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BMW F12 6 Series and M6 buyer's guide
2012–2019 · 640i / xDrive (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe), 650i / xDrive, M6 (N55, N63 V8, S63 V8)
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Engines by year Model-year changes Known problems Warranty extensions Recalls Inspection checklist Red flags Specs Coding Ownership costs Production Sources
Models and engines by year
| Model | US model years | Engine |
|---|---|---|
| 640i / xDrive (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe) | 2012–2019 | N55 |
| 650i / xDrive | 2012–2019 | N63 V8 |
| M6 | 2012–2018 | S63 V8 |
US-market models. Chassis codes: F06, F12, F13. Not sure which one you have? The VIN check decodes year, model and engine.
Model-year changes
| Model year | What changed |
|---|---|
| Launch | Coupe and convertible launched first; the four-door Gran Coupe (F06) followed from March 2012. A 6-speed manual was available in the US.11 |
| 2012 | US lineup in the EPA listings: 3.0L 6-cyl turbo: 640i Convertible, 640i Coupe; 4.4L 8-cyl turbo: 650i Convertible, 650i Convertible xDrive, 650i Coupe, 650i Coupe xDrive, M6 Convertible.12 |
| 2013 | New: 640i Gran Coupe (3.0L 6-cyl turbo), 650i Gran Coupe (4.4L 8-cyl turbo), 650i xDrive Gran Coupe (4.4L 8-cyl turbo), M6 Coupe (4.4L 8-cyl turbo), M6 Gran Coupe (4.4L 8-cyl turbo). Manual gearbox no longer listed: 650i Convertible, 650i Coupe. Manual gearbox now listed: M6 Convertible.12 |
| 2014 | New: 640i xDrive Convertible (3.0L 6-cyl turbo), 640i xDrive Coupe (3.0L 6-cyl turbo), 640i xDrive Gran Coupe (3.0L 6-cyl turbo).12 |
| 2015 | New: Alpina B6 Gran Coupe xDrive (4.4L 8-cyl turbo).12 |
| Facelift (LCI) | Facelift shown at the 2015 Detroit show: new bumpers, LED fog lights and adaptive LED headlights.11 |
| 2018 | No longer listed: 640i Coupe, 640i xDrive Coupe, 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, M6 Coupe.12 |
| End | Coupe production ended February 2017, convertible February 2018 and Gran Coupe September 2018; the Gran Coupe was still sold as a 2019 model.11 |
| 2019 | No longer listed: 640i Convertible, 640i xDrive Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, M6 Convertible.12 |
US model years unless noted. "LCI" (Life Cycle Impulse) is BMW's name for a mid-cycle facelift.
Known problems and when they show up
Mileages are what the cited shops, specialists and owner forums report. They are typical ranges, not predictions for any one car.
N55 engine
640i / xDrive (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe) (2012–2019) · N55 bulletins
| Problem | When it shows up | What to know | Repair prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valve cover and gasket leak | about 60,000–100,000 miles | Burning-oil smell and oil on the spark plug wells. The plastic cover can also crack, so it is often replaced together with the gasket.1,2,3 | N55 valve cover / valve cover gasket (PCV) Owners paid: indie shop $930–$1,625 · dealer $1,450–$2,076 |
| Oil filter housing gasket leak | about 50,000–130,000 miles | Oil drips onto the belt and tensioner. Fix it before the belt is damaged.1,2,3,4 | N55 oil filter housing gasket (OFHG) Owners paid: indie shop $648–$763 |
| Electric water pump and thermostat | usually before 100,000 miles; reported failures range from about 30,000 to over 120,000 | Fails suddenly, often with no warning, then overheats.1,2,3 | N52 / N54 / N55 electric water pump + thermostat |
| Plastic charge pipe | can crack at any age, even at stock boost; about 40,000–90,000 miles (60,000–150,000 km) per EngineScope | Sudden loss of boost and a whoosh under load.1,3 | N55 charge pipe (intercooler to throttle) replacement |
| Oil pan gasket | usually past 100,000 miles | Expensive labor because the subframe must be lowered.1 | N55 oil pan gasket Owners paid: indie shop $1,588–$1,900 |
| VANOS solenoids | around 120,000 miles | Rough idle and cam timing faults.1 | VANOS solenoids (intake / exhaust) |
N63 engine
650i / xDrive (2012–2019) · N63 bulletins
| Problem | When it shows up | What to know | Repair prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil consumption and valve stem seals | usually a higher-mileage problem; mostly the original N63 | Blue smoke on start-up or overrun, high oil use, oil-fouled plugs. BMW published a dedicated procedure and tool for N63TU/S63TU valve seals (SI B11 01 17).5 | N63 valve stem seals (oil burning / blue smoke) |
| N63 Customer Care Package items | any mileage; 2009–2014 cars | BMW's Customer Care Package (SIB 11 06 14) checks and replaces, as needed: air mass sensors, piezo injectors, vacuum pump, low-pressure fuel sensor and line, turbo intake seals and crankcase vent hoses. It lists F01/F02/F04/F07 to 6/2012, F10 to 7/2013, F12/F13 to 7/2012, E70 to 6/2013, E71 to 6/2014 and E72. Ask a dealer whether the VIN has had it.6 | No price yet |
