BMW 6 Series SE vs M Sport?

[REKX]

Hey guys,

So I'm looking to sell my Porsche 911 (997) and get a 640d 6 series around 2012 age.

The idea is, hopefully if things go well, is to pick up a newer Porsche 911 (991) in the future.

So I would like a really smooth riding car as my daily driver. Right now I have Porsche and an old BMW 3 series and use the BMW as the daily driver.

So I would like the M Sport, of course it looks much better than SE but as a daily car to go work and back I would like the smoothest option.

So would I prefer to want the ride quality of SE (and I noticed they are much cheaper), or M Sport?

How does M Sport ride quality differ to SE? Noticeable?

Any other differences of spec I should be aware of?

Cheers guys.

[Dryce]

ISTR the differences on the 6-Series between the SE and M-Sport were in the wheels, level of interior trim and some external cosmetics and the steering wheel. Same suspension.

[Ninja59]

Avoid the 20 inch wheel options and get one with vdc or adaptive drive. The second one being rare. M sport or se suspension standard is the same

[REKX]

Ah ok.

I thought the VDC adaptive dampers thing came standard on these 6 series models?

So is it correct to say 18 inch wheels will give me a better ride comfort than 19 inch? 20 is obviously a no go.

I do love my Porsche, but I take it to work some days and on the way back sometimes you wish you were in a silky smooth BMW or Mercedes.

[texasjohn]

It’s the F01 seven series that has adaptive dampers standard across the range. Maybe that’s where the confusion arises.

I’d probably look to a Mercedes with Airmatic for a comfortable ride. I noticed you mention ‘BMW Or Mercedes’ hence putting it out there for consideration.

[Ninja59]

REKX said:

Ah ok.

I thought the VDC adaptive dampers thing came standard on these 6 series models?

So is it correct to say 18 inch wheels will give me a better ride comfort than 19 inch? 20 is obviously a no go.

I do love my Porsche, but I take it to work some days and on the way back sometimes you wish you were in a silky smooth BMW or Mercedes.

Never been standard on the 6, it is rare the VDC, but the adaptive drive is even more rare (the VDC is not expensive to add it just does not feature on many cars, the adaptive drive is like £3k (essentially VDC plus ARB's that can slacken or tighten depending on the prevailing conditions).

I run 20 inch Summer wheels and 17 inch Winter. The ride on the Winter tyre is massively more comfortable, but I put up with the 20's as it just looks so much better in Summer.

Profile wise there is a large difference:

20inch - F 35 profile,R 30 profile - usually the issues are with the 35 profile fronts forming tyre bulges.
17 inch - F & R 55 profile...

The 6 ride is best defined as busy without VDC like mine, with VDC on 18's I found a 5 more comfortable. I have driven one adaptive drive car I am not sure it was really worth it but did not drive it for long.

[parabolica]

I've never seen a SE-spec wheel design that suited the car tbh; mine is a M-Sport with the 19s and the ride is excellent - one of the main reasons I bought the car. I test drove a diesel (I got the petrol 3l) that had 20s fitted and it thumped over bumps and cracks.

[thomson]

Just bought a 2012 se convertible, fabulous thing tbh , the original 18s were far too small for the size of car, now running 19's, really relaxed cruiser.

[LFB531]

Admittedly both older models but I made a similar move and went from this;



to this;



I ended up keeping the 650 for about nine months. A wonderful car for big roads and big distances. In town or the lanes, way too big. I waitied for it to shrink around me but alas, never did. Shame.

[Coley88]

Ninja59 said:

REKX said:

Ah ok.

I thought the VDC adaptive dampers thing came standard on these 6 series models?

So is it correct to say 18 inch wheels will give me a better ride comfort than 19 inch? 20 is obviously a no go.

I do love my Porsche, but I take it to work some days and on the way back sometimes you wish you were in a silky smooth BMW or Mercedes.

Never been standard on the 6, it is rare the VDC, but the adaptive drive is even more rare (the VDC is not expensive to add it just does not feature on many cars, the adaptive drive is like £3k (essentially VDC plus ARB's that can slacken or tighten depending on the prevailing conditions).

I run 20 inch Summer wheels and 17 inch Winter. The ride on the Winter tyre is massively more comfortable, but I put up with the 20's as it just looks so much better in Summer.

Profile wise there is a large difference:

20inch - F 35 profile,R 30 profile - usually the issues are with the 35 profile fronts forming tyre bulges.
17 inch - F & R 55 profile...

The 6 ride is best defined as busy without VDC like mine, with VDC on 18's I found a 5 more comfortable. I have driven one adaptive drive car I am not sure it was really worth it but did not drive it for long.

I have a 640d iday th adaptive drive.

I’m not massively convinced by it.

I think it’s a bit of a gimmick to be honest.

I was kindly given a 640i as a courtesy car whilst in for warranty work. It a was totally standard car without options.

IMO - 19”s even with runflats feels smoother than 20”s with AD and non runflats.

Ditching the runflats makes a huge improvement.

Get the M Sport the SE’s look rubbish in comparison (to my eyes anyway)

[thomson]

It's a bit of a yacht, Range Rover is far easier to park. I just found out today I have adaptive seats, which basically oscillate your buttocks, but not in a good way, won't be switching them on again!

[Hyy]

640i M sport GC with adaptive drive (and IAS) here,
bought the car with OEM 20" 373M with runflats.

Hitting a pothole resulted in a massive shock through the cabin which sometimes unpleasantly surprised me,

No problem, because I was planning to switch to 19" regardless anyway,
there is no benefit in driving around on 20"s other than for looks,
to me, the 20" 373M looked unproportionally huge on the car, and I also disliked the lack of concavity.

Bought a set of 19" 408M with winter tires, the ride is SO much better now.
You'd still feel potholes when driving over them, but they are no longer in any way unpleasant.

You'd be surprised how heavy the OEM 20"s are, took a lot of strength to life them.
as are most OEM rims as they are meant to be equipped with runflat tires,
unlike rims meant for M cars (like the 408M), which are a lot heavier (check it on http://felgenkatalog.auto-treff.com/ , could be a difference of 2-4kg for the same rim size).

I suppose the lower unsprung weight of the 408M also helps a bit.
but they are less eye-pleasing as they look quite small from certain angles.

Edited by Hyy on Tuesday 30th January 21:30