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2004 BMW 6-Series Full Review
Date Published: 2/20/08
Also in the 2004 BMW 6-Series Review:
2004 BMW 6-Series Review
BMW's 6-Series line launches for 2004 as a 4-seat coupe and convertible. Both use a 325-hp V8 with a choice of three 6-speed transmissions: an automatic, a conventional manual, and BMW's sequential manual. The SMT is a clutchless manual operated via console lever or steering-wheel paddles; it can be set to shift like an automatic. ABS and antiskid/traction control are standard, as is BMW's Active Roll Stabilization to counteract body lean. Options include BMW's Dynamic Drive Control that firms suspension, quickens throttle response, and adjusts shift points on the automatic transmission and SMT. BMW's Active Steering option varies steering ratio and assist. Front torso side airbags and front knee airbags are standard; the coupe adds front head-protecting tubular side airbags. Unlike most luxury rivals that use a power-retractable hardtop, the convertible has a power soft top. Its heated glass rear window lowers for roof-up ventilation or raises to deflect top-down cabin drafts. Standard equipment includes leather, wood, and metal interior trim; navigation system; steering-linked headlights; and BMW's iDrive that uses a console "joystick" to adjust major climate, audio, and navigation functions. Options include 19-inch wheels vs. standard 18s, and a head-up instrument display.
News
A high-performance M6 coupe should make a U.S. debut in the first or second quarter of 2006. Because the 6-Series shares much with the 5-Series sedan, the M6 is essentially a 2-dr version of the hot-rod M5 sedan due in early '05. That means over 500 hp from a 5.0-liter, 40-valve racing-based V10 engine, plus beefed-up underpinnings and other special equipment. Expect 0-60 to take only 4.5 sec, maybe less. An M6 convertible is unlikely, but can't be ruled out. Costly components and extensive hand labor insure any M6 will be an uncommon sight. We project a starting price of at least $85,000.
The 6-Series may also add a turbo option, possibly a 6-cyl, to bridge the power gap between the V8 645Ci and the M6. BMW confirms it's working on a new range of turbo engines with direct fuel injection for introduction over the next few years, but hasn't released specifics or which models might get them. A lot will depend on what the engineers come up with and what the marketers decide is the best model fit. Stay tuned.
The 6-Series may also add a turbo option, possibly a 6-cyl, to bridge the power gap between the V8 645Ci and the M6. BMW confirms it's working on a new range of turbo engines with direct fuel injection for introduction over the next few years, but hasn't released specifics or which models might get them. A lot will depend on what the engineers come up with and what the marketers decide is the best model fit. Stay tuned.
2004 BMW 6-Series Road Test
| Pros | Cons |
| Acceleration | Instruments/controls |
| Steering/handling | Fuel economy |
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration
Plenty of ready power, impressive passing punch. BMW says 5.5 sec 0-60 mph with SMT or conventional manual transmission. Test convertible with automatic clocked 5.7 sec. SMT is harsh-shifting, cantankerous around town. Automatic smooth, responsive.
| Coupe w/Sport Pkg., man. | Coupe w/Sport Pkg., SMT | Conv, man. | Conv, auto. | Class Average |
| 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7.7 |
Plenty of ready power, impressive passing punch. BMW says 5.5 sec 0-60 mph with SMT or conventional manual transmission. Test convertible with automatic clocked 5.7 sec. SMT is harsh-shifting, cantankerous around town. Automatic smooth, responsive.
Fuel Economy
No opportunity to measure with SMT. With conventional manual transmission, test coupe averaged 17.5 mpg, convertibles 13.7-19.6. With automatic, test convertibles averaged 15.8 mpg, coupe 17.5. Premium-grade fuel required.
| Coupe w/Sport Pkg., man. | Coupe w/Sport Pkg., SMT | Conv, man. | Conv, auto. | Class Average |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.7 |
No opportunity to measure with SMT. With conventional manual transmission, test coupe averaged 17.5 mpg, convertibles 13.7-19.6. With automatic, test convertibles averaged 15.8 mpg, coupe 17.5. Premium-grade fuel required.
