Considering an M6 Convertable from 2008

[HogwldFLTR]

Anyone have any opinions about convertible M6s? I was considering trading in the Mini on this. The M6's got about 80K miles on it.

[Etschell]

I would not buy a higher mile out of warranty BMW. But that is just me

[DJ TT 2002]

I have a 1995 BMW Cabriolet that’s still going strong
And I’m not bankrupt yet!

I hope that helps a bit.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Etschell

I would not buy a higher mile out of warranty BMW. But that is just me

This 100%

[superdog]

So many options here.

It’s a wonderful car. But with the list of competition I’d likely not thinking about this car. I also don’t love the fact that it’s their high performance model with that many miles on it.

[docmfg]

At that age and no warranty stay away from the S85 engine. It is costly to repair and maintain. It will need rod bearing replacement at that mileage and likely Valve spring repairs both of which costs several thousands to perform. If it is not a manual also stay away, SMG tranny is horrible and also expensive to repair and they always require repairs. There are reasons the V10 M5 and M6’s are so cheap to buy nowadays. If you are still inclined to get one stay away from higher mileage cars, SMG and convertibles. Look up BMW S85 V10 and SMG issues online.

[returntorolex]

I would be reluctant to buy any BMW with the S85 motor.

[LandWatch]

An 11 year old car, however you look at it, will be a hassle to maintain. Irrespective of cost, the hassle alone would put me off. Technology improves, engines get cleaner and more efficient. I view cars as a practical necessity and therefore would always buy new and efficient.

[HogwldFLTR]

Sounds like five neins certainty that it's a bad idea.

[Fencer]

I would stay away.

[M45]

The top will almost certainly need to be fixed or replaced and your local BMW dealer will either tell he can't do work on a fabric top or bend you over on the cost if he has an on site body shop.

And that's not even getting started on what evil may be brewing under the hood or in the transmission.

[toxicavenger]

No way in hell.

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by Etschell

I would not buy a higher mile out of warranty BMW. But that is just me

100%.

That’s the only big drawback with any older... high performance car.

As an example, if a catalytic converter goes bad, that alone costs an easy $5K for the M.

[whattimeyougot]

Run away fast!

[BNA/LION]

If you are a fixer mechanical guy, like to fixing and tinkering with cars, have a garage, or are buddies with someone who has a garage, have extra cash for a restoration project... Then Go For It! Otherwise, you may be signing up for an expensive project. Definitely take it to a BMW Dealership for a pre-purchase inspection!

But on the other hand, If the car has been very well maintained, you have proof/service records, and you want a project it might be a fun one considering the car went for $100K in 2008 and you can get a good one for around $16k now. Also, the cost of a crate engine or rebuilding one the might be worth it if Everything else is in Excellent Condition!

Good Luck and let us know what you decide to do.


https://www.thecarconnection.com/ove..._6-series_2008

Not a lot of recalls...
https://www.cars.com/research/bmw-650-2008/recalls/

The top might be a problem...
https://www.gotaclassaction.com/bmw-...ible-vehicles/

[Xelorpepsi]

I rented one a few years when I was considering the purchase of a 645i convertible. My former boss who owned the M5 V10 back then convinced me not to pull the trigger:
- Replacement parts always cost a fortune and with an 11yo car, there will be quite a few to replace going forward
- The SMG gearbox is very fiddly
- Good luck if the V10 needs to be replaced
- The car is difficult to sell

For the rest, it is a real joy machine...!

[123Blueface]

Originally Posted by Etschell

I would not buy a higher mile out of warranty BMW. But that is just me

Agree.

[piratfisk]

Don't give yourself the headache. My father, a lifelong Lexus LS-series leaser (I think he's on his 5th over ~20yrs?), let himself get "peer-pressured" by my younger brother & I to stray from Lexus in the mid-2000s to get an E60 M5. He commuted from Union County NJ into Manhattan daily & said the SMG transmission was a nightmare. It rolls back a bit on hills, it engages 1st very abruptly & he never used the paddle shifters ("waste of a gimmick" were his words, I think). He HATED iDrive, which is cumbersome & annoying to operate while you're driving. One morning around 0500 when he leaves for work, he got out to his car, started it & none of the center console (iDrive, HVAC) worked. He called his office, said he wasn't going to make it, and drove to the dealership (they carried a bunch of luxury brands, including his beloved Lexus) and got back into an LS, this time the LS600HL. He's never looked back. I did once put it in M mode & floor it. It's quite fast when everything works.

