BMW 6 Series (E63)

BMW 6 Series (E63)
Overview
Manufacturer	BMW
Production	2003–2010
Model years	2004–2010
Assembly	Dingolfing, Germany 6th of October City, Egypt (BAG)
Designer	Adrian Van Hooydonk [Exterior] David Carp [Interior]
Body and chassis
Class	Grand tourer (S)
Body style	2-door coupé 2-door convertible
Platform	BMW 5 Series (E60)
Powertrain
Engine	Petrol: 3.0 I6 4.4 V8 4.8 V8 5.0 V10 Diesel: 3.0 I6
Transmission	6-speed Steptronic 6-speed Manual 6-speed (SMG) 7-speed (SMG)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,780 mm (109.4 in)
Length	4,820 mm (189.8 in)
Width	1,855 mm (73.0 in)
Height	1,374 mm (54.1 in)
Curb weight	1,650–1,995 kg (3,638–4,398 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	BMW 6 Series (E24)
Successor	BMW 6 Series (F06/F12/F13)

The BMW E63/E64 6 Series is the chassis designation for the second generation BMW 6 Series. The BMW E63/E64 replaced the BMW E24 6 Series 14 years after production had ended, whilst adding a convertible to the lineup. The BMW E63/E64 6 Series uses a shortened chassis from the BMW E60 5 Series (which formed the fifth generation BMW 5 Series), and shares similar functions including the BMW iDrive. The BMW E63/E64 6 Series' design was based on the BMW Z9 Concept, whose exterior was redesigned by Adrian Van Hooydonk, whilst David Carp designed the interior of the car. The BMW E63/E64 6 Series was introduced in autumn of 2003 in the Frankfurt Auto Show, and premiered in the North American Auto Show.

The development process of the BMW E63/E64 6 Series was documented in a three-part documentary by the Discovery Channel Canada Series named Birth of a Sports Car. The three episodes were organised from design, testing and production respectively.

630C/i and 635d models were not sold in America, and were only sold in Europe and other parts of the world, whilst all 645Ci and 650i models were available to all. Production started on 18 March 2004 and ended on July 31, 2010, being replaced by the 2011 BMW F06/F12/F13 6 Series, whilst adding a four-door coupe called the Gran Coupe to the lineup.

Initial Release

The 1999 BMW Z9 Concept, on which the BMW E63/E64's design is based.

Only 645Ci models had these Z9-inspired wheel designs as an option.

The BMW E63/E64 6 Series premiered in the North American Auto Show and was then introduced to the public in the 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show. The 645Ci Coupe and Convertible models were the only available models in the lineup at the time of the release.

Early 6 Series models featured a 'C' before the 'i' in the model designation. This meant that early 6 Series models would be called 630Ci and 645Ci, instead of 630i and 645i (All 645Ci's had a C in their model designation). The 'C' was also visible in the model designation on the right hand side of the boot, but the 'C' was later dropped to keep in line with BMW's nomenclature.

Alongside the facelift in September 27, 2007, BMW introduced trims to the BMW E63/E64 6 Series lineup. Three trims were introduced and included SE, Sport and Edition Sport (which was introduced in 2008). The design of the BMW E63/E64 6 Series was approved and frozen in early-mid 2001. Pre-production problems included a slight noise from the glovebox, and certain parts that did not fit on the dashboard. The BMW E63/E64 6 Series came with a cupholder with a slot hanging out of the centre console to the passenger side and a compartment at the very back of the centre console (which was often criticised as being an afterthought). However, early 645Ci production models did not feature the cupholder, and also featured 19" star-spoke style 92 rims.

Coupe (2004 January-2010)

Introduced in January 2004, the 645Ci Coupe was the only available 6 Series model at the time, until March 2004 when the Convertible became available.

Convertible (2004 March-2010)

The 645Ci Convertible was green-lighted for production in March 2004, two months after the Coupe had already been ready. The delay was due to several problems, one of them being the rubber seal (where the convertible top gets stored) was allowing moisture. The coat of paint on the car also looked slightly cloudy.

Styling

The intricate design of the fin roof was then used on by many other foreign supercar manufacturer's, and on the current F12 6 Series Convertible.

The exterior of the BMW E63/E64 6 Series was designed by Adrian Van Hooydonk, based on the BMW Z9 Concept by Chris Bangle. The interior was designed by David Carp, whilst trim and upholstery colours were led and chosen by Neb Baulmeister. The design of the car was led by Chris Bangle who was head of BMW design at the time. The car also featured the controversial rear styling nicknamed the Bangle Butt by critics, but was considered to work better than on the BMW E65 7 Series (which the Bangle Butt first appeared on). This was the start of what was nicknamed the Bangle Era, until Chris Bangle left BMW in 2009 and was replaced by Adrian Van Hooydonk.