| Turbo coolant lines, valve cover gaskets and timing chain | commonly 70,000+ miles | The heat of the "hot vee" layout ages rubber and plastic parts. The N63TU (from mid-2012 to 2013, by model) revised the timing chain, VANOS, crankcase ventilation and cooling.7,6 | N63 turbo coolant lines (coolant leak in the hot V) Owners paid: dealer $2,000–$3,202 |
S63 engine
M6 (2012–2018) · S63 bulletins
| Problem | When it shows up | What to know | Repair prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil consumption and valve stem seals | mileage varies | Signs are smoke on start-up or hard acceleration and deceleration, plus oil-fouled plugs. BMW's bulletin requires a full oil-consumption test before replacing valve seals when high oil use is the only complaint.8 | No price yet |
| Spark plugs and ignition coils (wear items) | stock: plugs about 40,000–50,000 miles, coils about 50,000–70,000; much sooner when tuned | Misfires on a turbo V8 are often plugs or coils. Ask when they were last done.9 | No price yet |
| Version matters | — | BMWTuning says the updated S63TU (F10 M5 onward) has better reliability than the original S63 (E70 X5 M / E71 X6 M).9 | No price yet |
| Rod bearings, coils and injectors | not tied to a mileage in our sources | Rod bearing wear is discussed on early S63s; misfires from coils and injectors and turbo coolant leaks also show up.10 | No price yet |
Warranty extensions and service campaigns 28
Warranty extensions (27)
- SIB 01 09 21 Fuel tank leak check warranty extension Fuel tank leak check warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/G30/F97 and other models (2006–2023); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Aug 2026
- SIB 01 03 24 EVAP system warranty extension EVAP system warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/G05/G06 and other models (2017–2025); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Jun 2026
- SIB 72 01 25 Seat belt warning message Seat belt warning message on BMW G11/G12/G30/G32 and other models (2015–2019); BMW extended coverage for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Feb 2026
- SIB 01 01 22 Oil consumption class-action settlement Oil consumption class-action settlement on BMW E60/F01/F02/F06 and other models (2009–2019); covers eligible repairs and reimbursement under the court settlement. Service bulletin · Jan 2026
- SIB 72 04 17 Seat warranty extension Seat warranty extension on BMW F90/G01/G02/G05 and other models (2016–2022); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Jun 2025
- SIB 01 16 24 Telematics unit warranty extension Telematics unit warranty extension on BMW G11/G12/G20/G30 and other models (2018–2020); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Jan 2025
- SIB 32 02 23 Steering warranty extension Steering warranty extension on BMW G05/G06/G07/G11 and other models (2015–2024); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Jan 2024
- SIB 01 14 23 Crankcase vent valve (PCV) warranty extension Crankcase vent valve (PCV) warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/G11/G12 and other models (2016–2021); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Nov 2023
- SIB 01 12 19 Radiator warranty extension Radiator warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/G11/G12 and other models (2006–2023); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Jun 2023
- SIB 01 06 22 Component specific limited warranty extension Component specific limited warranty extension on BMW G32/F06/F12/F13 models (2018–2019); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · May 2022
- SIB 01 02 22 Communication class-action settlement Communication class-action settlement on BMW E60/E82/F01/F02 and other models (2009–2019); covers eligible repairs and reimbursement under the court settlement. Service bulletin · Feb 2022
- SIB 01 13 21 Electric water pump class-action settlement Electric water pump class-action settlement on N54/N55 engines (2007–2019); covers eligible repairs and reimbursement under the court settlement. Service bulletin · May 2021
- SIB 01 22 18 Battery class-action settlement Battery class-action settlement on N63 engines (2008–2018); covers eligible repairs and reimbursement under the court settlement. Service bulletin · Jul 2020
- SIB 01 03 19 Oxygen sensor warranty extension Oxygen sensor warranty extension on N63 engines (2009–2018); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Jul 2020
- SIB 01 05 18 Misfire warranty extension Misfire warranty extension on BMW G11/G12/G32/E60 and other models (2009–2019); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Feb 2020
Showing 15 of 27.
