RE: BMW 650i: PH Carpool

RE: BMW 650i: PH Carpool

Monday 31st August 2015

BMW 650i: PH Carpool

The V8 BMW coupe as ideal family transport argument, convincingly made by this week's featured owner



Name: Chris Cave / Quavey
Car: BMW E63 650i
Owned since: August 2014
Previously owned: "E36 323i, 300ZX TT LWB, E36 M3 Evo, 300ZX TT SWB, E39 M5, P38 4.6 HSE"


Why I bought it:
"I had lusted after a 6 Series from launch, after being a big fan of the E24 and wanting to buy one as a classic whilst I was in my late teens. My dad eventually talked me out of it but the two stored E24 635i's near one of the warehouses we used for the company I worked for at the time always took my attention.

"Back to the E63; when the new shape came out I was transfixed. I have a period brochure from 2004 which I ordered off the internet back when it was new which I looked at and thought what a fantastic car, even from day one the styling looked fantastic to me even if others didn't like it. Obviously as a teenager the idea of a £60,000 car was certainly a long way of but as years rolled by and I had had quite a few other cars and I was beginning to miss a coupe. The E39 M5 was the first and only actual saloon I had ever owned and after a couple of years of ownership was getting a bit leggy I started to look for something a bit more modern and less highly strung.

"The 650i seemed to be a collection of great numbers: 0-60 in the low fives, mid 30s mpg on a run, modern(ish) satnav and a nice six-speed automatic gearbox at a price that wasn't much different to the value of the M5. Coupled with a holiday we had booked with a trip through Europe meant it was time to look for something a bit more suitable for long distance touring. I settled on a 650i over a 645ci for a number of reasons, mainly more being better but also as a nod to future values. Assuming that the 650i should retain a little more of it as, with the exception of the M6, its the fastest E63."


What I wish I'd known:
"Not much to be honest, as a self-confessed BMW addict I had researched them to death. My only advice to other potential owners is make sure you don't get to hung-up on the spec of a car, it really doesn't matter that much as its a great car regardless.

"The only one to insist on is the Professional Nav which gives you the better screen and twin drives in the dash. In my case it's an early 650i and is actually in the cheaper tax bracket. Not that its a huge difference but £200-odd is better in my pocket than anyone else's as later versions of course fall into higher tax brackets which are £500 or so. Also don't get to hung up on if its a Sport or not, there are no mechanical differences on an E63, it is not an M Sport just a Sport. The differences are purely cosmetic. As it happens my car is NOT a sport and thus came with 18-inch wheels which I have changed for the much better 19-inch Style 218 wheel. However it had been originally specified with Sports Seats and the Dark Birchwood trim so, with the exception of one or two bits of trim, it's essentially the same. I suppose what I am getting it is, if you like a car don't discount it because its not a Sport!"


Things I love:
"Primarily the way the car looks, it's just superb. I think its a fantastically styled car both inside and out and still looks modern today.

"I love the sound it makes which is far better than it should be (and IMHO sounds better than my E39 M5, certainly louder). I also love the way that everyone expects it to be heavy, slow and boring and yet it couldn't be further from most people's original perception. The E63 has an amazing ability to chew through mileage like no other car I have owned long distances are not noticed. The same cannot be said for the Astravan I currently do 40K miles a year in! I also love the smoothness of the car and the power delivery is first class, it is truly a Jekyll and Hyde car that can be used to almost silently glide from destination to destination or driven in an enthusiastic manor to put a smile on anyone's face!"

Things I hate:
"There is very little to hate. Minor annoyance at best and to be expected in a coupe but the rear leg room is a problem. We have a baby due and, despite some initial reservations, all the 'equipment' we need does fit in the 6 but I can't help feeling a 5 Series Touring would be easier. The rear bumpers and doors do feel a bit vulnerable to other people in car parks but so far it doesn't seem to have suffered to much damage! Despite what I said above about don't worry to much about the spec, the lack of a standard cup holder is annoying. The fuel tank is a little small - 70 litres does mean that even at a steady cruise and maintaining 30mpg a touring range of 400 miles is the limit. However considerably better than the E39 M5!"


Costs:
"So far very little. Fuel is astonishing for a car of this type. On the road trip through Europe in 2014 mentioned below we managed a frankly unbelievable average of 32.5mpg. Obviously generally running around is considerably less but compared to my P38 Range Rover 4.6 it's an economical run around!

"Other than some wiper blades and pollen filters I've not yet had to do anything other than an MoT so its not cost much at all. The same cannot be said for the P38! We are due a service in the next few thousand miles which should be quite reasonable, even at the dealers these days they are keenly priced for older cars. Although not strictly required, I did fit some Style 218 19-inch wheels to it, which I had fully refurbished with new center caps. It was not particularly cheap to do as they are a sought-after wheel but it has transformed the looks."


Where I've been:
"No track days as yet, I did them in the Nissans and in the M3 and M5 it doesn't seem quite the car for the track but never say never! My other half and I did a 2,500-mile trip through Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and into Italy last year (it is really the reason I bought the 650i) which was fantastic.

