Is BMW 6 Series A Reasonable Consideration For A Next Car?

SquirrelMadness · 18 Dec 2015 at 11:52

Driving for 1.5 years in a manual Ford Focus. Thinking of jumping to something more comfortable and fun to drive (not to thrash about - just fun in general) and have an 18k budget.

Looking at the 640d from 2010 which seems to hit around 18k, as opposed to a 3 or 5 series or Mercedes A/C/E class which all seem to be around 18k as well. Difference is with the 6 series you are actually getting an 88k car, which only happens to be 18k because of age - all features maxed out and great meterial qualities.

Problem is they are hit and miss with their aesthetics...

Ugly 6 series:

Nice 6 series:
** No hotlinked images **

Style seems to have changed around 2011 to 2012. Sometimes it's possible to find a really nice older 6 series (like a 2005 M6 or M6 replica), but majority on autotrader look awful.

But given that a nice one is found, would it be a worthy consideration when comparing to other cars in the 18k budget? I am looking at the 640d because it has best speed/MPG comprimise whilst the petrol 6s are way too thirsty.

They also have amazing interiors across the whole range:

SDK^ · 18 Dec 2015 at 11:55

You won't find a current generation 640d for £18k so give up the search now. Looks like £23k is the minimum required for a basic 640d SE / high mileage M Sport.

Also 640d's are not £88k cars - more like £50k.

iaind · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:01

Like all heavily depreciating cars, remember that a car that cost 88k new will have 88k car running costs.

LiE · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:03

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...used,nearlynew,new&postcode=MK2 2LQ&logcode=p

Robzere31 · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:05

iaind said:
Like all heavily depreciating cars, remember that a car that cost 88k new will have 88k car running costs.

Very good point. I found that out many years ago to my cost.

SquirrelMadness · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:06

SDK^ said:
You won't find a current generation 640d for £18k so give up the search now. Looks like £23k is the minimum required for a basic 640d SE / high mileage M Sport.

I saw a 2009 with 70k miles on Gumtree for 15k. Looked amazing (slightly modified) but it sold to someone else :confused:

My friend put me off it by saying it's "a 6 year old car and they want 15k for it" so I was like hmm, but surely age isn't even a big factor when talking of a car with this prestige? I mean, what else could you get for 15k which would fair evenly?

[TW]Fox · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:08

The reason you saw a 2009 for £15k is because the old model is ancient and came out over 11 years ago. It's an old car inside and out and it's appeal at big price points is becoming limited.

The 'new model' you've posted came out in late 2011, a sensible mileage 640d M Sport will cost you more than £25,000. The interior you've posted is amazing but is completely different to the earlier model. The 640d is only available in the current model - with an £18k budget you need to forget the 640d even exists. You can get a 635d in the old model but IMHO they are a bit of a ripoff really.

If you like the old model by all means consider it but look at a £10k car - they are good value at £10k, and get increasingly worse value as your budget increases.

The 6 Series not an '88k car'. It is a coupe variant of the 5 Series but with a nicer interior. It's a very good car but it is not an 88k in anything other than M6 form. Typically they were about £10k more than an equivalent specification 5 Series when new. They are better equipped than a comparable 5 Series - the later model has Pro Nav and Xenon lights as standard - but they are not 'maxed out' as standard.

This is a very strange thread, why would you even compare this to an A Class?

LiE · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:08

Gumtree for an exec car?

[TW]Fox · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:08

iaind said:
Like all heavily depreciating cars, remember that a car that cost 88k new will have 88k car running costs.

Actually the current generation 6 Series has identical running costs to the current generation 5 Series, which cost thousands and thousands of pounds less to buy when new.

