Used BMW 6 Series For Sale

A history lesson…

2003 saw the introduced of the modern 6-Series, and after the controversial looks of the 5-Series, BMW did well to get the coupe-styling of the 6 right. The 6 was based on the same chassis as the saloon 5, so BMW had to get the handling characteristics right, and thankfully, they did. More a GT than a sports car, the 6-Series is a great option for the driver who wants some comfort with a well-proportioned design of a coupe. 

We were then gifted with the M6, which blew everyone away. Featuring a 5.0-litre 507bhp V10, the M6 become a legendary motor that could take on pretty much any car on the planet. It was considerably rarer than the M5, and looks a hell of a lot cooler, too. 

Bang for your buck

For your money, you get a good-looking, well-made, German coupe with BMW’s iDrive system at its heart, a very good engine (whichever one you pick) and the chance to boast that you own a 6-Series. Let’s be honest; we don’t really see many 6-Series on the road, so even if you bought a basic one, you’re going to have that exclusivity.

The usual suspects of leather, technology and comfort are there, but just watch out for the 6-Series that are fitted with run-flat tyres, because they provide a ride that is comparable to that of a rollercoaster. Not comfortable!

The M6 will set you back a pretty penny, because they are still holding their values very well thanks to the rarity of the V10 model. Plus, with today’s petrol prices, would you really want to run such a big engined car?

What you’ll pay

One of the most popular 6-Series is the 645i, which comes with a petrol V8 engine and more torque than an angry Greek God. Even for this model, you’re looking at over £25,000 for a good one. All 6-Series come with high insurance groups, and the M6 has one that sits alongside Ferraris and Bugattis, so be careful.

What to check

The 6 is a big cruiser, so you want the interior leatherwork to be in good condition. Likewise, the service intervals, as BMW doesn’t have set service intervals – thanks to the car’s on-board system telling the driver when one is needed – so make sure you ask when the last one was done. 

Other than that, it’s happy motoring. 

Parts

Basic parts are relatively expensive, but will be comparable to that of the 5-Series – of which the car is based. Air filters around just over £20 and a replacement cam-belt is about £30. Main dealers aren’t cheap, but at least with BMW you’ve got the assurance that you’re getting quality.

How it drives

Driving a 6-Series is great – especially an M6 – as they are very capable driver’s cars. It’s probably more suited to nailing the miles on the motorway than blasting through the B-roads like a Porsche 911, but in fairness to BMW, they never really marketed the car as a sports car. It’s got a big boot, respectable performance and is good looking.

If you mind-boggling performance, then the 650i or M6 are the cars to go for, as they’ll embarrass every hot hatch and most purpose built sports cars on the road. If you want a more brow-soothing ride, there are diesels and there are smaller capacity petrol models available. 

Really, the 6-Series is a perfect car for the driver who is kid-free, because you would not want to put the children in the rear; it would be classed as cruelty.