The BMW E64 6 Series Convertible featured a non-conventional convertible top design with fins and an integrated wind deflector that can be raised or lowered at any time. Soon after the debut of the BMW E64 6 Series Convertible, various supercar manufactures have copied the design as well. Cars such as the Audi R8 Spyder and the McLaren 650S Spider feature the same design, and the BMW F12 6 Series Convertible used the same design as well. When reviewing and comparing the Jaguar XK Convertible, Mercedes SL350 and BMW 650i Convertible, Jeremy Clarkson showed distaste for the roof design, calling it a 'tramps hat', but later changed his opinion when other supercar manufacturers copied the design.

On September 27, 2007, BMW debuted a facelift for the whole BMW E63/E64 lineup. Cosmetic changes included redesigned bumpers and redesigned front fog lights.^[1][2]

Controversy

The BMW E63/E64 6 Series stirred up some controversy over its design and function. One of them was on the rear styling of the car nicknamed the Bangle Butt, which followed the idea of flame surfacing: where smooth lines would connect with rough edges. This design language was said by Adrian Van Hooydonk when talking about the design of the BMW i8 to be replaced by what he called layered surfacing. During a Top Gear new segment, Jeremy Clarkson stated that the BMW E63/E64 6 Series was a beautiful car, but "you would have to reverse out of your friends driveway" so that they couldn't see the backside of the car.

The controversy also surrounded the BMW iDrive CCC, which was BMW's first generation of iDrive which was used on the BMW E63/E64 6 Series. iDrive CCC was criticised for its illogical layout and made the driver take their eyes off of the road for a long period of time and was also criticised for its long and steep learning curve, although it reportedly only took 30 minutes of practice to get to grips with the system. Retrofitting became a huge part of the industry as many people had wanted to retrofit iDrive CIC replacing their iDrive CCC. No cameras were available on the BMW E63/E64 6 Series, so retrofitting side and rear view cameras also became part of the retrofitting industry. The cupholder in the car was also criticised as being an afterthought.

Equipment

Trims

650i's can also be ordered with the Edition Sport trim.

In the facelift in September 2007, BMW introduced two trims to the BMW E63/E64 6 Series lineup called the SE and Sport trim. The SE trim was a standard and no-cost option, whilst the Sport trim sat above the SE trim and was the most popular trim sold in the UK. Another trim called the Edition Sport trim was introduced in 2008. The Sport trim featured Style 249 rims, a Ruthenium Grey trim and a sports exhaust. The Edition Sport trim included stiffer anti-roll bars, an active roll stabilisation system (found in many BMW M models), an additional contour in the centre of the bonnet, 19" style 288 rims and additional exclusive colours. 650i Edition Sport models feature a new exhaust system.

Cars with the M Sport Steering Wheel option do not have an aluminium edging on the steering wheel.

Available Equipment

Mineral Silver Metallic was a very rare colour on the BMW E63/E64 6 Series.

Standard equipment did not vary much depending on model and trim. Standard Equipment on all cars included Xenon Adaptive Headlights, Fog-Lights, Automatic Wipers, Parking Sensors with Pictogram Display or Park Distance Control (PDC), Folding Electric Power Mirrors with Memory, Power Electric Front Seats with 2 person Driver Memory, a Power Tilt and Telescoping Steering Wheel with driver Memory, Automatic Dimming Mirrors, Dual Zone Climate Control, iDrive (with the controller), Hard-Drive Navigation System, Bluetooth, Eight Speaker CD/DVD/MP3 Stereo with an Auxiliary Jack, Voice Recognition Command System, Dynamic Traction Control, HD Radio, All-Wheel Antilock Disc Brakes, Stability Control, Front Seat Knee Airbags and Active Head Restraints. Convertible models exclusively feature a Power Soft Top with a Retractable Power Rear Window, Sun (Heat) Reflective Leather Upholstery and Rollover Hoops.

Standard exterior metallic colours include: Black Sapphire, Deep Sea Blue, Space Grey and Titanium Silver. The SE trim gets an exclusive metallic colours including: Atlantic Blue, Barbera Red, Mineral Silver, Monaco Blue and Stratus Grey and gets Ruthenium Metallic as a standard interior trim colour. Metallic Carbon is also exclusive to the Sport trim, and the Brushed Aluminium interior trim was standard in the Sport trim as well.

