Powertrain families
N55 petrol I6 · N63 petrol V8 · N57 diesel I6
6 Series (F06/F12/F13) — Gran Coupe
2011–2018
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- F06
- Production
- 2011–2018
- Body style
- 4-door fastback
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
6 Series → F06/F12/F13 → Gran Coupe
6 Series F06/F12/F13: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected gran coupe fits into the family.
The F-generation 6 Series launched in an unusual order: F12 soft-top convertible arrived first, F13 coupe followed, and the longer-wheelbase F06 Gran Coupe added a four-door fastback-style body in 2012. F06 is not simply a coupe with two extra doors; its wheelbase, rear seating, side structure and overall length require their own record.
Regular 640i, 650i and 640d derivatives combined six-cylinder petrol, V8 petrol and six-cylinder diesel engines with rear-wheel drive or selected xDrive applications. Power, emissions equipment and transmissions changed across the 2015 update and by market, so badge-level summaries are not sufficient for exact specifications.
The three body lines ended at different times between 2017 and 2018. F12/F13/F06 M6 variants are separately developed BMW M records, and the later G32 6 Series Gran Turismo is not a direct body-style continuation of this coupe/convertible/Gran Coupe family.
2011–2018generation lifecycle
3body branches
3engine/drive families
3range designations
F06/F12/F13factory code
longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drivearchitecture
Gran Coupe: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length5,007 mm
Width1,894 mm
Height1,392 mm
Wheelbase2,968 mm
Luggage460 L
Fuel tank70 L
Seats5
Doors4-door fastback
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Coupe | F06 | 2011–2018 | 4-door fastback / 5 | 5,007 mm | 460 L |
| Cabriolet | F12 | 2011–2018 | 2-door convertible / 4 | 4,894 mm | 300–350 L |
| Coupe | F13 | 2011–2018 | 2-door coupe / 4 | 4,894 mm | 460 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented gran coupe applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 640i | 2011–2018 | N55B30 turbo inline-six | 320 PS | 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Global range | The new BMW 6 Series Coupé |
| 650i | 2011–2018 | N63B44 twin-turbo V8 | 407–450 PS | 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Global range | The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé |
| 640d | 2011–2018 | N57D30 twin-turbo diesel inline-six | 313 PS | 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Europe | The new BMW 6 Series Coupé |
Factory designations
640i · 650i · 640d
Petrol engines
Inline and V engines are grouped by engine family, displacement, induction system and emissions specification.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- F06: 5,007 mm × 1,894 mm × 1,392 mm
- F12: 4,894 mm × 1,894 mm × 1,365 mm
- F13: 4,894 mm × 1,894 mm × 1,369 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
F12 convertible opens the generation
BMW introduced the soft-top body before the fixed-roof coupe.
F13 coupe
The fixed-roof grand tourer joined with its own luggage, roof and structural specification.
F06 Gran Coupe
BMW added its first four-door coupe-branded model with a longer wheelbase and 4+1 seating concept.
Lifecycle update
All three bodies received coordinated design, equipment and efficiency changes.
Staggered production end
Coupe, convertible and Gran Coupe production closed on different schedules.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Gran Coupe
F066 Series F06 is a distinct F06/F12/F13 body branch. A four-door fastback combining a coupe-like roofline with easier rear access and a large tailgate or sedan-style luggage opening. Engines/drive: N55 petrol I6, N63 petrol V8, N57 diesel I6.
Cabriolet
F126 Series F12 is a distinct F06/F12/F13 body branch. An open body with a folding roof and generation-specific structural reinforcement, seating and luggage packaging. Engines/drive: N55 petrol I6, N63 petrol V8, N57 diesel I6.
Coupe
F136 Series F13 is a distinct F06/F12/F13 body branch. A lower-roof two-door body with longer doors and a more overtly sporting brief than the corresponding sedan. Engines/drive: N55 petrol I6, N63 petrol V8, N57 diesel I6.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- F06 — Gran Coupe; F12 — Cabriolet; F13 — Coupe
- Range designations
- 640i, 650i, 640d
- Powertrain families
- N55 petrol I6, N63 petrol V8, N57 diesel I6
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW 6 Series (F12)Wikipedia contributors
Secondary F06/F12/F13 body, platform, engine and production-boundary overview.
- 02The new BMW 6 Series CoupeBMW Group PressClub
Factory F13 body, chassis, dimensions and launch-model documentation.
- 03The BMW 6 Series Gran CoupeBMW Group PressClub
Factory F06 launch timing, four-door body, wheelbase and 4+1 seating description.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- F06 uses a 2,968 mm wheelbase while F12/F13 use 2,855 mm; body dimensions and rear accommodation are not interchangeable.
- The body-specific end dates and M6 separation must be preserved before the generation can receive a reviewed modification matrix.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026