BMW 6 Series (2004 – 2011) Review
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BMW 6 Series (2004 – 2011) At A Glance
An entertaining car along an open road. The M6 is a phenomenal drive.
Not at home in urban environments. Tyre wear. Rear backrests are very upright.
Reviews for BMW 6 Series (2004 – 2011)'s top 3 rivals
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BMW 6 Series (2004 – 2011) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4820 mm |
| Width | 1855 mm |
| Height | 1374 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2780 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1605–1935 kg |
| Boot Space | 300–450 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / Unlimited miles |
| Servicing | - |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £50,950–£72,235 |
| Insurance Groups | 47–50 |
| Road Tax Bands | I–M |
| Official MPG | 22.4–40.9 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
On sale until November 2010
| Coupe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 630i SE 2dr | £55,405 | 35.8 mpg | 6.2 s |
| 630i SE Auto 2dr | £55,405 | 36.7 mpg | 6.4 s |
| 630i Sport 2dr | £59,295 | 35.8 mpg | 6.2 s |
| 630i Sport Auto 2dr | £59,295 | 36.7 mpg | 6.4 s |
| 635d SE 2dr Auto | £58,545 | 40.9 mpg | 6.3 s |
| 635d Sport 2dr Auto | £62,435 | 40.9 mpg | 6.3 s |
| 650i SE 2dr | £62,545 | 24.1 mpg | 5.1 s |
| 650i SE Auto 2dr | £62,545 | 26.9 mpg | 5.2 s |
| 650i Sport 2dr | £66,435 | 24.1 mpg | 5.1 s |
| 650i Sport Auto 2dr | £66,435 | 26.9 mpg | 5.2 s |
| Open Car | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 630i SE 2dr | £61,340 | 34.0 mpg | 6.7 s |
| 630i SE Auto 2dr | £61,340 | 34.9 mpg | 7.0 s |
| 630i Sport 2dr | £65,230 | 34.0 mpg | 6.7 s |
| 630i Sport Auto 2dr | £65,230 | 34.9 mpg | 7.0 s |
| 635d SE 2dr Auto | £64,480 | 39.2 mpg | 6.6 s |
| 635d Sport 2dr Auto | £68,370 | 39.2 mpg | 6.6 s |
| 650i SE 2dr | £68,345 | 22.4 mpg | 5.5 s |
| 650i SE Auto 2dr | £68,345 | 25.9 mpg | 5.6 s |
| 650i Sport 2dr | £72,235 | 22.4 mpg | 5.5 s |
| 650i Sport Auto 2dr | £72,235 | 25.9 mpg | 5.6 s |
On sale until May 2009
| Coupe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 630i | £50,950 | 35.8 mpg | 6.2 s |
| 630i Auto | £50,950 | - | - |
| 635d Auto | £54,020 | - | - |
| 650i | £57,670 | 24.1 mpg | 5.1 s |
| 650i Auto | £57,670 | - | - |
| Open Car | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 630i | £56,625 | 34.0 mpg | 6.7 s |
| 630i Auto | £56,625 | - | - |
| 635d Auto | £59,705 | - | - |
| 650i | £63,125 | 22.4 mpg | 5.5 s |
| 650i Auto | £63,125 | - | - |
Model History
- December 2003
- March 2004
- March 2004
- September 2005
- June 2007: 2007 models with EfficientDynamics
- October 2007
- August 2009
December 2003
4-seater coupe (E63) and convertible (E64) to compete with Mercedes SL and CLK. Styling cues as new 7-Series and 5-Series. 4,820mm (190") long by 1,855mm (73") wide by 1,373mm (54") high. Launch lead-in 645CSI has valvetronic 4.4 V8 giving 333bhp and 332 lb ft torque. 0-60 in 5.4 seconds, top speed limited to 155mph. Choice of 6 speed manual, 6 speed auto with Steptronic, or Sequential Manual Shift with steering wheel paddles. Use of aluminium keeps weight down to 1,600kg. Weight distribution is 50:50. DSC, DTC standard. Dynamic Drive and Active Steering can be specified. Head up info display (HUD) available from March 2004. 645CSI in UK from December 2003.
March 2004
E64 convertible followed in March 2004. Based on E60 5-Series but with more neutral chassis and apparently fantastic grip.
March 2004
E63/E64 630i coupe and convertible in UK from September 2004. World’s lightest six-cylinder engine featuring VALVETRONIC technology. EU4 compliant and made from magnesium and aluminium composite. Develops 258bhp at 6,600rpm. Maximum torque 300Nm from 2,500rpm up to 4,000rpm with redline at a 7,000rpm. Zero to 60 mph time of 6.3 seconds (6.5 seconds for an automatic) in the Coupé and 6.7 seconds (7.0 seconds) in the Convertible.
Top speed limited to 155mph. Frugal consumption figures of 31.4mpg (29.7mpg) for the Coupé and 29.4mpg (28.5mpg) for the Convertible. Has electric water pump. Six-speed manual, automatic or BMW’s Sequential Manual Gearbox and the car sits on 17" alloy wheels fitted with 245/50 R17 tyres. Weighs 130kgs less than a 645Ci. Has Dynamic Stability Control + Dynamic Traction Control, Dynamic Brake Control and ABS as standard. Options include Active Steering and Dynamic Drive. Coupe £45,255 on-the-road; 630i Convertible £50,655.
