The 6 Series was billed as more of a grand tourer than outright sports car by BMW. So it proved on the road, while in the cabin there was enough room for a family of four so long as the kids were not gangly teenagers. The rear seats are cramped for adults, but they're okay for short journeys.
Interior quality is very good inside the E63 and many owners report there is a noticeable step up in the build compared to E60 5 Series models of the same period. The leather is hard-wearing and not even the usual gripes about the driver's side bolsters apply unless any example has led a very hard life.
One complaint that does crop up regularly is the lack of a standard cupholder. It's a small point but one that makes itself known by omission. BMW's solution was a cupholder that is attached to the left-hand side of the transmission tunnel and looks quite ugly.
The iDrive in the E63 tends to be more reliable than that fitted to early E60 5 Series models. However, it's not immune to problems and fixing one that had died completely can run up a £2,000 bill. This can be a major problem when the iDrive helps work the climate control, sat nav and other functions. Software updates for the iDrive make it easier to use.
There's no auxiliary connection for devices, but one can be fitted fairly easily. However, you will need to have the car programmed to recognise it. Later LCI models have a communications box that takes care of this.
The drain holes in the bulkhead can become blocked and allow water to collect, which then finds its way into the cabin through a grommet to wet the floor. This can lead to problems with the electrics, so check for damp carpets.
If you're going to leave the car parked for even relatively short periods of a few days, a battery conditioner is a wise idea as small voltage drops can cause problems with the iDrive. If you fit a new battery to the car, it has to be coded in to work properly with all of the systems.
The head-up display is a rare option but one well liked by owners who have used it.
PHer's view:
"Although most E63s are well specced, you do get some of the older ones without sat nav and other options which are considered quite standard on cheaper cars these days. This all comes with the age of the car and what you're expecting though."
Ryan Musselwhite