Used BMW M6 Buying Guide
The BMW M6 is the M5’s grand-touring alter ego: same ferocious drivetrains, draped in two-door Coupe, Convertible or four-door Gran Coupe bodywork. The used market splits into the E63/E64 era (2005-2010) with the 5.0-litre V10 and SMG gearbox, and the F12/F13/F06 era (2012-2018) with the 4.4-litre twin-turbo S63 V8 and dual-clutch transmission. Both eras offer colossal performance for a small fraction of the original list price - which is precisely why buying one demands discipline. It suits experienced enthusiasts wanting a continent-crushing GT rather than a track toy: the M6 has always been the softer-edged, more luxurious way to own an M-division flagship, and the used market prices it accordingly - often below the equivalent M5 despite the rarer bodywork.
Engines and trims
E63 cars share the M5’s screaming S85 V10 with around 500bhp, an intoxicating engine attached to demanding running costs. The F-generation S63 V8 produces around 552bhp (more with the Competition Package) with vast mid-range torque, making the later car far easier to drive fast. The Gran Coupe (F06) is the connoisseur’s pick: rarer, arguably the best-looking, and genuinely practical. There are no trims as such - look instead for the Competition Package, carbon-ceramic brakes (only a bonus if the discs are healthy, as replacements are extremely expensive), Bang & Olufsen audio and comfort seats. Convertibles trade a little body rigidity for open-air drama; the Coupe’s carbon roof is the purist’s choice.
What to check before buying
E63/E64: the V10’s rod bearings and throttle actuators are the known weak points, and documented preventative bearing work adds real value; SMG hydraulic pumps and clutch wear are the transmission’s tax. F12/F13/F06: the S63 of this era is known for valve stem seal wear - watch for blue smoke on start-up after a hot idle - along with occasional turbo oil leaks and injector issues, so a cold start inspection is essential. On all cars, the dual-clutch box should be smooth when warm and free of judder in traffic.
Beyond mechanicals, buy the file, not the paint: consistent specialist history, matching premium tyres, no remap surprises and clean HPI. Convertibles need a full roof cycle test. A pre-purchase inspection by an M specialist is non-negotiable at this level of complexity, and it’s worth checking active seat bolsters, soft-close doors and the head-up display too - luxury-car electronics fail in luxury-car ways.
Running costs
Be honest with yourself: fuel consumption is heavy, insurance sits in the top groups, and consumables are supercar-grade - tyres, brakes and fluids come around fast on a near-two-tonne 500-plus-bhp GT. Specialist servicing keeps routine costs manageable, but a healthy contingency fund is part of the deal, especially for V10 cars. Values of the best examples have stabilised, and rarity - the M6 sold in far smaller numbers than the M5 - gives well-kept cars a collectability the saloon can’t quite match. Even so: the purchase price is the deposit; the maintenance is the mortgage.
Verdict
A well-sorted M6 is one of the great used performance bargains - a bespoke-feeling grand tourer with full M5 pace and considerably more glamour. The F06 Gran Coupe with full history is the standout buy, but whichever era tempts you, spend your first money on inspection and documentation, and only then on the car itself.
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