BMW 650i (E63/E64) review: a used V8 coupe that punishes neglect
3.6/5motorssouq Editorial Team
Buy a 650i coupe only with a full service file and a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks the electric water pump, VANOS solenoids and coolant hoses — the N62 V8 is otherwise a strong, characterful engine. Skip any car with an unexplained temperature gauge history or a convertible roof that hesitates; in Bahrain's heat, both faults escalate fast and the car's low resale value means repair bills can exceed what it is worth.
Pros
- 367 hp naturally aspirated V8 with genuine GT character
- Six-speed automatic is smooth and unstressed at causeway speeds
- Among the cheapest ways into a big BMW coupe in Bahrain today
- Cabin isolation and highway manners are still excellent
Cons
- Electric water pump failure is common and can overheat the engine with no warning
- VANOS solenoid wear causes rough idle if neglected
- Resale value is low enough that repair bills can exceed the car's worth
- E64 convertible roof hydraulics need a full-cycle test before buying
The 2007 facelift kept the E63 coupe and E64 convertible's controversial Bangle-era styling but sharpened the 650i's case: a 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8 good for 367 hp, a six-speed automatic, and genuine 250 km/h-plus pace on the causeway to Saudi Arabia. Fifteen-plus years on, it is one of the cheapest ways into a proper V8 GT on the Bahraini used market.
The fault that catches owners out
The N62 V8 fitted to later production cars uses an electric auxiliary water pump instead of a belt-driven unit, and it is the single most common reason a 650i overheats without warning. Bahrain's ambient temperatures make a marginal pump fail faster than it would in Europe, and a missed warning light followed by a short highway run can crack a head gasket. Budget for a pump replacement as routine maintenance, not an emergency repair.
VANOS solenoids are the second recurring item — a rough idle or a flat spot low in the rev range is almost always this, not something more serious, and it is a manageable independent-workshop job in Bahrain.
Living with it here
On the road the car is exactly what a big BMW coupe should be: quiet at 140 km/h, planted through the Sheikh Isa causeway sweepers, and quick enough that the automatic rarely feels caught out. The E64 convertible adds a folding hardtop whose hydraulics and seals are worth testing through a full cycle before you buy, since sand ingress and heat-aged rubber are a common combination here.
Resale is the honest downside: a well-sorted 650i is worth less in Bahrain today than what a proper service history costs to maintain, which is exactly why so many on the market are neglected. Find the exception and it is a genuinely satisfying car; find the average example and you have bought someone else's deferred maintenance.