Running cost: 6 series E63/E64 - what can i expect?

[paul rich]

Hi,

I'm seriously thinking of moving over from my Mercedes SL320 (which bought 10 yrs ago and costs £2k/yr in repair and servicing) to a 630i convertible and I want know what sort of repair and service costs I am letting myself in for.

I will buy a car with 70k miles on it and cover about 8k each year.

Has anyone owned either an E63 or E64 6 Series for a few years and can give me the benefit of their experience?

Thanks Paul

Edited by paul rich on Monday 15th March 09:16

[d_a_n1979]

There's another thread similar to this that was up a few days ago...

Look for 'fastbikes' thread(s) in Readers Cars; he owns a 630i & a 650i; sop they should give you a good insight into what E63 ownership is like

[Collectingbrass]

I had a 2004 645Ci from 63,000 to 117,000 miles. The key points over and above normal consumables were:

PSE:
- Replace starter motor earth wire £120 + 2hr labour
- 2 alloys cracked, all 4 replaced on an exchange basis £500

DIY:
- Replace centre brake light LED strip - £120
- Replace driver door sill LED strip - £100
- Replace Xenon light control modules - bought cheap on line generic brand replacements, had to do it three times in the end, don't buy cheap...
- 2 replacement CIC screens - the first one went 6 months after fitting but at £70 each still cheaper than new OEM

Running costs were 24/25 mpg typically, unless I had had a really bad day / loud music / heavy right foot in which case mid teens

[paul rich]

Collectingbrass said:

I had a 2004 645Ci from 63,000 to 117,000 miles. The key points over and above normal consumables were:

PSE:
- Replace starter motor earth wire £120 + 2hr labour
- 2 alloys cracked, all 4 replaced on an exchange basis £500

DIY:
- Replace centre brake light LED strip - £120
- Replace driver door sill LED strip - £100
- Replace Xenon light control modules - bought cheap on line generic brand replacements, had to do it three times in the end, don't buy cheap...
- 2 replacement CIC screens - the first one went 6 months after fitting but at £70 each still cheaper than new OEM

Running costs were 24/25 mpg typically, unless I had had a really bad day / loud music / heavy right foot in which case mid teens

That's great information. Not too bad compared to what I am used to shelling out on the R129.

[paul rich]

d_a_n1979 said:

There's another thread similar to this that was up a few days ago...

Look for 'fastbikes' thread(s) in Readers Cars; he owns a 630i & a 650i; sop they should give you a good insight into what E63 ownership is like

Thanks, I found the thread. Very interesting it was too!

[g3org3y]

paul rich said:

Hi,

I'm seriously thinking of moving over from my Mercedes SL320 (which bought 10 yrs ago and costs £2k/yr in repair and servicing) to a 630i convertible and I want know what sort of repair and service costs I am letting myself in for.

I will buy a car with 70k miles on it and cover about 8k each year.

Has anyone owned either an E63 or E64 6 Series for a few years and can give me the benefit of their experience?

Thanks Paul

Edited by paul rich on Monday 15th March 09:16

Hi Rich,

I asked something very similar in 2019: Bravepill for a daily or madness?

I ended up with this


Re costs:
- Underneath it's an E60 5 Series and it's old enough that bits and pieces aren't silly money.
- Engine: Earlier models have the N52, pretty sold, expensive waterpumps. Later models have the N53, coils, injectors and HP fuel pump are the main issues.

Mine has been fine to run so far (random broken spring apart). 19 inch tyres are expensive, v expensive if you want to stick to RFTs.

Another really useful thread here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[paul rich]

g3org3y said:

Hi Rich,

I asked something very similar in 2019: Bravepill for a daily or madness?

I ended up with this


Re costs:
- Underneath it's an E60 5 Series and it's old enough that bits and pieces aren't silly money.
- Engine: Earlier models have the N52, pretty sold, expensive waterpumps. Later models have the N53, coils, injectors and HP fuel pump are the main issues.

Mine has been fine to run so far (random broken spring apart). 19 inch tyres are expensive, v expensive if you want to stick to RFTs.

