2016 640 pros and cons

[city1991]

Looking at a 640 coupe. Loaded very well. Want the 640 due to the N55 motor rather than the problematic 650. Any who can share their likes and dislikes is greatly appreciated.

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by city1991

Looking at a 640 coupe. Loaded very well. Want the 640 due to the N55 motor rather than the problematic 650. Any who can share their likes and dislikes is greatly appreciated.

I bought a 2016 640i GC and immediately went into buyer’s remorse over not getting the 650. But I was wrong. The N55 motor is more than powerful enough in all circumstances and has proven to be far more reliable. Even the service manager at a very big dealership told me that the V8s were problematic.

[iamvanja]

I got the 640i GC after test driving the 650i and not being overly impressed with the difference. 650i also felt top heavy. Add on top of that reliability concerns. Zero regrets with the decision.

[thebmw]

Reliability aside (which, BTW, the 640 has many gasket issues), the V8 has more power, sounds better, has more "bells and whistles" standard, and are usually better equipped. I don't regret the multiple 650's I have. Thought about the 640, but knew I would have had buyer's remorse. On the used market, the price is not much different between 640 and 650.

[Opie55]

If you don't care about the power difference, the main difference, usually but not always, is that 640s have fewer options. Of course, if you get a coupe then it suffers from the fatal design flaw of not having a convertible top, but I guess you are willing to live with that.

[ezmaass]

I went for the 650xi when I ordered mine. I had a 2014 F10 550xi for 3 years prior, and it was trouble free mechanically. Both use the N63TU, which was greatly improved over the original (and very problematic) N63.

That said, it's true that the V8 is not BMW's high-volume engine, and it's generally less reliable. As I posted in another recent thread on this topic, if you buy the right car, you should have a decent chance of good experience with an N63TU. But, nonetheless, you should always be budgeting for the worst case scenario - with any car/engine.

The N55 is a very good engine, but in such a big/heavy car, I just wanted more power. It isn't necessary most of the time, however.

If it comes down to it, I'd focus more on the options. I spec'd out the car with pretty much every option that was available, and I don't regret it one bit. Each option gets used quite a bit. Some of my favorites that I'd strongly recommend:

- Adaptive Drive: this is a big car, and the active sway bars can get a workout keeping it from leaning in corners.

- B&O: this system puts out 1,200 watts, it's very clear, has fantastic looking lighted aluminum speaker grilles, and the center "acoustic lens" provides some drama as it rises automatically.

- Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection: you'll forget it's there until it saves your butt. I've had at least one really close call end happily thanks to this system.

- ACC with Stop & Go: if you drive on crowded highways, this is a great companion. It takes some of the pain out of traffic jams.

- Active Seats: if you're on longer trips, this is a nice option to keep your bum from falling asleep.

Aside from those listed above, at least for the 2017 model when I ordered, the 650 had options laid out in such a way where the following packages are worth considering:

- M Sport Edition: aside from the obvious (aero kit), it also included the ceramic controls, power rear and side-rear sunshades, heads-up display, and soft-close doors. All definitely worth having.

- Cold Weather Package: included heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. I don't find myself using the back seat for passengers very often, but the heated steering wheel is great on a cold day.

- Driver Assistance Plus: this was required to get the above-mentioned ACC. It gives you all of the safety systems (blind spot, lane departure, collision warning) along with side and top view camera system. Also, you get a very nice system that reads the speed limit signs and displays it in the dash and HUD.

All of these systems, put together, make for a really luxurious place to spend your time. My 650xi GC, fully loaded this way, came to $113,345 - so it wasn't an inexpensive decision (nearly $20k in options), but it really does make the car. As I said, if you had to choose between engine and options, I'd probably air on the side of getting a very well equipped car if you couldn't do both. That said, the 650 did come already better equipped, and as "thebmw" said above, the 650's, in general, were probably spec'd a bit higher, so you'll have a better time finding one optioned-out.

[Opie55]

Agree with the above, but in the used market night vision and adaptive drive are hard to find. The active seats are on maybe 30% of cars. Adaptive cruise may have become more popular in later years, but in 2015 - at least on convertibles, I have yet to see a single one with it.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

I went for the 650xi when I ordered mine. I had a 2014 F10 550xi for 3 years prior, and it was trouble free mechanically. Both use the N63TU, which was greatly improved over the original (and very problematic) N63.

That said, it's true that the V8 is not BMW's high-volume engine, and it's generally less reliable. As I posted in another recent thread on this topic, if you buy the right car, you should have a decent chance of good experience with an N63TU. But, nonetheless, you should always be budgeting for the worst case scenario - with any car/engine.

The N55 is a very good engine, but in such a big/heavy car, I just wanted more power. It isn't necessary most of the time, however.

If it comes down to it, I'd focus more on the options. I spec'd out the car with pretty much every option that was available, and I don't regret it one bit. Each option gets used quite a bit. Some of my favorites that I'd strongly recommend:

- Adaptive Drive: this is a big car, and the active sway bars can get a workout keeping it from leaning in corners.

- B&O: this system puts out 1,200 watts, it's very clear, has fantastic looking lighted aluminum speaker grilles, and the center "acoustic lens" provides some drama as it rises automatically.

- Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection: you'll forget it's there until it saves your butt. I've had at least one really close call end happily thanks to this system.

