Section: E63/E64 6 Series
Nov 22nd, 2010
The naturally aspirated gasoline engine is dead. As dead as 15″ wheels and roll-up windows. A generation from now no one under 25 years old will even know the experience of winding up a BMW inline six without a turbo sucking exhaust gasses out of it.
The need for efficiency and ever increasing performance have dictated a sea-change that will alter what we’ve known BMW’s to be forever. Consider the following the fact: the E9X M3 will be the last naturally aspirated M product. Or (even more shocking) that the current 128i, 328i and X3 28i are the last naturally aspirated BMW products to be sold in the US. Once those three models are gone it’s all turbos for as far as the eye can see.
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Nov 17th, 2010
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We’re back just hours after our last show with a special report on the new 6 Series. Moments ago BMW took the virtual wraps off of the new 650i convertible and we have to give credit where credit is due – it looks fantastic. Purposeful, athletic and taut in all the right ways, the new 6er is everything the previous E63/4 was not. Or is it? The design in and out is really an evolution over the previous car yet it looks so strikingly new and fresh. (Full gallery after the break)
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Sep 30th, 2010
BMW of North America is submitting a letter to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week announcing a voluntary recall of approximately 198,000 V8 and V12-powered BMW 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars models produced between the 2002 and 2010 model years. In the affected vehicles, a leak may develop in the power braking system, potentially causing a vacuum loss and consequent reduction of power braking assistance. Mechanical braking is still available to slow and stop the vehicle. There has been no report of accidents or injuries.
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Sep 21st, 2010
The upcoming 6 Series is a departure from the previous generation in one way, it’s instantly likable. Where the E63 could be challenging at some angles and disarming at others, the concept has been almost universally liked from the start. It’s easy to see why. The lines, the shapes and the form is all aggressive while having a touch of sophistication. Yet the difference between the generations isn’t has dramatic when you get the two side by side.
The general shape and form is the same. The details are where the new concept succeeds over the E63. The latter took on the convex shapes of the 7 Series which seemed at odds with the sporting nature of a coupe layout. To put it bluntly the car says Florida retiree where the 6er concept shouts elegance and aggressiveness.
The 6 Series Concept features much more taut lines that add to the tension and dynamic feel – especially in the front. With a higher belt-line and nose the new car also harkens back to the E24 6 Series in overall shape. While defined by pedestrian impact regulations the shape does help create an attitude of aggression that the E63 lacked.
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Jun 7th, 2010
If you have been living under a rock for the last six months you may not be aware that the current 6 Series is ending production a bit early with 2010 models being the last produced. There are technical reasons for this that are overly complex and are really not worth delving into as this car being eliminated early is not going to make us shed a tear. Some of us (myself included) express disdain toward the 6 Series, not necessarily for those the car is marketed to or in the end who actually drives it but towards the car itself. The 6 is something of an anomaly when compared to other BMW models, it’s a model that had been set aside for a while and then resurrected as an effort to build a luxurious grand touring coupe to compete with the other German offerings.
The current 6er is a model that was designed to be trendy, sporty and ultra luxurious all in one package. It wasn’t great in any of those areas except for maybe the trendy part- which is huge reason why the car looks so incredibly dated already. It had luxury, but not more than say a 5 series and in a market place that included some very exclusive offerings, it just did not fit (especially in the ultra expensive ///M version) Looks aside, glad not to go there in depth, the car also was not as dynamic as some of BMWs other offerings. It had a balance and sporting intentions only the designing team and a few Kool Aid drinker’s could love, it was nothing like a BMW in many ways. It was a softer more posh luxo barge that drove the part, and yet was designed to compete with cars that would drive circles around it. The current generation 6 Series ultimately was a car that wore a badge that buyers liked. Sure we may be wrong and maybe our take on this BMW model is a bit harsh, but you are more than welcome to let us hear about it in the comments section, while we are huge BMW fans we can call a spade a spade and stick by it.
The new 6 series lineup will feature a coupe, a convertible (a soft top with hard top option) and as we have been reporting a 4 door coupe along the lines of the Gran Coupe Concept. Rumors also have BMW working on a late addition offering in the form of a shooting brake; we feel like that would be one too many variants for such a low volume market and it will ultimately not be produced, but only time will tell. For power, like the current models, BMW will utilize some of the offerings from the 5 Series so there will be no surprises there- in the US we will see the V8 twin turbo and possibly an inline 6 turbo powered version. We expect BMW to improve the 6 Series a great deal moving forward with the new generation 6 (F12/13/14) set to debut in the Spring of 2011, and we truly want to like it. We have a suspicion that we will love the next 6 series and we will be the first to admit it when we do.
Spyshot- Car Magazine
May 28th, 2010
So you total your 6 Series. What’s your next move? Clearly it’s make a robot out of the engine internals. (via Steeringnews.com)
Jan 28th, 2010
As you may have picked up from our recently posts, BMW is being very aggressive with changing to relatively new models across the range this spring. So aggressive in fact that they’ve decided to begin 2011 model year starting with Spring production of most models. Some highlights:
- The M3 Competition Package is real and includes 10 mm lower suspension, 19” M3 GTS wheels, remapped Electronic Damping Control and Dynamic Stability Control systems.
- X5 now comes with the N55 single turbo inline six
- BMW has introduced value packages to the aging 1 and 3 series models
- Most models equipped with the twin turbo N54 inline six will be transitioning to the N55 single turbo for 2011.
Most vehicles receive minor changes for MY2011 in the form of options and new or revised packages, but some models are either all-new (for example, the new BMW 5 Series sedan and BMW ALPINA B7) or substantially updated (3 Series Coupe and Convertible). For existing models, what will not change for the start of the MY2011 are base Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices. You can get all the details for the entire range in the official release below:
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Mar 11th, 2009
A while back we had reported BMWNA was working on publishing a list of recommended oils to be used in gasoline engines.
This was a welcomed move as oil specifics have not been listed in the owner’s manual and some people like to have an independent garage (or alone) complete a mid recommended interval oil change. Then there is the occasional need to top the engine off; it has always been a question as to whether that quart of oil, the life blood of the motor, was up to spec.
The oils listed below meet BMW’s Long-life rating and are acceptable for use in BMW Passenger vehicles and SAVs in the US market with gasoline engines. (Excludes ///M and Alpina models).
BMW Long-life rating LL-01 Approved Synthetic Oils for the US Market
For ///M or Alpina models as well as the view the BMW document here
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