M6 Rear Seat

[Hot Knife]

I have my heart set on an E63 M6 Coupe, it really is a dream car for me.

Catch is I have two kids, one aged 11 and the other, 7.

It would be a daily driver with school runs which are short trips which would be totally fine but also weekend end blasts around the country (2-3 hours driving at a time) and maybe some trips to Europe. So back seat size/legroom is the only remaining issue I have with it. But I have seen pictures when the seat is pushed forward a little it looks OK.

Am I mad for thinking it could work? I will ultimately have to go try it out are there people here who have used the 6 series coupe in this way that can chime in? Is the newer F10 versions any better? I would consider the 650i if so. I don't think i'm interested in the Gran Coupe, the M6 GC is out of budget and the 650 GC doesn't really have the same appeal to me.

Thanks in advance for your perspective

Edited by Hot Knife on Saturday 11th May 14:15

[danjp]

Depends how tall you and your front seat passenger are.. I’ve had both e63 and f13 m6’s, and they are no different. I’m 6.3, my wife 5.9, and no one would choose to be a passenger behind us for more than 20 mins. In order to fit an adult in behind me in any kind of comfort, I have to get into a ludicrous and borderline dangerous driving position. Even my 8 year old nephew complained at the lack of foot room.. no way can you do it for over an hour even with the most passive and masochistic children.

Others opinions may differ.

[matt21]

Own a 2017 M6. Rear seats are laughable. Similar legroom to a MINI but with even less headroom making it very cramped

Did a 300 mile trip 3 up. Both passengers were very uncomfortable

I wouldn’t recommend it for growing kids unfortunately. GC is better, but a lot more £££

[rassi]

Would forget an E63 M6 as a daily driver entirely: it is a marvellous autobahn destroyer but the SMG gearbox is to be treated as a manual and not suited for city driving. In addition, if you are on a limited budget it is not the right car, or at least get it as an AUC with a proper warranty, as it is not a cheap car to maintain or run (fuel economy and range is hard to stomach).

An F10 M5 is a far more reliable and for transport of kids better choice.

[Hot Knife]

danjp said:

Depends how tall you and your front seat passenger are.. I’ve had both e63 and f13 m6’s, and they are no different. I’m 6.3, my wife 5.9, and no one would choose to be a passenger behind us for more than 20 mins. In order to fit an adult in behind me in any kind of comfort, I have to get into a ludicrous and borderline dangerous driving position. Even my 8 year old nephew complained at the lack of foot room.. no way can you do it for over an hour even with the most passive and masochistic children.

Others opinions may differ.

Thanks, I appreciate the input. The reason I ask is opinions vary so much over the internet and it seems quite subjective. I'm realistic about it but still might track one down locally to try out. I don't like my chances though as it seems too small!

Edited by Hot Knife on Sunday 12th May 12:28

[Hot Knife]

matt21 said:

Own a 2017 M6. Rear seats are laughable. Similar legroom to a MINI but with even less headroom making it very cramped

Did a 300 mile trip 3 up. Both passengers were very uncomfortable

I wouldn’t recommend it for growing kids unfortunately. GC is better, but a lot more £££

Thanks very much, appreciate your input. The GC is an option but it just doesn't have the same appeal to me, it changes the 6 series into something else. I would prefer an M5 in that case.

[Hot Knife]

rassi said:

Would forget an E63 M6 as a daily driver entirely: it is a marvellous autobahn destroyer but the SMG gearbox is to be treated as a manual and not suited for city driving. In addition, if you are on a limited budget it is not the right car, or at least get it as an AUC with a proper warranty, as it is not a cheap car to maintain or run (fuel economy and range is hard to stomach).

An F10 M5 is a far more reliable and for transport of kids better choice.

Actually the BMW used warranty makes it an easy decision really and is a legit bumper to bumper option that takes the worry of owning these cars away for a reasonable amount. I'm not so concerned about fuel and if I take into account insurance, warranty, consumables then it sits comfortably in my budget/priorities and I get the car I really want.

I would drive it as a manual so the SMG doesn't bother me. I live very centrally london so it would it wouldn't even see 5 miles of use during the week. The M5 is nice but just doesn't have the same appeal to me.

The back seat though, well that's another issue and it seems a bit of a dream that it would work out.

Going to look at some Panameras too which might be the best of both worlds.

Edited by Hot Knife on Sunday 12th May 12:29

[Hot Knife]

rassi said:

Would forget an E63 M6 as a daily driver entirely: it is a marvellous autobahn destroyer but the SMG gearbox is to be treated as a manual and not suited for city driving. In addition, if you are on a limited budget it is not the right car, or at least get it as an AUC with a proper warranty, as it is not a cheap car to maintain or run (fuel economy and range is hard to stomach).

An F10 M5 is a far more reliable and for transport of kids better choice.

Actually the BMW used warranty makes it an easy decision really and is a legit bumper to bumper option that takes the worry of owning these cars away for a reasonable amount. I'm not so concerned about fuel and if I take into account insurance, warranty, consumables then it sits comfortably in my budget/priorities and I get the car I really want.

I would drive it as a manual so the SMG doesn't bother me. I live very centrally london so it would it would only see 5 miles or so of use during the week. The M5 is nice but just doesn't have the same appeal to me.

The back seat though, well that's another issue and it seems a bit of a dream that it would work out.

Going to look at some Panameras too which might be the best of both worlds. Just have a thing for these M6's.

Edited by Hot Knife on Sunday 12th May 12:30

[essayer]

Be careful of the mileage limitations on the BMW insured warranty, if it’s just below you can start a monthly policy which will continue as long as you pay; if you take an annual policy, you won’t be able to renew once the mileage goes over the limit (100k?)

