F06 640i Gran Coupe! Is it fun?

[Ollie123]

I’ve adored the look of these since they came out and I can’t believe how cheap they are now, £35k gets you something which is practically brand new to all intensive purposes (although I can go up to £45k).

Without getting into a debate of diesel vs petrol, is the 640i a fun car to drive? I am not after super sportiness of course, but can you enjoy tackling a winding road or dare I say two track days a year (or a trip to the Nurburgring)?

It’s based on a 5 series and they also make an M6 so the chassis is there, again not expecting hot hatch levels of fun but I don’t want something to bore me to death.

How’ responsive is the gearbox when driven in anger, or the traction in the wet?

I know I can get an M5 for that money but to be honest a 5 series just isn’t my cup of tea, the gran coupe is just in another league in my opinion but I just dont want to be driving a warm bucket of wall paper paste.

I need to drive one myself but test drives are never long enough hence looking for the consensus.

Edited by Ollie123 on Tuesday 25th August 19:34

[moffat]

I currently own a 640d (2015 car) and previously owned a 335d Coupe and 2 x 135i’s so feel well placed to compare the engines.

I test drove a 640i Convertible and a 640d Gran Coupe and the car is better suited to the 40d engine in my opinion. The older 40i engine (it’s the N55) just felt a bit gutless in my opinion in such a big car. If I was to get a petrol 6 series it would be the 650i and not the 640i as both have rubbish mpg.

But comparing the 40i and 40d is pretty easy

40d Pro’s
- Effortless torque and performance
- Amazing mpg (for the weight and power)
- Easy to remap / chip to 370bhp

40d Con’s
- Noise, but it’s the best sounding diesel ever

40i Pro’s
- Get a BMW Performance exhaust and it sounds great
- Ability to rev out, but is that needed from a car like this

40i Con’s
- HPFP failures
- Poor mpg
- Not enough power for the car IMO
- Poor resale value

New 40i engine would be much better!

[Ollie123]

Firstly thank you for your post, however I don't want to delve into the engines too much because this thread may go off topic.

I dont want a diesel, and I dont want the 650i due to the problems the Americans are seeing, so it must be a 640i.

But back to my main question, do you enjoy throwing your 6 series about? Does it get better the faster you drive it? Does it inspire confidence when pushing on?

Edited by Ollie123 on Monday 31st August 10:27

[DoubleSix]

Interesting question OP. And I think you are right to focus the point on dynamics.

Will be following as in exactly the same position as yourself having admired these for while now.

[SFO]

Ollie123 said:

I dont want a diesel, and I dont want the 650i due to the problems the Americans are seeing, so it must be a 640i.

what problems?

[Ollie123]

SFO said:

Ollie123 said:

I dont want a diesel, and I dont want the 650i due to the problems the Americans are seeing, so it must be a 640i.

what problems?

Well, loads to be honest. Even the good ones burn a ton of oil apparently, but others have injector/fuel problems as well as the engine rods/blocks destroying themselves.

640i seems to offer peace of mind long after the warranty.

[Ollie123]

Nice POV, sounds not bad considering (im assuming) they are piping fake engine noise from the speakers.

Looks like it revs like a bd and gearbox shifts well.

https://youtu.be/QGliQkj4oTE?t=221

I'm wondering, 19" or 20" wheels?

[SFO]

Ollie123 said:

Nice POV, sounds not bad considering (im assuming) they are piping fake engine noise from the speakers.

Looks like it revs like a bd and gearbox shifts well.

https://youtu.be/QGliQkj4oTE?t=221

I'm wondering, 19" or 20" wheels?

I was told by BMW Genius Chat that the speaker generated engine noise is only fitted in the M 6 series models

[SFO]

Ollie123 said:

SFO said:

Ollie123 said:

I dont want a diesel, and I dont want the 650i due to the problems the Americans are seeing, so it must be a 640i.

what problems?

Well, loads to be honest. Even the good ones burn a ton of oil apparently, but others have injector/fuel problems as well as the engine rods/blocks destroying themselves.

640i seems to offer peace of mind long after the warranty.

blimey!

I was so close to ordering a 650i convertible

[DoubleSix]

So does anyone know if these offer anything for the driver?

[moffat]

Ollie123 said:

Firstly thank you for your post, however I don't want to delve into the engines too much because this thread may go off topic.