Service campaigns (1)
- SIB 11 06 14 Engine service campaign Engine service campaign on N63 engines (2008–2015); the fix is replacing the affected part. Service campaign · Mar 2025
Filed by BMW with NHTSA. Extensions usually follow the car to later owners and can reimburse earlier repairs; a BMW dealer can confirm by VIN.
NHTSA safety recalls 12
- Recall 24V527: driver's front air bag 320I, 328D, 328I, 335I, 428I, 435I, 528I, 535D, 535I, 550I, 640I, 650I, ACTIVE HYBRID 5, X3, X5, 2013–2015. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models.
- Recall 20V094: brake lights M6, 2014–2018. The third brake light may become loose, possibly allowing the light to detach from the vehicle.
- Recall 19V684: camera 330I, 530E, 530I, 540D, 540I, 640I, 740LE, 740LI, 745LE, 750LI, 840I, M340I, M5, M550I, M850I, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, Z4, 2018–2020. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse.
- Recall 18V465: engine 230I, 330E, 330I, 340I, 430I, 440I, 530E, 530I, 540D, 540I, 640I, 740I, M240I, X1, X2, 2018–2019. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall.
- Recall 18V248: engine 550I, 550I GRAN TURISMO, 650I, 750I, 750LI, 760LI, ACTIVE HYBRID 7, ACTIVEHYBRID 7, X5, X5 M, X6, X6 ACTIVEHYBRID, X6 M, 2008–2012. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
- Recall 17V495: inflator module M6, X3, 2012–2013. BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive35i, and M6 Convertible vehicles and 2013 M6 Coupe vehicles.
- Recall 16V914: air bags 430I, 440I, 528I, 535D, 535I, 550I, 640I, 650I, I3, I8, M4, M5, M6, X1 SAV, 2016–2017. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.
- Recall 16V746: fuel pump 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, 528I, 535I, 535I ACTIVEHYBRID, 550I, 640I, 650I, X5, X6, X6 ACTIVEHYBRID, 2007–2012. 0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDri
- Recall 16V540: driveshaft M5, M6, 2015. The affected vehicles have a driveshaft that may have been inadequately welded during manufacturing.
- Recall 14V176: engine 128I, 135I, 328I, 335I, 528I, 535I, 535I GRAN TURISMO, 640I, X3 SAV, X5 SAV, X6 SAV, Z4, 2010–2012. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.
- Recall 12V475: engine M5, M6, 2013. BMW is recalling certain model year 2013 M5, M6 Coupe, and M6 Convertible vehicles, manufactured from July 19, 2012, through September 11, 2012.
- Recall 12V161: turbo/supercharger 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, 6 SERIES, 7-SERIES, X5 SAV, X6 SAV, 2011–2012. BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 5-SERIES, 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO, MODEL YEAR 2012 6-SERIES CONVERTIBLE, 7-SERIES, X5 SAV, AND X6 SAV VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8- OR 12-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED, ENGINES BECAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP CAN OVERHEAT.