[Hot Knife]

essayer said:

Be careful of the mileage limitations on the BMW insured warranty, if it’s just below you can start a monthly policy which will continue as long as you pay; if you take an annual policy, you won’t be able to renew once the mileage goes over the limit (60k?)

Thanks, yeah I'd be looking at a low mileage car and have spent the last 4 months reading as much as I can about the car, it's issues, warranty etc. Somehow I'm still wanting one! lol

[rdysan]

Hi Hot Knife,

I've had four BMWs and have always had excellent response from the Allianz BMW Insured Warranty (I've had it on all four, being someone who is willing to pay a little upfront to save future pain). In my experience if you use dealerships for any warranty issues, the process is very straightforward - they recognise they will be paid and sorted even if they don't get the same labour rates. My first BMW was a four year old 330ci on which I put warranty. A couple of months later it kept slipping out of gear. I thought it was a clutch issue and put it in to my local dealership in North London and the complete gearbox was replaced without a murmur. All in all I had claims of over £9,500, all done without drama over two years - a reflection on what might have been a somewhat 'lemoney' 3 Series admittedly - but the reason I stump up yearly for the comprehensive warranty as a no-brainer.

I currently own two E63 M6s (a 2008 with 35k miles and a 2010 with 25k) and I've only made one claim so far (replacement of the illuminated sill plates which tend to lose their lustre after a few years) but I will keep the warranties going for as long as I own the cars. As previously mentioned, if you buy a well cared for E63/4 M6 that has a FBMWSH and is under 60k miles it will save you a lot of heartache and enable you to enjoy what in my opinion is a quite spectacular machine.

All the best!

[Hot Knife]

Thanks for the info, that sounds great. The warranty really takes the anxiety out of ownership and to me it's nothing short of amazing that BMW offers it.

It took me ages to come round on that, and I was over the moon when I discovered the warranty and ready to jump in. But now my plans are scuppered by that bloody back seat. I just wish it was a little more roomy for the growing kids. It's probably Ok for now but 2-3 years down the track I just think it might be tricky. Damn it!

Looking at the GC but it just doesn't have the same appeal as those Bangle Beauties (in my opinion)

[rdysan]

At the risk of alienating the F Series crowd, I concur wholeheartedly. This anodyne design just washed over me and although undoubtedly nice looking, just lost the plot for me.

Although termed the Bangle Butt, the 6 design was pure Adrian van Hooydonk. Disparaged and ridiculed by many at the time, it has aged in such an amazing way - I often come across the "I hated this when it came out but now I think it's beautiful" comments in the forums and club rounds. One of a small list of cars that actually managed to stay pretty faithful to its initial concept design:

|https://thumbsnap.com/gvcAAZyU[/url]

And that S85 V10 - the likes of which really will never come again...

FWIW, I have two teenage boys that I regularly chuck in the back - although in all fairness me and my wife are 5'6" titches so if you are of normal size it would be tight. Mind you, I checked out the XKR before I bought the M6...you think the back is small in the BMW, try that!

Sorry to hear you won't be joining the E63 clan but hope you find something that makes you smile and demands that backward glance when you walk away after parking it! Cheers.

[Hot Knife]

rdysan said:

At the risk of alienating the F Series crowd, I concur wholeheartedly. This anodyne design just washed over me and although undoubtedly nice looking, just lost the plot for me.

Although termed the Bangle Butt, the 6 design was pure Adrian van Hooydonk. Disparaged and ridiculed by many at the time, it has aged in such an amazing way - I often come across the "I hated this when it came out but now I think it's beautiful" comments in the forums and club rounds. One of a small list of cars that actually managed to stay pretty faithful to its initial concept design:

|https://thumbsnap.com/gvcAAZyU[/url]

And that S85 V10 - the likes of which really will never come again...

FWIW, I have two teenage boys that I regularly chuck in the back - although in all fairness me and my wife are 5'6" titches so if you are of normal size it would be tight. Mind you, I checked out the XKR before I bought the M6...you think the back is small in the BMW, try that!

Sorry to hear you won't be joining the E63 clan but hope you find something that makes you smile and demands that backward glance when you walk away after parking it! Cheers.

Oh man, I always loved that Z9 concept. I was nuts for it when it released in 99, nuts for it when the 6 finally came out and I still have the same feelings for the design. I wish that Z9 did come out it's really incredible. The proportions are so out there but so right at the same time. I love the Bangle Butt, think it's really interesting design. Not so much on the 7 series but on the 6 series I think it it looks hot and I wish they retained the Z9 concept in the 6 series.

I want the Bangle V10 M6 more that anything but we really need a decent back seat. I am 6ft 5 and my boy is going that way. Also, more recently my wife and I have come to the conclusion that we need to seat 5 sometimes too. So it does have to be used as a family taxi sometimes and we've got it down to one of two cars. The M6 Gran Coupe or the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. It's a tricky decision because I love them both but am leaning more towards the M6 GC I think. But, argh, that Cayenne Turbo is so nice too. Tricky decision.

[RichardM5]

The M6 Gran Coupe is only suitable for 5 for occasional short trips. Although it has 5 seat belts its is definitely a 4+1 in much the same way as the M6 is a 2+2. The central passenger has to sit with legs astride the central console, which is quite wide, none of the rear passengers then have must room for their feet.

[Hot Knife]

RichardM5 said:

The M6 Gran Coupe is only suitable for 5 for occasional short trips. Although it has 5 seat belts its is definitely a 4+1 in much the same way as the M6 is a 2+2. The central passenger has to sit with legs astride the central console, which is quite wide, none of the rear passengers then have must room for their feet.

Thanks, yes it would only be very short journey's and they would be small kids too.