Ride Quality
Firm suspension and unforgiving run-flat tires make 6-Series ride much stiffer than BMW's luxury sedans, and tauter than many premium coupe and convertible rivals. Always stable, never jarring, but some testers say ride grew tiresome on rough-surface freeways.
| Coupe w/Sport Pkg., man. | Coupe w/Sport Pkg., SMT | Conv, man. | Conv, auto. | Class Average |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
Firm suspension and unforgiving run-flat tires make 6-Series ride much stiffer than BMW's luxury sedans, and tauter than many premium coupe and convertible rivals. Always stable, never jarring, but some testers say ride grew tiresome on rough-surface freeways.
Steering/Handling/Braking
Well-balanced, agile--the benchmark for handling in luxury-coupe class. Active Steering sharpens low-speed maneuverability, but some testers find it intrusive, inconsistent. Active Roll Stabilization eliminates most body lean in fast turns. Braking strong, stable, straight. Little perceived roadholding gain with Sport Package.
| Coupe w/Sport Pkg., man. | Coupe w/Sport Pkg., SMT | Conv, man. | Conv, auto. | Class Average |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8.4 |
Well-balanced, agile--the benchmark for handling in luxury-coupe class. Active Steering sharpens low-speed maneuverability, but some testers find it intrusive, inconsistent. Active Roll Stabilization eliminates most body lean in fast turns. Braking strong, stable, straight. Little perceived roadholding gain with Sport Package.
Quietness
Modest wind rush in coupe. Convertible top well-insulated for marginally greater wind noise than in coupe. Minimal top-down buffeting; scarcely different with rear window deployed, though exhaust rumble noticeable. Plenty of tire noise on rough roads in both body styles. Impressively solid structure. Minimal body flex evident on convertible.
| Coupe w/Sport Pkg., man. | Coupe w/Sport Pkg., SMT | Conv, man. | Conv, auto. | Class Average |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
Modest wind rush in coupe. Convertible top well-insulated for marginally greater wind noise than in coupe. Minimal top-down buffeting; scarcely different with rear window deployed, though exhaust rumble noticeable. Plenty of tire noise on rough roads in both body styles. Impressively solid structure. Minimal body flex evident on convertible.
Controls
Thick steering-wheel rim interferes with clear view of main instruments, turn-signal arrows. Confounding iDrive adds delay and complication to most functions; worse, it diverts driver attention. Control layout itself simple, convenient. No opportunity to evaluate optional head-up display. Elegant interior decor, top-notch materials. Pressing the keyfob's trunk release on one test coupe regularly set off the alarm system.
| Coupe w/Sport Pkg., man. | Coupe w/Sport Pkg., SMT | Conv, man. | Conv, auto. | Class Average |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5.8 |
Thick steering-wheel rim interferes with clear view of main instruments, turn-signal arrows. Confounding iDrive adds delay and complication to most functions; worse, it diverts driver attention. Control layout itself simple, convenient. No opportunity to evaluate optional head-up display. Elegant interior decor, top-notch materials. Pressing the keyfob's trunk release on one test coupe regularly set off the alarm system.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)
Good head, leg room for all but the very tall. Firm, supportive seats. Power adjustments and tilt/telescope steering wheel help dial in driving position after some trial and error. Long doors a parking-lot inconvenience. Coupe's large sunroof doesn't slide open, merely tilting for more ventilation. Aft visibility restricted on coupe, worse in convertible with top up.
| Coupe w/Sport Pkg., man. | Coupe w/Sport Pkg., SMT | Conv, man. | Conv, auto. | Class Average |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5.4 |
Good head, leg room for all but the very tall. Firm, supportive seats. Power adjustments and tilt/telescope steering wheel help dial in driving position after some trial and error. Long doors a parking-lot inconvenience. Coupe's large sunroof doesn't slide open, merely tilting for more ventilation. Aft visibility restricted on coupe, worse in convertible with top up.