September 2005
M6 with same running gear as M5 in UK from September 2005, priced £79,995. 367bhp 4,799cc 650i coupe and convertible replace 645i from September 2005. 0-60 5.1 seconds, top speed limited to 155mph, coupe from £52,115, convertible from £57,515. M6 convertible launched July 2006. 507bhp. 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. 200mph ungoverned (155 governed). A phenomenal drive and huge fun, with the possibility of switching out of M power to a comparatively meagre 400bhp and softer suspension and gearchange settings.
June 2007
2007 models with EfficientDynamics
BMW 630i Coupé £49,300 272PS, 320Nm, 0-60 5.9, 155mph, 35.8 combined
BMW 630i Sport Coupé £51,500
BMW 635d Coupé £53,910 286PS, 580Nm, 0-60 6.0, 155mph, 40.9mpg comb.
BMW 635d Sport Coupé £56,110
BMW 650i Coupé £55,895, 367PS, 490Nm. 0-60 4.9, 155mph, 24.1mpg comb.
BMW 650i Sport Coupé £57,745
BMW 630i Convertible £54,945, 272PS, 320Nm, 0-60 6.4, 155mph, 34.0 comb.
BMW 630i Sport Convertible £57,145
BMW 635d (diesel) Convertible £59,600 286PS, 580Nm, 0-60 6.3, 155mph, 39.2mpg comb.
BMW 635d (diesel) Sport Convertible £61,800
BMW 650i Convertible £61,365 367PS, 490Nm. 0-60 5.2, 155mph, 22.4mpg comb.
BMW 650i Sport Convertible £63,215
3 year UNLIMITED MILEAGE warranty from 2005.
October 2007
Price OTR Power hp Torque Nm 0-62mph seconds Top Speed mph Combined
mpg
BMW 630i Coupé £49,300 272hp 320Nm 0-60 6.0 155mph 35.8mpg
BMW 630i Sport £51,500 (same figures)
BMW 635d £53,910 286hp 580Nm 0-60 6.1 155mph 40.9mpg
BMW 635d Sport £56,110 (same figures)
BMW 650i Coupé £55,895 367hp 490Nm 0-60 4.9 155mph 24.1mpg
BMW 650i Sport £57,745
BMW 630i Convertible £54,945 272hp 320Nm 0-60 6.5 155mph 34.0mpg
BMW 630i Sport Convertible £57,145 (same figures)
BMW 635d Convertible £59,600 286hp 580Nm 0-60 6.4 155mph 39.2mpg
BMW 635d Sport Convertible £61,800 (same figures)
BMW 650i Convertible £61,365 367hp 490Nm 0-60 5.3 155mph 22.4mpg
BMW 650i Sport Convertible £63,215 (same figures)
August 2009
6 Series range refreshed for September 2009 with a restructuring of the model line-up and an across the board standard specification enhancement. Now all engine derivatives will be offered in SE, Sport or M specification . Every model will come with BMW Professional Multimedia Navigation, BMW Professional radio, BMW ConnectedDrive Online and Assist functions, Bluetooth telephone preparation, USB audio interface and Voice control system.
BMW’s Service Inclusive package that provides added peace of mind motoring for five years or 60,000 miles will also be standard on all 6 Series models (except M derivatives). Prices for the range start at £53,710 OTR for the 630i SE Coupé and £59,400 OTR for a 630i SE Convertible.
What to watch out for
Seems that the car goes through tyres at the rate of around 20k miles a set and they literally disintegrate before reaching minimum tread. Side walls can start spouting wire.
When Runflats fitted, TPMS valves prone to failure due to corrosion battery effect between metal valve caps and the valve stems. This is easily prevented by fitting plastic instead of metal valve caps.
11-08-2011:Seems to be a problem of SRS ECUs failing.
19-09-2011:Heavy 18" rear tyre wear: 5k - 10k miles rather than 20k and the tyres are very expensive. Rear wear is uneven, more on the inside shoulders.
27-03-2012:On convertible, leaks into the boot and blocked boot drains can flood the amplifier.
16-11-2015:If satnav fails and BWW dealer wants £1,600 to replace it, the failure may only be the laser disc reader and a specialist can fix this for £250.
10-08-2016:Report of a big bill of £3,911.83 for repairs to the cooling system of a 70,000 mile 2005 BMW 645i, bought new and BMW maintained by the same owner all its life. The invoice states:- Checking cooling system for leaks, Bleeding and checking cooling system for leaks, removing and installing/sealing upper coolant end cover, removing and installing/sealing left cylinder head cover, and remove and install or seal or replace timing case cover. Overall parts were £1,085.69, Labour was £2,174.17 and vat £651.97.
06-08-2019:Report of convertible roof mechanism of 2008 E64 BMW 630i convertible sticking part-way through opening. The windows have dropped and the dashboard shows roof unlocked. The roof will neither open or close. Local garage have said that there is a way of lowering the roof manually but they can’t access the mechanism without removing the rear roof window. A specialist is: https://www.caymanautos.co.uk/convertible-hood-repairs/bmw-6-series-convertible-roof-repairs/
