I’m snooping around for a new (used) car, and the X6 checks a lot of boxes for me. I realize I don’t really need 8 cylinders, but the M badge is kind of sexy. The inline 6 is probably the better bet, but just looking for anyone with knowledge or experience in either model.
What model year(s) are you looking at?
M competition is still legit from a performance perspective.
Mere M badging (cosmetic) seems poseur-ish, a pretend M performance.
It all depends on how much you want to spend long term. BMWs are expensive to maintain with the correct parts depending on how they are optioned. Just note, that you have regular level cars, M-Sport cars, and M cars. These will all have some different options. It used to be that the M-sport cars might have different steering components and sway bars, but lately it has been much more of a visual package than physical component package.
Staggered wheel set ups will eat tires. I get about 20k on my X5, ran to about 40k with a straight set on the X7. They look bad ass though.
M-sport or tow package brakes - I can change my regular brakes on my X5 for about $500 in parts. Did the X7 this year, it was about $800 in parts with the tow package (msport brakes, smaller front rotor). These are good rotors (Zimmerman) and good pads. Regular brakes on the X7 would have been similar to the X5 in cost.
Engines
The B58 engine is rock solid if you have good maintenance records. It is also relatively cheap to change the oil in and swap filters. I think I can do it all for about $120 with good oil and OEM filters. I assume on the X6 that the lowest gas possible to run well will be 89 octane.
Issues with the new gens of B58 engines are oil filter housing and oil cooler leaks, the same damn issue they have with every inline 6 engine including diesels. This is still a easy fix. Normal plug maintenance and good fuel with the occasional fuel system cleaner with PEA keeps the fuel injectors happy.
N63 engine is a little more expensive to maintain. Most have 2 intake filters, plus oil and filters. Timing chains have been a problem in the past, but I don’t know if that is the case on some of the recent generations. BMW has fixed a lot of their timing chain issues in the last 5 to 10ish years. I believe they still have some issues with intake and valve cover leaks on this engine which are much more expensive to fix than the B58 valve covers. Again normal plug and injector maintenance is required and good fuel usage with a PEA cleaner. Minimum fuel requirement is 91 octane.
A lot of this just depends on how much you want to tinker yourself to keep everything in tip top shape or how much you want to spend on long term maintenance. They are the best driving vehicles on the road and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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I have nothing to add (as I know little about cars let alone specifics of Bavarian beasts) but felt compelled to reply and compliment you on that detailed response.
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shoff14, thanks so much for he detailed response, it is vey helpful.
I’ve been looking at 2023 and 2024 x40i and M50i, leaning toward the x40i. I’m not sure how to differentiate between the B58 engines and the nN63, since none of the ads indicate those numbers. Just inline 6 and V-8 options. I do see some M-sport options on the 6 cylinder so that may be one of the things you mentioned.
Anyway, the M series 8 cyl seems too much trouble. I’m retired now so I won’t be driving as much, but I still want a fun driving car. Thanks again!
The N63 is a twin turbo V8, B58 a single turbo inline 6.
All G series 40i will be the B58 engine six cylinder. G series 50i or the newer m60i will be the N63 V8. This is only for the US non-diesel market.
Got a little bit more time to respond.
With a 40i B58 engine, you won’t notice the missing horse power. Both my X5 35d and 335D I had before it never lacked power or torque. I am amazed how well the X7 does with the 325hp version of the engine.
M-sport on an X6 40i is going to be mostly cosmetic. Front valance, rear valance, and side shirts are different. Depending on the year you are looking at, they will have sport seats. These seats are a little stiffer than standard seats and have side bolsters. Staggered wheel sets will be available, but they are no longer on every M-Sport SUV depending on how they were optioned. There is also what BMW calls shadow line trim. This is exterior trim that matches the car color vs. chromed. Depending on year, that may include the grill trim. M-sport brakes are the next option, which may or may not be on an M-sport vehicle. There will be other interior trims and steering wheel that will be different from a base level to an M-sport on a 40i. Over all the rest of the things will be minor.
