2005 BMW M6 V10
Discussion
James B said:
That looks very smart. So, in theory, if one was to ask BMW for a set of replacement springs for a CP model then the regular car could be lowered a touch. 
It's not hugely lower - 10mm in the rear and 12mm in the front. Are you considering any paint treatment? I had my previous 6 with Siramik which seemed to work well.
rdysan said:
James B said:
Ah i’ve realised you’re referring to the Autogespot pics of the car. A little too black on black if I’m honest.
All adding to the attraction of what you got, however. She had BBSs and bremos so I reckon the 167M double spokes didn't even get used for a chunk of their life but were probably stored. Another positive 
The wheels, as you said, are perfect. They’ve been refurbed well so are in excellent shape and I’ve now got them sealed too.
The whole car has just had a detail and was ceramic coated too. I think it was a g-technic product.
rdysan said:
James B said:
That looks very smart. So, in theory, if one was to ask BMW for a set of replacement springs for a CP model then the regular car could be lowered a touch.
It's not hugely lower - 10mm in the rear and 12mm in the front. Are you considering any paint treatment? I had my previous 6 with Siramik which seemed to work well.
Did a bit of reading on the Comp pack and found this from a magazine review;
“The suspension’s the key, then?
Absolutely. Yes, a car that comes with three-stage dampers – comfort, normal, sport – as standard should have the bases covered, but our previous drive in the M6 revealed a tendency for the nose to go light while accelerating hard from an already high speed. Strange, especially since the ever-so-similar M5 didn’t display the same characteristics. The Competition Package cures this flaw.
The trade-off, of course, is a firmer ride, even in the most comfortable setting. It’s nothing you can’t live with, but I guarantee that you’ll always default to comfort. That makes the normal and sport modes seem pretty redundant and unnecessarily complex...”
The ‘going light’ sensation is exactly what I described early in this thread. I haven’t had a chance to test the car with the new suspension settings but expect that I’ll find it’s likely not cured. Maybe that’s a good reason to go for the CP springs. That said, the comments on the ride being firmer do worry me.
“The suspension’s the key, then?
Absolutely. Yes, a car that comes with three-stage dampers – comfort, normal, sport – as standard should have the bases covered, but our previous drive in the M6 revealed a tendency for the nose to go light while accelerating hard from an already high speed. Strange, especially since the ever-so-similar M5 didn’t display the same characteristics. The Competition Package cures this flaw.
The trade-off, of course, is a firmer ride, even in the most comfortable setting. It’s nothing you can’t live with, but I guarantee that you’ll always default to comfort. That makes the normal and sport modes seem pretty redundant and unnecessarily complex...”
The ‘going light’ sensation is exactly what I described early in this thread. I haven’t had a chance to test the car with the new suspension settings but expect that I’ll find it’s likely not cured. Maybe that’s a good reason to go for the CP springs. That said, the comments on the ride being firmer do worry me.
I would always recommend a geometry check on a new (to you ) car. For all the cost of them they can make a real difference to both your experience of the car and the tyre wear too. You really don't know if the last owner had clobbered a few potholes or bumped a kerb but each time they do the geo can be knocked slightly.
Earlier in this thread i posted pics of the before and after from mine. There were some quite significant differences so i would expect to feel that improvement on the road.
The nose going light I would image will not be sorted by the geo and I doubt that it's down to the lowering and more the stiffening of the suspension to stop the 'moment' of the car moving backwards so rapidly under hard acceleration. I don't think i want to sacrifice the ride quality so don't think i can make a spring change. Depending on how pointy the car feels on my road trip though I might investigate the fitment of the Comp Pack anti roll bars as they might assist with turn in. They don't appear to be too expensive from BMW either according to comments i've seen.
Earlier in this thread i posted pics of the before and after from mine. There were some quite significant differences so i would expect to feel that improvement on the road.
The nose going light I would image will not be sorted by the geo and I doubt that it's down to the lowering and more the stiffening of the suspension to stop the 'moment' of the car moving backwards so rapidly under hard acceleration. I don't think i want to sacrifice the ride quality so don't think i can make a spring change. Depending on how pointy the car feels on my road trip though I might investigate the fitment of the Comp Pack anti roll bars as they might assist with turn in. They don't appear to be too expensive from BMW either according to comments i've seen.
The difference between Scotland and London. Sigh... I dream of the chance to getting out of second gear, or above 4k revs - let alone worrying if the front end gets light under heavy acceleration!!
I'm currently investigating PPF as an option, rather than a coating but a large part of me thinks I need a good slapping to understand it could cost me a quarter of the car's value to have a decent detail and then the protection! God, do I love the car though.
