RE: BMW M6 (E63) | The Brave Pill
Discussion
Schermerhorn said:
Helicopter123 said:
Schermerhorn said:
I had one of these.
Where do you even begin...................?
Enjoyed your thread (if that's the right word...) and recall the problems you had.Where do you even begin...................?
What did you do with it in the end?
I think he was glad to get rid of it in the end too.
Not a pleasant ownership at all.
t one tbh. Not an M6, but I do have a V10 M5. I am proof that if you give the car to the wrong person to work on then it is going to hit you hard. But it's a V10 engined saloon (or coupe), you cannot expect to run these on a shoe string and they're pretty unique. I think the E60 looks much nicer than the E63, but that is just my opinion.
Completed it mate.
Ran one ten years ago for 18mths and despite a lack of major catastrophy I think it cost £20k in servicing, depreciation (not that much they'd sunk already), petrol and consumables. Nothing I've ever had since felt so incongruously naughty as chasing the limiter in it. Worst tank average was 4.5mpg which meant the low fuel warning came in after something like 75 miles. Will be a very rare classic one day when most of them have imploded.
Ran one ten years ago for 18mths and despite a lack of major catastrophy I think it cost £20k in servicing, depreciation (not that much they'd sunk already), petrol and consumables. Nothing I've ever had since felt so incongruously naughty as chasing the limiter in it. Worst tank average was 4.5mpg which meant the low fuel warning came in after something like 75 miles. Will be a very rare classic one day when most of them have imploded.
I had one about 6-7 years ago, when they were around £13k.
The one I bought had just had £4,600 spent on it. I ran it for about a year, put 6,000 miles on it, and then part ex'ed it just before the next service was due. The next bill required some form of transmission repair and also cost the thick end of about £5,000.
They're fantastic cars but a lot of people forget they were £80k new, and come with appropriate running costs. I think the best I ever got was 20mpg on a motorway cruise, and in town I remember getting 5-6mpg. I remember writing a review after I'd just sold the M6, where I'd actually spent more trips (used to drive it cross-country) with a fuel stop, than I did without.
I replaced it with a 911, which could manage three times the mileage the M6 could.
The one I bought had just had £4,600 spent on it. I ran it for about a year, put 6,000 miles on it, and then part ex'ed it just before the next service was due. The next bill required some form of transmission repair and also cost the thick end of about £5,000.
They're fantastic cars but a lot of people forget they were £80k new, and come with appropriate running costs. I think the best I ever got was 20mpg on a motorway cruise, and in town I remember getting 5-6mpg. I remember writing a review after I'd just sold the M6, where I'd actually spent more trips (used to drive it cross-country) with a fuel stop, than I did without.
I replaced it with a 911, which could manage three times the mileage the M6 could.
I ran one for 3 years, getting rid of it in 2012. The engine....amazing. The gearbox...not. Unfortunately, about a month before I was planning on trading it, the clutch failed. The car had done about 32,000 miles at that point, and I had never launched it. No doubt the previous owner probably did. £3.5K is not an amount of money you look forward to spending, just to get rid of the car. The other big problem was the window motors going (on two separate occasions), when the car got heavily iced up. If memory serves me right it was about £450 each time. Other than that, the car was good, but personally, I'd have to advise against getting involved with one. Once a car like that is out of warranty, it's a very risky proposition.
Had one when they first came out and enjoyed it, very rapid motor then sold it for an M5 Touring with the same motor and loved that. Drove one a few weeks ago and boy has the interior dated and the SMG box is pretty archaic now compared to more modern DCT style boxes and even faster ZF Autos. I reckon the M5/M6 would be way quicker if it wasn't for the box. Also, you need to rev them to get the best out of them as lowdown torque is woeful.
Anyone running one of these without a Mondial warranty could be up for a wallet raping that's for sure, had new actuators on my M5 Gearbox and the total bill to the warranty company was in excess of £4k. Also, clutch release bearings are a big problem so bear that in mind.
Anyone running one of these without a Mondial warranty could be up for a wallet raping that's for sure, had new actuators on my M5 Gearbox and the total bill to the warranty company was in excess of £4k. Also, clutch release bearings are a big problem so bear that in mind.
My m5 is great with lightened flywheel it’s a rocket for size. She’s only covered 30k. I’ve Rebuilt entire engine for not much more1 than you payed for actuators ! End of the day you pay to play there quiet easy to work on got a couple of spare engines in the garage currently. ones just been rebuilt by myself Was going in the e46 compact with one but decided on the s54 instead . Cars that don’t break down are boring.
I spent a long time fretting over the aforementioned reliability issues before I purchased my m6 eventually giving in after driving and hearing the v10 above 6k rpm, the gearbox isn't perfect around town but once moving it is great and the rest of the package more than makes up for it. Purchased at 47k around 18 months ago and although I have only put around 6k on the car it has been the most reliable car I have owned. I have the fully comp BMW extended warranty which is very reasonable and gave me the peace of mind should a major occur. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you look at it) I have not needed to use the warranty for a single item even after having 3 inspections at BMW during this time when it has gone in for oil services or brakes. The cabin is a little bit small for me which partially explains the low use but I will be glad I had the opportunity to experience the s85 engine when I come round to selling!
carbonM6 said:
I ran one for 3 years, getting rid of it in 2012. The engine....amazing. The gearbox...not. Unfortunately, about a month before I was planning on trading it, the clutch failed. The car had done about 32,000 miles at that point, and I had never launched it. No doubt the previous owner probably did. £3.5K is not an amount of money you look forward to spending, just to get rid of the car. The other big problem was the window motors going (on two separate occasions), when the car got heavily iced up. If memory serves me right it was about £450 each time. Other than that, the car was good, but personally, I'd have to advise against getting involved with one. Once a car like that is out of warranty, it's a very risky proposition.
i'm calculating one post every five years, on average.you don't waste your wisdom much on us plebs, do you
Bought my M6 in September last year, coming from an ESS 'charged e46 M3.
I new about all the potential faults, but the noise from the V10 is just something else, that and the fact it never really feels heavy make it a pleasure to drive.
Size wise - Width is about the same as a 4 series, and only about 20cm longer I think. So it never feels big on the road.
Articles are always filled with hate towards the SMG. Yes ultimately, if it was available I would chose a manual for the involvement mainly, but the same goes for any auto/DCT option. The key with SMG (this being the second time I've had it) is to drive it in manual mode, and remember you are driving a manual car, but you don't control the clutch. Once you understand that, and drive it with this in mind it will start to behave as you expect it to. Of course the current auto's/DCT's are much faster, and smoother, but the SMG is perfectly good if you know how to drive it. There are potential issues, but I'm sure I've seen a few posts regarding pump issues (or something of the sort) with the VW DCT boxes also?
Mines been pretty reliable, only needing a new starter motor, fixed under warranty at 98k miles.
I drove from Berkshire to Northern Scotland ~580 miles in one day, no issues. Cruising at 70-80 I averaged 23.5 mpg, and was getting about 325 miles between fill ups with about 50 miles left on the range. Which I don't think is too bad, I think the max range on the M3 was only about 400 possibly 450 pre-supercharging.
Looks wise it's not perfect, but from certain angles, I think it looks fantastic. I also love that the 6's are rare let alone M6's. I love the interior, I have the full leather with alcantara head lining, I can't say I've touched anything in it that felt cheap.
I don't (and never have) got the comments about the I-Drive being complicated, I find it pretty easy to use, though the version in my 07 car is starting to look old, and is slow compared with the new ones. But I rarely use it so not an issue for me.
One big gripe I do have with the car is the lack of engine oil dip stick, really don't know why it was developed/used.
I new about all the potential faults, but the noise from the V10 is just something else, that and the fact it never really feels heavy make it a pleasure to drive.
Size wise - Width is about the same as a 4 series, and only about 20cm longer I think. So it never feels big on the road.
Articles are always filled with hate towards the SMG. Yes ultimately, if it was available I would chose a manual for the involvement mainly, but the same goes for any auto/DCT option. The key with SMG (this being the second time I've had it) is to drive it in manual mode, and remember you are driving a manual car, but you don't control the clutch. Once you understand that, and drive it with this in mind it will start to behave as you expect it to. Of course the current auto's/DCT's are much faster, and smoother, but the SMG is perfectly good if you know how to drive it. There are potential issues, but I'm sure I've seen a few posts regarding pump issues (or something of the sort) with the VW DCT boxes also?
Mines been pretty reliable, only needing a new starter motor, fixed under warranty at 98k miles.
I drove from Berkshire to Northern Scotland ~580 miles in one day, no issues. Cruising at 70-80 I averaged 23.5 mpg, and was getting about 325 miles between fill ups with about 50 miles left on the range. Which I don't think is too bad, I think the max range on the M3 was only about 400 possibly 450 pre-supercharging.
Looks wise it's not perfect, but from certain angles, I think it looks fantastic. I also love that the 6's are rare let alone M6's. I love the interior, I have the full leather with alcantara head lining, I can't say I've touched anything in it that felt cheap.
