The initial generation of the BMW 6 Series emerged in 1976. At that time, the vehicle was designated as the «E24» model. The car was so popular that its production lasted for 13 years. When the production of the BMW 6 E24 came to an end, it was replaced by a completely new 8 Series model, while the revival of the 6 Series production only began in 2003.
The production of the BMW M6 E64 commenced 2 years later. The first M6 was sold in 2005. The car spent a relatively short time on the assembly line, and by 2010, the model's production was discontinued. During this period, less than 15 thousand vehicles were sold in «coupe» and «convertible» body styles.
The limited demand was influenced by the early appearance of the BMW M5 E60, which had exactly the same technical specifications, but visually appeared as an ordinary city sedan.
The cost of the car in Russia at the time of production was one and a half, and in some cases even twice as much as the price of the BMW M5. This became one of the reasons why less than 1000 BMW M6 cars were sold in Russia over 5 years.
Exterior
At the time of its release, the design of the BMW M6 E64 was very distinctive. The car did not resemble its predecessors and, compared to the M5, had smoother and more harmonious forms with its unique features.
The M6 differed from the regular 6 Series with its split quad exhaust system at the rear and the absence of fog lights at the front, as air intakes were located in the bumper for brake cooling instead.
The gills on the front fenders and the signature 167 style wheels added even more aggression to the already beautiful M6.
The mirrors for the model underwent a special check in the wind tunnel for improved aerodynamics, influencing acceleration dynamics and maximum speed.
Another equally important element borrowed from motorsport was the carbon fiber trunk lid, allowing the car's weight to be reduced by several tens of kilograms.
To ensure safe driving at any time of day, the car was equipped with high-tech xenon headlights, allowing the driver to react in advance to road situations in the dark.
Interior of BMW M6 E64
The main features in the interior are the steering wheel and the sport seats. The seats could accommodate a person of almost any build, thanks to side support adjustments and a knee roll extension. The side support rolls helped the driver feel confident even in the sharpest turns.
For cars with an automated gearbox, there were gearshift paddles offered, allowing for high-speed shifting and maximum driving enjoyment simultaneously.
Only the highest quality materials were used for finishes. Buyers could choose extended or full leather trim, carbon decorative elements, or several wood options.
Engine of BMW 6 E24
During the car's development, the company was experiencing the most favorable times, allowing them to install a 5-liter V10 engine with 507 horsepower. This was the last naturally aspirated engine of such power at BMW.
Being 120 kilograms lighter than the M5 enabled achieving a 4.6-second acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h. At that time, it was the fastest car at BMW.
Many believe that the V10 engine came from Formula 1, but that's untrue. The only similarity with Formula 1 engines is the cylinder count, but for BMW, the analogy with motorsport was a very good marketing move.
Incidentally, the legendary BMW M6 G-Power Hurricane CS Ultimate 2015 was built based on this engine. After all modifications, the engine's power reached 1000 horsepower, and the torque increased from 520 Nm to 900 Nm. The car accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, to 200 km/h in 9 seconds, to 300 km/h in 21.5 seconds, with a top speed of 375 km/h.
Safety Systems and Electronics
The BMW 6 E24 achieved a 5-star rating in euroncap tests. This was possible due to the highest body rigidity and active and passive safety systems. The M6 was equipped with 6 airbags, and the active stability systems, course stability, and braking sensors allowed the car to stand more confidently on the road.
The headlights received an adaptive adjustment system, and for comfortable parking, multiple sensors were installed, making parking easier even with minimal visibility.
Buttons M1 and M2 were added to the steering wheel, allowing for programming individual settings for suspension, engine, gearbox, and stability system.
For comfort, the car had heated seats and a comfortable interior temperature system.
Features
Many believe that the M6 is just a two-door version of the M5 sedan, but the coupe has several features that make it more interesting to handle. Firstly, the carbon roof. Secondly, the interior. The design of the dashboard and door cards has nothing in common with the M5. Thirdly, the M6 is 150 kilograms lighter than the M5.
The BMW M6 was equipped with an SMG automated gearbox, which shifted gears with very powerful characteristic «thumps,» and this was the norm. The automated transmission became one of the reasons for the model's success, although variations with a manual gearbox were available for the American market.
A drawback could be attributed to the multimedia system. At that time, it was almost impossible to use, but it was precisely on this system that the company realized what needed improvement, and now BMW has the simplest and most logical multimedia system in the modern automotive industry.
Configurations of BMW M6 E64
When purchasing, the customer could choose so many options that the price could increase by one and a half times! The configurator offered numerous options for assistance and safety systems, functional equipment, air conditioning systems, and chassis. In the exterior, one could choose from 14 standard lights, several types of wheels, and in the interior, several options for leather trim.
For those seeking more individuality, they could turn to BMW Individual, where a significantly wider range of body paint options, more luxurious interior finishes, and other individual elements could be added according to the buyer's preferences.
Conclusion
The Bavarians produced one of the most technologically advanced cars of its time, thanks to its technical characteristics. Among other things, the M6 E64 became one of the last «M» series cars with a naturally aspirated engine.
Subsequent cars had turbocharging and smaller engine displacement, with even more stability systems added, making the driving experience completely different.
