BMW 6 Series (2004 – 2011) Review

BMW 6 Series (2004 – 2011) At A Glance

3/5

+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.

Insurance Groups are between 47–50
On average it achieves 83% of the official MPG figure

 

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Child seats that fit a BMW 6 Series (2004 – 2011)

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Real MPG average for a BMW 6 Series (2004 – 2011)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

83%

Real MPG

17–45 mpg

MPGs submitted

129

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Satisfaction Index What is your car like to live with?

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Ask Honest John

Is a £4000 repair bill acceptable for a 11 year old car?

"I purchased a BMW 645i from a BMW main dealer in May 2005. It has been maintained by them ever since at the required intervals. Recently I have just had the car into the garage and have ended up with a bill of £4k. 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 £1000 - Labour was £2000. Do you think that the above is acceptable in a car that has only covered 70,000 miles, albeit it is now 11 years old?"
It's possible that you could have had the work done more cheaply by an independent BMW service and repair specialist. But it's an 11 year old car and from now on bills like this are going to continue coming in. Seems that ordinary cars last around 7 years before big bills, some of which could be more than the car is worth. Higher 'quality' brands seem to get to around 11 years before big bills. All too often things like exhaust systems incorporating lambdas sensors and cat converters, or all-singing, all-dancing multi-function touch screens. On Mercedes, it's SBS braking systems and automatic transmission heat exchangers, plus multiple SAM units. Nothing is immune. Electrical failures are rife in German cars as multiple contacts dry out. We get lulled by the honeymoon period when modern cars are far more reliable than cars ever were previously. But when things go wrong they go very wrong.
Answered by Honest John

Problems with used car just bought?

"I recently bought a 2005 6 Series. I realise this is quite old but it was clearly advertised on the dealers website as having Bluetooth. However I could not get this to activate (I could get to "activate Bluetooth" in iDrive, but the box would not check). I explained this to the dealer and got the response: "Bluetooth is part of iDrive, if that's working then it must be something else" I took it to BMW who say that the Bluetooth module is broken and it will cost £600+ to fix. Can I claim this back from the dealer via small claims? "
This is a very vexed question and the answer could be that the Bluetooth in the car is not compatible with all phones or is not compatible with phones that are newer than the car. So it might not be broken. It might or might not be possible to upgrade it to pair with your particular phone, but if it is in fact working and just won't pair with your phone that is not the basis for a Small Claim.
Answered by Honest John

How can I get a category C removed?

"I purchased a BMW M6 but it now shows a category 'C' and i'm struggling to sell it at market value. Is there any means of removing this?"
Its market value is that of a Cat C, not of a car that was never written off and repaired. A Cat C marking can never be removed.
Answered by Honest John

Should I replace my XK8 with a BMW 6 Series?

"I am looking to replace my 2002 Jaguar XK8, which I've taken from 60,000 to 150,000 miles in the last six years. The car still drives nicely, but is getting a bit tired. The dealer I've dealt with for 15 years has a high spec 2006 BMW 650i that I'm looking at with 49,000 miles for £14,000. Is the BMW going to give the same longevity, comfort, pleasure and economy of the Jag (I get 26 mpg as 80% is motorway miles), and if so, how much should I be looking for on a trade in? The dealer also has a 2004 XK8 Convertible with 56,000 miles for the same money. There's nothing inherently wrong with my current XK8, but 150,000 miles suggests to me that it needs replacing. "
Your XK is probably worth about £3000. A 650i will use a lot of fuel. Here are some of the problem areas: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/bmw/6-series-e63e64-2004/?section=good
Answered by Honest John
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