- ACC with Stop & Go: if you drive on crowded highways, this is a great companion. It takes some of the pain out of traffic jams.

- Active Seats: if you're on longer trips, this is a nice option to keep your bum from falling asleep.

Aside from those listed above, at least for the 2017 model when I ordered, the 650 had options laid out in such a way where the following packages are worth considering:

- M Sport Edition: aside from the obvious (aero kit), it also included the ceramic controls, power rear and side-rear sunshades, heads-up display, and soft-close doors. All definitely worth having.

- Cold Weather Package: included heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. I don't find myself using the back seat for passengers very often, but the heated steering wheel is great on a cold day.

- Driver Assistance Plus: this was required to get the above-mentioned ACC. It gives you all of the safety systems (blind spot, lane departure, collision warning) along with side and top view camera system. Also, you get a very nice system that reads the speed limit signs and displays it in the dash and HUD.

All of these systems, put together, make for a really luxurious place to spend your time. My 650xi GC, fully loaded this way, came to $113,345 - so it wasn't an inexpensive decision (nearly $20k in options), but it really does make the car. As I said, if you had to choose between engine and options, I'd probably air on the side of getting a very well equipped car if you couldn't do both. That said, the 650 did come already better equipped, and as "thebmw" said above, the 650's, in general, were probably spec'd a bit higher, so you'll have a better time finding one optioned-out.

Agree with ezmaass. Expect I don't like Active Seats. After owning multiple 650s with and without active seats, I have found active seats annoying but more importantly, I think the non active seats are actually slightly cushier than the active seats (i.e., more comfortable).

[Frupal]

I agree with the ‘fully loaded 640’ plan. Mine came loaded with everything except the active seats and that night vision thing. I really love the soft closing doors, but grew tired of explaining it to friends who slam them anyway. Lol! I also read a thread that cautioned about getting fingers caught in them as there is no safety-stop...

[E92TTCoupe]

IMHO:
Cons: Lack of power
Pros: Reasonable maintainability

[FinalRenegade]

For a heavy car like this, you honestly need the V8 to feel alive, I've spoken to a great friend who works for BMW, he told me regular interval maintenance will keep the N63TU running healthy; I go for a low-KM/mileage oil change in between the factory recommended intervals which I've read to be extremely helpful in longevity.

Again, with a car that gets as heavy as 4300Lbs, you need a V8 to keep it feeling sporty and alive when you need it to be.

[FinalRenegade]

For a heavy car like this, you honestly need the V8 to feel alive, I've spoken to a great friend who works for BMW, he told me regular interval maintenance will keep the N63TU running healthy; I go for a low-KM/mileage oil change in between the factory recommended intervals which I've read to be extremely helpful in longevity.

Again, with a car that gets as heavy as 4300Lbs, you need a V8 to keep it feeling sporty and alive when you need it to be.

[peter777]

I feel alive and sporty with the 640i and the N55 engine too...

[AccordTR]

650 all the way. Slap BM3 with catless downpipes and you have a near 600hp monster. The car despite its weight will do 0-60 in under 4 secs.

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by peter777

I feel alive and sporty with the 640i and the N55 engine too...

Funny! I feel alive with or without either engine.

[mudpaw]

Replaced my 2009 Audi S5 with my 2015 640i GC Xdrive. Definitely a step up. After an early AC issue, no complaints.
Awesome car. many compliments on it.

[MichaelInChicago]

The 650 is the superior choice, especially in a large, heavy car like the 6 series (Coupe and Gran Coupe).

Mine is a 2015 and it has been virtually problem free mechanically. The performance and overall driveability of my Gran Coupe is unlike any other car I have ever owned, and much of this enjoyment comes from this amazing powerplant.

[city1991]

Originally Posted by city1991

Looking at a 640 coupe. Loaded very well. Want the 640 due to the N55 motor rather than the problematic 650. Any who can share their likes and dislikes is greatly appreciated.

Bought the 2016 640i xdrive. Fully loaded without night vision. Love the car, plenty of get up and go for me. Thanks everyone who offered advice and opinions.

[ezmaass]

Originally Posted by city1991

Bought the 2016 640i xdrive. Fully loaded without night vision. Love the car, plenty of get up and go for me. Thanks everyone who offered advice and opinions.

Congratulations! While I love the engine of the 650, the options are arguably more important in regular driving enjoyment for a GT like this. If you need/want more power, a JB4 tune could help out.

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

Congratulations! While I love the engine of the 650, the options are arguably more important in regular driving enjoyment for a GT like this. If you need/want more power, a JB4 tune could help out.

What’s a JB4 Tune?

[city1991]

Originally Posted by Frupal

What’s a JB4 Tune?

While I don't fully understand tunes, boost, etc., a tune will extract more power from the engine. How? Not entirely sure. It can put more strain on parts which can lead to early failure. If my understanding is correct.

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by city1991

While I don't fully understand tunes, boost, etc., a tune will extract more power from the engine. How? Not entirely sure. It can put more strain on parts which can lead to early failure. If my understanding is correct.

Haha! No thanks! I had a friend, long ago that always said “Factory is the hot set up.” Essentially: If you want more power, buy a car that comes with it. Not to mention that ‘Chipping’ or doing the Dinan thing will most likely void the warranty.