Designed under the watchful eye of Chris Bangle, the second-generation BMW 6-series both shocked the critics and sold in droves.
And with its naturally aspirated straight-six engine, it's a quintessential reminder of the recipe that originally made BMW great.
Good design is not created overnight.
Great design is something that takes years of steeping to become special. It needs to be aired, viewed by many, and discussed, and then also aged to finally be deemed successful. While the cool-looking first-generation BMW 6 Series is a product firmly rooted in the 1970s and 80s, it took BMW almost 15 years to create a follow-up.
The company aimed to create a coupe that was innovative, cutting-edge, and ahead of its time. With the full backing of the BMW board, chief designer Chris Bangle and his apprentice Adrian van Hooydonk penned the E63 BMW 6-series. It was the first time a design philosophy – usually found in architecture and called “Deconstructivism” – was applied to car design. The interesting angles intersect in ways that had never been seen before, and over time, the design has aged gracefully.
This example is a Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) model, which is BMW talk for a facelift or series two model. Featuring a buttery-smooth 3.0-litre ‘N52’ naturally aspirated straight-six with 200 kW / 320 Nm, a six-speed auto, and a rear-wheel-drive chassis, it offers a different take on that unmistakable BMW recipe we all know and love. It features a short (and quick) steering rack that helps shave kilos off its perceived weight, making it feel agile and delicate on the road.
Finished in pure white with a black interior, heated seats, and a panoramic sunroof, it’s also oozing sophisticated GT-car qualities too.
If you are in favour of a reliable, simple, and easy-to-own BMW, this is your ticket.
The car pictured – 2010 BMW 630i
This BMW 630i was built in March 2010 and finished in Pure white with an full black leather interior and dark timber inlays.
That makes it a four-seat and two-door GT coupe. It’s powered by a 3.0-litre naturally aspirated ‘N52’ six-cylinder engine with 200 kW/320 Nm. It features a six-speed ZF DCT automatic that sends power exclusively to its rear wheels.
Standard features include push-button start, electric heated seats with three-position memory, leather trim, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors with visual display, BMW premium audio, ISOFIX rear child restraints and automatic headlights.
It was purchased in Japan via its domestic used vehicle auction network, was graded 4.5B, and was noted as a one-owner vehicle. It presents in above-average condition and comes with evidence of being routinely maintained in Japan Alongside being well maintained in Japan, the vehicle has received a minor service upon arriving in Australia.
The paint is original, and the underside shows no evidence of action in cold climates. It was recently fitted with new high-quality tyres. The vehicle comes with one key and related paperwork from its importation.
Quick facts
- 3.0-litre ‘N52’ straight-six engine
- 200kW power / 320Nm torque
- 64,069 km
- 2010 LCI update model
- Six-speed DCT automatic
- Rear-wheel drive
- Black leather interior
- Factory panoramic glass roof
- Heated and electric front seats with driver’s three-position memory
- Front & rear parking sensors
- Push-button start
- Dual-zone climate control
- Automatic HID headlights
- Cruise control
- Auto folding + dipping side mirrors
- Four seats
- Auction grade 4.5B
- Evidence of being maintained consistently
- Recently serviced upon arriving in Australia
- New tyres fitted
- Vehicle comes with Japanese owners manual
- Vehicle comes with three months NSW registration
- Vehicle comes with SEVS compliance
Love or loathe his work, Bangle's impact on auto design has been profound. No other designer, not even legendary GM design chief Harley Earl, has so rapidly become a part of the industry lexicon.MotorTrend magazine, May 18, 2006.
