The BMW M6 is a compact car built from 1981 to 2019 over 4 generations. Most were assembled in Germany — 100% of those on record. Between 1989 and 2019 it grew 7 cm longer and gained 330 kg. Engines offered: V8. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the M6 is
The BMW M6 is a compact car that BMW built from 1981 to 2019 — 39 model years. Our measurements put it at 4 generations, the current one starting in 2016. It has been offered with V8 power. Its closest siblings in the BMW range: M4, i8, M2.
Where the M6 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 22 M6s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | WBS | 2006-2018 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a BMW VIN decide which of these 4 lines your M6 belongs to. What every character in a M6 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a BMW M6 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
M6 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the M6's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the M6 that gives 4 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 482 cm | 263 cm | 1600 kg | - | - |
| 2007-2010 | 487 cm | 278 cm | 1773 kg | +5 cm | +173 kg |
| 2013 | 489 cm | 286 cm | 1930 kg | +2 cm | +157 kg |
| 2016-2019 | 489 cm | 285 cm | 1930 kg | +0 cm | +0 kg |
Between 1989 and 2019 the M6 gained 7 cm in length (+1.5%) and 330 kg in weight (+20.6%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the M6 that is 330 kg against 7 cm. Full dimensions by year →
BMW M6 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment M6 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the BMW M6 have? Power & range
The BMW M6 is offered with 1 powertrain — 4.4L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the BMW M6, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V8 | 4.4L · 8-cyl | Manual 6-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The M6 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the BMW M6. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | M6 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 22 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 31 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $5,003/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 69 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the BMW M6?
The M6 is a compact car, built from 1981 to 2019 across 4 generations. Engines offered: V8.
Where is the BMW M6 made?
Across 22 cars in our records the split is: Germany (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the M6 have?
4 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2016. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the M6 grew 7 cm longer and gained 330 kg.
What is the BMW M6 warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 4 years / 50,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the M6 reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific M6?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
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