First BMW 630i

Author
Discussion

waynedear

Original Poster:

2,261 posts

174 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
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Paid deposit on this at 09.15, seller needs to sort another car before I can hopefully collect on Monday.
Pretty grubby inside, just needs a good clean, as does the outside.
MOT history is fine, servicing up to 1000 miles ago.
I see it as an upgraded 3.0 Alfa GTV... But bigger, much bigger, it's longer than my old xc70.
Of course my Alfa on the way home drove extra superb, fingers crossed my wife takes it over.


Jimmy No Hands

5,019 posts

163 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
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Very nice, always saw these as a big GT car and they can be bruisers with the right engine. We took a 640 in at work in trade many years ago and I ran it home a few times. I say a few times, as that was all I could afford in fuel. But it was a magnificent thing.

CornedBeef

546 posts

195 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
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Looks cracking, this'll be the N52 engine I believe? Supposedly solid and reliable.

d_a_n1979

9,672 posts

79 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
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Looks a great car... Did think about buying a 650i a few years back but bottled it due to the known valve stem issues...

But did drive a couple of 630i E63s and was impressed with them

Court_S

13,851 posts

184 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
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That looks grand OP; it’s a lovely colour combo.

I looked at a 630i before buying my 130i, the quality of the interior really stood out even a few years ago. They’re a big step up from the lower cars.

They’re pretty big old beasts but aren’t huge inside; a prime example of BMW’s mastery of the reverse tardis!

Does it have the N52 or N53? I bottled the one I looked at because it had the N53 and no evidence of the injectors ever having been changed or the HPFP or the NOX sensor.

waynedear

Original Poster:

2,261 posts

174 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
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Good news... Wife is having my Giulietta, I say 'good'... Apparently wife rates are very low.
I believe it is the N52 engine, I'm basing that on the year, 2005.
Collecting next saturday, gives the seller time for the dipped bulbs to arrive.... Maybe he will wash it and me 'n her to sort insurance changes.
I have to come to terms with going from £150 tax to £395...

macron

10,786 posts

173 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
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Loads of great threads on these,

Buyers guide with tips

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Fastbikes excellent info and tweaks

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Love them, I think they've aged superbly, enjoy it!

Mr Tidy

24,348 posts

134 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
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waynedear said:
Good news... Wife is having my Giulietta, I say 'good'... Apparently wife rates are very low.
I believe it is the N52 engine, I'm basing that on the year, 2005.
Collecting next saturday, gives the seller time for the dipped bulbs to arrive.... Maybe he will wash it and me 'n her to sort insurance changes.
I have to come to terms with going from £150 tax to £395...
Well that's mostly good news, and your 630i looks great. thumbup

I'm pretty sure an 05 will have the N52 engine which seems pretty bullet-proof judging by the 4 I've had, well apart from a few oil leaks and the electric water pump - but the N53s have one of those as well!

£395 Road tax is a small price to pay for such waftiness - I think some of the 2006 Autos were a band higher. eek

Roll on next Saturday. driving

waynedear

Original Poster:

2,261 posts

174 months

Saturday 4th November 2023
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Mr Tidy said:
waynedear said:
Good news... Wife is having my Giulietta, I say 'good'... Apparently wife rates are very low.
I believe it is the N52 engine, I'm basing that on the year, 2005.
Collecting next saturday, gives the seller time for the dipped bulbs to arrive.... Maybe he will wash it and me 'n her to sort insurance changes.
I have to come to terms with going from £150 tax to £395...
Well that's mostly good news, and your 630i looks great. thumbup

I'm pretty sure an 05 will have the N52 engine which seems pretty bullet-proof judging by the 4 I've had, well apart from a few oil leaks and the electric water pump - but the N53s have one of those as well!

£395 Road tax is a small price to pay for such waftiness - I think some of the 2006 Autos were a band higher. eek

Roll on next Saturday. driving
Current owner had the cam cover gasket and oil service done 1k ago, also braided hoses to calipers, on the test drive the engine sounded right and over the bumps and lumps there were no unwanted noises. Looking forward to Saturday.

oldaudi

1,409 posts

165 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
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I started one of those buying threads a few years ago. I loved my 630i. Stratus grey with cream interior. I had it for 2 years before buying a 640i. I kept both for several months but eventually sold the 630i due to lack of use . That and having a £600 VED and also a Volvos XC90 at £600 VED meant one had to go!

Nothing broke but there was a small oil leak at the oil cooler gasket. Right at the top of the engine so an easy fix. When used for short journeys it did make a tapping noise but a longer drive stopped that. It’s well documented on You Tube with the n52 engine. Whenever I see one on the road I stare, I wish I never sold mine

My car is is now on 137000 miles with a clean MOT for its new owner according to the MOT web page! You’ll enjoy the car , good choice!


josh00mac

347 posts

115 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
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Quite a rare spec that - most are grey/black. As someone above said - oil cooler gasket on the front of the engine is a good job to do and saves your engine getting covered in gunk.

I bought one 2 years ago and love it. Feels solid as a rock and with the 3.0 (a very light engine) is surprisingly quick. It’s not a sports car by any means but a lovely thing to get about in. They are generally just a 5 series so pretty cheap to run given the big car feel.

MikeM6

5,226 posts

109 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
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Lovely thing, especially in that spec.

Worth checking out the boot for any sign of water ingress, as well as the carpets in the back. Water ingress can happen if the drains in the wings are blocked. Access to them is under the scuttle under bonnet, just clear them of any leaves and gunk etc.

I had corroded brake lines on my 6, so worth getting them looked at and changed if needed. Fairly common issue on most cars of this age.

Other than that, the N52 is supposed to be brilliant and the gearbox is a well known and solid ZF6 unit, so should be no surprises. Great cars, especially if pre March 2006 as they all fall in the lower VED rate.

Enjoy it.

waynedear

Original Poster:

2,261 posts

174 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
MikeM6 said:
Lovely thing, especially in that spec.

Worth checking out the boot for any sign of water ingress, as well as the carpets in the back. Water ingress can happen if the drains in the wings are blocked. Access to them is under the scuttle under bonnet, just clear them of any leaves and gunk etc.

I had corroded brake lines on my 6, so worth getting them looked at and changed if needed. Fairly common issue on most cars of this age.

Other than that, the N52 is supposed to be brilliant and the gearbox is a well known and solid ZF6 unit, so should be no surprises. Great cars, especially if pre March 2006 as they all fall in the lower VED rate.

Enjoy it.
For the last mot 2 lines were renewed and the bits to the calipers were changed to braided... Checked the boot yesterday, dry. :-)

Sofa

478 posts

99 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
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josh00mac said:
I bought one 2 years ago and love it. Feels solid as a rock and with the 3.0 (a very light engine) is surprisingly quick. It’s not a sports car by any means but a lovely thing to get about in. They are generally just a 5 series so pretty cheap to run given the big car feel.
I believe the N52 is actually the lightest production 6-cylinder ever made… or at least BMW claimed it was when they introduced it and I’ve not heard of a lighter one since.

Lovely car OP, when I was looking for my current car my criteria was basically anything with an N52 and a manual. Saw a couple of these and I’d love one but unfortunately they’re just too big for my circumstances, ended up in a 125i but on the motorway I do sometimes think how lovely and wafty the 6er would be…

Mr Tidy

24,348 posts

134 months

Sunday 5th November 2023
quotequote all
waynedear said:
Current owner had the cam cover gasket and oil service done 1k ago, also braided hoses to calipers, on the test drive the engine sounded right and over the bumps and lumps there were no unwanted noises. Looking forward to Saturday.
That's a bonus. thumbup

My 330i had just had that gasket replaced and an oil service a month before I bought it, but I did have to have a new oil filter housing gasket a year or so later.

New brake pipes are a good thing too. It sounds like the previous owner has been pretty fastidious, which is always positive!

CousinDupree

783 posts

74 months

Monday 6th November 2023
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Lovely!

We had a 330i N52 in the family for six years and it didn't miss a beat, avoiding the HPFP, coil pack and turbo issues of later cars. A wonderful six, dam close to an E28 M5 in performance, if not emotion smile

It was claimed to be the lightest six in it's class with the mag block weighing 25% less than an alloy one.

waynedear

Original Poster:

2,261 posts

174 months

Monday 6th November 2023
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Buggerdamnblast, Sunday collection now.
Personally I see no reason his 11 year old daughter can not get up early and walk from Southport to Clitheroe for dance class on Saturday........

SlimK

23 posts

128 months

Monday 6th November 2023
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Lovely motor mate - hope she serves you well.

I have only driven a 530i and 650i of this generation but loved both and wouldn't mind seat time in either to do a few motorway miles.

waynedear

Original Poster:

2,261 posts

174 months

Sunday 12th November 2023
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Collection day arrives, rumours that I am slightly excited, been up since 4am are obviously, completely unfounded.

carinaman

22,068 posts

179 months

Sunday 12th November 2023
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Congratulations, nice looking car that doesn't have that cup holder thing on the centre console.