Item: Used BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe 2012-2019
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The sporty-looking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a7/coupe/used-review/n909">Audi A7 Sportback</a> plugs a neat hole between the A6 and A8 saloons. It's a very smart and distinctive car with some excellent driving manners and a beautifully crafted interior.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/cls/coupe/used-review/n807">Mercedes-Benz CLS</a> is the car that started the fashion for large four-door coupés and, as such, it’s a visual winner with striking looks. It has a range of competent and smooth engines and a supple ride. Only in the matter of rear head room does it come up short.

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

We’ve heard of relatively few issues that affect the 6 Series Gran Coupé specifically. The car does share its underpinnings with many other models in the BMW range, most obviously the 6 Series Coupé, and welds on the air conditioning condenser in those cars can fail, causing the refrigerant gas used in the system to leak. Check the air-con system blows cold air, because if it doesn’t your potential purchase might have a leak that will require inspection.

The 6 Series Gran Coupé didn’t feature in our most recent reliability survey, but plenty of other BMWs did, including the 5 Series, 4 Series Gran Coupé and 3 Series – all did well in their respective classes, so we would expect the 6 Series to be pretty reliable too. BMW as a brand finished in a disappointing 21st&nbsp;place out of 32 manufacturers in that same study.

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Saloon

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

6 SERIES

The 6 Series Gran Coupé is a luxurious and comfortable grand tourer with room for four. Just don’t expect the sharpest handling

Used BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe 2012-present

Quite a lot is the answer – although the diesel-powered 640d is the cheapest version to run by a country mile. Stick to SE spec with 18in wheels and it’ll emit a respectable 152g/km of CO2 and the official combined fuel economy figure is 49.6mpg. Meanwhile the petrol-engined 640i emits 178g/km of CO2 on 18in wheels and can only manage an official fuel economy figure of 36.2mpg. Don’t expect any V8-engined car to return much more than 20mpg in real-world driving.

Any 6 Series Gran Coupé registered after the tax changes that came into force in April 2017 will pay a premium over the flat-rate annual charge, because all models cost more than £40,000 when new. Expect a reasonably sized bill for those registered before that date, too.

Servicing costs are likely to be high, especially at BMW main dealers. The firm provides service packs for older cars that allow you to budget for future servicing costs and pay by direct debit. Older cars could be looked after by one of any number of independent specialists that are likely to do the work for far less money.

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Used BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe 2012-2019

The 6 Series Gran Coupé is a luxurious and comfortable grand tourer with room for four. Just don’t expect the sharpest handling

You can pick up a 6 Series Gran coupe for as little as £12,000 to £14,000, but it'll have a high mileage. A relatively clean example of the 6 Series Gran Coupé will cost you nearer&nbsp;£16,000. This would net you a 2012/13 model with an average mileage for the year and a full service history. Up the folding to between £18,000 and £20,000 and you’ll find plenty of good cars from 2013 or 2014 with the same criteria, bought from an independent dealership, while £20,000-£25,000 will find you in the driver’s seat of a 2015 or 2016 car. Beyond that, good 2016 and 2017 cars will set you back around £25,000, and around £30,000 for good 2018 and 2019 models.&nbsp;

Despite the smoothness of the petrol unit in the 640i, we’d still choose the 640d for its blend of performance and economy. SE trim gives you the same kit as M Sport but minus the sporty bodywork, so we’d stick with that, unless you happen to find a competitively priced M Sport on the forecourt.

Our favourite BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé 640d SE

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plush ride and the ability to cruise in near-silence </li> <li>Powerful and efficient engine</li> <li>Space for passengers to stretch out in the rear seats</li> <li>Exquisite materials and build quality</li> <li>Endless luxuries on the options list</li> <li>Sensible fuel and tax bills</li></ul>

If you’re in the market for a luxury car, you’ll be after a sumptuous interior, a ride that can soak up the worst of the UK’s pockmarked roads and supreme refinement that allows you to travel at speed in near-silence.

Your cheapest (and smallest) options are the Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class and brilliant BMW 5 Series, the latter of which is so good we voted it our 2017 Car of the Year. Larger options that are definitely worth considering if you plan to travel in the back include the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and the Mercedes S-Class, which is beautifully finished inside and not as expensive to run as you might think.

Or if money really is no object at all, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is hard to overlook – especially in extended-wheelbase form. It’s as opulent as cars get.

Luxury

The 6 Series Gran Coupé is a large car, so check its extremities carefully for any bodywork damage. Also look at those handsome alloy wheels for any kerb damage. It’s worth checking out all the electrical equipment in the car, too, to make sure all is working as it should. Electrical faults are commonplace and can result in big repair bills, so steer clear of any example that throws up a warning light or message on the dashboard.

What’s in a name? It might be true that a rose would smell just as sweet by any other name, but when you’re spending a great deal of money on a car it’s nice to be able to tell the neighbours exactly what sort of car you’re buying.

The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé follows the tradition established by the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Audi A7 Sportback in being a four-door coupé. It is, in effect, a four-door, suitably stretched version of the existing two-door 6 Series Coupé. And if it initially doesn’t seem to have much point, it does at least look absolutely gorgeous.

The good news is that there’s performance to back up its stunning looks. Kicking off the range are two turbocharged six-cylinder models, a diesel badged 640d and a petrol with the 640i nametag. Although the petrol is more powerful, both have plenty of punch and can manage 0-62mph in 5.4sec before running on to an electronically limited 155mph top speed.

Next up, there’s the 650i, with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8. This 444bhp unit cuts the 0-62mph time to just 4.6sec. And if that isn’t enough, the M6 has a more heavily worked version of the V8 with 552bhp, or 592bhp if you opt for the Competition pack, and its performance is stunning.

It’s not just good in a straight line, though. There is an engaging fluidity to its handling that endows it with plenty of driver appeal. The steering is well-weighted and direct, and the chassis possesses wonderful balance, giving the car tremendously eager cornering. The ride is firm but comfortable, and coarse surfaces don’t spoil the exceptional refinement. On the motorway, the 6 Series Gran Coupé delivers rock-solid longitudinal stability and the sort of relaxed cruising qualities that make it an exceptional long-haul proposition.

The interior is a match for this, being lavishly leathered, well designed and clearly carefully assembled using some of the finest materials. The driving position is low and electrically adjustable and there’s plenty of room up front. Rear passengers will have a harder time of it, however, with slightly constricted leg room, while the small rear door apertures mean getting in and out can be hard work.

Trim-wise, there are but two: SE and M Sport. Entry-level SE cars get all the expected luxuries, including 18in wheels, two-zone climate control, cruise control and of course leather upholstery as standard. M Sport merely adds a sportier bodykit that enhances the 6 Series Gran Coupé’s sleek lines.

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Used BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe 2012-2019 review

Every 2021 Electric and Hybrid Car Awards winner

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used BMW 6 Series saloon?