Another really useful thread here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Thanks g3org3y for your experience and the link to the other thread. I was fancying the N52 too. Broken springs are a sign of the times/state of our roads.

[nw28840]

I bought a 2005 630i convertible in March 2016.
Car was on 86k when I bought it, now on 120k.
I’ve averaged 27mpg, driven mostly on cruise control at 70mph on my 25 mile motorway commute each way.

Comfortable car, definitely more a GT than a sports car. Get one with the
heads up display if you can.

Tyres, brakes and suspension bits (big heavy car) are where any money seems to get spent on the car. It’s a lot of car for the money. Engine pretty bullet proof, lovely sound also.

I bought a 2011 640i convertible in July 2020, Its very nice but not worth 3 times the value of what my 630i convertible is currently in the classifieds for.

Hope that helps,
Nick

Edited by nw28840 on Tuesday 16th March 09:17

[paul rich]

nw28840 said:

I bought a 2005 630i convertible in March 2016.
Car was on 86k when I bought it, now on 120k.
I’ve averaged 27mpg, driven mostly on cruise control at 70mph on my 25 mile motorway commute each way.

Comfortable car, definitely more a GT than a sports car. Get one with the
heads up display if you can.

Tyres, brakes and suspension bits (big heavy car) are where any money seems to get spent on the car. It’s a lot of car for the money. Engine pretty bullet proof, lovely sound also.

I bought a 2011 640i convertible in July 2020, Its very nice but not worth 3 times the value of what my 630i convertible is currently in the classifieds for.

Hope that helps,
Nick

Edited by nw28840 on Tuesday 16th March 09:17

Thanks Nick, that does help. I'm okay about the type of repairs you mention have been commonest on your 630i. I'm getting a warmer feeling about the reliability and running costs of these cars. I know its not going to cost the same as my fathers VW Bora to keep on the road, its going to be like my SL320. I was just concerned if was going to be an absolute money pit, but that does not seem to be the case.

[nw28840]

I worked out the car has cost me just over £1k a year in servicing , repairs and refurbishing wheels, painting wing mirrors etc....

It’s not perfect, it’s a 15 year old car, but it’s a lovely thing to cruise in and two cars in one with it being a convertible.

Good luck with your search, don’t worry too much about the mileage on the car, this is the second car I’ve had with these engines, it’s a peach

Cheers,
Nick

[paul rich]

nw28840 said:

I worked out the car has cost me just over £1k a year in servicing , repairs and refurbishing wheels, painting wing mirrors etc....

It’s not perfect, it’s a 15 year old car, but it’s a lovely thing to cruise in and two cars in one with it being a convertible.

Good luck with your search, don’t worry too much about the mileage on the car, this is the second car I’ve had with these engines, it’s a peach

Cheers,
Nick

Hi Nick,

That's good information, as i mentioned my similar SL320 (straight 6 petrol, autobox, convertible) has averaged £2k/yr.

How many years have you owned your car?

Pual

[oldaudi]

I started a thread last year regarding the 630 e63. Managed to find a good example after looking at a few rubbish ones. I’ve only done a few 1000 miles due to COVID and it’s been weeks between drives. I get the “irregular battery discharge” message but this goes after a 80 mile round trip commute. It’s due for its MOT in May so we shall see if it throws any more expenses. I’ve also got a small leak on the oil cooler at the top of the engine. I love it. A great drive. It’s old but doesn’t creak, everything is still solid , feels fairly rapid and a great sound. My only gripe is that I wished I found a v8 now, my miles have reduced so much ,I was facing almost 500 a week and lots of city traffic, that the straight 6 made more sense.

Paint work and alloys are in great condition and I’m still very happy with the one I found, mine has the n52 engine which I was advised on my original thread was the better engine in terms of reliability, I think this can be identified by the silver cover rather than the black cover on the newer engines.

