Ditching the diesel for a 645i

Ditching the diesel for a 645i

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Discussion

rockford22

Original Poster:

357 posts

131 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
A few months ago I got a new job that involves 20k a year commuting, in my excitement I sold my lovely (to me) Z4 35i DCT and jumped on the eco band wagon and got the fastest "economical" diesel I could find in an effort to balance fun with 50mpg...settled on a 123d Coupe SE.

Now in the real world, the diesel is neither super economical (getting c.42mpg) nor particularly fun (has enough pace but doesn't satisfy my petrol head needs).

I've been looking at various V8s for a while and the 645i and 650i are very cheap. Man maths show an additional petrol/tax/insurance bill of £200 p/m and obviously associated additional servicing and consumable bills which I am (sort of) comfortable paying.

Everyone seems to rate these cars as being brilliant and boring all at the same time. I'll be honest and say the main reason for wanting the 645/650 is the noise, coupled with super smooth linear power and an effortless gearbox, sounds perfect no?.

Am I crazy? Any owners doing similar commutes in big V8 barges and not bankrupted themselves?

Cheers in advance!




glasgowrob

3,232 posts

120 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
What sort of commute are you doing are you sitting in traffic for most of it?

I get better economy than that out my mondeo taxi 200 Hp driven like its stolen when not on a hire and spends a lot of its day either idling or running round the city (48mpg for the last 20k btw)

Either you sit in traffic all day
Drive like its stolen
Or its broken

Crusoe

4,068 posts

230 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
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123d suffers for having shorter (sportier) gearing than the 120d so your mpg is probably about right, though expect it to increase a bit as the weather warms up.

If you can live with averaging high teens mpg (650 better than 645) improving on longer runs to mid 20s. Servicing maybe 50% more plus double the cost for consumable items brakes, tyres etc. Didn't think they sounded that great from inside, a bit too quiet and refined as standard. E39 M5 might be better with a larger backup fund or also check monaro (long gearing makes it quite economical at a cruise) or v8 jaguar though again a bit muted as standard.

rockford22

Original Poster:

357 posts

131 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
Economy of 42mpg for a 123d is what they do, mixture of traffic jams in the mornings and A roads once out of Bristol city, I can see more than 50mpg on a motorway run. In its defense it IS qutie economical and remarkably so for the performance, just not the car for me!

Arranged to look at this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015... after work today, see what I think, seems a little expensive?

smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
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Its simple really dont you think ,if you dont do motorway miles dont bother with a derv.I do and had a 120d auto 47-52 all day long, middle lane stuff 55mpg

But in outer london Postcodes I once saw 21mpg,

Edited by smashy on Tuesday 24th February 14:54

pointedstarman

551 posts

145 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
Lovely cars. There's a nicely specced 630i conv on the BMW AUC Website for similar money. Not quite the same performance but still a lovely engine plus you have the assurance of the warranty (esp if you can talk them into giving you a 2nd year....)

rockford22

Original Poster:

357 posts

131 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
Just back from viewing, great guys at Sutherland who are clearly in to performance vehicles and were keen to help.

The 645 sounded very nice, wasn't the right colour/wheel/spec combo for me so passed on a test drive. Not sure what I was expecting but the interior and tech shows its age, it hasn't put me off but I think a newer 650i is the way forward!

Crombers

374 posts

190 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
I was in a similar position thinking that my 19mpg Alpina B7 wasn't well suited to my new extended commute and would be better moved into 'special occasion' duties.

I decided a 640d would be a suitable mile muncher and set out to test drive one, on the understanding that it would be a little dull but the savings would be worth it.

As nice a car as it was and as much as I agree it's an impressive diesel I couldn't stomach it and returned home with an F10 550i as my mile munching daily driver.

Don't get me wrong, the 550i is still a bit dull but a much better compromise. With that being the case, get the 650i bought driving


moffat

1,020 posts

224 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
If you want fun I'm not sure a 645i will provide that. Yes it will be great to have a V8 and to waft around, but you need something with some focus for fun. A 630i certainly wont cut it either as much too underpowered for the weight.

Why not a used M3 or M5?

An E92 M3 will be epic and will have awful mpg but so will the 650i - I doubt in the real world there would be any difference.

I would also be considering an AMG car too but then I love them!

I've come from a C63 to a 640d and the difference is naturally HUGE. The 640 is excellent, but IS NOT a fun car.

jayemm89

4,003 posts

129 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
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I really liked my 645 and thought it was plenty of fun to drive when the road was big enough to let you. It certainly went round corners waaaay faster than it should have any right to.

Anyone complaining about the weight of them should probably remember they are fairly similar weight-wise to an E92 M3.

The only thing with the 645 is the sound is a little muted as standard - nothing a quick resonator delete wouldn't solve.

