Compare the2025 BMW 8 SeriesVS 2025 Mercedes 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 CLE.

Both the 8 Series and the 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 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 CLE.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Mercedes.

The 840i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 80 more horsepower (335 vs. 255) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the CLE 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The M850i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 148 more horsepower (523 vs. 375) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 369) than the CLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the M850i 4.4 turbo V8 is faster than the CLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid:

The 8 Series’ launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The CLE doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The 8 Series stops shorter than the CLE:

For better traction and acceleration, the 8 Series has larger rear tires than the CLE (275/30R20 vs. 245/45R18).

The 8 Series’ standard 245/40R19 front and 275/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CLE’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 8 Series has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the 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 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 CLE.

The M850i xDrive Coupe handles at .99 G’s, while the CLE 450 Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The M850i xDrive Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the CLE 450 Coupe (24 seconds @ .84 average G’s vs. 26 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

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 CLE doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

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

With its coupe body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 8 Series offers cargo security. The CLE’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat 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 CLE’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 CLE.

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

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