BMW E63/E64 6 Series Sport models get 19" Star-Spoke Style 249 rims. All 630i and 635d SE models come with 17" Star-Spoke Style 117 rims, whilst all 650i models come with 18" V-Spoke Style 248 rims. All BMW E63/E64 models come with Run Flat tyres. All 635d and 650i models come with a Lane Departure Warning System as a standard feature.

The BMW E63/E64 could be ordered with equipment including Active Steering, Dynamic Drive, Dynamic Drive Package, Heated Steering Wheel, Universal Remote Control, Model Designation Deletion, Comfort Access System, Soft Close Automatic for Doors, Graduated Tinted Windscreen, Climate Comfort Laminated Glass, Automatic Dimming Rear-View Mirror, Ski Bag, Sports Seats, Adaptive Headlights, High Beam Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop and Go Function, TV Function, Navigation System (Professional), automotive head-up display, BMW Night Vision, Extended Voice Control, Bluetooth Telephone Preparation with Telematics, Bluetooth Telephone Preparation, DAB Digital Radio, BMW Professional Radio, Six-Disc CD Changer, Logic7 Sound System, Metallic Paintwork and BMW Service and Maintenance.

iDrive CCC was replaced by iDrive CIC in 2009 (2010 for US models).

Lane Departure Warning was also an Option for all BMW E63/E64 6 Series models, with the exception of all 635d and 650i models which the option came standard with. This feature featured on all of the later models, and works via a Special Camera in front of the Rear View Mirror. The Camera will check for any visible White Lines, and when the car crosses over the line, the Steering Wheel will Buzz to warn the driver. This technology will not work if the line are worn, or if it is covered by snow, meaning if the lines are not visible and clear the technology will not work. The Lane Departure Warning will also appear on the optional Heads Up Display feature as well, and can be configured in the iDrive 'Heads Up Display' menu. Keyless Access/Keyless Entry and Keyless Go are also options on the later BMW E63/E64 6 Series models.

UK and US BMW E63/E64 6 Series models have a mile and kilometer reading on the instrument cluster, and only uses one needle. Other models sold in different parts of the world only have a kilometer reading on the instrument cluster, as miles are not used.

Technology

The doors and bonnet on the BMW E63/E64 6 Series are made out of aluminium and the boot and front wing are made out of plastic. The M6 Coupe also gets a full carbon fibre roof, for a lower centre of gravity and to reduce weight. The carbon fibre pattern can be seen on the outside of the car. Early optional equipment included a head-up display and active steering. All models got headlights that would move in the direction of which the steering wheel was facing, so that the driver would have better visibility on the corner.

Later BMW E63/E64 6 Series models featured BMW's Efficient Dynamics programme. This meant that technology such as brake energy regeneration, high-precision direct injection and a twin turbo engine were included in the car. High-precision direct injection meant that the car would ensure precise fuel dosage to the engine for a more efficient and cleaner combustion. 635d models feature a twin-turbo straight six engine meaning that it also had two turbos. One would be used at lower speeds, whilst another one would activate at higher speeds so that there is no turbo lag.

iDrive Business has a slightly different GUI and a smaller 6.6" display.

iDrive CCC was one of the most controversial items on the BMW E63/E64 6 Series. iDrive is controlled using only a controller with two additional buttons below the controller. The buttons would send you back to the main menu and the other would activate the voice commands. All BMW E63/E64 6 Series' have a navigation system and iDrive CCC is disc-based, meaning you would have to buy a disc to run the navigation system. The use of a disc was no longer needed when iDrive CIC was introduced in 2009 (2010 for all US models), where it used a hard-drive based. Some 645Ci's had a different version of iDrive with a smaller 6.6" screen, and did not have some functions of iDrive CCC including a navigation system. This version was called iDrive Business.

iDrive CIC (the second generation version of iDrive) was then introduced on to European models in 2009, whilst some still had the old iDrive with the new controller. All BMW E63/E64 6 Series' had iDrive CIC by 2010. The controller featured more buttons for shortcuts, and featured 6 programmable buttons below the CD/DVD player. iDrive CIC featured a redesigned menu layout, graphics and hardware. The Voice Commands were also changed, as they were criticised for being too precise.

