The grand tourer that makes every motorway feel dramatic
BMW's grand touring coupé and convertible bridges the gap between the 5 Series saloon and the exotic 8 Series. Spanning multiple generations from the iconic E24 shark-nose to the modern F06 Gran Coupé, it attracts buyers wanting dramatic BMW styling with long-distance comfort. Used examples depreciate heavily, offering a lot of car for the money — if you budget for maintenance.
We track 10 known issues across the BMW 6 Series range, including 2 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a BMW 6 Series? Enter the reg to see which of our 10 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
E24 (1981–1989) — Engine options included the 3.5L Straight-Six. We track 1 known issues on this generation, with 1 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Suspension pin and bush wear (£400–£800 to address).
E63 (2004–2010) — Petrol options included the 3.0L Straight-Six, 3.0L Twin-Turbo, 4.8L V8, 5.0L V10 M5, with 3.0L Diesel on the diesel side. Our database flags 7 known issues on this generation, 2 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Rod bearing failure.
F06 (2012–2018) — Petrol options included the 2.0L Turbo, 3.0L Turbo, 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8, with 3.0L Diesel, 2.0L Diesel on the diesel side.
F12 (2011–2018) — Petrol options included the 2.0L Turbo, 3.0L Turbo, 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8, with 3.0L Diesel, 2.0L Diesel on the diesel side.
The S85 5.0-litre V10 engine uses plain shell bearings between the connecting rods and crankshaft that are undersized for the engine's power output and rpm capability. These bearings experience accelerated wear due to oil starvation during high-rpm operation and inadequate oil flow to bearing surfaces. Rod bearing failure sends metal debris throughout the lubrication system, destroying the engine beyond economical repair. This is the same catastrophic failure mode documented extensively on the E60 M5 with identical S85 engine.
Rod bearing failure destroys the engine within minutes of the initial knock appearing. Metal debris contaminates the entire lubrication system requiring a complete engine rebuild or replacement. Specialist rebuild costs £8,000-£15,000. The car becomes undriveable immediately and must not be started once knocking begins.
Listen for any unusual knocking, tapping or rattling from the engine at idle and under load. Check the oil for metal particles or discolouration. On higher-mileage examples, a professional compression test can reveal internal wear before it becomes critical.
BMW 6 Series models show brake pipe corrosion at 298.2 times the fleet average rate, with particular problems on V8 petrol variants where brake lines run close to exhaust manifolds and turbocharger heat shields. The combination of road salt exposure and heat cycling causes steel brake pipes to corrode internally and externally, leading to brake fluid leaks and potential brake failure. This is a safety-critical issue that causes immediate MOT failure and renders the vehicle dangerous to drive.
Brake pipe failure causes immediate and complete loss of braking ability on the affected circuit. Even minor leaks rapidly worsen under pressure and heat cycling. Complete brake failure while driving presents extreme danger to occupants and other road users. The car must not be driven with any suspected brake line damage.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
The N62 4.8-litre V8 uses rubber valve stem seals that harden and shrink with age, allowing engine oil to leak past the valve guides into the combustion chambers. This is a well-documented design weakness on all N62 engines, exacerbated by the engine's complex variable valve timing system creating higher temperatures around the cylinder heads. Oil consumption can exceed 1 litre per 1,000 miles on severely affected engines. BMW issued Technical Service Bulletin SI B11 06 05 acknowledging the problem and specifying revised seal specifications.
Severe oil consumption leads to frequent top-ups and potential engine damage if oil level drops too low. Catalytic converters can be damaged by oil vapours, adding £800-£1,200 to repair costs. The car remains driveable but requires constant monitoring of oil level and frequent top-ups between services.
Check the oil level before the engine is started. Ask the seller how often they top up the oil between services. After a test drive, check the level again and look behind the car for blue or grey exhaust smoke under acceleration.
VANOS (Variable Nockenwellen Steuerung) is BMW's variable valve timing system using oil pressure to adjust camshaft timing for optimal performance and emissions. The system relies on small oil passages and precision solenoids that become blocked with carbon deposits from extended oil change intervals. Seals within the VANOS units deteriorate with age, causing erratic timing control that manifests as rough idle, poor cold running, and diagnostic trouble codes. Both N52 straight-six and N62 V8 engines are affected, with the V8 having two separate VANOS units.
VANOS failure causes poor drivability, increased emissions, and potential engine damage if timing becomes severely retarded. Poor fuel economy and rough running make the car unpleasant to drive. Complete VANOS unit replacement or rebuild is required, with V8 engines needing both intake and exhaust units replaced.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
The N57 3.0-litre diesel engine uses a timing chain with hydraulic tensioners that wear prematurely due to the high compression loads and combustion pressures of the diesel engine. Chain stretch occurs when tensioner mechanisms fail to maintain proper chain tension, causing the timing chain to contact the timing chain guides and create a characteristic rattling noise. If the chain jumps timing or breaks, severe piston and valve damage results. This issue affects N57 engines across the BMW range and is well-documented by diesel specialists.
Timing chain failure causes immediate engine damage when pistons contact valves, requiring complete engine rebuild or replacement. Even before failure, stretched chains cause poor running, increased emissions, and potential damage to timing chain guides and tensioners. Repair requires engine removal on some variants, significantly increasing labour costs.
Listen carefully for a rattle or ticking noise from the engine on cold start — this is the most common early sign. Ask for evidence of chain replacement in the service history. On higher-mileage cars without documented replacement, budget for preventative work.
For the full breakdown of all 10 tracked issues with repair costs, see the BMW 6 Series common problems page.
Based on 28k real DVSA MOT tests, the BMW 6 Series fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is transmission shaft flexible coupling deteriorated at 149x the fleet average, followed by headlight fault (44x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full BMW 6 Series MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 15k miles) typically costs £120–£180 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include automatic transmission fluid (£300–£450).
See the full BMW 6 Series service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The BMW 6 Series has some well-documented weak points, including 2 safety-critical issues that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2014-2018 F06/F12/F13 LCI facelift models are the sweet spot — above-average reliability, updated LED headlights, refreshed styling, and the most modern tech. The E24 (1987-1989) is a solid classic choice. Avoid 2004-2006 first-generation E63 cars which had the worst reliability scores.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific BMW 6 Series, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 10 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 10 known BMW 6 Series issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.