Regrets on buying a 6er?

[Rob1910]

Hi all

I've owned everything from a Porsche Cayman, an E63 630i, a 420i X-Drive, an E46 M3, a Merc SLK a 944s2 etc

I now have a 640d which I honestly have to say is possibly a wee bit of a let down?

Let me explain why..

Ok it has a leather dash board which looks great and the engine is powerful and responsive and it is a good looking, grown up car...but is it just me...or are they really that reliable?

I'm not trolling but the batteries don't seem to last, as several on here seem to have issues with their batteries, as well as other electrical gremlins, which I've never experienced in, so called, lesser cars? Is this to be expected?

Seems to be once the car hits 3 years or over the battery can be prone to discharge error messages?

Should I consider changing it? The car has 18k on it?

I get a "Battery discharge whilst stationary" when it's been left for 48 hours? and occasionally the welcome lights don't come on. (I've taken to charging on a trickle charger on a Sunday) Is this considered normal? or to be expected?

Is it normal for "Eco - Pro" to show a 0.4 mile saving after 50 motorway miles and leave the battery on a lower charge than before? (according to hidden menu) 12.4v at start / 12.3v afterwards. Cruise set to 65mph, Air con off, Fan on low, lights on, screen on, radio off.

I've been driving with the lights on (Due to working nights), wipers on auto (due to weather), screen and radio on. Seats OFF, Fans OFF, Air con OFF but still find battery showing 12.7v at start of week and about 12.4v by end of week (200 miles with limited electrics on)

I'm guessing it could be the battery getting older? But are there known battery issues with these cars?

I've not had it long but am a bit concerned it could be prone to electrical problems?

Does anyone know what the readings on the hidden menu should be for voltage?
I'm getting 14.5v-14.7v when running. A drop to 11.8v-12v on stop start and a 12.3v-12.8v when off?
Are these normal?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

[thedza]

No regrets. Have had my 650 for just short of a year, and other than topping off the oil once, no issues or anything out of the ordinary (knock on wood). love this car and never get tired of looking at it

[FBMWWINS]

It's not my daily car and I drive it mostly in spring and summer. Got it last July and so far NO regrets. Have had no issues, (also knock on wood) thus far. All is good and I actually love the car (with its defects like all) in-and outside.

[damnet007]

I've had mine for three years now and apart from an issue with the seat pan (sorted under warranty) it's been absolutely fine. I've never had this battery issue that you mention, and sometimes my car is left for weeks without use whilst I'm abroad.

It seems you may have some sort of battery/electrical issue - faulty alternator/perhaps something else keeps on draining your battery?

You can turn off the eco-pro climate settings in idrive if you find them annoying - your seats will heat up more and the aircon won't be as restricted. Eco-pro never drains my battery, if anything I'd imagine it would have the opposite effect.

I routinely save ~10miles in a 140mile round-trip that involves overtaking tractors and lorries on country roads with the transmission in sport (I'm pretty sure the figure can be increased if I change my driving style).

Get someone to take a look at your car - it doesn't sound normal. I've got the same model as you and it seems to run a lot better.

[jjasonSU]

No regrets about buying the 6er. I have only thought I could have waited for the 8 series, since I purchased it ~1 year before the 8 dropped

Seems you only have one issue that is concerning you?
I have been told expect to replace the battery once every two years in a 650i

[Rob1910]

Yeah I'm thinking I'm possibly being a tad harsh on the car as the only issue is, quite possibly, the aging battery.
Spoke to BMW they recommend a 90mah battery yet online search, euro car parts and Halfords recommend a 95mah or 105mah.
Car is in on Fri for the egr recall I'm getting them to check and replace the battery so fingers crossed all goes well.

