Used BMW 6 Series 2011-2018 review

A car designed for grand touring requires a big boot for luggage, comfortable seats, a quiet cabin and a large fuel tank for shrugging off the miles without time-consuming pit stops. Thankfully, the BMW 6 Series ticks all of those boxes and more besides.

There isn’t a bad engine in the 6 Series range, but the most popular variant is the 640d, which uses a 309bhp 3.0-litre diesel to provide a great blend of power, smooth running and economy. There is also a 321bhp 3.0-litre petrol engine in the 640i for those who don’t want a diesel, and a powerful 449bhp 4.4-litre petrol V8 in the 650i. The range-topping M6, meanwhile, is enormously fast thanks to its 552bhp twin-turbo V8.

Every version of the 6 Series comes well-equipped, with the 'entry-level' SE getting 18in alloy wheels, two-zone climate control, cruise control, leather seats (the front ones are heated), parking sensors front and rear and sat-nav.

Sport is the entry point for the 650i and comes with 19in wheels and Comfort front seats with adjustable lumbar support. The M Sport comes with sportier exterior styling but doesn’t have any useful additional equipment. The M6 has adaptive LED headlights, four exhaust pipes, bigger brakes, a carbon fibre roof, an upgraded stereo and ‘M’ styling tweaks inside and out.

To drive, the 6 Series is effortless. Its eight-speed automatic gearbox, which is standard on all but the M6 (which gets a seven-speed dual-clutch auto), flicks through ratios with alacrity.

The 6 Series is not a light car by any means, and it cannot fully disguise its girth in tight bends. But in its natural environment on faster A roads and motorways, the car feels planted and deals with bumps well. If you find one with the optional adjustable dampers, so much the better, because the standard car’s ride can be a little unsettled over broken surfaces. This gets worse if you go for an M Sport model, because of its bigger wheels and sports suspension.

All things considered, though, the 6 Series is a wonderful cruiser and is ideally suited to long commutes and driving holidays. It may not be as good to drive as the Jaguar XK, but it is a lot cheaper to run in diesel form, and it is a much more practical car.

Indeed, the closest rival to the 6 Series comes from within the BMW range: the 6 Series Gran Coupé, which is a four-door version of the same car. It's a better bet if you need to carry four people regularly, not only thanks to the extra doors, but also because rear leg room in the two-door 6 Series isn’t great for taller passengers.

Having said that, if you only need space for a driver and one other passenger, the front of the two-door version has a palatial amount of room. The boot, while having a slightly restrictive opening, is rather deep and will easily swallow enough luggage for two on a fortnight's vacation.

If you're interested in finding a used 6 Series head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

If high miles don't bother you, early examples of the BMW 6 Series can be found for £10,000. If you spend a bit more, you will find some really good cars with less than 50,000 miles for around £16,000, topping out at £35,000 for one of the last examples from 2018.

A 6 Series with a petrol engine is a rare beast, so be prepared to spend more if you want one. Budget around £16,000 for a 640i and between £20,000 and £25,000 for a 650i.

The M6 is in another league, both in terms of acceleration and cost. Put aside at least £25,000 for one.

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MPG

The 640d will cost you the least to run and the savings are noticeable over a petrol 640i. The 640d’s official average of 52.3mpg gives it the edge over the 640i's 37.2mpg.

The 650i is a little bit more costly with an average of 32.1mpg. The M6, meanwhile, will cost you a small fortune to run with an average of 28.5mpg.

CO2 emissions

Avoid the M6 if you dislike forking out for road tax; it has the highest emissions of the lineup at 231g/km. The 650i is only marginally better, with 206g/km. The 640i is far cleaner-breathing, with emissions of 179g/km.

None of the petrol models can match the mere 145g/km of the 640d diesel; this figure is more in keeping with a small petrol car than it is a 155mph grand tourer.

Road tax

Road tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017 will vary depending upon the emissions the engine produces (see paragraph above for more information) while examples registered after this date will make you liable for the flat-rate fee that's charged against cars that cost more than £40,000 when new. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here.

Servicing

If you’re looking at a 6 Series that’s less than five years old, it might still be covered under an original BMW servicing agreement. Failing that, you’re looking at about £150 at a BMW main dealer for a minor service or £450 for a major one. The servicing schedule itself is variable, but reckon on the car telling you it’s ready for attention at least every two years or 18,000 miles.

Engine

If you are planning on using your BMW 6 Series as it was intended – in other words, for long trips – then you should choose the diesel model. Its breadth of abilities makes it our recommended engine option.

If you do shorter journeys or you mostly drive in a big city, the 640i would be a suitable alternative, even if it does cost more to run.

Specification

We’d suggest sticking with SE trim, because it comes with all the equipment you really need.

Our favourite BMW 6 Series: 640d SE

The Jaguar XK has a hatchback, which helps with practicality, but the rear seats are tiny, and with only a range of V8 petrol engines to power it, running costs will be high. However, it sounds great and handles better than a car of its size ought to, thanks to its lightweight aluminium body.

If you want a truly premium grand tourer, the Mercedes CL is packed with labour-saving conveniences and safety tech to really take the stress out of driving. The 5.0 V8 is very refined, while the AMG versions are ludicrously quick in a straight line. Corners aren’t its raison d’être, though.

The Porsche 911 Carrera, however, will devour bends. It will also be comfortable when you want it to tackle a motorway cruise, although it can generate a fair bit of tyre noise. You won’t be able to pack your luggage into the 911 quite as easily as you can in the BMW 6 Series, but it does have plenty of cubbies and pockets to store items in.

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