The
BMW M6, also known as the
BMW M635CSi, is a high-performance version of the 6-Series automobile, designed by the
motorsportBMW M GmbH is a subsidiary of German car manufacturer BMW AG.BMW M, also known as M-Technik or just "M" was initially created to facilitate BMW’s racing program, which was very successful in the 1960s and 1970s...
division of
BMWBayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
. The BMW M6 was produced from 1983 to 1989, and then 2005 to 2010.
E24 M6/M635CSi (1983–1989)
In 1983
BMWBayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
took the
M88/3The BMW M88/3 is an in line 6 cylinder piston engine. It was based on the M88/1 that was used in the BMW M1's street version, with double overhead cam and four valves per cylinder. The M88/1 was in turn based on the M49 engine which was used in the BMW 3.0CSi...
engine, a modified version of the M88/1 from the
BMW M1The BMW M1 is a sports car that was produced by German automaker BMW from 1978 to 1981.In the late 1970s, Italian manufacturer Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW to build a production racing car in sufficient quantity for homologation. The result was sold to the public, from 1978 to...
and put it in the
E24 chassisThe BMW E24 series was the first BMW 6 Series coupé, produced by the German automaker BMW between the 1976 and 1989 model years. The 6 Series name reappeared with the BMW E63 chassis beginning in the 2004 model year. The E24 borrowed heavily from contemporary 5-series cars .- Model history :The...
of the BMW 6-Series, creating the M635CSi (called the M6 in North America).
The M6 was critically acclaimed throughout its lifespan for its elegant, aggressive "shark-nose" styling, its luxury equipment, and its performance. A top speed of 158 mi/h makes the European version the second fastest BMW ever built next to the M1. This is due to all other BMW models being electronically restricted to 155 mi/h. However, Rug Cunninham BMW ran a bone stock 1987 BMW M6 in the La Carrera Classic Race in Mexico in 1989, and reportedly recorded a top speed of 176 mph indicated. An M6 can be distinguished from other E24 models by a larger front air dam, a rear spoiler, BBS wheels, colour matching side view mirrors, M badges on the grille and back, and slightly larger front brakes.
In North America (United States and Canada), the E24 M6 was fitted with the
catalyzedA catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint...
S38B35 motor, producing 256 hp (191 kW) and 243 ft·lbf (329 N·m) of torque.
The non-catalyzed version produced 286 bhp and 251 lbft of torque.
The non-catalyzed versions were only available in Europe, though there were 538 catalyzed M635csi models sold in Europe in 1988 and 1989. The 1988 and 1989 the M6 was a "
world carThe phrase world car is used to describe a car designed for, or achieving, worldwide sales using the same platform and components, often with variety of body styles...
" with the same bumpers and aerodynamic treatments in all markets.
The M6 achieved 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 6.0 and 6.8 seconds for the European and American versions, respectively.
Quarter mile times for the European version have been recorded at 14.5 seconds while the charge to 100 mi/h is achieved in 15 seconds. However, Car and Driver Magazine tested the U.S. M6 in July 1987 and achieved a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of 6.1 seconds. Also in 1987 Road and Track featured the U.S. M6 as one of the 10 fastest cars in America.
Production of the M6 ended in 1989, with 5,859 cars sold, 1,767 of which were North American (U.S. & Canada) models.
E63/64 M6 (2005–2010)
The new BMW M6 concept made its debut at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It is based on the
BMW E63/E64The BMW E63/E64 is the current model of the BMW 6 Series of luxury coupés, introduced in Autumn 2003 in Frankfurt Motor Show by German car manufacturer BMW. It comes as either a coupé or cabriolet and in several engine variants ranging from a 3 litre straight-6 to 5 litre V10 in the M6 model...
6-Series, introduced in 2004. It shares the same 5.0 L
V10A V10 engine is a V engine with 10 cylinders in two banks of five with a distinct exhaust note.- Mechanics :The V10 is essentially the result of mating two even-firing straight-5 engines together. The straight-5 engine shows first and second order rocking motion...
S85The BMW S85B50 is a DOHC 40-valve V10 automotive piston engine present in the E60 M5 sedan, E61 M5 touring and E63/64 M6 coupé. It was derived directly from BMW's Formula 1 racing division....
engine and SMG III gearbox with the
E60The BMW E60 is the BMW 5 Series automobile, replacing the BMW E39 in 2003. It was replaced by the BMW F10 from March 2010. The E60 was available in both sedan and station wagon platforms....
M5The first BMW M5, based on the E28 5 Series, made its debut at Amsterdam Motor Show in February 1984. It was the product of demand for an automobile with the carrying capacity of a saloon , but the overall performance of a sports car. It utilized the 535i chassis and an evolution of the engine from...
, and produces 514 hp / 520 newton metre.
BMW claims it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.4 seconds (0-60 mph: 4.1 s [Road & Track [2/06]) the top speed can reach 205 miles per hour (91.6 m/s) (limited to 155mph).
The M6 has the same 'power button' as the M5 which modifies the throttle response. From ignition, the car delivers 399 bhp, but engaging the M button allows the full 373 kW. It weighs 3770 lb (1,710 kg) thanks to a carbon fibre reinforced plastic roof panel as well as
thermoplasticThermoplastic, also known as a thermosoftening plastic, is a polymer that turns to a liquid when heated and freezes to a very glassy state when cooled sufficiently...
front wings, aluminum doors and bonnet (hood) and compound boot (trunk) lid.
The carbon fiber and other light materials are used in places like the bumpers and roof that are far from the center of gravity and/or high up, so that they not only reduce the overall weight but improve the
handlingAutomobile handling and vehicle handling are descriptions of the way wheeled vehicles perform transverse to their direction of motion, particularly during cornering and swerving. It also includes their stability when moving at rest. Handling and braking are the major components of a vehicle's...
by reducing the
moment of inertiaIn classical mechanics, moment of inertia, also called mass moment of inertia, rotational inertia, polar moment of inertia of mass, or the angular mass, is a measure of an object's resistance to changes to its rotation. It is the inertia of a rotating body with respect to its rotation...
and lowering the
center of massIn physics, the center of mass or barycenter of a system is the average location of all of its mass. In the case of a rigid body, the position of the center of mass is fixed in relation to the body...
height.
It was offered as both a
coupeA coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
and a
cabrioletA convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
. A lightweight CSL version of the M6 was expected to be released in the near future, however, BMW has since officially stated that no such version of the M6 will be built, as there is currently no market for such a model. The 2007 coupe is expected to have a 0-60 mph time of about 4.1 seconds (4.6 convertible)(Road and Track, March 2006). Both the M6 coupe and convertible can be visually distinguished from the 630i, 645Ci and 650i by their deeper front valance with air intakes, more contoured side sills, aerodynamic side view mirrors, an additional rear valance with diffuser and the absence of front fog lights.
In the 2010 model year, the M6 was the second-most expensive BMW sold in the U.S. after the 760Li ($137,000), with an MSRP of $108,150 for the convertible and $102,350 for the coupe. In the U.S. the M6 had one of the largest residual value drops at 19%, as it had little if any changes since its 2006 introduction.
Production of the M6 ended in mid 2010, with sales over the five year run totalling 9,087 for the coupe and 5,056 for the convertible.
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