645Ci to E63 M6

[rockford22]

Coming up to a year of ownership with my 2004 645Ci and I cannot rate it enough as a comfortable GT car that fits my needs very well.

I've always lusted after a true M car since I was young and whilst I have owned a number of performance BMWs I've never owned any of the M cars. I am a self proclaimed BMW fan boy - I'd like to think I was fairly competent at coding, can carry out basic maintenance, have a good relationship with my local BMW Indy and am a member of most of the forums so to be in a position to buy an M6 is quite exciting.

I have read numerous threads that the 645/650 offers 85% of the thrills of an M6 for considerably less and disappointingly most advice I have received to date suggests I ignore my heart and stick with the 645ci?

My logic:
1)Running costs will be appreciably more but do not scare me. My 6er has thrown its fair share of large bills at me in the last 3 months. I get 24mpg from my current car, I imagine an M6 will see this drop to 19mpg? My journeys are generally long distance A roads in deepest Somerset.
2) SMG gearbox receives very bad press. I've driven an E46 M3 SMG but this was several years ago and I have all but forgotten the experience - is it THAT bad?
3) Depreciation - prices seem to vary wildly but the bottom of the market doesn't seem to have moved significantly in the last few years. If an M6 is going to be relatively depreciation free then this would be a nice bonus.

Are there any M6 owners that can convince me that making the move IS the right thing to do or am I simply opening myself to disappointment?

[Nat_H]

rockford22 said:

I have read numerous threads that the 645/650 offers 85% of the thrills of an M6 for considerably less and disappointingly most advice I have received to date suggests I ignore my heart and stick with the 645ci?

I really struggle to use anywhere near its full potential in the UK due to long gears, high revving engine, and power delivery. You may find the V8 feels as fast from idle to 4 / 5,000 revs. Above that things really change with the V10, but the end of 2nd is at the UK speed limit.

I've been to VMAX and Germany to explore the more exciting side of the engine and gearbox.

I look to be in the same area as you if you want to compare?

[RodUK]

I drove an M5 up to Scotland on a damp day - lovely car. I then drove an M6 back on the same day and found it a bit brutal and very easy to spin the wheels. I think I had both cars set up the same way. Both awesome cars but if it was my money I would go for the M5.

[RDMcG]

I had a 645ci manual from 2004 to 2006 and an M6 from 2006 to 2012. I loved the M6 though the V10 was very subdued at low revs and amazing at high revs. The SMG took a bit of getting used to and was horrible in auto mode but I learned to use it very smoothly in manual mode. The car was delimited at Hartge and I did a few 200mph runs in Germany. With ten separate throttles the engine is complex but the only real concern for me was the electronics. Had one meltdown under warranty and needed full ECU replacement but after that was fine. Got about 10mpg in city driving. Had never had a V10 and as it happened BMW made no more. Worth the experience.

[Shaoxter]

RodUK said:

I drove an M5 up to Scotland on a damp day - lovely car. I then drove an M6 back on the same day and found it a bit brutal and very easy to spin the wheels. I think I had both cars set up the same way. Both awesome cars but if it was my money I would go for the M5.

Based on that one experience alone?? Did you check if the M6 had budget/worn tyres? Or tyre pressures? Or if they had the same throttle sensitivity setting (there's 3 of them)? Or maybe the road conditions changed?

OP I say go for it. When driving normally the 645Ci is a great relaxing car but the M6 has a very different personality. It sounds like you have some decent roads so I don't think you'll be disappointed. Learn to use the SMG properly and make sure you read up on all the buying advice here!

[rockford22]

Thanks for the replies so far, very useful to hear from people who have actually made the move.

The main reason for the switch is that the 645Ci simply isn't exciting enough. Whilst brilliant in many ways I must admit I very rarely push the car hard any more, she lives a comfortable life of long commutes and garaged living (well...car port) generally wafting me between offices. This has been great and my blood pressure is surely lower than it was driving a manual 123d for 4 hours a day but I'd like to get back in to something a little more aggressive!

Keep the opinions coming.

Also...whilst not totally averse to an M5 I do have a softer spot for the M6.

[RDMcG]

My old vid from 2006 may influence your decision.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTMKkPxei0I

[minimatan]

This is an interesting topic as I own a 645Ci and it is a great wafting car but isn't super exciting (as per my E30 325i Sport).

[Stever]

Go for it the M6 is brutal and exciting but it makes you work for your thrills. My advice buy a warranty with it though.

[AB]

RDMcG said:

My old vid from 2006 may influence your decision.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTMKkPxei0I

What were you chasing that got away!?

[RDMcG]

AB said:

What were you chasing that got away!?

Another M6 also delimited...I was in not hurry as car was three days old.