645ci or 630ci?

[L33]

Hi Guys,
I've sold the X5 4.6is (with LPG conversion) and now I'm in the market for a 6 series coupe.

I have been looking for a while and the odd 630ci comes up for reasonable money. My question being firstly fuel consumption. WOuld there be a great difference between the 645 and 630? What realistically am I looking at in MPG terms? I've herd of 645 owners getting 28-29mpg average. Does this sound realistic when the published figures are just below mid 20's?

Also, depreciation. Do you think prices are starting to level out or are values still dropping like a stone?

Thanks,
Lee.

Edited to say I had a 52 plate 330ci Clubsport not too long ago and found the running costs very acceptable. I'm hoping that a 6 series will be on a par - please correct me if I'm way off the mark.

Edited by L33 on Wednesday 23 April 15:51

[MK4 Slowride]

L33 said:

Hi Guys,
I've sold the X5 4.6is (with LPG conversion) and now I'm in the market for a 6 series coupe.

I have been looking for a while and the odd 630ci comes up for reasonable money. My question being firstly fuel consumption. WOuld there be a great difference between the 645 and 630? What realistically am I looking at in MPG terms? I've herd of 645 owners getting 28-29mpg average. Does this sound realistic when the published figures are just below mid 20's?

Also, depreciation. Do you think prices are starting to level out or are values still dropping like a stone?

Thanks,
Lee.

Edited to say I had a 52 plate 330ci Clubsport not too long ago and found the running costs very acceptable. I'm hoping that a 6 series will be on a par - please correct me if I'm way off the mark.

Edited by L33 on Wednesday 23 April 15:51

The 645 is a thirsty puppy compared to the 630. The 630 with it's magnesiuym engine is lighter and alongside the fact it's got 2 cylinders less and less displacement is much more economical. You don't get the V8 soundtrack though, can you live without that? The straight 6 does sound luvly still, sort of buzzez and still has plenty of poke to keep you amused. Try them both to see. The 630i is also slightly cheaper to maintain. With regards to depreciation is you go for an early 630 with average milage then it should really be flattening out but might still have a little slide down.

[belleair302]

There are engine issues regarding the 645ci and also software problems. Dealers are trying NOT to keep them on their book for very long and prices reflect this. Go for the lighter 630i and enjoy the drive. Three year old 645ci with around 42,000 miles and a full BMW SH yours for around 23K max.

[Huliganov]

On a run, the 630i is good for around 35mpg + (heard of drivers nudging 40mpg) and still has enough grunt to overtake 95% of what is on the road. Servicing will also be cheaper, depreciation slower, and cheaper to maintain too.

I'd have the 630i every time. Plus it'll be easier to sell in todays economic climate too.

[pgilc1]

Huliganov said:

On a run, the 630i is good for around 35mpg + (heard of drivers nudging 40mpg) and still has enough grunt to overtake 95% of what is on the road. Servicing will also be cheaper, depreciation slower, and cheaper to maintain too.

I'd have the 630i every time. Plus it'll be easier to sell in todays economic climate too.

I would struggle to believe a 630i can average around 35mpg. Our similarly engined and a lot lighter z4 3.0si coupe only just breaks 30mpg.

But yes i would have the 630i for more reasonable fuel economy and long term resale values.

[belleair302]

The combined MPG figure for the 630i is around 35, so on a motorway if cruising and no long hills 40 could be possible but not an everyday possibility. With a 0-60 figure of 6.2secs it is a pretty quick car and a wonderful ownership prospect.

[Roger645]

belleair302 said:

There are engine issues regarding the 645ci and also software problems. Dealers are trying NOT to keep them on their book for very long and prices reflect this. Go for the lighter 630i and enjoy the drive. Three year old 645ci with around 42,000 miles and a full BMW SH yours for around 23K max.

What engine issues?

Mines done 38k no issues so far, Average MPG round town is 21 and on a run sensible driving I get just about 30.

[pgilc1]

belleair302 said:

The combined MPG figure for the 630i is around 35, so on a motorway if cruising and no long hills 40 could be possible but not an everyday possibility. With a 0-60 figure of 6.2secs it is a pretty quick car and a wonderful ownership prospect.

.... and cars never make anywhere near their combined figures in the everyday real world.