Room/Comfort (rear)
Seats comfortable, but leg room very tight. Front seats power forward slowly, and entry/exit a typical coupe chore.
| Coupe w/Sport Pkg., man. | Coupe w/Sport Pkg., SMT | Conv, man. | Conv, auto. | Class Average |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | .6 |
Seats comfortable, but leg room very tight. Front seats power forward slowly, and entry/exit a typical coupe chore.
Cargo Room
Trunk volume par for the class--coupe or convertible. Lid powers up but not down. Hinges covered to prevent crushing packages, but gobble space. Interior storage minimal. Single cupholders front and rear; front is odd clip-on device.
| Coupe w/Sport Pkg., man. | Coupe w/Sport Pkg., SMT | Conv, man. | Conv, auto. | Class Average |
| 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2.2 |
Trunk volume par for the class--coupe or convertible. Lid powers up but not down. Hinges covered to prevent crushing packages, but gobble space. Interior storage minimal. Single cupholders front and rear; front is odd clip-on device.
Value within Class
The 6-Series suffers all the typical coupe/convertible compromises, along with daunting prices and a firmer-than-necessary ride. That said, any version is a joy to drive: surprisingly fast, supremely capable, and very sophisticated.
| Coupe w/Sport Pkg., man. | Coupe w/Sport Pkg., SMT | Conv, man. | Conv, auto. | Class Average |
| 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.6 |
The 6-Series suffers all the typical coupe/convertible compromises, along with daunting prices and a firmer-than-necessary ride. That said, any version is a joy to drive: surprisingly fast, supremely capable, and very sophisticated.
Total Score
| Coupe w/Sport Pkg., man. | Coupe w/Sport Pkg., SMT | Conv, man. | Conv, auto. | Class Average |
| 53 | 51 | 52 | 52 | 47.4 |
Scores for all Premium Sporty/performance Cars
| Low Score | 38 | |
| Average Score | 47 | |
| High Score | 57 |
2004 BMW 6-Series Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 02/16/2004
| Trim Name | Retail Price | Dealer Invoice | Destination Charge |
|
|
|||
| 645Ci 2-door coupe | $69,300 | $63,225 | $695 |
|
|
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| 645Ci 2-door convertible | $76,300 | $69,595 | $695 |
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's
manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker.
Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are
what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options.
The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price
and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently
throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's
window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
There are no rebates or incentives at this time.
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national
manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings
may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
645Ci
Powertrain
4.4-liter V8 engine, 6-speed manual transmission, traction control.
Safety
Dual front airbags, front side airbags, front side head-protection airbags (coupe), rollover-protection system (convertible), front knee airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, brake assist, antiskid system, tire-inflation monitor, emergency inside trunk release.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning w/dual-zone automatic climate controls, cruise control, interior air filter, power steering, power tilt/telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, leather upholstery, 12-way power front seats, center console, cupholders, memory system (driver seat, mirrors, steering wheel), metal interior trim, heated and automatic day/night power mirrors w/passenger-side tilt-down back-up aid, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, power sunroof (coupe), retractable rear window (convertible), AM/FM/CD player, tachometer, automatic day/night rearview mirror, universal garage-door opener, illuminated visor mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, rear defogger, power convertible top (convertible), automatic headlights, floormats.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Fog lights, steering-linked adaptive xenon headlights, Active Roll Stabilization Suspension, 245/45VR18 run-flat tires, alloy wheels.
Optional Equipment
Major Packages |
Retail Price |
Invoice Price |
|
Sport Pkg.
|
||
|
645Ci
|
$2,800
|
$2,550
|
|
Active steering, Dynamic Drive Control, front sport seats w/thigh adjustment, 245/40WR19 front and 275/35WR19 rear run-flat tires, unique alloy wheels.
|
||
|
Premium Sound Pkg.
|
||
|
645Ci
|
$1,800
|
$1,640
|
|
Upgraded sound system, 6-disc CD changer.
|
||
|
Cold Weather Pkg.
|
||
|
645Ci
|
$700
|
$635
|
|
Heated front seats and steering wheel, ski sack.
|
||
|
|
||
Powertrain |
||
|
6-speed sequential manual transmission
|
||
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
|
Requires Sport Pkg.
|
||
|
6-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability
|
||
|
645Ci
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
|
||
Safety |
||
|
Front- and rear-obstacle-detection system
|
||
|
645Ci
|
$700
|
$635
|
|
|
||
Comfort and Convenience Features |
||
|
Adaptive cruise control
|
||
|
645Ci
|
$2,200
|
$2,000
|
|
Heated front seats
|
||
|
645Ci
|
$500
|
$455
|
|
Wood interior trim
|
||
|
645Ci
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
Satellite radio
|
||
|
645Ci
|
$595
|
$540
|
|
Satellite radio prep
|
||
|
645Ci
|
$75
|
$70
|
|
Head-up instrument display
|
||
|
645Ci
|
$1,000
|
$910
|
|
|
||
2004 BMW 6-Series Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | BMW 6-Series 2-door coupe | BMW 6-Series 2-door convertible |
| Wheelbase, in. | 109.4 | 109.4 |
| Overall Length, in. | 190.2 | 190.2 |
| Overall Width, in. | 73.0 | 73.0 |
| Overall Height, in. | 54.1 | 54.1 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3781 | 4178 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 13.0 | 10.6 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 18.5 | 18.5 |
| Seating Capacity | 4 | 4 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 37.8 | 37.8 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.0 | 42.0 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 35.5 | 36.7 |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 28.8 | 28.8 |
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
| dohc V8 | |
| Size, liters/cu. in. | 4.4 /268 |
| Horsepower @ rpm. | 325 @ 6100 |
| Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. | 330 @ 3600 |
| Availability | Standard |
|
EPA City / highway mpg
|
|
| 6-speed manual | 17/25 |
| 6-speed automatic | 18/26 |
| 6-speed SMT | 17/24 |
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft;
dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders;
V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions
per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--"
= measurement does not exist.
Safety Features
 Antilock Brakes Traction Control Antiskid System |
Front Side Airbags Curtain Side Airbags Rear Side Airbags |
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | BMW 6-Series 2-door coupe | BMW 6-Series 2-door convertible |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's
worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to
rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury:
5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact
crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%;
1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover
when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%;
2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Manufacturer's Warranty
| Class | Years/Miles | Comments |
| Powertrain | None/-- | -- |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 4/50,000 | -- |
| Corrosion | 12/unlimited | -- |
| Free roadside assistance | 4/50,000 | -- |
| Free scheduled maintenance | 4/50,000 | -- |
Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive.
There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two
other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for
2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any
on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts
and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.
Built in:
Germany
Drivewheels:
rear-wheel drive
|
Tester's Comments
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Major Options: Cold Weather Pkg. (Heated Front Seats, Heated Steering Wheel, Ski Bag), Premium Sound Pkg. (Logic 7 Audio System, 6-Disc CD Changer), Sport Pkg. (Active Steering, Shadwoline Exterior Trim, Sport Seats, 19-inch Allow Wheels, Performance Run-Flat Tires), Universal Garage Door Opener, Park Distance Control, Adaptive Headlights, Ambient Light Package, Voice Activation Preparation, Navigation System, Satellite Radio Preparation Consumer Guide® Fuel Economy: 17.51 mpg (what's this?) Problems During Test: None From The Back Seat Jack Stewart Great engine, evil electronics. John Biel Apart from some aggravating controls and limited passenger space, the 645Ci is built for some serious motoring. There's no getting around that it costs serious money, too. Rick Cotta Yet another excellent engineering effort spoiled by the mystery that is iDrive. |
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Also in the 2004 BMW 6-Series Review:
1.
2.
3.
4.
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