Compare the2024 BMW 8 Series Gran CoupeVS 2023 Chrysler 300

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 300 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The 300 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The 300 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s 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 300.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 300 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The 300 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 8 Series Gran Coupe and the 300 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Warranty

The 8 Series Gran Coupe comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 300’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the 300’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 8 Series Gran Coupe 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. Chrysler doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 300.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the 8 Series Gran Coupe have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of some of the engines in the 300.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 8 Series Gran Coupe first among large premium cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The 300 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. With 58 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Chrysler.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Chrysler is rated below average.

Engine

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has more powerful engines than the 300:

	Horsepower	Torque
840i Gran Coupe 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	335 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
M850i Gran Coupe 4.4 turbo V8	523 HP	553 lbs.-ft.
Alpina B8 Gran Coupe 4.4 turbo V8	612 HP	590 lbs.-ft.
300 3.6 DOHC V6	292 HP	260 lbs.-ft.
300S 3.6 DOHC V6	300 HP	264 lbs.-ft.
300 5.7 V8	363 HP	394 lbs.-ft.
300C 6.4 V8	485 HP	475 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the 840i Gran Coupe 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder is faster than the Chrysler 300:

	8 Series Gran Coupe	300S	300 V8
Zero to 30 MPH	1.5 sec	2.5 sec	n/a
Zero to 60 MPH	4.4 sec	6.4 sec	5.8 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	7.4 sec	10.6 sec	n/a
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	2.4 sec	3 sec	n/a
Quarter Mile	13 sec	14.9 sec	14.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	104.9 MPH	97.1 MPH	n/a

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 8 Series Gran Coupe gets better mileage than the 300:

			MPG
8 Series Gran Coupe
	RWD	840i 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
	AWD	840i 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
300
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/30 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	16 city/25 hwy
		6.4 OHV V8	15 city/24 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/27 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The 300 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The 300 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s 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 300 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 300:

	8 Series Gran Coupe	300	300C
Front Rotors	15.6 inches	12.6 inches	14.2 inches
Rear Rotors	15.7 inches	12.6 inches	13.8 inches

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the 300 are solid, not vented.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe stops shorter than the 300:

	8 Series Gran Coupe	300
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 8 Series Gran Coupe has larger standard tires than the 300 (F:245/40R19 & R:275/35R19 vs. 215/65R17).

The 840i Gran Coupe’s 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 300 Touring’s standard 65 series tires. The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s optional 245/35R20 front and 275/30R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the 300’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 840i Gran Coupe has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 300 Touring. The Alpina B8 Gran Coupe’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the 300.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 8 Series Gran Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The 300 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The 8 Series Gran Coupe M550i/Alpina B8 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 300 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe M550i/Alpina B8 offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Chrysler doesn’t offer an active suspension on the 300.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 8 Series Gran Coupe is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the 300.

The 840i Gran Coupe xDrive handles at .92 G’s, while the 300 pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 840i Gran Coupe xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the 300 (25.1 seconds vs. 27.2 seconds).

Chassis

The front grille of the 8 Series Gran Coupe uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The 300 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has .5 inches more front headroom and .3 inches more front legroom than the 300.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The 300 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 8 Series offers cargo security. The 300’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The 300 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Chrysler. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 58% lower rating, Chrysler is ranked 31st.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the 300 S/Touring L, the 8 Series Gran Coupe has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the 300, and is not available on all models.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The 300 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The 300’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s 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 300’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the 8 Series Gran Coupe the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the 300 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The 300’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the 300’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen. The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the 300’s optional xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the 8 Series Gran Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The 300 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe 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 300.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 8 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the 300.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The 300 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The BMW 8 Series comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Chrysler 300 isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

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