But back to my main question, do you enjoy throwing your 6 series about? Does it get better the faster you drive it? Does it inspire confidence when pushing on?
.

Simple answer, no.

If you want a car to throw around go 440i when it comes out or Panamera.

The steering is detached in the 6 series and it doesn't feel right throwing it around country roads, made worse by the RFT's.

The 6 however is an epic GT car capable of destroying large distances at speed in comfort. It's fun on a windy smooth A road though.

[Helicopter123]

It's a Luxo waft barge and not really suited to being hurled about. If that's your bag, and you really musty have something this size, you will want the M version or a Panamera.

[cerb4.5lee]

DoubleSix said:

So does anyone know if these offer anything for the driver?

Can only speak of experience of the 640d but the simple answer is no, the steering is numb and completely lifeless and it always shows its size and weight and it's no fun at all to drive around corners.

As a GT car it does hit the spot as it's comfortable and has a lovely interior and soaks the miles up very well, the ride is terrible on run flats but I have swapped to normal tyres and it's made a massive difference in terms of ride quality.

If you accept it's a big and heavy cruiser then all is well but don't expect it to offer any driving thrills or you will be left very short changed.

[Ollie123]

Thanks, unfortunately I suspected as much.

I've sent the salesman at BMW an email cancelling my visit to see a car.

Edited by Ollie123 on Monday 31st August 10:27

[JonV8V]

Adaptive drive improves it but it's still a big lump and you feel the weight. That said you can still have fun but all things are relative. The 640d is quite easy to drive quickly. The gran coupe goes round corners better than either of the 2 door variants. It's also a lot more car for your money than 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 series.

The diesel certainly plays noise into the cabin - either BMW genius is far from it or the 640i doesn't.

If you want a roller skate you need to buy one, if you want a car that has more depth then the 6 is s good choice.

[Ollie123]

I dont mind the weight so much, you get that in any car.

I do enjoy braking late though, turning in hard and powering out of a corner early (and some times in a manner to get the back out).

I want to feel like the car is enjoying it and getting better than faster I drive it, but then when I wind down I want it to be comfortable and cosseting.

[Wills2]

OP you need an M6, don't think that the cooking models drive like M cars because they look the same as the chassis is totally different. I say that as I noticed you compared the chassis in your first post.

Standard beemers aren't that sporty anymore despite what the figures say.

[335d]

Ollie123 said:

I dont mind the weight so much, you get that in any car.

I do enjoy braking late though, turning in hard and powering out of a corner early (and some times in a manner to get the back out).

I want to feel like the car is enjoying it and getting better than faster I drive it, but then when I wind down I want it to be comfortable and cosseting.

I think you may be disappointed. I drove a new 640i M Sport 2 door last year and found it very smooth and quiet (coming from a 335d), but also fairly slow and prone to wallow. It didn't feel like it wanted to be pushed around bends. I agree with some of the other comments here that the 40d engine from my car would probably suit this better, but it would still be a relaxing GT, not a sports car.

The materials and build were very good compared to mine.

[Ollie123]

The dealer persuaded me to view the car anyway, the car itself was gorgeous but with the engine idling I just had to be honest and tell him its not working for me, so I never bothered to drive it.

Edited by Ollie123 on Monday 31st August 10:28

[Luckyone]

Yes I'd say you were right to walk away.

I've only driven our 640d too, it felt so much better on the first test drives but after the first long trip in it I was so disappointed. If I'd have bought a new one I'd be taking it back.

Our Cerb had been off the road for a good few years while I gave it a full rebuild, getting that back out & the 640d feels terrible getting back into it again.

cerb4.5lee said:

Can only speak of experience of the 640d but the simple answer is no, the steering is numb and completely lifeless and it always shows its size and weight and it's no fun at all to drive around corners.

As a GT car it does hit the spot as it's comfortable and has a lovely interior and soaks the miles up very well, the ride is terrible on run flats but I have swapped to normal tyres and it's made a massive difference in terms of ride quality.

If you accept it's a big and heavy cruiser then all is well but don't expect it to offer any driving thrills or you will be left very short changed.

With the runflats the Msport at least with the 20" wheels is terrible & doesn't so much soak up the miles as jump about all over them...

Deciding now if we should change to non run flats or get a different car.