"We took in a couple of the mountain passes, my favorite being the Splugen Pass in Northern Italy over the Swiss border which was great fu,n especially to pass cars (safely of course) in a roar of V8 . The Sport mode does actually make it much easier, with a sharper throttle response and more aggressive gear changes and engine braking.

New running mate.
New running mate.
What next?
"I have no plans to sell the car, as I mentioned above we are expecting a baby and although its perhaps not the best car for the job its certainly not the worst and my other half really doesn't want the 6 to go. So it's here to stay at the moment.

"I may look at retrofitting one or two options to it in the future. I have already looked at this and realised that actually not having a CD changer is not the end of the world and the best options are far from easy to retrofit (HUD, Active cruise etc). If I were to sell we would maybe look at a newer Range Rover and sell the E63 and P38, (they are a liability I am well aware!) or perhaps the change to a 535d or preferably a 550i Touring, though finding the latter is far from easy! [Chris got back in touch to say the P38 has gone and, in its place, the rather lovely looking E39 530i Sport Touring has joined the fleet as the family-friendly BMW! - Ed.]


Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!

 

Author
Discussion

WokkaWokka

Original Poster:

698 posts

138 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
A car that has aged really well. Lovely interior too.

iacabu

1,348 posts

148 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
I really like these although it doesn't seem their looks are admired by many.

Major Fallout

5,278 posts

230 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Had mine for 7 years now and I still love it.

quavey

177 posts

151 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Thank you guys. I still love it very much.

If anyone picked up on the new arrival, he arrived last Monday on the 24th at 10:50. smile

stevemiller

533 posts

164 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Enjoyed the read and congratulations on the new arrival.

Happyjap

382 posts

108 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
This very handsome car I feel and would love to own one!

minimalist

1,488 posts

204 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
I never owned a BMW before and wouldn't have considered myself a fan but I bought a 630 a few months ago and think the 6 series is a great car. Very classy and understated. I was also looking at a 530 touring but the six feels a bit special. A V8 would be lovely but the 3.0 is lightweight, economical, reasonably pokey and sounds surprisingly good. I have driven a 650 and M6 and as an ownership prospect would prefer the 650. For a blast, the M6.

Either way, they are all good cars.

Dick Seaman

1,075 posts

222 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
These tick so many boxes. Great choice.

E63M6

594 posts

119 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Always been a fan of the looks.

quavey

177 posts

151 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Thank you all guys, I'm glad people enjoyed the read perhaps I have missed my calling to be a motoring journalist... Dream job I suppose!

I agree though that the E63 is a superb car. It by far surpassed my expectations and still makes me grin a year on!

philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
I can vouch for the engine!

I'd have had the 6, I think they look great but needed some practicality so went for the 550i Touring.

Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
A great car, I think they look smart and have aged well, silver isn't for me though - did they make these in the dark blue that the same iteration of 5 Series came in? Interlagos Blue IIRC, a fabulous colour, that'd suit it nicely.

Great write up and congratulations on the new arrival smile

JMF894

5,478 posts

154 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
I'm sure these are pleasant to drive and no-one can argue with a V8 but I have never clicked with the styling of these.

Always pleased to read about a happy enthusiast's experiences though.

Enjoy.

Jimbo.

crostonian

2,427 posts

171 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Great cars and amazing value, so much better than an S5 or CL500 if you're looking for a German V8 coupe and way cheaper than an XK Coupe.

parabolica

6,703 posts

183 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Axionknight said:
A great car, I think they look smart and have aged well, silver isn't for me though - did they make these in the dark blue that the same iteration of 5 Series came in? Interlagos Blue IIRC, a fabulous colour, that'd suit it nicely.

Great write up and congratulations on the new arrival smile
I love mine smile


Schermerhorn

4,342 posts

188 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
The one to have is the 635D....

....and this is coming from someone who used to have an M6 V10.

oily101200

16 posts

192 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Just got back from the States, where I did a road trip in the new M6. Did a round trip from Toronto to the Hw 129, on the Tennessee/North Carolina borders, also known as the Dragon. Near 600bhp was too much for that road, but was fabulous on the roads in the surrounding Smokey Mountains.



Did have a bit of rain though.





If the old car is anything like the new one, a stonking good car.




rtz62

3,340 posts

154 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Agree with the last post, a twin turbo diesel would be my heads choice but the heart would go for an M6.
I love the looks, they have a presence that other manufacturers just seemed to miss with their competitors.
It always makes me think of a basking shark in looks; its ability to gobble up all in front of it in a unstoppable manner.
Nice choice my friend, I'm impressed.

Maracus

4,229 posts

167 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Would love a 650i lick

Shanemrb

33 posts

118 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Here is a photo of my 650i during a recent tour of Europe which covered France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark and Norway.



Averaged 31 mpg from London and back with a few great runs on the German autobahns too. Really cannot fault these cars, even the mpg is great for the power and not too far off a 2.5 straight 6 E46 coupe I owned a few years ago which only managed 35 on a run.