Matched from NHTSA's public recall file by model and model year. A recall may cover only some cars from a year, and it may already have been done on yours. Check by VIN →
Test drive and inspection checklist
- Run the VIN for open recalls. Open safety recalls are free at any BMW dealer. Check on NHTSA's site or our recall page before you buy.13
- Scan for stored fault codes with a BMW-capable tool. A generic OBD reader misses most BMW modules. Specialist guides recommend a BMW-level scan (ISTA or similar) to catch faults that have been cleared from the dash but still stored.14,15
- Start it from cold. Ask the seller not to warm the car up first. Chain rattle, VANOS rattle, lifter tick and rough idle show most clearly in the first seconds after a cold start.14,16,17
- Ask a BMW dealer about warranty extensions and campaigns. Several BMW warranty extensions follow the car, not the owner, and some reimburse earlier repairs. A dealer can check the VIN. The list for this chassis is below.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from a BMW specialist. A few hundred dollars for an independent BMW specialist is the usual advice, especially for M cars and high-mileage turbo engines.18,14
Engine items to listen and look for are in the known problems section.
Service-history red flags
- Oil changes only at the long computer interval. Several guides advise changing oil more often than the onboard service indicator (CBS) suggests, especially with lots of city driving.17,19
- Gaps in the records around known failure mileages. If the engine section below lists a job that usually comes due at the car's mileage, ask for the invoice. A missing record isn't proof it wasn't done, but it is a negotiating point.
- Tuned or "deleted" cars. Tunes, emissions deletes and removed parts complicate warranty claims and inspections and raise wear on turbo cars. Ask, and look for aftermarket intakes, downpipes and charge pipes.
- N55: ask for records of Valve cover and gasket leak; Oil filter housing gasket leak; Electric water pump and thermostat; Plastic charge pipe; Oil pan gasket; VANOS solenoids.
- N63: ask for records of Oil consumption and valve stem seals; N63 Customer Care Package items; Turbo coolant lines, valve cover gaskets and timing chain.
- S63: ask for records of Oil consumption and valve stem seals; Spark plugs and ignition coils (wear items); Version matters; Rod bearings, coils and injectors.
F12 specs
BMW's US figures we have on file run from 315 hp (640i Convertible) to 560 hp (M6 Convertible), with 0-60 mph as quick as 4.1 s.
A manual gearbox was offered in model years 2012–2019 (EPA listings). Full F12 specs: every US engine, transmission and drive by year →
Coding
The coding apps' own lists show 151 settings that owners can change on the F12 with a phone and an OBD adapter, in areas such as Seat heating/cooling, Convenient opening/closing, Display options iDrive system, Audio, Headlight cleaning, Display options instrument cluster. 124 come from BimmerCode's list and 27 more appear only in Carly's list.
Ownership costs
Routine maintenance: oil service prices by engine size, published BMW Value Service prices (brakes, spark plugs) from 16 US dealers, and the F12 maintenance schedule.
Repairs we price that apply to the F12
| Repair and owner-reported prices |
|---|
| N55 oil filter housing gasket (OFHG) Owners paid: indie shop $648–$763 |
| N55 valve cover / valve cover gasket (PCV) Owners paid: indie shop $930–$1,625 · dealer $1,450–$2,076 |
| N52 / N54 / N55 electric water pump + thermostat |
| N55 oil pan gasket Owners paid: indie shop $1,588–$1,900 |
| VANOS solenoids (intake / exhaust) |
| N55 ignition coils (all six) |
| N55 charge pipe (intercooler to throttle) replacement |
| N63 valve stem seals (oil burning / blue smoke) |
| N63 turbo coolant lines (coolant leak in the hot V) Owners paid: dealer $2,000–$3,202 |
| N63 valve cover gaskets (both banks) |
"Owners paid" is the middle 50% of sourced owner prices across chassis with the same engine. Each job page reprices for your ZIP.
