BMW M6 - any advice on this?

[ST270]

I posted this in Carbuying - but this forum might be more fitting...

Hi all - i have seen this V10 M6 for sale and it goes against all of the advice and horror stories that i have read on here and other BMW forums.

I have a 635d currently which i bought for the reasons of better MPG, less chance of it throwing up big bills and commuting... but i still keep looking at these V10s and still want one.

Knowing that a contingency fund is needed for something at this price range is fine but i have read reports of cars with less mileage and more expensive still throwing up big bills.

The car here has had a clutch replacement fairly recently but on checking the mot history (Reg number is GRZ8274) it shows an advisory for a weeping shock and it appears to have missed a BMW recall? The seller has said it has stacks of history but they are unsure about rod bearing or Vanos work etc.

Any thoughts?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-BMW-M6-V10-5-0-CON...KEAAOSw1qVeKJna

[contractor]

As someone who ran one for 6 years, while they give great smiles when driving, they can cause real stress due to issues. I sold mine after 6 years at 85k miles and it was starting to get a bit old. In the time I had it I had:

SMG Solenoid (red cog job)
Clutch/flywheel
New xenon
Vanos/oil pressure
PDC issues
Oil rad leak
HUD throwing odd wobbler

If I dug out the 13 pages of warranty history from my paperwork, I'm sure there would be a few more things.

Oh and the fuel tank is too small

[JMBMWM5]

I would give that one a MISS, missing a recall will kill any chance of a BMW warantee IMO.
The V10 M6 not worth the worry if you have not got money put by for a unforeseen problem, and there will be one.

[ST270]

Really helpful replies thank you. I think i had kind of suspected this to be case - just a case of eagerness on my part. I know how good the car i have is but just want that power and noise. Probably be a honeymoon period car though and it would be my daily - like you say they are getting on a bit and it might make me just worry too much about using it for fear of something failing...

[JMBMWM5]

Have a look at the F10 M5 it may be in your budget.

[Stever]

I had one for 18 months and used it as a daily driver and I'm so pleased I did it is an epic car because of the engine and I love the looks. Mine was low mileage mid 40's full BMWSH so I was able to get the BMW approved Mondiale warranty which served very well after it broke a valve while cruising on the M25. I think the bill was £8K or something like that.

I'd say do it if you have a large contingency fund or can afford the warranty which will be V expensive as this has +60K miles there won't be another car like this most likely.

As JMBMWM5 says the F10 is a better bet but the M5 looks very dull next to the M6.

[jm doc]

ST270 said:

I posted this in Carbuying - but this forum might be more fitting...

Hi all - i have seen this V10 M6 for sale and it goes against all of the advice and horror stories that i have read on here and other BMW forums.

I have a 635d currently which i bought for the reasons of better MPG, less chance of it throwing up big bills and commuting... but i still keep looking at these V10s and still want one.

Knowing that a contingency fund is needed for something at this price range is fine but i have read reports of cars with less mileage and more expensive still throwing up big bills.

The car here has had a clutch replacement fairly recently but on checking the mot history (Reg number is GRZ8274) it shows an advisory for a weeping shock and it appears to have missed a BMW recall? The seller has said it has stacks of history but they are unsure about rod bearing or Vanos work etc.

Any thoughts?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-BMW-M6-V10-5-0-CON...KEAAOSw1qVeKJna

Not sure about this particular car, but if you can find a decent one they are epic, either M5 or M6. I would definitely have one ahead of an F10 though not an F90.

The V10 is one of the all-time great N/A engines and it's unlikely to ever be seen again. Grab one while you can!

Yes, the fuel tank is small, but the smile is big as you hit 8k rpm

[wattsm666]

I had a M5 with the V10 and it is brilliant, but mine had the BMW warranty and I decided to sell it as the mileage was approaching 100k and I was concerned about warranty coverage.

Mine had:

SMG pump, including a ruined clutch from fluid leak
oil pump issue
SMG pump again

Would have been expensive without the warranty, but that engine on full scream.

Smg gearbox gets lots of criticism but used properly it is good.

[MarcelM6]

I had a M6 convertible for 3 years, put almost 50000 miles on it. I used it for my daily commute (mainly motorway), fuel consumption be damned.

The only on-consumable bill I had was for a aircon regas and a repair to the infotainment amplifier. Latter was about £1000, not cheap!

Mine gave me no trouble at all, always started, even when minus 5. Loved the car and have started looking at them again for a second car, the engine is epic.

2 things put me off:
1. I believe these cars are better when regularly used, warmed up properly, properly maintained. I wouldn't use it every day, so...
2. I also remember the anxiety every time I got in it. The possibility of an expensive warning light going off. With prices being where they are, that would reduce the car to scrap - not worth fixing in most cases; so would rather live without that feeling.

They are brilliant, brilliant cars. If you buy one, set aside several thousand pounds in case one of the issues above occurs.

Fuel tank is a joke - I was doing 90mile daily round trip so filling up every 48hrs

Edited by MarcelM6 on Wednesday 10th June 10:28

[jontysafe]

I had an M6 convertible for 18 months and 18,000miles. Infotainment amp went up the swanny but that was the only issue in my time with it. I bought it with 24month Mondial warranty.
They like to be used and extended, like an Italian tune up as it were, especially the transmission.

[ST270]

Some great replies and experiences, just what I was hoping for! I think it comes down to 2 ish options:

1 buy a higher priced car with lower miles and with evidence that the recommended work has been done in line with mileage... (potential for warranty also)

2 go for a lower priced car with higher mileage, budgeting for preventative work to be completed before the car is used daily... (no chance of warranty) but perhaps more peace of mind that the work has been carried out in my ownership...

Smg pump
Clutch
Vanos solenoids
Rod bearings

I expect doing all of the above work would be expensive and I would rather not have that burden so obviously taking a specialists advice on what to focus on...

Or is it a bit of a lottery and even a higher value lower milage car could throw up just as many issues?

Reading and watching reviews of the car suggests some have cars with 80k + with no issues and others have repeated issues so it can be an unknown....

[MarcelM6]

As these cars will all be 10-14 years old, a low mileage suggests it's been standing around for a lot of it's life. Consensus seems to be that they like being used.

Basically a lottery; good service records, preventative maintenance etc all more significant than mileage.

[ST270]

OK so the lure of the M6 is still there and this one has appeared local to me - nice spec and a convertible which is nice as it would replace the current 635d convertible (natural upgrade...?)

Mileage is lower than some and full BM s/h - i haven't managed to see the MOT history as yet but i know that it has has Vanos and smg sorted / replaced. No mention of bearing replacement though and as i understand it these are recommended to be changed for prevention around 60K??

When comparing it with others on sale it looks very clean i think - but making any kind of final decision is tough as I will be loosing both current cars for this one (Alfa GTV V6 and 635d)

Am i mad?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10610690?u...

[Weekendrebuild]

Not as a daily ! Although I have no room to talk I’ve not driven any of mine in 6months .

If you want it go for it just have 2/3k handy just Incase

[ST270]

Small update - I have been provided with a very useful "heads up" by a fellow PHer regarding this particular dealer and after doing some eye opening background research i reckon this car is worth giving a wide birth no matter how good it looks....

[ST270]

So - i got the registration for the MOT history and it shows that it may have had a bump a few years back (headlamps not aligning and braking power not even) The MOT expired in Nov 19 and it has missed a recall......