Per Product Planning and Strategy Dealer Bulletin dated 7-18-05

For MY2006, all 6 series cars will be upgraded with the 4.8 liter V8 with a VALVETRONIC capable of producing 360hp (+35hp) and 360 ft-lb. (+30 ft-lbs.) of torque. The designation changes from 645Ci to 650i (dropping the letter "C"), reflecting the increase in displacement and power in all communications and badging on the vehicles.

Transmission Offerings remain unchanged, although only the 6spd Steptronic AUTO will be available for Sept. production cars. Availability on the SMG and Manual tranny's is anticipated for cars starting production October 2005.

The DSC system has been upgraded. New for MY2006 is:
Brake Drying
Brake fade compensation
Brake ready (emergency stop)
Hill start assist
Soft stop

Interior Upgrades:
Black replaced Bassalt Gray as primary interior trim/instrument panel/door insert color.
Start/Stop buttom and new key design becomes standard
The I-Drive controller has a more ergonomic design with a leather insert on top.

New Colors:
Monaco Blue replaces Orient Blue
Barbera Red replaces Chiaretto Red

The base wheels on both models are replaced with new 18x8 wheels (styling 120) with run flats. Sport package wheels remain unchanged.

Active Steering has been removed from the sport package and is now only offered as a stand alone option. Sport package pricing has been reduced to reflect the change.

Satellite radio pre-wiring becomes standard.

Sadly, I don't see any notation for upgrades in reliability, simplicity or reasonable pricing on that list... :rolleyes

Sadly, I don't see any notation for upgrades in reliability, simplicity or reasonable pricing on that list... :rolleyes

6 series and "reasonable price" are a contradiction. You want an elite sports-touring-luxury-coupe, it's gonna cost ya.

Oh, I know the high price is part of the attraction. I have the original window sticker for my '87, which shows an out-the-door price of $51,487. Probably comparable to a new one when adjusted for inflation. I guess it's just that I doubt I'll be interested in owning a current 645Ci 18 years down the road with 190k on the clock.

$85k for an "an elite sports-touring-luxury-coupe" is one thing if it's a car you could plausibly keep for a long time, but for a throw-away status symbol seems a might bit steep. I lament the "new" BMW.

It is pricey... but when I drove it, I found it worth every penny. While a large vehicle, it's rather nimble and handles it's weight well. I try not to think of it as fat, but instead muscular.

I completly agree with you about buying an older car with higher mileage. But to be honest, I don't think that there's a car built after 2000 or earlier even that I will look forward to buying 10-20 years from now. Fact of the matter is, old 6 series and e30 3's are still great buys with higher mileage because there really isn't much technology in them that can break. Volvo is a great example of this. The 80's 240's were known for there great reliability and how long they lasted, hence everyone figured the newer cars would follow in the same path. 93 and 94 850's were so terrible, many of their components were redesigned in both years before settling on the 3rd design in the 95's. You could put 200k on them, but you'd spend the sticker price on the car in maintenance and repair costs before you got there. The new cars (s60's, and especially S80's) are rolling crapboxes. In my opinion they followed Mercedes, and filled the cars with technology that could not be made to be reliable. Now Benz is pulling all of that technology out of their cars and Volvo would be wise to do the same. The real issue is, not many people buy a car to really drive it these days. Everyone wants to look cool, have the status symbol, be comfortable, and go fast in a straight line here and there. The mass consumer's demand for cutting edge technology is killing every real drivers chance of buying a real "drivers car". Even 911's have gone soft since the 996 came out, and the M3's are so overweight they are no longer the dominate force in motorsports they used to be (obviously excluding the M3-GTR cars).

Yeah, it's sad. We haven't had any big problems with our A6, but the front diff is leaking at 55k. Doesn't exactly bode well for the future, especially since I can't do a lick of work to it.

As an aside, after all these years, every electrical option (including the a/c) on my 635 works properly. However, I probably have over $30k in maintenance and repair receipts from new, including a factory-replaced trans at 12k and a reworked cylinder head and cam at 42k. Both PO's could apparently afford to have the dealer fix every little thing that ever went wrong with the car, and it shows. I've put an additional $2k into the car in last year, and that's doing all the work myself. But again, at least I can work on it if I need to!

Yeah, it's sad. We haven't had any big problems with our A6, but the front diff is leaking at 55k. Doesn't exactly bode well for the future, especially since I can't do a lick of work to it.

