Living with a 645/650
Discussion
LFB531 said:
Mines a coupe as pictured above.
I'm surprised you're struggling to find one (and agree it must be a V8), are you being very hard nosed on price?
I saw that after i posted my comment I'm surprised you're struggling to find one (and agree it must be a V8), are you being very hard nosed on price?
I don't think I am been hard nosed. I'd prefer a pre March 06 and I don't have a set budget. I had a look at some in and around 30 mile radius of North Hampshire and they just weren't for me. The only one that does tick some boxes is an 06 650 in black, with black trim advertised at just under £10k - problem is, I still prefer a lighter interior colour.
Nath911t said:
I saw that after i posted my comment
I don't think I am been hard nosed. I'd prefer a pre March 06 and I don't have a set budget. I had a look at some in and around 30 mile radius of North Hampshire and they just weren't for me. The only one that does tick some boxes is an 06 650 in black, with black trim advertised at just under £10k - problem is, I still prefer a lighter interior colour.
If you wear jeans or have kids I would advise to go for a dark interior! Until my kids get older and I'm wearing corduroys I go for black in every car! Silver and black looks great. Cabin still seems airy inside. Black and black would be too much on a 6 for me personally. Do like light leather but dye from jeans is an ongoing battle to remove and leather looks more tired a lot quicker than black. Had a TVR and a M5 with cream leather. Never looked clean imo. I don't think I am been hard nosed. I'd prefer a pre March 06 and I don't have a set budget. I had a look at some in and around 30 mile radius of North Hampshire and they just weren't for me. The only one that does tick some boxes is an 06 650 in black, with black trim advertised at just under £10k - problem is, I still prefer a lighter interior colour.
Looks like you'll have to do some travelling then, seems to be plenty (of mainly 645's) for sale further North and the prices get better too.
My wife hates most cars I choose (too fast, too noisy, too dark etc etc) but she really likes the 650 and it's got a black headliner so should have been a candidate for the dislike list.
Good luck with the search and keep us posted
My wife hates most cars I choose (too fast, too noisy, too dark etc etc) but she really likes the 650 and it's got a black headliner so should have been a candidate for the dislike list.
Good luck with the search and keep us posted
I guess I can live with most of the trims. My last one was beige/cream, before that it was grey, black then kids nappy brown/orange - although that one made me feel sick so it was sold quite quickly ...
I've just come back from trying a CLK280 sport cab that was local. Not for me. It felt sluggish and lardy like it was pulling a caravan. I think you're right about having to travel a bit.
I've just come back from trying a CLK280 sport cab that was local. Not for me. It felt sluggish and lardy like it was pulling a caravan. I think you're right about having to travel a bit.
Nath911t,
When you do find 645's worth looking at, do have a proper listen to the engine with the bonnet up as I got a low mileage 2004 645i just over 6 weeks ago and after a couple of hundred miles it developed a tapping sound that could be a number of things including the vacuum pump, tensioner, HVA's (lifters), cylinder (gulp), bearings of various description.
Apart from that, when I did my research I found the same stuff you did and got lots of feedback to say the 645 and 650 has a great engine.
Claire
When you do find 645's worth looking at, do have a proper listen to the engine with the bonnet up as I got a low mileage 2004 645i just over 6 weeks ago and after a couple of hundred miles it developed a tapping sound that could be a number of things including the vacuum pump, tensioner, HVA's (lifters), cylinder (gulp), bearings of various description.
Apart from that, when I did my research I found the same stuff you did and got lots of feedback to say the 645 and 650 has a great engine.
Claire
Claire-i1bmr said:
Nath911t,
When you do find 645's worth looking at, do have a proper listen to the engine with the bonnet up as I got a low mileage 2004 645i just over 6 weeks ago and after a couple of hundred miles it developed a tapping sound that could be a number of things including the vacuum pump, tensioner, HVA's (lifters), cylinder (gulp), bearings of various description.
Apart from that, when I did my research I found the same stuff you did and got lots of feedback to say the 645 and 650 has a great engine.
Claire
Hi Claire, thanks for the heads up and sorry to hear about your car. I've just read your post on here and hope it gets sorted out soon. Nothing worse than a "new to me" car having teething problems When you do find 645's worth looking at, do have a proper listen to the engine with the bonnet up as I got a low mileage 2004 645i just over 6 weeks ago and after a couple of hundred miles it developed a tapping sound that could be a number of things including the vacuum pump, tensioner, HVA's (lifters), cylinder (gulp), bearings of various description.