Edited by oldaudi on Tuesday 16th March 19:31

[paul rich]

oldaudi said:

I started a thread last year regarding the 630 e63. Managed to find a good example after looking at a few rubbish ones. I’ve only done a few 1000 miles due to COVID and it’s been weeks between drives. I get the “irregular battery discharge” message but this goes after a 80 mile round trip commute. It’s due for its MOT in May so we shall see if it throws any more expenses. I’ve also got a small leak on the oil cooler at the top of the engine. I love it. A great drive. It’s old but doesn’t creak, everything is still solid , feels fairly rapid and a great sound. My only gripe is that I wished I found a v8 now, my miles have reduced so much ,I was facing almost 500 a week and lots of city traffic, that the straight 6 made more sense.

Paint work and alloys are in great condition and I’m still very happy with the one I found, mine has the n52 engine which I was advised on my original thread was the better engine in terms of reliability, I think this can be identified by the silver cover rather than the black cover on the newer engines.

Edited by oldaudi on Tuesday 16th March 19:31

Thanks for your experience, I looked up your thread. Nice colour combination on your car

[nw28840]

paul rich said:

Hi Nick,

That's good information, as i mentioned my similar SL320 (straight 6 petrol, autobox, convertible) has averaged £2k/yr.

How many years have you owned your car?

Pual

Bought in March 2016, see my first post in this thread.

Nick

[paul rich]

nw28840 said:

Bought in March 2016, see my first post in this thread.

Nick

So you did, sorry Nick, I missed that.

[Veesix75]

I had a 630i n53 / 2009 year, from 49k to 98k over 3 years.

Other than scheduled servicing, plus an oil change every 10k, it had rear pads, rocker cover gasket and the wiper arm mechanism replaced (£75). The most expensive service with plugs, oil, all filters, full vehicle check cost about £300 at my local bmw specialist.

Cheapest overall car to run I’ve had for a long time, 35mpg on the motorway, surprisingly easy on its tyres, wish I’d kept it. Pan roof was lovely.

To a degree it came with nothing needed, it had been serviced, new tyres and new front discs when I bought it so I started with zero outlay other than buying it.

I now have a 640i gran coupe, it is nicer than the 630 overall, but as above, not 3 times nicer price wise. I’d happily have another 630i.

[paul rich]

Veesix75 said:

I had a 630i n53 / 2009 year, from 49k to 98k over 3 years.

Other than scheduled servicing, plus an oil change every 10k, it had rear pads, rocker cover gasket and the wiper arm mechanism replaced (£75). The most expensive service with plugs, oil, all filters, full vehicle check cost about £300 at my local bmw specialist.

Cheapest overall car to run I’ve had for a long time, 35mpg on the motorway, surprisingly easy on its tyres, wish I’d kept it. Pan roof was lovely.

To a degree it came with nothing needed, it had been serviced, new tyres and new front discs when I bought it so I started with zero outlay other than buying it.

I now have a 640i gran coupe, it is nicer than the 630 overall, but as above, not 3 times nicer price wise. I’d happily have another 630i.

It seems the 630i is not a bad car at all for most owners. Very encouraging responses to my question. To everyone who has replied so far, many thanks.

[gf15]

Some info on mine in my profile on my 2005 650.
Wonderful cars and I ran mine from 47k miles to over 200k and it never let me down. Only significant cost was at about 140k miles when I had the valve stem seals done for £1500. Even at 200k miles, it drove beautifully.
Highly reccommended.

Edited by gf15 on Wednesday 17th March 22:10

[paul rich]

gf15 said:

Some info on mine in my profile on my 2005 650.
Wonderful cars and I ran mine from 47k miles to over 200k and it never let me down. Only significant cost was at about 140k miles when I had the valve stem seals done for £1500. Even at 200k miles, it drove beautifully.
Highly reccommended.

Edited by gf15 on Wednesday 17th March 22:10

I've just read your profile write up and that's very reassuring. thanks

[gf15]

Just to show how efficient a 650 can be, when on best behaviour, while waiting for a speeding penalty which never arrived

Options I really wanted; pearl leather, active cruise, active roll bars, HUD, Logic 7, CD changer widescreen sat nav and a cup holder.
Original owner specced everything except the cup holder...cheapskate! From memory the receipt was for £68k, 9k of which were options.