BMW 645ci - feedback

AlanD

Hi,

anyone here driven, owned, borrowed a 645ci?

What do you think of them. Like them to own? Any notable problems?

You know the usual stuff.

A

sogood

AlanD wrote: »

Hi,

anyone here driven, owned, borrowed a 645ci?

What do you think of them. Like them to own? Any notable problems?

You know the usual stuff.

A

I run a 1990 735 and it's such a beautiful, bulletproof, powerful, comfortable, solid motor with a sweet straight six M30 block if that helps. There are numerous BMW owners forums about, as in ROADFLY, Irish BMW owners forum and several UK based online sites also that information is readily available. Might be no harm to post there?

caze

Hi Alan,

have a look at this....
http://www.bmw-driver.net/Forum/showthread.php?t=12113
and
http://www.bmw-driver.net/Forum/showthread.php?t=10171

Lads over on BMW driver.net will sort you out with any specific questions you might have.
Also try http://www.bmwland.co.uk/talker/ and http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/default.asp

No experience of the 6 myself but running an e60 for the past two years without issue and loving it.
Hope that helps!

AlanD

Cheers, been browsing through those forums alright.

So just spreading the net wider.

LOVE the car, so just looking to learn a bit more about life with one.

ContyHooks

I don't know much about them but all the management team where I used to work had them (06's) and they are stunning cars to look at anyway! Fairly hefty price tag though!

Padraig Mor

Beware of this problem though:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321434

Link is re 7 series, but the problem affects all 02- BMW V8s. Doesn't seem to be showing up in 04- cars yet.

macnab

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Beware of this problem though:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321434

Link is re 7 series, but the problem affects all 02- BMW V8s. Doesn't seem to be showing up in 04- cars yet.

I havnt seen this issue pop up on the M5 forums.

Padraig Mor

macnab wrote: »

I havnt seen this issue pop up on the M5 forums.

Forgot about the E39 M5s - and E90 M3s. Not sure if they are affected. Off the top of my head, I think it's the N62 series engines, as used in 02- 745i, 735i, 740i, 750i, 645i, 650i, 545i, 540i, 550i.

macnab

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Forgot about the E39 M5s - and E90 M3s. Not sure if they are affected. Off the top of my head, I think it's the N62 series engines, as used in 02- 745i, 735i, 740i, 750i, 645i, 650i, 545i, 540i, 550i.

Sound, thanks.

nationalgeo

ContyHooks wrote: »

I don't know much about them but all the management team where I used to work had them (06's) and they are stunning cars to look at anyway! Fairly hefty price tag though!

Was that up in citywest?

I was driving home the other day and an 08 650 went past me, less than 2 mins later a 06 650 convertible went past.

They are a fab looking car. Think I would rather have a ariel atom instead now.

AlanD

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Beware of this problem though:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321434

Link is re 7 series, but the problem affects all 02- BMW V8s. Doesn't seem to be showing up in 04- cars yet.

Interesting.....easy to check for I wonder.

Any idea if you can go in to a BMW dealer a buy a warranty?

MarkN

You can extend the BMW warranty if it's been covered consistantly by them from new.

If you are just buying a car out of warranty there are independent companies which do warranties.

Just about to buy the BMW extended one for mine at end of Jan - it's 1k for full warranty, goes down to 600 for minimal cover and mine is 4.0 V8 so I'd say the 645 would be similar.

AlanD

MarkN wrote: »

You can extend the BMW warranty if it's been covered consistantly by them from new.

If you are just buying a car out of warranty there are independent companies which do warranties.

Just about to buy the BMW extended one for mine at end of Jan - it's 1k for full warranty, goes down to 600 for minimal cover and mine is 4.0 V8 so I'd say the 645 would be similar.

Worth buying I reckon. Saved us a fortune on our last cars.

unkel

AlanD wrote: »

Worth buying I reckon. Saved us a fortune on our last cars.

Absolutely. If you have a nearly new performance BMW that you drive hard, you'd be a fool not to keep it under full BMW warranty. A grand a year is a bargain imho.

Padraig Mor

AlanD wrote: »

Interesting.....easy to check for I wonder.

Any idea if you can go in to a BMW dealer a buy a warranty?

Not easy to check for at all unless the mechanic knows what he's looking for. Happened across it when I was looking to buy a 02 745i recently from a BMW dealer. I *believe* the car suffered from this problem. I also *believe* the dealer knew damn well about it which is why they were flogging it without a warranty! Close escape there.....

As Mark said, warranty can be extended (to 100k miles?) if cover is continuous. Not aware of any indie warranty companies in Ireland.

Marlow

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Forgot about the E39 M5s - and E90 M3s. Not sure if they are affected. Off the top of my head, I think it's the N62 series engines, as used in 02- 745i, 735i, 740i, 750i, 645i, 650i, 545i, 540i, 550i.

Thanks. Noting it's the N62 makes it easier to pinpoint, as the old V8's are M62, M5 E39 is S62 and the M3 is S65, so different engines.

/M

Matt Simis

Certain reviewers, with the notable exception of Pistonheads, said the manual 630i was the one to have, as its lighter and revs faster. The 630i engine is not an m54 engine as used in the 5 series (which I have and dont like), its an all new 6pot and is (was?) the worlds lightest 6 cylinder engine (161kg).

(Different PH review, they recommended the 645i over it as a 2nd hand buy in another article):
http://www.pistonheads.com/roadtests/bmw/BMW630i.htm


I dunno, its a trade of V8 power for I6 economy in my eyes. Also sometimes (usually) the 630i is offered for more than the 645i 2nd hand.

AlanD

Do BMW require you to service in their deslerships to maintain warranty? I would service myself for the basics or with an indie for complicated stuff.

The way I see it too. The 645 will be cheaper to buy so savings on fuel for a mire expensive 630 won't work out.

Voodoomelon

AlanD wrote: »

Do BMW require you to service in their deslerships to maintain warranty? I would service myself for the basics or with an indie for complicated stuff.

I would imagine so, I can't see them putting their name to a new warranty when they've no idea of the history of the car.

onemanband

Had a 645i for the weekend when mc keon's in kells were trying to get me to buy it. Super car, nice seats good handling and plenty of poke. This is coming from a M3 and M5 driver for the last 7 years. Just did not warm to the rear end.

AlanD

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I would imagine so, I can't see them putting their name to a new warranty when they've no idea of the history of the car.

Id look for a full history myself and mind it like a baby afterwards.

I'll do a bit of warranty research.

VolvoMan

AlanD wrote: »

Do BMW require you to service in their deslerships to maintain warranty? I would service myself for the basics or with an indie for complicated stuff.

Under Block Exemption, no they don't. It might help your case better though if something major goes wrong and you have a fully stamped BMW dealer history, that's all.

AlanD

VolvoMan wrote: »

Under Block Exemption, no they don't. It might help your case better though if something major goes wrong and you have a fully stamped BMW dealer history, that's all.

That's what i thought alright. But no way would I pay BMW rates for servicing. I have a super local mechanic I use for everything.

I'll look in to it anyway to see. I grew up in the motor industry so I know the game and can look after cars well so wouldn't be doing a nice 6 a disservice.