My e70 x5 3.0d has a combined figure of 34.9 but i get around 28 on average or 22 round town. 32 on very long runs.

Edited by pgilc1 on Wednesday 23 April 21:58

[L33]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Looks like the 630i could be the best option between the 6 series.

Another option I'm now considering is a 535d. I'll stick another post up about that...

Thanks all.
L33.

[Huliganov]

pgilc1 said:

belleair302 said:

The combined MPG figure for the 630i is around 35, so on a motorway if cruising and no long hills 40 could be possible but not an everyday possibility. With a 0-60 figure of 6.2secs it is a pretty quick car and a wonderful ownership prospect.

.... and cars never make anywhere near their combined figures in the everyday real world.

My e70 x5 3.0d has a combined figure of 34.9 but i get around 28 on average or 22 round town. 32 on very long runs.

Edited by pgilc1 on Wednesday 23 April 21:58

That's poor but not unsprising really. I know someone who gets 26mpg combined out of his X5 3.0d (55 plate). Makes me wonder what the point is of having a diesel X5 then really with economy that poor.

Other factors do need weighing in though; how 'run in' is the engine; tyre pressures, load, use of air-con, windows up/down etc.

[bp1]

Roger645 said:

belleair302 said:

There are engine issues regarding the 645ci and also software problems. Dealers are trying NOT to keep them on their book for very long and prices reflect this. Go for the lighter 630i and enjoy the drive. Three year old 645ci with around 42,000 miles and a full BMW SH yours for around 23K max.

What engine issues?

Mines done 38k no issues so far, Average MPG round town is 21 and on a run sensible driving I get just about 30.

Mine has done 66k and just sailed through its 2nd MOT(04 plate) Only issues have been crankcase rebreather and a lambda sensor. Ohh and recently the parking sensor. All picked up under warranty.

As for fuel, get 30 on a long run, 25-26 on the commute.

Last weekend saw a run through the south west of scotland, all on A/B roads, the grunt overtaking stuff was immense, left the sport button on the whole time, mpg was 26 for the trip, and that was cruising at .8 leptons with frequent redlining and blats upto 1.1 leptons for overtaking.

Had an Alfa GT 3.2 chasing me for a while on the A75 and whenever we pulled out to overtake the 6 just left him standing for acceleration between 60-100. Loved it, and the noise was fantastic. Wont get the same grunt or noise from the 6pot.

[pgilc1]

Huliganov said:

I know someone who gets 26mpg combined out of his X5 3.0d (55 plate). Makes me wonder what the point is of having a diesel X5 then really with economy that poor.

Other factors do need weighing in though; how 'run in' is the engine; tyre pressures, load, use of air-con, windows up/down etc.

I've heard of people with the 4.8i getting it into single figures around town. I would say if you were buying a used e70 in say a couple of years time, the petrol engines being much cheaper s/h would make more sense, but new its crazy to buy the petrol one. I've a tuning box on mine so i'm getting 0-60 in around 7.5s and oodles of torque.

I love it but the economy is the only let down.

[Roger645]

bp1 said:

Roger645 said:

belleair302 said:

There are engine issues regarding the 645ci and also software problems. Dealers are trying NOT to keep them on their book for very long and prices reflect this. Go for the lighter 630i and enjoy the drive. Three year old 645ci with around 42,000 miles and a full BMW SH yours for around 23K max.

What engine issues?

Mines done 38k no issues so far, Average MPG round town is 21 and on a run sensible driving I get just about 30.

Mine has done 66k and just sailed through its 2nd MOT(04 plate) Only issues have been crankcase rebreather and a lambda sensor. Ohh and recently the parking sensor. All picked up under warranty.

As for fuel, get 30 on a long run, 25-26 on the commute.

Last weekend saw a run through the south west of scotland, all on A/B roads, the grunt overtaking stuff was immense, left the sport button on the whole time, mpg was 26 for the trip, and that was cruising at .8 leptons with frequent redlining and blats upto 1.1 leptons for overtaking.

Had an Alfa GT 3.2 chasing me for a while on the A75 and whenever we pulled out to overtake the 6 just left him standing for acceleration between 60-100. Loved it, and the noise was fantastic. Wont get the same grunt or noise from the 6pot.

Mines just been through it's 2nd MOT as well. As you say the acceleration at the higher speeds is good!