[FBMWWINS]

Sorry to hear about your problem and it's frustrating of course as battery issues are quite serious and sometime hard to tackle or discover. I would just get the 105AH battery and you are good. Double check with the dealer to make sure they install that one. Here are the options listed on ETK:

https://www.etkbmw.com/bmw/EN/search...0d/ECE/61_2369

[Rob1910]

Hi F06WINS
Thanks for that! I'll show that to the dealer on Fri and go for the 105mah.
Had the car back on the trickle charger again today it seems to be dropping from 12.7v to about 12.4v during the course of a day ( with a 50 mile run Inbetween) lights on, wipers on auto, no air con fans on low, no heated seats on. Stereo on mute but screen on.
So guessing it's not holding a full charge but not dropping badly either.
Think a replacement is an idea as it's winter and it could be getting left for a day or so if it snows.

Thanks for your help

[AZ_Bmw_550]

To your original point, nope, no regrets, car is super reliable and an awesome cruiser. I couldn't be happier...

[mrjsmith88]

Love my 650 man it's an amazing car...wrote a post bout it in the forums.. My car gave no troubles regular maintenance.. if I didn't blow my motor with the JB4 I would not have had a costly repair yet with this car. I have the F10 550 and F06 650 and I drive the 650 way more lol!!

[Flying Ace]

so your only issue is battery life? Expect all BMWs to get a new battery sometime between years 3 and 8, especially if your driving is not conducive to charging it. There's a efficient dynamic battery meter on the digital dash that allows you to gauge your driving behavior and your ability to charge it while driving.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by Rob1910

Yeah I'm thinking I'm possibly being a tad harsh on the car as the only issue is, quite possibly, the aging battery.
Spoke to BMW they recommend a 90mah battery yet online search, euro car parts and Halfords recommend a 95mah or 105mah.
Car is in on Fri for the egr recall I'm getting them to check and replace the battery so fingers crossed all goes well.

Regarding 95 and 105, while the car will take either, and while the 105 has bigger capacity, BMW will recommend you stick to the same capacity battery.

[Rob1910]

Hi Flying Ace

Thanks for your advice, the dealer did recommend sticking with the 90mah.
I don't know the first thing about batteries! I assumed, possibly incorrectly, that the 105mah would be a better battery as it would take longer to discharge? Is that the difference between the 90 and 105?

Thanks

[MARKPRIOR]

on a side note, i dont think you can just whack a battery in ? they have to be coded also ?

but yeah love mine no regrets

[FBMWWINS]

I just spoke to my German BMW dealer I have been trusting for over 10 years. He stated that going for a higher capacity battery (105AH vs. originally the 90AH one) will not cause any issues.
As is the case the battery replacement needs to be registered via Rheingold and the correct parameters must be set (e.g. a higher capacity battery than the previous one as well as other parameters).
But it's ultimately your decision ROB.

[Deda]

Hello,

After 5 beautiful years,today i have sold my F06..san marino blue individual,opal white interior individual.
640 xd M sport

All i have to say,best car i ever own..zero problems or issues.

I will recommend car for those who need fast and comfort highway limo.

Several time i made 2000 km in 24 hours and made it only because car is so easy to drive.

Best wishes to new owner.

[Deda]

Good bye!

[FBMWWINS]

Nice one! Is that the equipment package Design Pure Excellence?

[Deda]

Well,im from Europe..that was part of individual order..we have different options and packages here..M sport package and M sport Edition..and that was 2014.

[FBMWWINS]

I have seen that interior combination on the design pure excellence package on another 6 series model sold in my area and that is why I was wondering if you had it too or if it's perhaps just purchased as a combination of the leather upholsteries options BMW offers rather than in the mentioned package. If you decode your VIN, you can find out if that is part of it.

07LY - Design Pure Excellence

[brad850csi]

OP: I suspect your battery is simply a bit weak. I've left my car for over a week a few times and haven't had a problem. Maybe someone managed to completely drain it at some stage.

Deda & F06WINS, this was an option on pre LCI cars I believe. I've seen it on a few M6's and other non-Ms but only pre LCI and only on F06, not on F12 or F13. It was individual, but in the same way that Tanzanite blue is individual - on the options list and you pay just a bit more for it, not full 'individual manufaktur' where you pay thousands and thousands

[Roccaas]

Waiting for it to “mature” into the right $$ Range.