SDK^ · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:10

SquirrelMadness said:
I saw a 2009 with 70k miles on Gumtree for 15k. Looked amazing (slightly modified) but it sold to someone else

2009 is a previous generation 6 Series (E63), your first photo above, and there wasn't a 640d model, more likely a 635d. The interior in an E63 is a lot older than the one you posted of the current generation (F12).

iaind · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:16

SDK^ said:
2009 is a previous generation 6 Series (E63), your first photo above, and there wasn't a 640d model, more likely a 635d. The interior in an E63 is a lot older than the one you posted of the current generation (F12).

it's also the "ugly 6 series" pictured, no?

SDK^ · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:17

iaind said:
it's also the "ugly 6 series" pictured, no?

Yes, like I said - the first photo

SquirrelMadness · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:21

iaind said:
it's also the "ugly 6 series" pictured, no?

It was slightly modified externally. I said it's still possible to find a nice looking earlier model, just not easy. Probably was a 635d.

[TW]Fox · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:23

SquirrelMadness said:
It was slightly modified externally.

No it's not, thats a standard facelift E63.

I said it's still possible to find a nice looking earlier model, just not easy. Probably was a 635d.

Thats as good as they get looks wise as it's a facelift Sport.

SquirrelMadness · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:27

[TW]Fox;28954667 said:
If you like the old model by all means consider it but look at a £10k car - they are good value at £10k, and get increasingly worse value as your budget increases.

So when comparing it to other cars and factoring in depreciation value it isn't good... but what about comparison on overall quality? I mean interior quality, LCD screen/iDrive, all the little gadgets inside and engine quality... would a newer typical 3 series for example, be better or worse?

[TW]Fox;28954667 said:
This is a very strange thread, why would you even compare this to an A Class?

Because of price and the fact that I was initially going to buy a 2013 Focus ST, which compares to the A45.

SquirrelMadness · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:28

[TW]Fox;28954734 said:
No it's not, thats a standard facelift E63.

I didn't post a pic of it here. The listing was 1 month ago, it's gone now.

[TW]Fox · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:30

SquirrelMadness said:
So when comparing it to other cars and factoring in depreciation value it isn't good... but what about comparison on overall quality? I mean interior quality, LCD screen/iDrive, all the little gadgets inside and engine quality... would a newer typical 3 series for example, be better or worse?

By the time a 6 Series hits £18k a similarly priced 3 Series is a generation newer - and therefore in the case of the current model will have more modern tech, better gadgets and a better gearbox, as well as a fresher looking (Though not neccesarily better) interior. An £18k 6 Series is a car first announced in 2004. An £18k 3 Series came out in 2012. It's 8 years newer in design terms.

Because of price and the fact that I was initially going to buy a 2013 Focus ST, which compares to the A45.

No, a 2013 Focus ST does not compare to an A45.

To be honest if you are happy with stuff like the Focus then you are going to get a much better and more hassle free car for your money going the hot hatch route.

SquirrelMadness · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:33

My ideal cars in terms of aesthetics are the new gen 6 series and 4 series. It's just so hard to find something that compares to them without going over 18k.

I mean I like this 3 series but the interiors kill me:

http://www.autovogue.com/sale-details/bmw/3-series/ref-2c9299854d28c47b014d43a257f46d96

No iDrive... which means hanging my phone on the window again.

Seems this company just modifies the appearance of cars externally and sells them at a hiked price.

EDIT: Dang it sold yesterday.

[TW]Fox · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:35

SquirrelMadness said:
My ideal cars in terms of aesthetics are the new gen 6 series and 4 series. It's just so hard to find something that compares to them without going over 18k.

I mean I like this 3 series but the interiors kill me:

http://www.autovogue.com/sale-details/bmw/3-series/ref-2c9299854d28c47b014d43a257f46d96

No iDrive... which means hanging my phone on the window again.

Thats the old model not the current one. You'll need a saloon to find the current model one as the Coupe is now the 4 Series.

That thing is a perfect example of blingy car culture. Zero spec bit covered in stick on tat, perfect style before substance.

LiE · 18 Dec 2015 at 12:42

You need the newer 3 series, but you'll only be able to afford a 320d.