Apart from that, when I did my research I found the same stuff you did and got lots of feedback to say the 645 and 650 has a great engine.
Claire
Despite the new car problems, which I hope the dealer sorts out (the car is back with the dealer to cure the tapping), it's a lovely car to drive on short and long journeys. It's 2004 so dated computer with old fashioned display, that doesn't really matter as it was the V8 engine I wanted and it sounded fab (until it started to sound like a tractor....).
Keep us posted on what you get. I travelled 130 miles to get mine - looked nationwide for it as I wanted to get the best deal. It's worth making the effort if you want a car you think you'll have for a while.
Keep us posted on what you get. I travelled 130 miles to get mine - looked nationwide for it as I wanted to get the best deal. It's worth making the effort if you want a car you think you'll have for a while.
Edited by Claire-i1bmr on Wednesday 3rd May 20:41
Totally agree with Claire. I did a modest three hours on the train to get mine. Nothing in the overall time you'll (hopefully) own the car.
Best pit of PH purchasing for me was a flight to Inverness from Bristol then a 500 mile road trip back in the new toy (not the 650). Was a great way to get to know the new wheels and at worst, I'd have had to come back empty handed. Flight was £50 one way, then it was just fuel. Car was so much cheaper than buying down here in the South.
If I was nervous or sensible, I'd have bought a return flight ticket but hey, where's the fun in that!
Best pit of PH purchasing for me was a flight to Inverness from Bristol then a 500 mile road trip back in the new toy (not the 650). Was a great way to get to know the new wheels and at worst, I'd have had to come back empty handed. Flight was £50 one way, then it was just fuel. Car was so much cheaper than buying down here in the South.
If I was nervous or sensible, I'd have bought a return flight ticket but hey, where's the fun in that!
Had a 645 Coupe great car, ran it from 70-100k miles, never had any sort of problem with it. It had an alternator just before I bought it, quite common for them to get cooked and I change the gearbox oil/filter/sump as soon as I bought it, as despite what BMW say it's supposed to be done at about 70k miles. It got written off otherwise I'd might still have it.
Moved to a CL55 really didn't like it so after 6 months bought an M6. Love it to death - bar the fuel consumption!
Moved to a CL55 really didn't like it so after 6 months bought an M6. Love it to death - bar the fuel consumption!
Thanks for your replies.
Took today out and had a look at a few while clocking up a fair few miles in the process going literally round/inside the whole M25. Unfortunately, I've come back empty handed. While I appreciate the age of the cars, the descriptions on some of the ads and even talking to them beforehand to what I saw was an eye opener when I got there and a waste of time. The best one i saw today was a 630d but that was never going to happen. Still, there's always tomorrow
Took today out and had a look at a few while clocking up a fair few miles in the process going literally round/inside the whole M25. Unfortunately, I've come back empty handed. While I appreciate the age of the cars, the descriptions on some of the ads and even talking to them beforehand to what I saw was an eye opener when I got there and a waste of time. The best one i saw today was a 630d but that was never going to happen. Still, there's always tomorrow
The five I've looked at apart from one have just been bitty. A few receipts representing a fsh, oil leaks with saturated sump trays. Tyres that will need replacing asap. Air con units not working. Knocking front suspension joints. Water leaks.
I can live with the slight wear and tear on the body, interior and wounded seat bolster as there an old car but when I know I'll need to throw my wallet at it straight away for cars up to £10k I'm happy to walk away when they're firm on the price. None bar one has actually looked nice. That one was at Surrey Hills but I couldn't test drive it as it was buried in the back of a warehouse and I needed to make an appointment, which was fair enough as I turned up on route to look at another one. The blue with black interior didn't really do it for me under the lights either although that may change when it's in natural daylight.
Fingers crossed, I've got 2 soft tops to view over the weekend. A 645 in silver with black interior and my preferred choice of a 650 in black with cream interior. Both look good. Both have no unusual failures showing up on the DVLA Mot history check inc advisories for oil leaks and have some good extras that show up via the BMW vin chassis decoder. I've searched through auto trader, gumtree (sigh), here, the infamous auction site and a couple of other places.
I can live with the slight wear and tear on the body, interior and wounded seat bolster as there an old car but when I know I'll need to throw my wallet at it straight away for cars up to £10k I'm happy to walk away when they're firm on the price. None bar one has actually looked nice. That one was at Surrey Hills but I couldn't test drive it as it was buried in the back of a warehouse and I needed to make an appointment, which was fair enough as I turned up on route to look at another one. The blue with black interior didn't really do it for me under the lights either although that may change when it's in natural daylight.