Safety

The BMW E63/E64 6 Series featured many safety equipment and technology including BMW's Advanced Safety System, where the car will decide the most effective deployment of the cars airbags. The car also features Active Head Restraints which reduces the risk of neck injuries in the event of a rear-end collision (this applies to front seat passengers only). In a crash, all passive safety systems are activated in a fraction of a second, the fuel pump is switched off; central locking unlocks the doors; and the hazards are automatically switched on. All-wheel antilock disc brakes, stability control, front seat knee airbags, electronic stability control and a traction control system are examples of even more safety equipment. The convertible also features pop-up rollover hoops. Also when braking hard, additional brake light surfaces light up to warn the people from behind the car.

There are no EuroNCAP crash Safety Ratings for the BMW E63/E64 6 Series.

Model Lineup

The instrument cluster design stayed the same throughout the cars' life cycle, with the exception of variation between petrol, diesel and engine variants.

The BMW E63/E64 6 Series lineup has a total of four different engines (excluding the BMW M6), three of which are petrol (645Ci, 650i, 630i) and one of them are diesel (635d). All models are rear-wheel drive, and there is no all-wheel drive option, although xDrive was introduced in the third generation BMW F06/F12/F13 6 Series. The fuel tank capacity for all BMW E63/E64 6 Series models is 90 litres.

The 630i, 635d, 645Ci and 650i could be distinguished from each other just by looking at their exhaust tailpipes. The 630i and 635d's tailpipes are completely round and circle, whilst the tailpipe in the 645Ci and 650i are more oval. The 645Ci's tailpipe is facing completely forward, whilst the tailpipe on the 650i is angled outwards.

Models

630Ci/630i

All 630Ci/630i models feature a 3.0 litre straight-six engine with valvetronic and dual vanos technology. Production dates for the 630i was from 1 October 2005 to 31 July 2010. Pre-facelift 630Ci production dates were from 1 October 2005 to 31 August 2007. Earlier 630Ci models produced before November 2008 had a Hydraulic Valve Adjuster Problem, which meant that cars with the BMW N52 engine would produce an occasional ticking or rattling noise from the engine at cold starts, or during frequent short distance driving. This does not damage the engine.

The 630i got a power and torque increase from the facelift. The engine remained the same, but the computer was coded to produce more power. Although very rare, the 630i could be ordered with a 6-speed manual or the more preferred and popular 6-speed Sports Automatic Transmission. The 630i as well as the 635d is not sold in America, and is sold in Europe and other parts of the world.

635d

The 635d was introduced in a Coupe and Convertible form in 2007, and features a 3.0 litre diesel straight-six engine with a twin-turbocharger. According to BMW, the 635d was the only and first diesel Gran Tourer at the time of its release. The 635d features more power, torque and fuel economy compared to the 630i. The 635d comes in facelift form, although there are a few cars that don't. Like the 650i, the 635d features Lane Departure Warning as a standard feature. The 635d is only sold in Europe, and only came with a Sports Automatic transmission. A manual was not an option.

645Ci

The 645Ci was the first and earliest BMW E63/E64 6 Series model. The engine features a 4.4 litre V8 producing 329 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. The 645Ci did not receive a facelift, as it ceased production in 2005 and was replaced by the bigger and quicker 650i in 2006. The 645Ci came in both Coupe and Convertible form, although there was a two-month gap between the release of both forms of BMW 6 Series. 21,040 645Ci's were sold in its first year of production.

650i

The 650i replaced the 645Ci in 2006, and production started in 2005. The 650i used a 4.8 litre V8 producing 360 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque. The 650i came in Coupe and Convertible form, and received a facelift in September 2007, although it did not get a power increase like the 630i. The 0-60 figure was shortened by BMW, and there was no extra power.

Production Figures/Sales Figures

The following production figures exclude M6 models.

Engine Lineup

M6

BMW M6 Coupe

The BMW E63 M6 Coupe was introduced to the public in the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show, whilst the BMW E64 M6 Convertible was introduced at the 2006 Paris Mondial de L'Automovile. A total of 9,087 M6 Coupe and 5,065 M6 Convertible's were built, meaning that a total of 14,153 BMW E63/E64 M6's were produced and sold.

The BMW E63/E64 M6 forms the second generation BMW M6 by the BMW M Division. All models are powered by a 5.0-litre V10 producing 500 hp and 383 lb-ft. The M6 differs from the normal 6 Series from the M Sports Seats, ///M Odometers, the (optional) ///M Heads Up Display, Illuminated ///M Door Sill Plates, and exclusive trims and body colours. The front and rear bumper design is also different, and allows for a higher air intake. There are dual quad exhausts on the car.

In 2010, the M6 was the second most expensive BMW sold in the US with an MSRP of $108,150 (US Dollars) for the Convertible, and also had one of the largest residual value drops at 19%, due to its high running costs and lack of interest.

References