Some questions about an M6 convertible

Balr14 · 04-27-2019, 11:19 AM

Hello all,

I own a Porsche 997.2 Carrera S cabriolet. My wife hates it and refuses to ride in it. It's too low, the handling and response are extremely sharp and quick. I also own a 2009 335i. We like it a lot. The ride and handling are very nice; smoother and more relaxed than the Porsche. So, I think a BMW convertible would make her happy and it's something I could get used to.

I found a very nice 2014 M6 convertible with 40k miles, competition and luxury packages. I haven't found any major issues with these cars. Maintenance costs seem to run about $2500 per year. Nothing that would suggest massive repair bills. But I have heard they use oil.

Any comments would be appreciated, before I make a deal.

anglaslt · 04-27-2019, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balr14

Hello all,

I own a Porsche 997.2 Carrera S cabriolet. My wife hates it and refuses to ride in it. It's too low, the handling and response are extremely sharp and quick. I also own a 2009 335i. We like it a lot. The ride and handling are very nice; smoother and more relaxed than the Porsche. So, I think a BMW convertible would make her happy and it's something I could get used to.

I found a very nice 2014 M6 convertible with 40k miles, competition and luxury packages. I haven't found any major issues with these cars. Maintenance costs seem to run about $2500 per year. Nothing that would suggest massive repair bills. But I have heard they use oil.

Any comments would be appreciated, before I make a deal.

Your 335i and an M6 will feel totally different. By comparison the 335i will feel a lot smoother and softer. The DCT gearbox on an M6, although quite good in fully auto mode, is not as smooth as a torque converter and the suspension on an M6 Comp, even in comfort, is quite firm.

I've owned both and like both but they are totally different cars. I think you should both go for a test run before deciding.

Balr14 · 04-27-2019, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anglaslt

Your 335i and an M6 will feel totally different. By comparison the 335i will feel a lot smoother and softer. The DCT gearbox on an M6, although quite good in fully auto mode, is not as smooth as a torque converter and the suspension on an M6 Comp, even in comfort, is quite firm.

I've owned both and like both but they are totally different cars. I think you should both go for a test run before deciding.

My Porsche has the PDK, so I'm familiar with how the transmission feels. But, the ride quality could be an issue for my wife. Thanks for the suggestion.

MelbourneFinn · 04-27-2019, 04:40 PM

Perhaps consider 650 as an alternative, that rides “softer”, and is probably more comparable with an older 335... As per above, take the cars for a drive. You are likely to get a much younger 650 for the same money...

6-series - whether 650 or M6 - is a very luxurious car compared to either a 911 or an older 3-series, the biggest challenge I hear from my wife when discussing whether she would drive my M6 or not is the size - it’s a big car, with long bonnet, and the seating position is low compared to most other cars, so that may take some time to get used to.

As to the oil consumption, if the engine has been maintained well, you shouldn’t experience too excessive oil consumption. I’m on my 2nd M6, neither has consumed much oil at all. As a high performance engine, I change oil every 6-8k km (5k mls), have never needed to add oil between changes in either car. Fair enough, mine have been low mileage cars (bought both with less than 2k kms on them), but have read similar experiences from other forum members.

Balr14 · 04-27-2019, 05:41 PM

Thanks for your reply. I have driven a 650i and it reminded me of my old Lexus 430SC, which I hated. Oddly enough, the 650i and M6 prices are very similar. My wife would never drive it, so that isn't a worry. Just getting her to ride in it, preferable without complaining, is my main concern. A bit more luxury would be nice. We are both old (70+) and the 911 and 335i seats are meant for smaller and younger bodies. Hell, I even had a base 2005 Mini with seats left over from the Spanish Inquisition.

Xx__xs · 04-27-2019, 06:17 PM

check out my thread for oil consumption, at least 4 of us in there that do a quart every 500-1000 miles https://www.6post.com/forums/showthr...1600900&page=2

Balr14 · 04-27-2019, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xx__xs

check out my thread for oil consumption, at least 4 of us in there that do a quart every 500-1000 miles https://www.6post.com/forums/showthr...1600900&page=2

That is worrisome. Especially since I don't know how it was driven when new.

Xx__xs · 04-28-2019, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balr14

That is worrisome. Especially since I don't know how it was driven when new.

if it means anything, according to BMW, 500-1000 miles is "within spec"

Balr14 · 04-28-2019, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xx__xs

if it means anything, according to BMW, 500-1000 miles is "within spec"

1000 I could live with, 500 sucks.

MelbourneFinn · 04-28-2019, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balr14

1000 I could live with, 500 sucks.

I would argue something is off with oil consumption on those numbers...

Xx__xs · 04-28-2019, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balr14

1000 I could live with, 500 sucks.

i was at 750 with the 0-30 oil. i changed to 5-30 currently at 500 miles so far. lets see if it changes anything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MelbourneFinn

I would argue something is off with oil consumption on those numbers...

bmw dealer techs say its normal lol

brad850csi · 04-28-2019, 01:29 PM

Look at it the other way around, a service is just a filter change, there is no need to change the oil as you're doing that already

I did 11k miles before my car popped up saying put some oil in which I didn't think was all that bad.

Balr14 · 04-29-2019, 02:49 PM

I don't know a lot about this oil consumption problem, but it seems it arise from being broken-in improperly. So, the problem would show up pretty quickly. If I had a car that exhibited excess oil consumption, I doubt I would have kept it for 40K miles. The M6 I'm looking at is a one owner car with that mileage.

