BMW 645Ci (E63) review: buy the automatic, not the SMG
MotorsSouq Editorial Team
A 645Ci with the conventional 6-speed automatic is a genuinely satisfying, characterful used V8 grand tourer and one of the more distinctive things you can own in Bahrain for the money. The same car with the SMG sequential gearbox is a different proposition entirely — jerky at low speed, expensive to fix when the clutch actuator or hydraulic pump fails, and a real specialist-only repair. Confirm the transmission type before you even go to view a car.
Pros
- N62 V8 with genuine road presence and an evocative soundtrack under load
- Bangle-era styling has aged into something more appreciated than at launch
- 6-speed automatic examples are a straightforward, characterful used-BMW purchase
- Shares mechanical DNA with the 545i sedan, which helps with specialist familiarity
Cons
- SMG sequential gearbox cars are jerky at low speed and expensive to fix when the clutch actuator fails
- Valvetronic electric motor is a known, non-trivial N62 failure point
- Rare on the Bahrain used market, and even rarer with the automatic gearbox specifically
- No factory warranty exists on a car this age
The 645Ci was the range-topping engine when the 6 Series returned in 2003, sharing its N62B44 V8 and much of its mechanical package with the contemporary 545i sedan. 333 hp and a genuinely evocative V8 note make it a serious grand tourer, and the divisive Bangle-era styling — long bonnet, short overhangs, a controversial boot line — has aged into something more appreciated than it was at launch, when critics were unkind to it.
The gearbox choice is the single most important decision facing a used buyer. BMW offered the 645Ci with a conventional ZF 6-speed automatic and, alongside it, the SMG (Sequenzielles M Getriebe) sequential manual — a single-clutch automated gearbox that shifts using a robotic actuator rather than a torque converter or dual clutches. SMG was marketed as motorsport-derived technology at the time; two decades later, it is widely regarded by BMW specialists as the weak point of any E63 that has one, with jerky low-speed behaviour even when everything works correctly and an expensive clutch actuator or hydraulic pump repair when it does not.
What to check before buying in Bahrain
Ask for the transmission type before arranging a viewing, not after. A 6-speed automatic 645Ci is a straightforward used-BMW purchase by the standards of a 20-year-old car; an SMG example needs a specialist inspection of the hydraulic pump and clutch actuator specifically, and a realistic repair-cost conversation before you commit, since SMG-to-manual conversions exist but are a specialist job in their own right.
Beyond the gearbox, the N62 V8's Valvetronic electric motor is the other known weak point shared with the mechanically similar 545i, and the same pre-purchase caution applies: listen for rough idle and check for warning lights related to variable valve lift.
Who should buy one
Buy a 6-speed automatic 645Ci if you want a distinctive, characterful V8 grand tourer with genuine road presence for sensible used-car money. Only consider an SMG car if you understand exactly what you are buying and have already priced a clutch actuator replacement into your budget.