seconds faster than the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe (95.52 sec. vs. 99.4 sec.).

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 911 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The 8 Series doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the 911 Coupe gets better mileage than the 8 Series Coupe:

On the EPA test cycle the 911 4 Auto with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the M850i Convertible (18 city/24 hwy vs. 17 city/24 hwy).

The 911’s optional fuel tank has 5.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the 8 Series (23.7 vs. 18 gallons).

The 911 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The 8 Series doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The 911 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The 8 Series doesn’t offer an SMG.

For better stopping power the 911 Turbo S’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the 8 Series:

The 911 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The 8 Series doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The 911 stops much shorter than the 8 Series:

For better traction, the 911 GT3 RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 8 Series (F:275/30R20 & R:335/30R21 vs. F:245/35R20 & R:275/30R20).

The 911 GT3 RS’ optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 8 Series’ optional 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 911 has standard 20-inch rear wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the 8 Series. The 911’s optional 21-inch rear wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the 8 Series.

The 911 GT3 RS handles at 1.18 G’s, while the M850i xDrive Coupe pulls only .98 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 911 GT3 RS executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the M850i xDrive Coupe (21.9 seconds @ .97 average G’s vs. 24.2 seconds @ .85 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the 911 GT3’s turning circle is 4.1 feet tighter than the 8 Series’ (34.1 feet vs. 38.2 feet). The 911’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the 8 Series xDrive’s (36.8 feet vs. 39 feet).

The Porsche 911 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 900 pounds less than the BMW 8 Series.

The 911 is 1 foot, 1.3 inches shorter than the 8 Series, making the 911 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 911 Coupe has .1 inches more front legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the 8 Series Coupe.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 13% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 911 (except Cabriolet/GT3) offers an optional rear wiper. The 8 Series doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The 911 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 8 Series doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The 911 (except Manual/GT3)’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Garage Pilot will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The 8 Series’ automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 911 first among premium sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The 8 Series isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Porsche 911 outsold the BMW 8 Series by over two to one during 2023.