As an aside, after all these years, every electrical option (including the a/c) on my 635 works properly. However, I probably have over $30k in maintenance and repair receipts from new, including a factory-replaced trans at 12k and a reworked cylinder head and cam at 42k. Both PO's could apparently afford to have the dealer fix every little thing that ever went wrong with the car, and it shows. I've put an additional $2k into the car in last year, and that's doing all the work myself. But again, at least I can work on it if I need to!


But the beauty of it all is, you own a legend. A car that will never lose it's high status among true bimmerheads. A rolling piece of history.

But the beauty of it all is, you own a legend. A car that will never lose it's high status among true bimmerheads. A rolling piece of history.
i plan on keeping my piece of history unless it's upgraded to a better 6.i've been driving BMW and volvo for 10 yrs now.the boxy volvo became very appealing after a very serious accident.my 960 is the last of the rear wheel drive and it's got a 200hp 6 cyl that moves along nicely.will never handle as well as the 6.it's like climbing into a cage and still runs well with over 200k on the clock.but volvo reliability is going down the tubes.i wouldn't buy any of the new line -up.i've had a couple of 240 turbo's,but the 9 series is the best of the last.i'm in no way saying the volvo is better than bmw.the 6 is my fun car and gets driven at every opportunity,and i feel safe in it as well.the volvo gets to sit outside while the 6 owns garage space.i also have my wife in a 960 and daughter in a 940 turbo.if these cars ever stop going i will upgrade them to bimmers.

When will the 6-series get the nano or ceramic paint like on MB cars? My BMW sales rep told me in that the 650i will have keyless go and keyless entry like on my SL500 where you just touch the door handle and the car would unlock in September.

Haven't heard anything about the paint you speak of. However, comfort access will be available in the 6 series

Haven't heard anything about the paint you speak of. However, comfort access will be available in the 6 series

Pretty sad state of affairs when a guy can't even open his own damn car door anymore. "Comfort access" is the most ridiculous sounding thing I've ever heard of. :rolleyes

Al

Yikes... that "comfort access" thing sounds like something out of that old Zager and Evans song "In the year 2525."

Yikes... that "comfort access" thing sounds like something out of that old Zager and Evans song "In the year 2525."


It's actually kind of a cool feature. Women love it b/c they don't have to dig through their purse to find their keys anymore. I like the fact you don't have to deal with keys other than just carrying them. And another plus is you can never lock your keys in the car. On a side note, this guy F'in rocks ---->> :alright

It's actually kind of a cool feature. Women love it b/c they don't have to dig through their purse to find their keys anymore. I like the fact you don't have to deal with keys other than just carrying them. And another plus is you can never lock your keys in the car. On a side note, this guy F'in rocks ---->> :alright


I can do all that in my old 633csi as well. I simply don't lock my doors. Much easier and less complicated that way.

Al

I can do all that in my old 633csi as well. I simply don't lock my doors. Much easier and less complicated that way.

Al

Wow. Al, you have some serious nuts to leave a rolling legend unlocked and risk theft. I would remove your location from your profile at this time :devillook

Wow. Al, you have some serious nuts to leave a rolling legend unlocked and risk theft. I would remove your location from your profile at this time :devillook


Bah, I don't worry too much about it. If someone steals it, I'll get another "rolling legend". In fact, I already 2 others. This one is my daily driver. Besides, it's not like I live in the car theft capital of Canada or anything.....oh wait, yes I do. Damn, time to fix the locks.

Al

I love keyless entry and keyless go. I just leave the keys in my pocket and do not have to worry about scratching up my car with the keys.

You leave your car unlocked in Surrey? It's gunna get jacked.

You leave your car unlocked in Surrey? It's gunna get jacked.

No it's not.

I've lived here for 9 years, and never had so much as a break in, in any of my cars. Such a brutal misconception that every car in Surrey gets stolen. 9 years here, and I can only think of 3 cars that have been stolen. An Astrovan belonging an employee's mom, a red Honda Prelude belonging to this girl I know, and I think there is another one, but I don't remember it right now.

I DO however know LOTS of people who had cars stolen in Vancouver, Burnaby, and ESPECIALLY in New West. Mostly VW's, and BMW's, but there are others as well. Friend of mine had his 97 M3 stolen in West Van from his house. I actually worry more about leaving my car at Park Royal, than I do at Guildford Mall.

If you need more proof, go look at the ICBC bait car site. Notice how many of the thieves are in Vancouver, and Burnaby. Not too many in Surrey. Please don't perpetuate the stereotype.

Al