Fingers crossed, I've got 2 soft tops to view over the weekend. A 645 in silver with black interior and my preferred choice of a 650 in black with cream interior. Both look good. Both have no unusual failures showing up on the DVLA Mot history check inc advisories for oil leaks and have some good extras that show up via the BMW vin chassis decoder. I've searched through auto trader, gumtree (sigh), here, the infamous auction site and a couple of other places.
Now if you could live with the red leather, this looks scarily well sorted!
http://tmlcars.co.uk/vehicle/name/bmw-6-series-645...
Go on....be brave
http://tmlcars.co.uk/vehicle/name/bmw-6-series-645...
Go on....be brave
LFB531 - Thanks for that I sent them an email last night having seen your link. A bit love/hate with not that much extras but a worthy contender. Thanks. I've called them numerous times today, to be told they'd call me back in 10 minutes but no call returned and there website stated they close at 3pm - I did throw in a small cheeky bid to him on the phone - but not taking the pi55. If you look at the date on the sat nav screen it shows 11th Jan 2017.
Alez88, I disagree with you on your opening statement. I don't a have a budget although I did initially. The ones I've looked are asking top money for not much better than a £5k car with faults I could easily find. They may have seen nice cars advertised then chanced their arm with the price with the ones they're trying to off. Albeit, thanks for your comment and I agree with the avoid dealers and M badges
The search continues .....
I sent them an email last night having seen your link. A bit love/hate with not that much extras but a worthy contender. Thanks. I've called them numerous times today, to be told they'd call me back in 10 minutes but no call returned and there website stated they close at 3pm - I did throw in a small cheeky bid to him on the phone - but not taking the pi55. If you look at the date on the sat nav screen it shows 11th Jan 2017.Alez88, I disagree with you on your opening statement. I don't a have a budget although I did initially. The ones I've looked are asking top money for not much better than a £5k car with faults I could easily find. They may have seen nice cars advertised then chanced their arm with the price with the ones they're trying to off. Albeit, thanks for your comment and I agree with the avoid dealers and M badges
The search continues .....
Fair statement
A quick update. I've looked at a few more inc the one in the link above.
Best I've seen to date has been a 54 plate 645 coupe, under 70k miles, some options inc electric/heated sports seats, pano roof, pro nav, cupholder - fixing present but no cupholder, telephone in the centre console and few other things but nothing worth getting excited. Two minuses - current keeper only owned for 6 months and 8 previous keepers! New'ish tyres (rft), recent BMW service, some stamps just normal garages, mot advisory for discs/pads.
A quick update. I've looked at a few more inc the one in the link above.
Best I've seen to date has been a 54 plate 645 coupe, under 70k miles, some options inc electric/heated sports seats, pano roof, pro nav, cupholder - fixing present but no cupholder, telephone in the centre console and few other things but nothing worth getting excited. Two minuses - current keeper only owned for 6 months and 8 previous keepers! New'ish tyres (rft), recent BMW service, some stamps just normal garages, mot advisory for discs/pads.
Edited by Nath911t on Tuesday 17th October 07:47
On the discs & pads, get a quote from your BMW main dealer and ask for Value line parts (as the car is more than 5 years old). Not all dealers would quote Value Line pricing. From memory front discs + pads + wear sensor dropped from £560 down to under £300 for my 650 @ BMW York. This was about 3 years ago. You get the same part numbers irrespective of how much you pay.
gf15 said:
On the discs & pads, get a quote from your BMW main dealer and ask for Value line parts (as the car is more than 5 years old). Not all dealers would quote Value Line pricing. From memory front discs + pads + wear sensor dropped from £560 down to under £300 for my 650 @ BMW York. This was about 3 years ago. You get the same part numbers irrespective of how much you pay.
Good advice!gf15 said:
On the discs & pads, get a quote from your BMW main dealer and ask for Value line parts (as the car is more than 5 years old). Not all dealers would quote Value Line pricing. From memory front discs + pads + wear sensor dropped from £560 down to under £300 for my 650 @ BMW York. This was about 3 years ago. You get the same part numbers irrespective of how much you pay.
I'll remember that for future reference I looked at 18 altogether with very different specs and coupe to convertible. I picked this one up yesterday.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff