2004-2007 BMW 6-Series Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our in-depth review covers everything you need to know about this generation BMW 6-Series. Get the latest news, find a local dealer, and get a free price quote for this generation BMW 6-Series.

2004-2007 BMW 6-Series Review

BMW launched a 6-Series coupe and companion convertible during the 2004 model year. This was the first 6-Series model since 1989. BMW competed against the Cadillac XLR, Lexus SC 430, and Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class. Both rear-wheel-drive 6-Series versions used a 325-horsepower V8, with a choice of three six-speed transmissions: an automatic, a conventional manual, and BMW's sequential manual (SMT). The SMT was a clutchless manual transmission operated via console lever or steering-wheel paddles; it could be set to shift like an automatic when desired. ABS and traction/antiskid controlwere standard, as was BMW's Active Roll Stabilization to counteract body lean. Dynamic Drive Control firmed the suspension, quickened throttle response, and adjusted shift points on the automatic transmission and SMT. BMW's Active Steering option varied steering ratio and assist. Front torso side airbags and front knee airbags were standard; the coupe added front head-protecting tubular side airbags. Convertibles had a power soft top and a heated glass rear window that lowered for roof-up ventilation or raised to deflect top-down cabin drafts. Standard equipment included leather and metal interior trim, a navigation system, and steering-linked headlights. BMW's iDrive that used a console "joystick" to adjust major climate, audio, and navigation functions. Optional was adaptive cruise control, designed to maintain a set distance from traffic ahead. Other options included 19-inch wheels (versus standard 18s), and a head-up instrument display.

Year to Year Changes

2005 BMW 6-Series: A longer list of standard features marked 2005 for BMW's 4-seat coupe and convertible. Newly standard were front and rear obstacle detection.

2006 BMW 6-Series: A more powerful, bigger V8 engine transformed the 645Ci model into a 650Ci. The new 360-horsepower 4.8-liter V8 replaced the 645's 325-hp 4.4-liter. During 2006, BMW launched a super-performing M6 coupe with a V10 engine that could switch between 400 and 500 horsepower at the touch of a button. A new seven-speed automatic transmission went into the M6 coupe.

2007 BMW 6-Series: For 2007, the M6s are available in convertible as well as coupe form.

2004-2007 BMW 6-Series Road Test

Pros	Cons

Acceleration	Fuel economy

Steering/handling	Rear-seat room

Seat comfort

Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation

Plenty of ready power and impressive passing punch greet the 6-Series driver. BMW said the 6-Series could accelerate to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds with the SMT or conventional manual transmission. A test convertible with automatic clocked 5.7 seconds. The SMT unit is harsh shifting and cantankerous around town, in stark contrast to the smooth and responsive automatic. Fuel economy is so-so. With the conventional manual transmission, a coupe averaged 17.5 mpg, convertibles 13.7 to 19.6 mpg. With automatic, test convertibles averaged 15.8 mpg, coupes 17.5. Premium-grade fuel is required. Unforgiving run-flat tires and a firm suspension make the 6-Series ride much stiffer than BMW's 5-Series sedans, and tauter than many coupe and convertible rivals. These coupes are always stable and never jarring, but some testers said the ride grew tiresome on rough-surface freeways. Well-balanced and agile, 6-Series is the benchmark for handling among coupes in this class. Active Steering sharpens low-speed maneuverability, but some testers found it intrusive and inconsistent. Active Roll Stabilization eliminates most body lean in fast turns. There's little perceived roadholding gain with the Sport Package. Braking is strong, stable, and straight. Modest wind rush has been noticed in coupes. Convertible tops are well-insulated for marginally greater wind noise than in the coupe. Minimal top-down buffeting is scarcely different with the rear window deployed, though exhaust rumble is noticeable. Plenty of tire noise is evident on rough roads. Both body styles are impressively solid in structure. Minimal body flex is evident on convertibles. Confounding iDrive adds delay and complication to most control functions; worse, it diverts driver attention. The control layout itself is simple and convenient. Elegant interior decor makes use of top-notch materials. The thick steering-wheel rim interferes with clear view of main instruments and turn-signal arrows. Pressing the keyfob's trunk release on one test coupe regularly set off the alarm system. All but the very tall get good head and leg room on firm, supportive front seats. Power adjustments and a tilt/telescope steering wheel help dial in driving position after some trial and error. Long doors are a parking lot inconvenience. The coupe's large sunroof does not slide open, merely tilting for more ventilation. Aft visibility is restricted in coupes, and worse in convertibles with the top up. Rear seats are comfortable, but leg room is very tight. Front seats power forward slowly, and entry/exit is a typical coupe chore. Trunk volume is par for the class--coupe or convertible. The lid powers up but not down. Hinges are covered to prevent crushing packages, but they gobble space. Interior storage is minimal. Single cupholders are installed, front and rear; the front is an odd clip-on device.

Value for the Money
BMW's 6-Series suffers all the typical coupe/convertible compromises, along with daunting new-car prices and a firmer-than-necessary ride. That said, any version is a joy to drive: surprisingly fast, supremely capable, and very sophisticated. Secondhand prices aren't likely to be moderate.

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

BMW 645Ci coupe w/ Sport Pkg., SMT	Rating

Performance	8

Fuel Economy	4

Ride Quality	5

Steering/Handling/Braking	8

Quietness	7

Controls/Materials	4

Interior Room	8

Room/Comfort (rear)	2

Cargo Capacity	3

Value within Class	4

Total:	53

Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room, Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.

2004-2007 BMW 6-Series Reliability

Trouble Spots

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Check-engine light: The check engine light may illuminate accompanied by rattling sound from front of engine due to leak in oil line for variable valve timing system. (2004-07)

Check-engine light: Engine may run rough accompanied by check engine light due to failure of camshaft position sensors. (2005-06)

Convertible top: The convertible top may not lower because a sensor in the rear window may not be reporting that the window is down. (2004)

Dashboard lights: A "rollover protection fault" message may appear on the driver's information center due to a problem in wiring or connectors. (2005)

Electrical problem: The electronic steering lock warning light may illuminate and/or the vehicle will not start if battery was low when starting. (2006)

Electrical problem: Night vision display malfunctions due to wiring harness damage near headlights. (2006-07)

Electrical problem: The convertible top warning light is illuminated, indicating the top not fully open or closed, due to faulty sensor switch. (2005-06)

Headlights: Automatic headlights may not go off when exiting a tunnel or parking garage due to miscommunication between rain sensor and headlight module. (2005-06)

Tail/brake lights: The lens for the center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) may crack at the sides. (2005)

Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs

This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.


Item Name	Repair Cost

A/C Compressor	$920

Alternator	$820

Automatic Transmission or Transaxle	$3,410

Brakes	$1,410

Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing

Constant Velocity Joints	$1,450

Exhaust System	$1,100

Radiator	$945

Shocks and/or Struts	$3,405

Timing Chain or Belt	$1,350

NHTSA Recall History

2004 6-Series V8: On certain cars, engine stalling may occur after short period of operation; engine may be unable to restart.

2004 6-Series V8: Retention clip along fuel supply line may have been omitted; in a severe frontal crash, the quick-release coupling could separate, causing fuel leakage.

2005-06 6-Series: Incorrectly-manufactured automatic transmission parking pawl guide plate could cause parking lock system not to engage, with the lever in "P" position.

2006 6-Series: Certain nuts may not have been tightened to specification. This could eventually result poor vehicle handling. Dealers will retighten the front axle control arm and tension strut nuts to the correct specifications free of charge.

2004-2007 BMW 6-Series Prices

Prices	Good	Average	Poor

2004
645Ci convertible	$53,500-55,500	$50,300-52,200	$40,100-41,600
645Ci coupe	$47,500-49,500	$44,700-46,500	$35,200-36,600

2005
645Ci convertible	$58,500-61,000	$55,600-58,000	$43,900-45,800
645Ci coupe	$52,500-54,700	$49,400-51,400	$39,400-41,000

2006
650Ci convertible	$65,000-67,500	$61,800-64,100	$48,800-50,600
650Ci coupe	$58,500-61,000	$55,600-58,000	$43,900-45,800
M6 coupe	$81,000-84,000	$77,000-79,800	$62,400-64,700

2007
650Ci convertible	$73,000-76,000	$69,400-72,200	$55,500-57,800
650Ci coupe	$66,000-68,500	$62,700-65,100	$50,200-52,100
M6 convertible	$95,000-98,000	$90,300-93,100	$74,100-76,400
M6 coupe	$88,000-91,000	$83,600-86,500	$67,800-70,100

This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:

Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.

Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings; engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.

Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo, etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from region to region.

2004-2007 BMW 6-Series Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	2-door convertible	2-door coupe

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	12.4

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.

Powertrain Options and Availability

BMW's 6-Series comes with a 325-horsepower 4.4-liter V8 engine and a choice of three six-speed transmissions: manual, sequential manual (SMT) or full automatic. A bigger 360-horsepower V8 went into 2006 models. In spring of 2006, BMW issued a high-performance M6 coupe with a 500-horsepower V10 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission. A console button reduced output to 400 horsepower when desired.

Engines	Size liters / cu. in	Horse- power	Torque	Transmission: EPA city/hgwy	Consumer Guide Observed

dohc V8	4.4 / 268	325	330	6-speed manual: 17/25 6-speed automatic: 18/24 SMT manual: 17/24	6-speed manual: 16.7 6-speed automatic: 16.7 SMT manual: --

dohc V8	4.8 / 293	360	360	6-speed manual: 16/23 6-speed automatic: 17/25 SMT manual: 16/22	6-speed manual: -- 6-speed automatic: -- SMT manual: --

dohc V10	5.0 / 305	500	383	SMT manual: 12/18	SMT manual: --

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.

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%.

Built In: Germany

Drive Wheels: longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive

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Also in the 2004-2007 BMW 6-Series Review:

BMW 6-Series

BMW 6-Series Road Test

BMW 6-Series Reliability

BMW 6-Series Prices

BMW 6-Series Specs & Safety

BMW 6-Series Photos

BMW 6-Series Full Review