I'm currently investigating PPF as an option, rather than a coating but a large part of me thinks I need a good slapping to understand it could cost me a quarter of the car's value to have a decent detail and then the protection! God, do I love the car though.
Edited by rdysan on Friday 9th February 11:14
Yes, quite! A few years ago I was days away from moving to our HQ at St Katharine Dock and had sought out storage businesses to store the cars with so i could still enjoy them. Thankfully the business ended up acquiring another company that i was very familiar with that happened to be Aberdeen-based and I was asked to stick around to help the businesses collaborate more expediently. I am sure I would have loved that part of London for a time but I would dearly have missed the ability to jump in the car and, within 20mins, be on a stunning B-road with barely another car present while I press on towards the horizon. I would struggle to replicate that at any of our office locations globally so reckon i'm pretty well placed.
I am not totally sold on PPF on certain value of car. Even with PPF fitted it's still possible to get a stone chip albeit greatly reduced. So you could end up paying the cost of a panel repaint to have the PPF done and still have a panel to paint if you were sufficiently fussy.
My opinion is that on a brand new car, or one with specialised paint that would be expensive/hard to match, then PPF may work out ok but for a regular car or one that outright paint originality isn't an issue then save the PPF money for the respray.
My M6 has certainly had paint on the front and rear bumpers so i'm not overly concerned about that element being repainted particularly as the paint guy i use in Aberdeen does an exceptional job at an equivalently exceptionally good price.
I am not totally sold on PPF on certain value of car. Even with PPF fitted it's still possible to get a stone chip albeit greatly reduced. So you could end up paying the cost of a panel repaint to have the PPF done and still have a panel to paint if you were sufficiently fussy.
My opinion is that on a brand new car, or one with specialised paint that would be expensive/hard to match, then PPF may work out ok but for a regular car or one that outright paint originality isn't an issue then save the PPF money for the respray.
My M6 has certainly had paint on the front and rear bumpers so i'm not overly concerned about that element being repainted particularly as the paint guy i use in Aberdeen does an exceptional job at an equivalently exceptionally good price.
Another query. The one thing I would say was a let down on the M6 visually is the look (or rather the blandness) of the brake calipers. I don't really want to splash out a ton of money on replacements but I'd like to find some way to make them stand out some more. 
It's almost as if they need a cover or something. Have you considered doing anything or are you quite happy the way they look?
It's almost as if they need a cover or something. Have you considered doing anything or are you quite happy the way they look?
The Audi S4 B6 and Mercedes C63 W205, both of which I had, used covers to tart up the caliper. On the S4 it was a clip that went over the entire body of the caliper and had an S4 logo printed on. For the Merc it was a firmly fixed plate that was mounted on the face of the caliper onto which an AMG logo was printed. They helped make a relatively dull caliper look a touch more exciting.
For the M6 my calipers are now back in their original black having spent most of their life painted red as the pics of the car in previous ownership show. I think they look fairly anonymous and I’m not sure it’s worth doing much to try to make them stand out as they’re a tad on the feeble side imho.
I’m sure there will be an aftermarket solution to fit that will have an ///M logo or similar.
For the M6 my calipers are now back in their original black having spent most of their life painted red as the pics of the car in previous ownership show. I think they look fairly anonymous and I’m not sure it’s worth doing much to try to make them stand out as they’re a tad on the feeble side imho.
I’m sure there will be an aftermarket solution to fit that will have an ///M logo or similar.
So this weekend I took up Mr 8Bit on his extremely kind offer to take some pics of the car.
We used a few locations in the Aberdeen harbour area and I think they'll make for some great images.
While the master himself works on the real pics I took a few of my own just to set the scene. You will notice that I am no photographer but the car looked clean and the background was interesting in some pics!
We used a few locations in the Aberdeen harbour area and I think they'll make for some great images.
While the master himself works on the real pics I took a few of my own just to set the scene. You will notice that I am no photographer but the car looked clean and the background was interesting in some pics!
She looks mega gorgeous James! Compliments on the pics 8bit!
BTW, out of interest James in the bills that came with the car was there anything covering the CIC retrofit? I have the Hualingan screen and box so its a full android unit now but the central console/controller swap was too much hassle for me to contemplate.
BTW, out of interest James in the bills that came with the car was there anything covering the CIC retrofit? I have the Hualingan screen and box so its a full android unit now but the central console/controller swap was too much hassle for me to contemplate.
8bit said:
My pleasure James! Enjoyed seeing and shooting your lovely car and good to talk to you again. Hopefully get the final shots to you by the end of the week. Your car sounded *amazing* as you disappeared off up the street
Thanks again. You know I haven’t even heard it properly from the outside yet! I’ll need to get someone to drive it away from me at speed! rdysan said:
She looks mega gorgeous James! Compliments on the pics 8bit!