By model year
| Year | Models and engines | NHTSA recalls | Warranty extensions | Repairs we price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 640i / xDrive (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe) N55 650i / xDrive N63 V8 M6 S63 V8 | 5 | 14 | 10 Priciest: N63 turbo coolant lines (coolant leak in the hot V), owners paid up to $3,202 (dealer, middle 50%) |
| 2013 | 640i / xDrive (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe) N55 650i / xDrive N63 V8 M6 S63 V8 | 3 | 20 | 10 Priciest: N63 turbo coolant lines (coolant leak in the hot V), owners paid up to $3,202 (dealer, middle 50%) |
| 2014 | 640i / xDrive (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe) N55 650i / xDrive N63 V8 M6 S63 V8 | 2 | 18 | 10 Priciest: N63 turbo coolant lines (coolant leak in the hot V), owners paid up to $3,202 (dealer, middle 50%) |
| 2015 | 640i / xDrive (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe) N55 650i / xDrive N63 V8 M6 S63 V8 | 3 | 19 | 10 Priciest: N63 turbo coolant lines (coolant leak in the hot V), owners paid up to $3,202 (dealer, middle 50%) |
| 2016 | 640i / xDrive (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe) N55 650i / xDrive N63 V8 M6 S63 V8 | 2 | 18 | 10 Priciest: N63 turbo coolant lines (coolant leak in the hot V), owners paid up to $3,202 (dealer, middle 50%) |
| 2017 | 640i / xDrive (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe) N55 650i / xDrive N63 V8 M6 S63 V8 | 2 | 16 | 10 Priciest: N63 turbo coolant lines (coolant leak in the hot V), owners paid up to $3,202 (dealer, middle 50%) |
| 2018 | 640i / xDrive (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe) N55 650i / xDrive N63 V8 M6 S63 V8 | 3 | 15 | 10 Priciest: N63 turbo coolant lines (coolant leak in the hot V), owners paid up to $3,202 (dealer, middle 50%) |
| 2019 | 640i / xDrive (coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe) N55 650i / xDrive N63 V8 | 2 | 13 | 10 Priciest: N63 turbo coolant lines (coolant leak in the hot V), owners paid up to $3,202 (dealer, middle 50%) |
Recalls and warranty extensions are counted when their published model-year range includes that year. Each one may cover only some cars, so check by VIN. Repairs counted are the ones whose engine was offered that year.
Production
| What | Units | Source |
|---|---|---|
| M6, total built 6,719 Gran Coupes, 4,515 coupes and 4,318 convertibles | 15,552 | BMW M Registry |
| M6, North American spec | 3,038 Gran Coupes, 2,093 coupes, 2,692 convertibles | BMW M Registry |
Figures are copied as each source publishes them (retrieved October 18, 2026). "Sold" figures are BMW's reported sales, not production counts. Where we add numbers up, they come from one source. We leave out anything that hasn't been published.
Sources
- BMWTuning: N55 FAQ
- BMWTuning: 5 most common N55 problems
- EngineScope: N55 reliability
- r/F30: how long has your N55 lasted?
- BMW SI B11 01 17: N63TU/S63TU valve seal replacement, via NHTSA
- BMW SIB 11 06 14: N63 Customer Care Package, via NHTSA
- BMWTuning: N63 vs N63TU vs TU2 vs TU3
- BMW SIB: N63 and S63 engine valve seal replacement (2018), via NHTSA
- BMWTuning: S63 FAQ (maintenance, problems)
- BMW Tuning: S63 M5 and M6 engine problems
- Wikipedia: BMW 6 Series (F12)
- EPA/DOE fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov)
- NHTSA recall lookup by VIN
- The Stable: E92 M3 buyer's guide
- Euro Premium Parts: E60 M5 reliability guide
- carsales: buying a used F30 3 Series (2015–20)
- carsales: buying a used E90 3 Series
- Road & Track: E46 M3 buyer's guide
- Drive-My: E60 5 Series buying guide (six-cylinder petrol)
Retrieved 2026-10-18. Bulletins and recalls come from NHTSA filings; owner prices come from the public posts linked on each job page.