Executive packaged vehicles will have comfort seats, these are the best. This would be in addition to the m-sport seat and much better than both the regular seats and m-sport seats. The G series comfort seats are levels above any vehicle seat I have ever used, including my F15 m-sport seats.
Options to look for based on my preferences and needs.
- M-sport
- Executive packaged (strictly for the comfort seats, also called multi contour now) Depending on year, this will also change the sound system up a level.
- Tow package or rear hitch (if you want to put a bike rack on) Not sure on the X6, but on an X5/7 you will spend about $1k to get a good hitch on and to have it programed.
- heads up display
- heated steering wheel (if you are in a cold climate)
Options that are not really options but vary based on the vehicle but is a must
- Hot climate version (adds factory window tint) luckily a lot of US vehicles have this. BMWs can get hot because they are very well sealed from noise.
Options that are kind of worthless
- “cooled” seats suck on BMWs and they are not cooled, just moving air.
- Massaging seat, again another worthless option
- glass controls (easy to keep clean, but the sun bounces off of them and is annoying)
- 4 way climate control, in both vehicles I always sync to the front to control the climate control. Rarely do my girls start touching the back controls and I can get the vehicle cooled off quicker. On my X7, I had to assign a hot key. On my F series X5 it is a button still. We also have the additional AC unit on the X7, which I can then control it from the front quickly.
Nice to have options
- Merino leather, this leather with comfort seats is the best thing my bum and back have sat on in a vehicle
- Soft close doors (should be good with the executive package)
- On G series vehicle, the parking assist is very nice. Even if you don’t want to use the auto park. Pulling out of parking spots and other items that can be tricky to see out of makes the parking assist worth it. Only had one issues parking during a soccer tourney that stopped the car on an incline.
- air suspension - They have improved the longevity of this option with the G series vehicles. F series needed new bags randomly around 75k miles. Makes driving very smooth.
- Spare tire - I have built out spare tire kits in both my current vehicles for about $2-$500. If you can find a close enough junk yard with parts available. In most vehicles these jack and spare kits are no big deal. Junk yards also don’t understand and don’t even list the parts. Monderspare.com is another location to get one.
- non-run flats
Cool options
- Painted M-sport brakes
- Shadow line trim
- Staggered wheel set. Putting 315s in the rear is just cool and changing the handling. Again, expect more tire wear because the lack of rotation
Feel free to ask any other questions.
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wow, thanks so much.
I see a few cars listed with a 3.0l w/ a mild hybrid. What the heck is that? The hybrid seems to unnessesarily complicated things.
Your list of options was very informative. I had most of them on my list, but not all. I live in LA and there are no shortages of cars to choose from, and I’m not in a rush, so I will keep a lookout for the car with the right options.
Cheers!
I think 2020 or 2021 was the first year of the “mild hybrid”. This isn’t the hybrid that you think it is. There is no extra drive motors or a generator in the transmission similar to other hybrid vehicles.
They removed the alternator and starter that would be on most vehicles added a larger stator that acts both as a motor and a generator. This helps the engine in start and stop situations and the auto shut off (which I hate btw). This also added a 48V system to the car. So the vehicles will have a standard 12V battery and a 48V battery. The 48V system does run a few of the other features of the car. There seems to be very few issues with the system in general. I have seen a few battery issues on the forums, which is not a cheap expense. Our X7 is a 2021 with the mild hybrid, helps boost the HP rating up to 350 and we have had zero issues with it. I wouldn’t be too concerned with it from a maintenance perspective.
Here is a good recent video.
One other note to add. All most all G series X5, X6, X7s from 2019 and 2020 without the mild hybrid system have an active recall on them for the starter… They removed the auto shut off turn off button in the earlier G series cars including in our 2021. It has came back though, just not sure which year.