6 series Understated/Underated?
Discussion
It is until you drive it :-)
A good diesel but it's far from 'wow' for me, which signalled the end of my test drive.
I found the car quite uninspiring, although competent It taught me that I'd be very unlikely to ever buy a diesel. I'm fortunate that I'm not doing significant mileages (up to circa 15k per year) so I'll continue to enjoy 6 or 8 cylinders for the foreseeable.
That said, If you are looking for a comfy, sharp looking cruiser that does over 30mpg then the 640d does it well.
A good diesel but it's far from 'wow' for me, which signalled the end of my test drive.
I found the car quite uninspiring, although competent It taught me that I'd be very unlikely to ever buy a diesel. I'm fortunate that I'm not doing significant mileages (up to circa 15k per year) so I'll continue to enjoy 6 or 8 cylinders for the foreseeable.
That said, If you are looking for a comfy, sharp looking cruiser that does over 30mpg then the 640d does it well.
Edited by Crombers on Tuesday 26th May 05:30
Edited by Crombers on Tuesday 26th May 05:31
Tea Pot One said:
I had a 640d accelerate onto the A3 dual carriageway in front of me and I followed suit in my 340ps Z4 35iS ... didn't gain on him at all. Quite impressive for a diesel. Only up to 70mph mind 
Yup. The quoted 0-60 doesn't really tell the full story.People tend to underestimate the combination of the diesel + auto box - basically the acceleration is effortless and on tap - totally usable without any thought.
However. I would say that your 6 pot petrol lump is in a different class when it comes to refinement and character.
Plus points are the looks and a lovely interior and the performance and economy, not so good are that the steering is completely lifeless and the low speed ride is terrible and its crashes and bangs over potholes like nothing I have had before.
It feels its weight at times under braking and obviously its not very nimble but as a car to cover high miles in it is a really nice place to be and it does shift when you want it too.
It feels its weight at times under braking and obviously its not very nimble but as a car to cover high miles in it is a really nice place to be and it does shift when you want it too.
Even quicker chipped 
As others have said it is effortless cruising.
Okay so back road fun it ain't, but it's not bad, smooth larger A/B roads are great fun but it's not a car that wants to be driven at 10/10's and is much happier at 8/10's where it can be hustled along well.
It is a GT car though so perfect on motorways.
In my opinion it's the best looking BMW on the road (bar the i8), has a fantastic interior and a very high level of standard kit.
My car has about 375bhp and I still easily manage 45-53mpg on a 2 hour motorway drive.
I came from a C63 and do miss the handling but I do love my 640d.
As others have said it is effortless cruising.
Okay so back road fun it ain't, but it's not bad, smooth larger A/B roads are great fun but it's not a car that wants to be driven at 10/10's and is much happier at 8/10's where it can be hustled along well.
It is a GT car though so perfect on motorways.
In my opinion it's the best looking BMW on the road (bar the i8), has a fantastic interior and a very high level of standard kit.
My car has about 375bhp and I still easily manage 45-53mpg on a 2 hour motorway drive.
I came from a C63 and do miss the handling but I do love my 640d.
These days it is horses for courses.
As a long distance motorway cruiser, the 640D is hard to beat, especially with the long range that its diesel tank affords--e.g. a 997 Turbo would go 2.5 times to refuel to cover the same distance and with current speed limits I would arrive at destination faster and more relaxed. As a town car, the 6-series is much too big. As a B-road car it is not sufficiently nimble with such a high weight, long wheel base and wide track. As a track car, it is much too heavy and the brakes are weak. As a car for UK roads, it is too crashy with its low profile run flats.
As a long distance motorway cruiser, the 640D is hard to beat, especially with the long range that its diesel tank affords--e.g. a 997 Turbo would go 2.5 times to refuel to cover the same distance and with current speed limits I would arrive at destination faster and more relaxed. As a town car, the 6-series is much too big. As a B-road car it is not sufficiently nimble with such a high weight, long wheel base and wide track. As a track car, it is much too heavy and the brakes are weak. As a car for UK roads, it is too crashy with its low profile run flats.
abarber said:
They have always been for the pipe and slippers brigade. The space and comfort of a 5 series, yet no need for a saloon as the kids have long since fled the nest.
I'm also starting to like them, which is a bit worrying
Well I'm 39 and have a 3yo and still married I'm also starting to like them, which is a bit worrying
The only 5 series I would ever own would be an M5.