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

No way in hell.

[Fencer]

Originally Posted by piratfisk

to get an E60 M5.

Jesus... the ULTIMATE car from hell.

[Masteryacht]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bCp_4uVtT-Y

This^

[mjr24]

Had a 2008 M6 convertible from 2008-2010.

Loved going through tunnels with the top down.....V10 sound is amazing.

That being said, even though it’s now a 10 year old car, the repair bills can possibly be huge still.

I actually had the convertible top problem....I feel it was one of the sensors getting too hot as it would only act up when it was really hot out and the car was in the sun. The problem went away once the sun went down and was non existent in the cold whether it was in the sun or not. I only had a few months left on my lease when the issue started so I’m not sure what fixes they ended up coming up with since then.

[1William]

This would be a hard no for me. I have owned two 650's and each time I looked at the M6 and did some research and stayed away. One time the dealer told me to stay away as the car had a lot of issues. The cars I was looking at had a full warranty and the BMW dealer said stay away. If you want a fun 10-15 year old toy then I would be looking at MB SL550 or a Corvette/Mustang/Camaro convertible. Good luck.

[cruise_bone]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Anyone have any opinions about convertible M6s? I was considering trading in the Mini on this. The M6's got about 80K miles on it.

Do it.

Don't worry about that out of warranty crap. That is such a tired and worn out argument. Yes, they are more expensive to fix than a Honda, so what. BMWs are built like tanks. I have a 2010 with 120k miles on it and have had nothing but routine maintenance done out of warranty. Not a single thing has gone wrong with it. It blows away both Honda's that I have had previously in terms of out of warranty experience/performance.

[cruise_bone]

Originally Posted by piratfisk

Don't give yourself the headache. My father, a lifelong Lexus LS-series leaser (I think he's on his 5th over ~20yrs?), let himself get "peer-pressured" by my younger brother & I to stray from Lexus in the mid-2000s to get an E60 M5. He commuted from Union County NJ into Manhattan daily & said the SMG transmission was a nightmare. It rolls back a bit on hills, it engages 1st very abruptly & he never used the paddle shifters ("waste of a gimmick" were his words, I think). He HATED iDrive, which is cumbersome & annoying to operate while you're driving. One morning around 0500 when he leaves for work, he got out to his car, started it & none of the center console (iDrive, HVAC) worked. He called his office, said he wasn't going to make it, and drove to the dealership (they carried a bunch of luxury brands, including his beloved Lexus) and got back into an LS, this time the LS600HL. He's never looked back. I did once put it in M mode & floor it. It's quite fast when everything works.

The worst part of this story is that he has to drive a Lexus. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[envuks]

Do you know the car’s service history? Do you have a good independent mechanic? If so, owning this vehicle should be manageable. If not, I’d say ovoid. Some jobs (like the rear suspension) can be extremely labor heavy on that car.

I just got out of a 2008 335xi that I put 100k+ miles on. Dove it to 145k miles

[mjr24]

Originally Posted by cruise_bone

Do it.

Don't worry about that out of warranty crap. That is such a tired and worn out argument. Yes, they are more expensive to fix than a Honda, so what. BMWs are built like tanks. I have a 2010 with 120k miles on it and have had nothing but routine maintenance done out of warranty. Not a single thing has gone wrong with it. It blows away both Honda's that I have had previously in terms of out of warranty experience/performance.

This just isn't really relevant. I've owned tons of BMW's, too, with no issues.

However, he is asking about a very specific car that has a friggin V10 motor in it that is known to have issues and is EXPENSIVE to fix. Your experience with a completely different model has no relevance here.

New gearbox can run $8k-10k on this car I've heard....let alone engine or convertible top issues.

[HogwldFLTR]

Well, we have more than five "neins" certainty that it isn't a good idea. Ended up with a newer X3 instead. So it goes!!!

[piratfisk]

Originally Posted by cruise_bone

The worst part of this story is that he has to drive a Lexus. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

He's an old man who enjoys being comfortable & his vehicles to work. His money, his butt in the seat, but my god is that car uninspiring to drive. The LS600hL that he has does everything you'd want it to, but it is akin to wading in slightly melted vanilla low-fat frozen yogurt when you throw it a corner.

[DLRIDES]

Congrats