M6 Gran Coupe - Delivery First Impressions

[RiverRunner]

I picked up my new M6 Gran Coupe on Saturday. My first problem was that they had a black and a white car, both with black interiors. I wanted white, then I saw the black, and then I couldn't decide. My last car was black and I decided to go with what I had originally wanted, which was the white one.

My first impression when I saw the car was WOW! The car is beautiful. I may have bought it just for the looks and style.

I had built the car online on the BMW USA website and the options online only offered wood trim, my car has carbon fiber trim and it looks outstanding! I was really thrilled that they carried that over from the M6 coupe, I really didn't want wood trim...again.

Then I drove it, again WOW! I've owned other high performance cars, including my latest being a Corvette Z06, so I am not easily impressed by most car's so-called performance. The M6 has not disappointed me. The car performs exceptionally for a 4 door sedan, and yet has manners enough to be able to talk on the phone while cruising at highway speeds on a concrete freeway. I have not yet taken the car on a day trip, but look forward to cruising it to Vegas in the coming weeks.

I really like the programmable driving profiles and that they are easy to activate by buttons on the steering wheel. The choices include suspension, engine, steering, shift profile, stability control, and heads-up display options. Each driver can have their own too. As for my wife's key, I set both up on a mild setup so incase she hit the M1 button, she didn't find herself with a race profile that requires manual shifting.

Heads-up Display - the Heads-up display is bright and there are several options that you can select or "de-select". I like the "M-Display" which is in color and adds the tachometer and shift point alert for maximum acceleration. My high end Oakley polarized sunglasses reduces the brightness by about 75%, but it is visible. It was not in my Z06 with any polarized glasses. There is a rotation adjustment that is meant to help, but it doesn't do much and it angles the display so I left it at the center setting. The display can also be turned off. My car has the driver assistance package that also displays the speed limit info. I was impressed at it's accuracy because it not only uses GPS data, it also actually reads the speed limit signs as there was temporary construction near my home on a small road, the temporary speed limit was displayed by the car, as soon as we passed the usual speed limit sign after the construction, the car then displayed that speed limit. BMW needs to allow the speed alert to compare your speed to the speed limit a allow you to adjust your alert depending on the amount over the speed limit you want to be alerted to.

The seats are comfortable and supportive. They are a good compromise between performance and everyday driving.

The trunk is decent size, the rear seats fold down to allow larger items (i.e., golf bags to be stored), but there's also a ski bag that extends into the passenger compartment, that the shafts of your longer clubs can fit in and still fit 2 golf bags in the trunk if you must take more than 2 to the golf course.

The ride is firm, even in the "comfort" setting, but it's an M, if you want a "Cushy" ride, get the 650i/640i or 7 series. (my wife's 740i will ride like a cruise ship in smooth water if you dare to put the ride adjustment to comfort, if you do, why are you on the M forum?)

Tire noise on some surfaces is more than expected, but again, it's an M and the cornering performance is a higher priority.

Exhaust note: It's quieter when the engine is set to "Efficient" setting, it sounds awesome in the other settings or whenever you accelerate hard.

Transmission - the shifts are smooth and extremely fast. In the level 3 setting, on hard acceleration, the tires spin on shifts to each gear and the shifts are immediate, as if you're speed shifting a manual transmission.

The transmission control and lack of drive engagement at idle threw me a little at first. It reminds me of my first car, with a high stall torque converter. I'm still getting used to that and it does make it a bit harder to creep into a tight parking spot, as a little nudge of the gas peddle makes the car lurch like it wants to run. No P on the shifter makes it look more like a manual trans too, setting the parking break is a must since the car only goes into "park" when the engine is off and the car is in Neutral. This is not a complaint, just a comment. My wife for example, won't like that it's not your standard functioning automatic trans.

One unexpected side effect with this car is, everywhere I've gone, people stop me and tell me what a beautiful car the M6 is. I've had one guy stop me and tell me that his son was afraid to ask to see the car up close and that it was his dream car. Pictures truly don't do the car justice.

Bottom line, I am extremely happy with my new purchase and I hope that if you're on the fence about purchasing one vs. another car, this helps you decide.
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[RiverRunner]

[IMG][/IMG]

[RiverRunner]

This photo shows the carbon fiber interior accents on the dash and center console, not shown here is the carbon fiber that is also visible on the inside door panels, roof, and rear spoiler (sorry for the quality of photo, took with my phone) [IMG][/IMG]

[Hunter5179]

Congrats!

[GreenLantern]

Lovely, just lovely. And wonderful write-up too. Thanks for sharing!

Enjoy, and congrats!

[24601]

beautiful!

[RiverRunner]

Thanks

[Merc1]

Thanks for that review as I'm thinking about trading up from my 650i to a M6 GC.

M

[JasonX4MComp]

Great job going with the white. I think it looks the best and really shows off the CF roof

[ColdList]

Originally Posted by PackerFan

[IMG][/IMG]

Sunning car my friend! I went AW/lack on my M6 coupe. too. You just reaffirmed my decision.

[Vic55]

Awesome acquisition!!!!!!!

Whats the shade difference between Arctic While and Alpine White? (your sig says Arctic)

[RiverRunner]

Originally Posted by Vic55

Awesome acquisition!!!!!!!

Whats the shade difference between Arctic While and Alpine White? (your sig says Arctic)

The only difference is about 3 Tanqueray and Tonics

Thanks for pointing that out, set up my signature in a hurry.

[BarlasaM]

Delivered this Beautiful Black Beast last friday.

[RiverRunner]

Wow, and that one has the M601 wheels. I haven't seen those in person, only pictures.

[BarlasaM]

Those are the stock 433M wheels. Honestly they look the best...IMO

[positiveions]

Congrats buddy.

[RiverRunner]

Originally Posted by BarlasaM

Those are the stock 433M wheels. Honestly they look the best...IMO

Ok, I guess I still haven't seen the 601M wheel.

[JadeVetti]

Agreed on stock wheels looking better. And congrats!

I'm just upset that I cannot build a car with the two tone amaro brown/opal white interior on a M6 GC.

[BarlasaM]

Originally Posted by JadeVetti

Agreed on stock wheels looking better. And congrats!

I'm just upset that I cannot build a car with the two tone amaro brown/opal white interior on a M6 GC.

Did you check and see if you can order it as a special request?

[GOLFFRR]

Very nice op! I have been on the fence between this car, m6 coupe or the m5. you are def spot on when you say pics do not do this car justice. In person its a show stopper!

congrats again you got yourself a beauty and a beast

[paradocs98]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

Very nice op! I have been on the fence between this car, m6 coupe or the m5. you are def spot on when you say pics do not do this car justice. In person its a show stopper!

congrats again you got yourself a beauty and a beast

I'm sure you've been able to drive all three, but here was my impression of the M6GC vs. M5 at a drive event yesterday:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=884069

[GOLFFRR]

Awesome review. Wonder why they chose to have mt equipped cars when 90% of the buyers of thOse car pick dct?? Very odd marketing strategy. Either way at least you got to drive them.

Great review! Thanks for directing me to it a d posting it!