PhilRS said:
These days it is horses for courses.
As a long distance motorway cruiser, the 640D is hard to beat, especially with the long range that its diesel tank affords--e.g. a 997 Turbo would go 2.5 times to refuel to cover the same distance and with current speed limits I would arrive at destination faster and more relaxed. As a town car, the 6-series is much too big. As a B-road car it is not sufficiently nimble with such a high weight, long wheel base and wide track. As a track car, it is much too heavy and the brakes are weak. As a car for UK roads, it is too crashy with its low profile run flats.
Is it really that much bigger than a 4 series or even a Mondeo?As a long distance motorway cruiser, the 640D is hard to beat, especially with the long range that its diesel tank affords--e.g. a 997 Turbo would go 2.5 times to refuel to cover the same distance and with current speed limits I would arrive at destination faster and more relaxed. As a town car, the 6-series is much too big. As a B-road car it is not sufficiently nimble with such a high weight, long wheel base and wide track. As a track car, it is much too heavy and the brakes are weak. As a car for UK roads, it is too crashy with its low profile run flats.
Doesn't feel it to me.
Agree that on bad B roads the 20" RFT's are terrible, without them it is much improved. I don't have any issues on A roads.
moffat said:
Is it really that much bigger than a 4 series or even a Mondeo?
Doesn't feel it to me.
Agree that on bad B roads the 20" RFT's are terrible, without them it is much improved. I don't have any issues on A roads.
Yes,my car is spec'd to high heaven £76K.. But on 19" alloys which it's all the better for..!Doesn't feel it to me.
Agree that on bad B roads the 20" RFT's are terrible, without them it is much improved. I don't have any issues on A roads.
moffat said:
Is it really that much bigger than a 4 series or even a Mondeo?
Doesn't feel it to me.
Agree that on bad B roads the 20" RFT's are terrible, without them it is much improved. I don't have any issues on A roads.
I regularly swap between a E90 3 series and a 640d and the 640 feels like a boat in comparison. Doesn't feel it to me.
Agree that on bad B roads the 20" RFT's are terrible, without them it is much improved. I don't have any issues on A roads.
Yes, my 640D also feels like a boat. I drive many other cars (most as rentals) and besides American SUVs, not many cars are bigger. The designers did a great job with hiding the car's bulk, but look at the distance between the front and rear wheels!!! No wonder it is not nimble, but this wheelbase will increase comfort.
I find it amusing when people criticise a car for what it never was intended to be. Would they really consider driving a recent Rolls on the track, or take a Smart down to the French Riviera? Big coupes are just that: big cruisers that do this job very well, and not much else particularly well.
I find it amusing when people criticise a car for what it never was intended to be. Would they really consider driving a recent Rolls on the track, or take a Smart down to the French Riviera? Big coupes are just that: big cruisers that do this job very well, and not much else particularly well.
cerb4.5lee said:
I regularly swap between a E90 3 series and a 640d and the 640 feels like a boat in comparison.
PhilRS said:
Yes, my 640D also feels like a boat. I drive many other cars (most as rentals) and besides American SUVs, not many cars are bigger. The designers did a great job with hiding the car's bulk, but look at the distance between the front and rear wheels!!! No wonder it is not nimble, but this wheelbase will increase comfort.
I find it amusing when people criticise a car for what it never was intended to be. Would they really consider driving a recent Rolls on the track, or take a Smart down to the French Riviera? Big coupes are just that: big cruisers that do this job very well, and not much else particularly well.
I will agree as a car to do a job of covering big miles on a straight road I wouldn't swap it for much at all but it would be foolish to not see its short comings as you have mentioned. I find it amusing when people criticise a car for what it never was intended to be. Would they really consider driving a recent Rolls on the track, or take a Smart down to the French Riviera? Big coupes are just that: big cruisers that do this job very well, and not much else particularly well.
cerb4.5lee said:
I regularly swap between a E90 3 series and a 640d and the 640 feels like a boat in comparison.
smashy said:
Why do they bother with the back seats? genuine q look completely unusable to me ,maybe wrong of course.I love the look of the GC
The coupe is funny because its massive outside but tiny inside so I hear what you are saying but 4 doors are just boring for me, so to be fair the GC is an even bigger waste because the 5 series does exactly the same job. Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff