M6 Coupe - bad idea?

M6 Coupe - bad idea?

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Discussion

Chris-1e43g

Original Poster:

46 posts

53 months

Tuesday 3rd June
quotequote all
I currently have an MX5 30th anniversary edition which I'm looking to swap into something a bit more GT. Before the MX5 I had a 2020 F-Type v8 which was lovely but only 2 seats. I know the M6 rear seats are laughable but I have a young son and a short wife so they should hopefully just about fit. this is also a second car so it doesn't have to be fantastically practical.

I'm reading up online and some people say they're fine and others say the engine will explode if you look at it wrong. Is this a silly idea and is there something else worth looking at?

Here's the M6 I'm currently looking at. 75k miles is quite a bit and the dealer says full service history but looking at the oil services they are as follows:

08.05.17 - 1109
08.05.19 - 9963
07.01.20 - 23880
07.12.20 - 37240
08.04.22 - 46754
15.08.22 - 53141
05.09.23 - 64370
12.03.25 - 74250

Now, looking online it looks like these cars have variable servicing. I've seen a few other examples with longer than 1 year before services so not sure if that's standard. is this one I should stay away from?

My requirements are:
- Interesting engine (v6/v8 ideally)
- I like a coupe/convertible but open to others
- £25k ish but can creep a bit more if required
- Characterful. I've had golf R's, m135's and they aren't for me as they are a bit sterile. The cars I have enjoyed are F-types, JCW minis etc
- Noise is also pretty important. The F-Type was had a GPF but still sounded fantastic. Struggle to get decent noise out of a 4cyl without it just sounding like a loud exhaust.



Edited by Chris-1e43g on Tuesday 3rd June 11:26

venster70

72 posts

53 months

Tuesday 3rd June
quotequote all
Fortune favours the brave!

That looks like a nice car, it's still young enough to get a reasonable warranty as well.

It will most likely be fine, the oil change intervals look sensible.

It's always the same with cars like this, they are mostly fine if well looked after, but things can get expensive quickly when something does go wrong.

I would ensure there is a good BMW independent garage nearby, dealers are a financial liability outside of routine maintenance.


Chris-1e43g

Original Poster:

46 posts

53 months

Tuesday 3rd June
quotequote all
venster70 said:
Fortune favours the brave!

That looks like a nice car, it's still young enough to get a reasonable warranty as well.

It will most likely be fine, the oil change intervals look sensible.

It's always the same with cars like this, they are mostly fine if well looked after, but things can get expensive quickly when something does go wrong.

I would ensure there is a good BMW independent garage nearby, dealers are a financial liability outside of routine maintenance.
All good points. I think a good indie would be a good idea and the warranty isn't a bad shout. Never had to use a 3rd party warranty though and hear that they can refuse claims for all sorts of reasons. I'll have a look around for a reputable one though

Googie

1,736 posts

141 months

Tuesday 3rd June
quotequote all
Agree nice looking car- whist all will probably be fine, personally I would be looking at cars within the main dealer network given full BMW Warranty

Hammy98

865 posts

107 months

Tuesday 3rd June
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Looks a well looked after car that, those services look fine to me also but I'd be checking what work was carried out at each.

My M4 service entries looked the same but it had also had diff oil, DCT service and a couple of other bits that weren't visible on the idrive but were noted when you had a key-read at BMW.

As always, check the discs and pads are good as they're expensive - same with tyres.

There were a few different iterations of this engine and they improved reliability with each, I wouldn't touch an early one of these but a later year is meant to be much better. Not sure I'd bother with a third party warranty, your main concern is the engine so if it feels strong and the services check out I'd just set what you can aside each month incase of the worst then if you're lucky you wont need to dip into it and you'll have a nice fund towards your next car. There's plenty of these in the states with much higher mileage than that, and the interior stuff like the screen etc is regular 6 series so most BMW indys will be able to sort out any issues you run into.

Check the sport displays in the idrive and make sure it has the correct power figures listed, I don't think I'd trust a mapped one.

Chris-1e43g

Original Poster:

46 posts

53 months

Tuesday 3rd June
quotequote all
Hammy98 said:
Looks a well looked after car that, those services look fine to me also but I'd be checking what work was carried out at each.

My M4 service entries looked the same but it had also had diff oil, DCT service and a couple of other bits that weren't visible on the idrive but were noted when you had a key-read at BMW.

As always, check the discs and pads are good as they're expensive - same with tyres.

There were a few different iterations of this engine and they improved reliability with each, I wouldn't touch an early one of these but a later year is meant to be much better. Not sure I'd bother with a third party warranty, your main concern is the engine so if it feels strong and the services check out I'd just set what you can aside each month incase of the worst then if you're lucky you wont need to dip into it and you'll have a nice fund towards your next car. There's plenty of these in the states with much higher mileage than that, and the interior stuff like the screen etc is regular 6 series so most BMW indys will be able to sort out any issues you run into.

Check the sport displays in the idrive and make sure it has the correct power figures listed, I don't think I'd trust a mapped one.
Good shout about the servicing not all being in idrive. That's something to check going forward. I'd be considering maybe getting the Conrod Bearings replaced at some point as a preventative measure. And being a 2017 model it looks to be the last year for the coupe so should hopefully have most things revised.

Just put a deposit down... Now if anyone knows of a BM specialist near colchester who does pre purchase inspections!

Crumpet

4,355 posts

195 months

Tuesday 3rd June
quotequote all
Careful with the warranty if the services aren’t bang on when they should be. I’ve been in the same position when one service was out of tolerance (1000 miles and 1 month) and the claim was rejected (and warranty invalidated).

Sir Bagalot

6,769 posts

196 months

Wednesday 4th June
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Get the key read, both of them. If it can't be read then it has a blocker

ilikejam

1,142 posts

131 months

Thursday 5th June
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I assume you've considered it, but I'd definitely look at a Gran Coupe if you're in need of rear seats at any point. Personally I think they're better proportioned than the coupe.

GiantEnemyCrab

7,812 posts

218 months

Thursday 5th June
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Lots of good info in this thread on M6s also

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

Chris-1e43g

Original Poster:

46 posts

53 months

Thursday 5th June
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So I’ve rang up a BMW service center and compared their records with the ones on the car and they agree that they’re all legit and done on time which is good news. Can’t see any evidence of mods so I think I’ll look at opting for the BMW insured warranty as it looks to be within their limits.


Chris-1e43g

Original Poster:

46 posts

53 months

Thursday 5th June
quotequote all
Yeah I would have been happy with a GC too but none really that I liked that are for sale at the moment. Either are fantastic looking cars though IMO

ilikejam said:
I assume you've considered it, but I'd definitely look at a Gran Coupe if you're in need of rear seats at any point. Personally I think they're better proportioned than the coupe.

Gio G

2,987 posts

224 months

Thursday 5th June
quotequote all
OP, be mindful that these were close to £100k brand new. I think they look great! If something major goes wrong, it will be expensive. I would ensure you have a good buffer in place to deal with the eventualities. If it is hassle free, than happy days!

Good luck!

G

vanman1936

850 posts

234 months

Thursday 5th June
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You can add a BMW warranty online, goes down a lot in second year, do that and enjoy!