I don't (and never have) got the comments about the I-Drive being complicated, I find it pretty easy to use, though the version in my 07 car is starting to look old, and is slow compared with the new ones. But I rarely use it so not an issue for me.
One big gripe I do have with the car is the lack of engine oil dip stick, really don't know why it was developed/used.
Epic cars, don’t really agree about the Bangle styling being poor, but ultimately it doesn’t matter as you can’t see it when you’re driving the car anyhow ...
Fuel consumption hilarious (but it’s a 500hp coupe that tips the scales at 1800kg) did you really expect anything less than hopeless fuel consumption ??
Fuel tank at leat 5 gallons too small. My record was 3 tankfulls in a day, and by the time I got home it needed fuelling again ...
Gearbox merely “ok” around town, but out on the open road, my Lord, it all gelled perfectly.
The biggest, heaviest car I’ve owned, and along with my old E46 M3 CSL, the best handling. No car before or after the V10 M6 has shrunk around me so effectively. Chassis a masterpiece, beautifully balanced, and totally benign in the wet or dry, a large part of that down to the low down docility of the fabulous engine, which I suspect the M division engineered on purpose.
Dealers on the whole were utterly useless, most official BMW technicians completely out of their depth working on a car they rarely, if ever, saw in their workshops.
Used every day or kept on a battery conditioner, the electrics do what the should do, but leave one on the drive for or the garage for a week or two, and the lack of voltage will wreak havoc with every and any of the numerous electrical components/sensors.
Mine fell victim to a huuuuuge pothole left infilled by the local council. It trashed the steering, and despite numerous visits to differing experts and my main dealer, the car handled like a supermarket trolley with a busted castor thereafter. Prior to the impact it had been the sweetest handling front engined, rear drive car I’d driven, ever.
By the lowest mileage example you can find with a BMW warranty, and have it serviced/maintained by someone like Phil Crouch at CPC whilst relying on BMW to foot the unforeseen bills.
Fuel consumption hilarious (but it’s a 500hp coupe that tips the scales at 1800kg) did you really expect anything less than hopeless fuel consumption ??
Fuel tank at leat 5 gallons too small. My record was 3 tankfulls in a day, and by the time I got home it needed fuelling again ...
Gearbox merely “ok” around town, but out on the open road, my Lord, it all gelled perfectly.
The biggest, heaviest car I’ve owned, and along with my old E46 M3 CSL, the best handling. No car before or after the V10 M6 has shrunk around me so effectively. Chassis a masterpiece, beautifully balanced, and totally benign in the wet or dry, a large part of that down to the low down docility of the fabulous engine, which I suspect the M division engineered on purpose.
Dealers on the whole were utterly useless, most official BMW technicians completely out of their depth working on a car they rarely, if ever, saw in their workshops.
Used every day or kept on a battery conditioner, the electrics do what the should do, but leave one on the drive for or the garage for a week or two, and the lack of voltage will wreak havoc with every and any of the numerous electrical components/sensors.
Mine fell victim to a huuuuuge pothole left infilled by the local council. It trashed the steering, and despite numerous visits to differing experts and my main dealer, the car handled like a supermarket trolley with a busted castor thereafter. Prior to the impact it had been the sweetest handling front engined, rear drive car I’d driven, ever.
By the lowest mileage example you can find with a BMW warranty, and have it serviced/maintained by someone like Phil Crouch at CPC whilst relying on BMW to foot the unforeseen bills.
E65Ross said:
Nah, face-lift E46 is much nicer IMO.
Agreed, the original E46 is a miserable looking thing.I wouldn't touch an M5/6 with a s
tty stick. Great engine when it works but just far too much to go wrong. These things were a disaster 10 years ago when they were in the workshop with some very expensive issues - blown engines, £3000 clutch jobs and so on. And it all costs thousands to fix, and for what? They ain't going up in value anytime soon because everyone knows what a money pit they are. The M6 looks like a melted wellie - the M5 at least looks sharp.The previous E39 M5 isn't as fast, but it's a proper nuts and bolts car by comparison and they were generally pretty reliable. Those are creeping up in value of course.
E65Ross said:
Rubbish. I bet you'd still enjoy driving your M5 if it never went wrong. I'm pretty sure the ownership proposition would be even nicer too.
I don’t enjoy driving any car to be honest. I like fast cars complicated cars . Currently I own so many now I bought a warehouse to store them in (with my brother he’s panel beater ) I actually prefer fixing them tearing them down working out how they work greasing loctite , checking valve clearances etc very therapeutic. Gets me away from the 5 week old 
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