Index: src/wp-includes/css/admin-bar.css
===================================================================
--- src/wp-includes/css/admin-bar.css	(revision 31448)
+++ src/wp-includes/css/admin-bar.css	(working copy)
@@ -281,7 +281,8 @@
 #wpadminbar li .ab-item:focus:before,
 #wpadminbar li.hover .ab-icon:before,
 #wpadminbar li.hover .ab-item:before,
-#wpadminbar li:hover #adminbarsearch:before {
+#wpadminbar li:hover #adminbarsearch:before,
+#wpadminbar li #adminbarsearch.adminbar-focused:before {
 	color: #00b9eb;
 }
 
@@ -386,6 +387,10 @@
 	min-width: 270px;
 }
 
+#wpadminbar.ie8 #wp-admin-bar-my-account.with-avatar .ab-item {
+	white-space: nowrap;
+}
+
 #wpadminbar #wp-admin-bar-user-actions > li {
 	margin-left: 16px;
 	margin-right: 16px;
@@ -435,8 +440,8 @@
 	font-size: 11px;
 }
 
-#wpadminbar .quicklinks li#wp-admin-bar-my-account.with-avatar > a img {
-	width: 16px;
+#wpadminbar #wp-admin-bar-my-account.with-avatar > a img {
+	width: auto;
 	height: 16px;
 	padding: 0;
 	border: 1px solid #82878c;
@@ -448,6 +453,10 @@
 	display: inline;
 }
 
+#wpadminbar.ie8 #wp-admin-bar-my-account.with-avatar > a img {
+	width: auto;
+}
+
 /**
  * WP Logo
  */
@@ -551,6 +560,10 @@
 /**
  * Search
  */
+#wpadminbar.ie8 #wp-admin-bar-search {
+	display: block;
+	min-width: 32px;
+}
 #wpadminbar #wp-admin-bar-search .ab-item {
 	padding: 0;
 	background: transparent;
@@ -560,6 +573,7 @@
 	position: relative;
 	height: 32px;
 	padding: 0 2px;
+	z-index: 1;
 }
 
 #wpadminbar #adminbarsearch:before {
@@ -580,6 +594,7 @@
 	font: 13px/24px "Open Sans", sans-serif;
 	height: 24px;
 	width: 24px;
+	max-width: none;
 	padding: 0 3px 0 24px;
 	margin: 0;
 	color: #ccc;
@@ -615,12 +630,18 @@
 }
 
 #wpadminbar.ie8 > #wp-toolbar > #wp-admin-bar-top-secondary > #wp-admin-bar-search #adminbarsearch input.adminbar-input {
-	margin-top: 4px;
-	background-color: #464646;
+	/* IE8 z-index bug with transparent elements */
+	background: transparent 0 0 repeat scroll url("data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBR‌​AA7");
 }
 
+/* IE8 doesn't redraw the pseudo elements unless you make a change to the content */
+#wpadminbar.ie8 #adminbarsearch.adminbar-focused:before {
+	content: '\f179 '; /* extra space */
+}
+
 #wpadminbar.ie8 > #wp-toolbar > #wp-admin-bar-top-secondary > #wp-admin-bar-search #adminbarsearch input.adminbar-input:focus {
-	background-color: #fff;
+	background: #fff;
+	z-index: -1;
 }
 
 #wpadminbar #adminbarsearch .adminbar-input::-webkit-input-placeholder {
Index: src/wp-includes/js/admin-bar.js
===================================================================
--- src/wp-includes/js/admin-bar.js	(revision 31448)
+++ src/wp-includes/js/admin-bar.js	(working copy)
@@ -149,6 +149,14 @@
 			}
 		});
 
+		$( '#adminbar-search' ).on({
+			focus: function() {
+				$( '#adminbarsearch' ).addClass( 'adminbar-focused' );
+			}, blur: function() {
+				$( '#adminbarsearch' ).removeClass( 'adminbar-focused' );
+			}
+		} );
+
 		// Empty sessionStorage on logging out
 		if ( 'sessionStorage' in window ) {
 			$('#wp-admin-bar-logout a').click( function() {