BTW, out of interest James in the bills that came with the car was there anything covering the CIC retrofit? I have the Hualingan screen and box so its a full android unit now but the central console/controller swap was too much hassle for me to contemplate.
Thanks. I’m very pleased with the way the car was looking. It’s a credit to my Detailer who spent a lot of time getting the ‘London look’ off it!! BTW, out of interest James in the bills that came with the car was there anything covering the CIC retrofit? I have the Hualingan screen and box so its a full android unit now but the central console/controller swap was too much hassle for me to contemplate.
Ooh, those pics are mine actually. I have absolutely no doubt that Mr 8bit will deliver something quite stunning going by what he’s done with others.
On the CIC retrofit let me check this evening and I’ll let you know.
James B said:
8bit said:
My pleasure James! Enjoyed seeing and shooting your lovely car and good to talk to you again. Hopefully get the final shots to you by the end of the week. Your car sounded *amazing* as you disappeared off up the street
Thanks again. You know I haven’t even heard it properly from the outside yet! I’ll need to get someone to drive it away from me at speed! Actually if you ever feel like showing off a bit I’ve always wondered about the V10 since I bought the V8. Mine will probably be emerging from hibernation next month.
While I was looking my budget kept creeping upwards, and man maths was almost getting to the ‘sod it’ stage before fear of engine implosion and SMG put me off again.
Edited by Speed addicted on Monday 12th February 21:18
Haha! Unsurprisingly I have no shortage of volunteer pilots for the car but that said I am always happy for an enthusiast to give it a run. As I mentioned before I’ll be off the road with my arm in a sling for 6 weeks as of next Monday.
You’re more than welcome to have a good look around for comparison.
You’re more than welcome to have a good look around for comparison.
James B said:
rdysan said:
She looks mega gorgeous James! Compliments on the pics 8bit!
BTW, out of interest James in the bills that came with the car was there anything covering the CIC retrofit? I have the Hualingan screen and box so its a full android unit now but the central console/controller swap was too much hassle for me to contemplate.
Thanks. I’m very pleased with the way the car was looking. It’s a credit to my Detailer who spent a lot of time getting the ‘London look’ off it!! BTW, out of interest James in the bills that came with the car was there anything covering the CIC retrofit? I have the Hualingan screen and box so its a full android unit now but the central console/controller swap was too much hassle for me to contemplate.
Ooh, those pics are mine actually. I have absolutely no doubt that Mr 8bit will deliver something quite stunning going by what he’s done with others.
On the CIC retrofit let me check this evening and I’ll let you know.
As for CIC retrofit, I was at Revtronic in Bradford to get my 7-series screen replaced (water damage). They’re pretty well established in the car electronics game.
Approx. £1500 for them to do everything (including the trim panel holding the controller) was the quote I got just this weekend.
We got onto it as I was wondering if it were possible to upgrade the idrive 1.0 in the 7-series, but they’ve never tried it, and weren’t confident it could even be done, system bus speed & protocols, stuff like that - which I’m no expert in.... By contrast, CCC > CIC is no problem.
Drop the car off with them, train to Leeds, night out in Leeds (it’s not bad) and then pickup the next day.
Personally though, having had the CCC in the M6 & 335d and the CIC in the z4, yes, CIC is better, but it’s not £1500 better in my opinion. CCC may be slower, but it does the job.
Approx. £1500 for them to do everything (including the trim panel holding the controller) was the quote I got just this weekend.
We got onto it as I was wondering if it were possible to upgrade the idrive 1.0 in the 7-series, but they’ve never tried it, and weren’t confident it could even be done, system bus speed & protocols, stuff like that - which I’m no expert in...
. By contrast, CCC > CIC is no problem.Drop the car off with them, train to Leeds, night out in Leeds (it’s not bad) and then pickup the next day.
Personally though, having had the CCC in the M6 & 335d and the CIC in the z4, yes, CIC is better, but it’s not £1500 better in my opinion. CCC may be slower, but it does the job.
I went from a 2011 X6 to the 2005 645, the Idrive is far better in the newer cars.
As you say though, £1500 better is quite a jump and I’m not that concerned. Once it’s set up the only real annoyance is sat nav.
Now if I could have the ZF 8 speed gearbox for a similar amount I’d be really tempted.
As you say though, £1500 better is quite a jump and I’m not that concerned. Once it’s set up the only real annoyance is sat nav.
Now if I could have the ZF 8 speed gearbox for a similar amount I’d be really tempted.
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