Compare the2026 BMW 8 SeriesVS 2025 Mercedes AMG CLE

The 8 Series’ standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG CLE.

Both the 8 Series and the AMG CLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The 8 Series’ corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG CLE’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 8 Series for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the AMG CLE.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 14 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Mercedes.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

The M850i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 80 more horsepower (523 vs. 443) and 140 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 413) than the AMG CLE’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the M850i 4.4 turbo V8 is faster than the Mercedes AMG CLE:

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

On the EPA test cycle the 8 Series gets better mileage than the AMG CLE Cabriolet:

For better stopping power the 8 Series M850i’s brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG CLE:

The 8 Series M850i has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The AMG CLE doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The M850i offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the AMG CLE.

The BMW 8 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 500 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG CLE.

The front grille of the 8 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The AMG CLE doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 8 Series Coupe has 1.8 inches more front hip room and 1.5 inches more front shoulder room than the AMG CLE Coupe.

The 8 Series Convertible has 1.8 inches more front hip room and 1.5 inches more front shoulder room than the AMG CLE Cabriolet.

The 8 Series Coupe has a much larger trunk than the AMG CLE Coupe (14.8 vs. 11.2 cubic feet).

The 8 Series Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top down than the AMG CLE Cabriolet (12.4 vs. 9.6 cubic feet).

With its coupe body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 8 Series offers cargo security. The AMG CLE’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

The 8 Series’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The AMG CLE’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

Laser headlights, standard on the 8 Series, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the AMG CLE’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

The 8 Series has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the AMG CLE.

The BMW 8 Series comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Mercedes AMG CLE isn’t available as a sedan.

The 8 Series is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The AMG CLE doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.