Forgive me RS246 for I have moved to the bimmer side

[SteveH]

I have been hunting around for a used 6 series with the spec that I wanted since about February, but because its a pretty new model, most of the cars available were BMW UK vehicles issued to the dealers and the specs always created a small issue that would probably annoy me in a year or so of ownership... Plus the RS6 had pretty much every option ticked as standard so was very high spec when it came to the boy's toys department. The 6-Series Sport models are pretty high spec for a beemer (fantastic gearbox), but the rest of the toys available are mainly a lot of nice to have's, so I though sod-it, they'd be nice to have! even if they don't add value to the car at resale. Things like Nav, phone, stereo quality, colour combo, and folding mirrors were essentials to me (oh, not forgetting the ski-hatch for the snowboard or for timber from B&Q).

So with the ridiculous state of the car market at the moment, I went into my local dealer and offered them silly money for a new one and after three hours of banter they finally gave in

I've bought:
635d Coupe Sport
Monaco Blue
Cream Leather
Brushed Aluminium Interior Trim

Options I've selected:
Head Up Display
Navigation
Bluetooth
Hi-Fi System LOGIC7 Professional
USB
DAB
CD changer
Folding/dimming mirrors
5 Arm Star-spoke alloys
Voice Control
Extended Light Package
Through Loading Ski
Connected Drive free stuff

It would have been good to have been able to upgrade the brakes to the M6 spec, but they don't allow that kinda stuff.

Car will be available in about 8 weeks, so I will hold off a couple of additional weeks and collect on the 58 plate. Can't wait.

[s4woody]

sweet...

[johneroberts]

That look really nice!
jr

[tartan_rob]

Nice that you got the car for the pirce you wanted to pay but I just don;t get the 6 series at all....sorry.

[MartynC]

Looks as if it's come straight from Gotham City, really cool.

Good luck with Steve!

MartynC(still 6+, in dock currently with DRC and EGT sensor borrowing Q7).

[SteveH]

Nice that you got the car for the pirce you wanted to pay but I just don;t get the 6 series at all....sorry.

No problem at all... totally agree its a bit of a marmite car! If we were all the same we'd probably be driving silver ford mundanes. Have said this before but in brief...

Aston V8 looked and sounded great, but was slow, unreliable and impractical. prices pretty good though.

911 was good, rock solid vehicle, but I can't have one on my car allowance scheme and the luggage space is a tad ridiculous really. So i would lose my fuel card and car allowance so its not worth the hastle.

A5 was too way too small inside for me being 6'4"

Don't do Mercs (ever since I worked on a project years ago where all the visiting hierarchy of consultants were merc drivers, and every month when they used to visit every one coined the phrase "here comes the jerks in mercs", I will never forget that and have vowed never ever to buy one )

DB9, Continental and Gallardo - Used prices dropping big time and can be bought for £60K-£70K, but no way i could afford to maintain as a daily runner.

6-Series, has never ever featured on my personal "cars that I'd like to drive" list, until I went to see one in the flesh with the facelifted version and the new alloys. So I was pretty impressed, then inside it got much better, nice interior quality & design, lots of room, and even room for adults in the back!! (Not just amputees and children). Heads up display was pretty cool, gearbox was excellent, memory seats will save the grinding annoyance of when the mrs borrows the car, and the Diesel engine was basically not like a diesel engine in sound or performance. ICE was very good for a manufacturer. Now that I'm married I'm clearly getting too boring old and sensible as I started nodding my head in agreement at CO2 being less than half the RS6 and the MPG being more than double the RS6 (even though ironically work pay for all my fuel so MPG has never been an issue in last 8 years). I drove one in February and have looked at pretty much every other type of car available in the price range (from Range Rovers to Quattroportes) and I kept on coming back to the 6.

To me it was ultimately a compromise on a number of fronts, as any car purchase proves to be (unless you can afford to buy about 5 cars that match each aspect of pace, versatility, luxury, looks and chassis) but overall to my requirements it fitted the bill.

Proof was in the pudding as how you feel the day after you buy a car... You lose that initial gloss/blinkers/desire and reality hits of the money your spending... if you feel that there's doubt, then your not buying the right car!!!, if you feel that you want it asafp, then your doing good .

[travs]

3.5d sounds to be a pretty good powerplant - should have plenty of torque after a remap too. Congrats.

[grizz]

Sorry to say it but - - - - - - I love them ......Good choice of car ..

[SteveH]

Cheers Gents

[SteveH]

Changed my mind on colour at the last minute... A day before it goes into build have changed to "Deep Sea Blue".

[SteveH]

Car has now arrived at the dealer; still has all the protective plastic, paper, wax, blocks n stuff. Really chuffed with the colour combo, in the flesh its fantastic. (although the BMW leather certainly aint as good as Audi) Can't wait to collect it...

A few quick pics:

[RSVI]

Nice one Steve, I've always liked these and yours looks great in the sea blue and cream leather.

Top man, bet you can't wait

[Norrs2]

Nice that you got the car for the pirce you wanted to pay but I just don;t get the 6 series at all....sorry.

No problem at all... totally agree its a bit of a marmite car!

Yes, I think your right! I'm sure it's lovely to drive and very well engineered, but, I think the nose looks like it has melted in front of the fire! Not my cup of tea, sorry too Steve! I do like that engine & lovely colour though very best of luck with it all the same!

[SteveH]

Great motor!!! Even in this weeks weather its been a great drive; albeit that the only time I have seen my car dry was on Monday when I collected it. Hopefully there will be a break in the clouds to see it this weekend.

Have taken it very steady so far whilst I learn the car and also for a bit of mechanical respect (although some say to rag it from the very beginning!?). Has been mainly motorway on the daily commute, but have managed a few detours onto the B's to have a bit of fun. Finally fitted the road angel today. The ride is great, very smooth on the commute, and good feedback already (even on fresh rubber) when pushing a tad harder on more entertaining roads.

I've got a gravel drive and as the rs6 was 4wd, whenever driving off, it was simply put your foot down... not in the 6er though, first morning I set off for work I accidentally buried the back end of the car and beached myself in some deep gravel After some dakar-style manouvres and putting car into manual 2nd gear I freed myself and also later learned that there is a traction button for "snow n stuff", I reckon I'll need this for the first few weeks

The interior is great, very spacious and well presented. The Beemer leather is a bit sub-standard and agricultural, but can be forgiven given the rest of the material quality. A very very nice place to be. Has been nice to be stuck in traffic and have a good look around. As a 6'4" lanky beggar, is better leg and head room than I thought, someone could actually sit behind me (just about!). Which isn't surprising as its the same length of the RS6 I think

Stereo is superb, am well impressed with the media interface and things like how the ipod playlists and tracks are displayed on screen. Is a giant step forward, very easy to use and great quality given the compression of ipod tracks. "favourites" buttons are proving usefull as the idrive is a bit clumbersome to start with for a BMW newb.

Navigation mapping and traffic is much better than previous car, just need to learn how to use the actual navigation.

Exterior is simply stunning, much better that I expected as I didn't really know much about the 6. Love the alloys, have a few mates at work who have been lusting over them (they have been warned!), bargain for extra £300 option.

I'm surprised at the sound of the car, it does not sound like a diesel!? give it some welly and its got a deep growl; take it easy and its quiet and refined. For my first diesel its a good start.

Best thing is that work didn't complain when I submitted car details to them, as I was dreading them kicking up a fuss as it doesn't exactly conform to the corporate rules

Have taken a few point and press pics in the rain below, will endeavour to get some proper photo's when weather and time allows. My favourite is the first one which sums up the entire week:

[GardinerG]

Nice colour and those seats look good