I had a high mileage (108K) one and put 15K miles on it - no trouble at all. Hardly lost anything when I sold it either.

moffat

1,020 posts

224 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
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But an M3 will drive like an M car which is a HUGE difference to a non M car.

The difference between any 'stock' model and the M variant is always very obvious.

jayemm89

4,003 posts

129 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
moffat said:
But an M3 will drive like an M car which is a HUGE difference to a non M car.

The difference between any 'stock' model and the M variant is always very obvious.
I won't disagree but as the OP is interested in a cheap 645I I am guessing both an M6 and an E92 M3 will be out of budget.

The E46 M3 is a cracking car but an entirely different thing to the 645 - the 645 is far more refined and a relaxing place to be

Crombers

374 posts

190 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
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The OP never mentioned he wanted a fun car to be fair.

I bought the 550i for commuting knowing it was far from fun but at least wasn't a diesel.

Oddly enough, despite the heft of the B7 that's a fun car set against the 550i. Small and nimble doesn't hold all the fun cards.

Davel

8,982 posts

257 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
I've just switched from an ML 350 Blue Tec Diesel to a Jaguar XK with a 5 litre petrol engine for my 30 mile round trip commute.

Hell yea!

rockford22

Original Poster:

357 posts

131 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
Funny someone mentioned an AMG - viewed an SLK55 and SL55 today (same garage). Sadly the SLK55 looks like it has been sold and the SL55 was a bit leggy (130k). Both were very lovely and interior of the SLK is definitely more modern, if much lower spec, than the 645/650i.

The search continues! Chatting to a garage in Slough with a black '56 plate 650i with very low mileage (50k) but again, seems a bit expensive and enters the £500 tax bracket.

As for fun I don't intend to be chucking this round the back roads, I just want a bit of character from the exhaust, strong acceleration in a package that can waft me back from the office. Resonator mods would be a definite first move.

Ellieb10

63 posts

152 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
I do about 65 miles a day. My 545i gets above 35mpg at 70mph on cruise so its not too bad on petrol. City driving kills it though hence man maths tells me the motorways are more economical and usually faster even if I have to drive a slightly longer distance. Given the downward movement in petrol prices, its not wallet raping and the car is quite comfortable.

Not directly relevant to 645's, but it was also far cheaper to buy than a similar 535d because what complete maniac would want a second hand v8 petrol estate with every single toy BMW could throw at it, fbmwsh and a warranty? I also feel that I'm helping the environment by not spewing out noxious asthma/cancer causing particles.

My wife does work stuff for a continental car company who shall remain nameless. They were aghast when told that I commute in a v8. This was all the confirmation I needed that I had made the right choice.

Buy and enjoy.

Crusoe

4,068 posts

230 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
a nice E39 B10 might also be worth a look too

jayemm89

4,003 posts

129 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
Ellieb10 said:
Not directly relevant to 645's, but it was also far cheaper to buy than a similar 535d because what complete maniac would want a second hand v8 petrol estate with every single toy BMW could throw at it, fbmwsh and a warranty? I also feel that I'm helping the environment by not spewing out noxious asthma/cancer causing particles.
Actually totally relevant - I worked out that to buy the same spec as my 645 but in a 635D I would have spent about £13,000 more!

rickh

99 posts

119 months

Wednesday 25th February 2015
quotequote all
V8 all the way!! I had a 650 Cab when i bought the car i sent it to my local bmw specialist for a major service and they went through the whole car i had absolutly everything changed all oils plugs.filters etc car!! anyway long storey short i was usually getting early 20's round town and 26-28 on a run sat at 80 something....and it was smooth and a pleasure to drive!

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
rockford22 said:
A few months ago I got a new job that involves 20k a year commuting, in my excitement I sold my lovely (to me) Z4 35i DCT and jumped on the eco band wagon and got the fastest "economical" diesel I could find in an effort to balance fun with 50mpg...settled on a 123d Coupe SE.

Now in the real world, the diesel is neither super economical (getting c.42mpg) nor particularly fun (has enough pace but doesn't satisfy my petrol head needs).

I've been looking at various V8s for a while and the 645i and 650i are very cheap. Man maths show an additional petrol/tax/insurance bill of £200 p/m and obviously associated additional servicing and consumable bills which I am (sort of) comfortable paying.

Everyone seems to rate these cars as being brilliant and boring all at the same time. I'll be honest and say the main reason for wanting the 645/650 is the noise, coupled with super smooth linear power and an effortless gearbox, sounds perfect no?.

Am I crazy? Any owners doing similar commutes in big V8 barges and not bankrupted themselves?

Cheers in advance!
As you said in the excitement you sold one car & bought another without doing the reasearch if you wanted economy the 120d was the car to pick the 123d has the shorter gearing, you economy seems about right for your car, maybe you should look at a 635/640d to blend power with economy.

I love a V8 but you'll probably be doing 20mpg in the 645i so you'll be doubling your fuel bill & your tax will be in the £500 region have you thought about a 335i?