Xx__xs · 04-30-2019, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balr14

I don't know a lot about this oil consumption problem, but it seems it arise from being broken-in improperly. So, the problem would show up pretty quickly. If I had a car that exhibited excess oil consumption, I doubt I would have kept it for 40K miles. The M6 I'm looking at is a one owner car with that mileage.

i know people who babied their break ins and have to fill oil every 1k miles. i know people who went crazy during break ins and never had to fill any quart at all. my mechanic swears that whoever has to fill oil babied it too much during break in. he went all out during his break in on his m5 and never fills any oil

MelbourneFinn · 04-30-2019, 03:26 AM

I don’t think it’s as much about how you use the car during break-in period (2000 km/1200 mls), but whether the oil and filter change was done at the time or not... based on what I have heard...

Makes sense to check the service history in iDrive - doesn’t guarantee the oil was actually changed, but if someone goes to the length of getting the electronic service stamp into the system, pretty high likelihood it did take place...

04-27-2019, 11:19 AM	#1
Balr14 First Lieutenant 555 Rep 397 Posts Drives: 2020 Z4 M40i Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Menomonee Falls, Wi. iTrader: (0)	Some questions about an M6 convertible Hello all, I own a Porsche 997.2 Carrera S cabriolet. My wife hates it and refuses to ride in it. It's too low, the handling and response are extremely sharp and quick. I also own a 2009 335i. We like it a lot. The ride and handling are very nice; smoother and more relaxed than the Porsche. So, I think a BMW convertible would make her happy and it's something I could get used to. I found a very nice 2014 M6 convertible with 40k miles, competition and luxury packages. I haven't found any major issues with these cars. Maintenance costs seem to run about $2500 per year. Nothing that would suggest massive repair bills. But I have heard they use oil. Any comments would be appreciated, before I make a deal.
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04-27-2019, 04:40 PM	#4
MelbourneFinn First Lieutenant 256 Rep 390 Posts Drives: 2021 G30 M550i Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 BMW M550i [9.00]	Perhaps consider 650 as an alternative, that rides “softer”, and is probably more comparable with an older 335... As per above, take the cars for a drive. You are likely to get a much younger 650 for the same money... 6-series - whether 650 or M6 - is a very luxurious car compared to either a 911 or an older 3-series, the biggest challenge I hear from my wife when discussing whether she would drive my M6 or not is the size - it’s a big car, with long bonnet, and the seating position is low compared to most other cars, so that may take some time to get used to. As to the oil consumption, if the engine has been maintained well, you shouldn’t experience too excessive oil consumption. I’m on my 2nd M6, neither has consumed much oil at all. As a high performance engine, I change oil every 6-8k km (5k mls), have never needed to add oil between changes in either car. Fair enough, mine have been low mileage cars (bought both with less than 2k kms on them), but have read similar experiences from other forum members.
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04-27-2019, 05:41 PM	#5
Balr14 First Lieutenant 555 Rep 397 Posts Drives: 2020 Z4 M40i Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Menomonee Falls, Wi. iTrader: (0)	Thanks for your reply. I have driven a 650i and it reminded me of my old Lexus 430SC, which I hated. Oddly enough, the 650i and M6 prices are very similar. My wife would never drive it, so that isn't a worry. Just getting her to ride in it, preferable without complaining, is my main concern. A bit more luxury would be nice. We are both old (70+) and the 911 and 335i seats are meant for smaller and younger bodies. Hell, I even had a base 2005 Mini with seats left over from the Spanish Inquisition.
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04-27-2019, 06:17 PM	#6
Xx__xs Major 201 Rep 1,255 Posts Drives: m6 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: los angeles iTrader: (1)	check out my thread for oil consumption, at least 4 of us in there that do a quart every 500-1000 miles https://www.6post.com/forums/showthr...1600900&page=2
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04-28-2019, 01:29 PM	#12
brad850csi Colonel 1316 Rep 2,349 Posts Drives: 16 F13 M6 Comp Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Auckland, New Zealand iTrader: (0)	Look at it the other way around, a service is just a filter change, there is no need to change the oil as you're doing that already I did 11k miles before my car popped up saying put some oil in which I didn't think was all that bad. __________________ SCOTT26 "So as an admirer of the M5 and a potential customer of an M5 Touring. I would run naked around the streets of Garching if they were to offer one."
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04-29-2019, 02:49 PM	#13
Balr14 First Lieutenant 555 Rep 397 Posts Drives: 2020 Z4 M40i Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Menomonee Falls, Wi. iTrader: (0)	I don't know a lot about this oil consumption problem, but it seems it arise from being broken-in improperly. So, the problem would show up pretty quickly. If I had a car that exhibited excess oil consumption, I doubt I would have kept it for 40K miles. The M6 I'm looking at is a one owner car with that mileage.
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04-30-2019, 03:26 AM	#15
MelbourneFinn First Lieutenant 256 Rep 390 Posts Drives: 2021 G30 M550i Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 BMW M550i [9.00]	I don’t think it’s as much about how you use the car during break-in period (2000 km/1200 mls), but whether the oil and filter change was done at the time or not... based on what I have heard... Makes sense to check the service history in iDrive - doesn’t guarantee the oil was actually changed, but if someone goes to the length of getting the electronic service stamp into the system, pretty high likelihood it did take place...
	Appreciate 0 Quote