650/645ci manual?

650/645ci manual?

Author
Discussion

NAnut

Original Poster:

52 posts

193 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
Have been wanting to scratch my lifelong v8 itch and I think the 6 series have aged really well, they're looking better to me as time goes by. As my car has to be a daily driver a 645/650i coupe is looking like a very likely prospect in a year or so.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question but did they ever make v8 6'ers fitted with a manual box as I have only ever seen 630s with anything other than autos, or is it just a case of nobody choosing the option of a 6 speed from New with these cars.

Thanks in advance.
Dan

philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
They did come as manuals. I've only ever seen one 650i manual coupe for sale and a couple of 645's..

So rare because the majority were autos from new. I'm not sure why you'd want a manual in one really, unless you were going to turn it into a track car or similar.


RDMcG

19,095 posts

206 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
I had a 645ci manual -bought it new in 2004. Strangely, despite long experience with BMW boxes, it was the least satisfying I had had. Previously had an E39 M5, 540i , 528i and others , and loved the manual boxes. With the 645 I found the clutch to be abrupt and difficult to drive smoothly, the opposite of the cars that preceded it.

NAnut

Original Poster:

52 posts

193 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
Interesting. Always preferred manuals, but I know some cars just suit an auto better. I live in the country and I like how involving a manual is and would always go for a manual over an auto when possible. I just wondered if it was even an option for the 6 series,
I'd like a v8 coupe and there aren't many things that I can afford to buy/run as a daily. The fact amg mercs only come in auto means they dont interest me much although I'd prefer a 650i if I had to have an auto.

RDMcG

19,095 posts

206 months

Tuesday 7th July 2015
quotequote all
My old manual 645ci:


philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
quotequote all
I'd drive a 650i auto and see what you think, I've got the same running gear in my 550i and it's very good. I'm a bit of an auto fan though.

If you can't get on with it then play the waiting game for a manual 645/650 to come up, I've not driven a 630i but I can only assume it'd struggle a bit in a big car.

philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

cerb4.5lee

30,184 posts

179 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
quotequote all
philmots said:
I've not driven a 630i but I can only assume it'd struggle a bit in a big car.
This is what I have always thought but credit to the 630i in that it is only slightly heavier than a 330i amazingly enough because the current 6 series is lardy at around 1800kg.

Like the OP I would love a manual 650i because I had that engine in my 4.8 X5 and I hated the autobox but appreciate a car like a 6 series/X5 are more suited to an auto.

Sohlman

590 posts

253 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
quotequote all
I was searching for a v8 manual coupe like you and finding a manual 6 is not easy. Then came across the Holden monaro sold by Vauxhall in the UK. I bought one. They are great lots of character, completely flawed but make you smile every time. 645/650 is better on almost every metric you care to measure, but can't hold a candle to the sound and experience.

NAnut

Original Poster:

52 posts

193 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
quotequote all
I do like the monaros, but I don't think I could get on with the build quality, they remind me of my old Ford probe in that respect!

Helicopter123

8,831 posts

155 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
quotequote all
As a Luxo barge, rather than a sports car, why would you want a manual non M 6 series?

Genuine question.

abarber

1,686 posts

240 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
quotequote all
I think it's good advice to take a test drive or two and decide. Some engines / cars do suit auto boxes. It would certainly make it a more relaxing GT car with the slush box, although it might be frustrating if you like to push on.

The 650i 4.8i V8 sounds absolutely epic in a Morgan Speed 8. It's way more than the tyres can handle most of the time too.

Surely it wouldn't take much to give liberate a few decibels..

rix

2,776 posts

189 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
quotequote all
I've had an autotrader search saved to send me updates when one is advertised on a 650i manual convertible. In the year+ the search has been saved i've not had a single match - I'm not sure they made any!!

bigfatnick

1,012 posts

201 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
quotequote all
Having owned loads of BMW's, i I test drove two, a manual 645 and a manual 650 before buying a monaro, the awful clutch action stopped me from buying either, despite the garage replacing the clutch on the 650 as it was making awful noises when I first test drove it.


A year later I got rid of the monaro after becoming irked by the lack of quality (more things broke than should have in the time period, alternator, radiator, electricals, clutch problems if used aggressively - on a 35 thousand mile car).

Plus the ridiculous running costs. - not so much fuel (similar to my Lexus ls400 despite being driven much harder). The parts which would be reasonable anywhere else in the world are BMW M price in the UK, and the specialist that the forums rave about really pissing me off. A service costing that much would get your car washed anywhere else and they wouldn't turn their noses up at giving you a lift from the station when they are situated in the middle of nowhere, as well as telling me my all brakes were past the end of their lives - something I had checked out by professionals in my family who are in the trade to be told they had loads of life left bar the rear pads, which I replaced.

I wish lexus made a rival for the same money, I'd have one by now. I went from ls400 to monaro and now I'm in an ls460.

Edited by bigfatnick on Thursday 9th July 20:07

rix

2,776 posts

189 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
quotequote all
interestingly as a manual 650 considerer, I'm also running a Monaro... two very different takes on the v8 coupe combo!

McSwerve II

311 posts

198 months

Friday 10th July 2015
quotequote all
Another one here dithering about a manual coupe 645i / Monaro / 996. Can’t currently find enough positives to make a decision.

I may bin off the ‘must be manual’ and add an XK to the list.

bigfatnick

1,012 posts

201 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
quotequote all
McSwerve II said:
Another one here dithering about a manual coupe 645i / Monaro / 996. Can’t currently find enough positives to make a decision.

I may bin off the ‘must be manual’ and add an XK to the list.
I think in a few years when all the current crop of dct/zf 8 speed cars are in this price range, the lift of cars I'm willing to choose from will be much bigger. I just want a big engined red coupe, with a slippy diff, and a gearbox I have proper control over. Too much to ask?

minimatan

13,717 posts

200 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
OP, I own a manual 645Ci. I am so glad that I found it as there is nothing like a manual BMW, especially with the DTC completely switched off when the car is relaxed and compliant.

The transition between gears taken some adjustment to get smooth as there is a great deal of lurch from the torque of the big V8. However, in all but stop start traffic it is absolutely what you would want, so don't listen to the naysayers, go for the manual and enjoy the involvement of changing gear manually!

Shane330

33 posts

118 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
I've always been a manual only type but having a 650i my self, I can honestly say that this car is extremely well suited to the auto box (that and living close to the city centre makes driving effortless in the traffic).

NAnut

Original Poster:

52 posts

193 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies especially from the 6 owners, I understand some people done get why I'd like a manual but I'm still hoping I can find one when I'm ready to change cars. My z4 coupe si isnt the smoothest in stop start traffic but I'm so glad it's a manual when I'm out on the open road where I spend most of my time driving.