RE: BMW M6: Catch It While You Can

[sad61t]

I think a DB9 is a better solution to the large auto coupé problem.

[pSyCoSiS]

I never thought that it was ugly when it first came out, but definitely agree it has aged well and looks more pleasing to the eye as the years go by.

That engine though, when running right, is a total work of art and something never to be repeated again.

Just sold my 535d, and I'm quite tempted with an early 645ci, in grey with red leather and manual gearbox if I can find one!

[FD3Si]

I really don't get the 'but what's the point' posts?
Surely the point is that magnificent engine in a luxurious GT car. Yeah, a 650i will be very fast, but it won't have that 500bhp, incredible sounding V10 under the bonnet.

I despised the looks of the 6 series when it first came out, but to these eyes they have really aged well. Perhaps it's just that I'm growing old.
I love the M5, but the 6 is also a magnificent thing to me - I'd avoid them both for the same reasons though - chiefly the potential financial cripplement that they hold. And for that, I respect them greatly!

[WokkaWokka]

I've heard not much happens until you are high up in the rev range at which point you are well into license losing territory.

Looks cool though.

[Shaoxter]

Article said:

The cheapest M6 in the classifieds is an astonishingly low £12,990, but then it does have an interstellar 169,000 miles on the clock (and given the typical 10-15mpg averages, I've worked out that its former owners must have spent over £80K in fuel alone in that time - absolutely terrifying).

Although if it's on 169k miles I doubt it's all town miles so probably more like 20mpg average. Also petrol prices were a bit lower in 2005-2009 so I make it more like £40k.

Can't see what else you'd have for £15k. Yes there are big bills even for the routine stuff but no worse and probably better than the equivalent AMG/Aston/Maserati.

Edited by Shaoxter on Thursday 14th May 14:15

[Schermerhorn]

ORD said:

Advertorial!

A hugely heavy wallowathon, according to the proper reviews. Never driven one, mind, and certainly now a lot of car for the money.

It's anything but a wallowy car. The more dynamic M3 wouldn't be able to shake it and on a straight bit of road, above 60mph, the M6 would just walk away into the distance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTvBk8k9sWM

Things to look out for are;

full service history - no history means no warranty can be put on the car.

Clutch and flywheel having been done. Clutch position sensor also.

Throttle actuators are prone to going. Make sure its been done.

Make sure there is plenty of life in the tyres and the brakes. To replace the lot it's circa £2500.

A good car is around £20,000.

If you can get one thats had all its work done, FSH, still under warranty for around £18,000 you aren't going to lose much money. I think the prices at bottoming out now and it'll never be a £10,000 car ever in opinion. Infact, I think prices will firm and then slowly rise.

[m444ttb]

I like the M6 and sometimes think about selling my 996 Carrera 4 to buy one. However the prospect of some engine and gearbox bills even frightens someone stupid enough to own a Porsche 996 without a Mezger engine in the back! It's entirely possible that they're no worse (or even better) than said 996 and my opinion is coloured by my friend that owns a BMW specialist and sees a quite a few with the V10 needing some attention. And it lacks a manual gearbox and i said I'd always have one car with one!

[Schermerhorn]

Just buy one with a warranty then all your problems are eased.


The main things are clutch/flywheel/actuators

If a car has had these done AND has a warranty and you can afford 15mpg then you'd be mad not to buy one.

[oversteerer]

These cars are astonishingly fast! Much, much faster than a 645 or 650i. Buying a used one will get you Lamborghini Gallardo performance for a 3rd of the price. I'm sure they are much cheaper to run and probably more reliable than the Lambo.

[Shaoxter]

m444ttb said:

I like the M6 and sometimes think about selling my 996 Carrera 4 to buy one. However the prospect of some engine and gearbox bills even frightens someone stupid enough to own a Porsche 996 without a Mezger engine in the back!

Uhh really? Don't think you hear anywhere near the amount of stories of completely borked engines compared to the 996/997.1 non-Mezger ones.

m444ttb said:

my opinion is coloured by my friend that owns a BMW specialist and sees a quite a few with the V10 needing some attention.

Hope you never pay a visit to Hartech then

[Vee12V]

TurboHatchback said:

I'd much rather have a 650i, I also can't see the point in a heavier, much thirstier, less comfortable version with an annoying gearbox. A 6-series will never be used on track and the 650i is more than fast enough so all the extra cost of an M6 will just make the car less enjoyable to use as a road car.

+1

[J4CKO]

Just had a quick look on Ebay, love how a few are advertised as having the "Cheap Tax", 20 grand car with an immense capacity to bankrupt with a proven track record of problems, that does 12 - 15 MPG but never mind, all is not lost the VED is £200 cheaper.


I would have to have the purchase price plus at least ten grand sat in an account ready for issues, stretching a 15 grand car budget a bit to get one of the cheapest examples is a route to insanity and having an expensive garage/path ornament.

[Schermerhorn]

The VED band should make little difference to buying the car. If you can afford the fuel then an extra £250 will make very little difference to you.

Unless you want to buy an M6 for the sake of it but cannot afford to run it in which case you're only going to cause a headache to the next buyer who will have to pay a premium for the servicing, tyres, brakes etc.

My advice is to buy a loved one that is under warranty still.

[0llie]

PaulsM3 said:

I think BMW's designed in the bangle era have aged much better than anything else of that time and almost become better looking with age.

I think we seem to be in the minority here, but I agree.

I still think I'd prefer an M5, but a Sepang Bronze M6 wouldn't go amiss

[mnx42]

Always liked the look of these and in the Sepang Bronze colour above, to these eyes, look gorgeous. I agree about the Bangle era, they are "growers".

[Shaoxter]

J4CKO said:

I would have to have the purchase price plus at least ten grand sat in an account ready for issues, stretching a 15 grand car budget a bit to get one of the cheapest examples is a route to insanity and having an expensive garage/path ornament.

Of course rather than having £10k sat around you could just get the warranty or buy one with a warranty... Or buy one which has had the common problems fixed.

Unless everything were to break at once you don't need anywhere near £10k. A lot of the bills are eye watering because they were done at the dealers under warranty. Find a good indy and you can get a clutch/flywheel done for £2k, throttle actuators done for £1k.

[ReVolt]

V8 Vantage anyone?

[Krikkit]

Much rather have an M5... The styling of the 6 is gopping to my eyes.

[Schermerhorn]

ReVolt said:

V8 Vantage anyone?

And get crushed? It can't even put up a decent fight.

Shaoxter said:

J4CKO said:

I would have to have the purchase price plus at least ten grand sat in an account ready for issues, stretching a 15 grand car budget a bit to get one of the cheapest examples is a route to insanity and having an expensive garage/path ornament.

Of course rather than having £10k sat around you could just get the warranty or buy one with a warranty... Or buy one which has had the common problems fixed.

Unless everything were to break at once you don't need anywhere near £10k. A lot of the bills are eye watering because they were done at the dealers under warranty. Find a good indy and you can get a clutch/flywheel done for £2k, throttle actuators done for £1k.

Indeed, Shaoxter.

It's hard on the wallet if you don't have a warranty. Otherwise, just turn up at the dealers, they'll read your key, fix the car, valet it and you're ready to pick it up.

Only a numpty would buy one without a warranty and have a '£10,000 slush fund' to spend on it if it went wrong.

Sometimes the logic on here is baffling........

Edited by Schermerhorn on Thursday 14th May 16:41

[predding]

NO point buying M6. I had 635d with Bluefin upgrade and produced same torque ie 560Nm and half the fuel consumption. Used to get M6's pass me twice on the autoroute as they had to keep stopping and refuelling. I still have the Bluefin if anyone wants one.