BMW M6: Still Hot After All These Years

This car sold for $22,000, including buyer’s premium, at RM’s Classic Muscle & Modern Performance auction on June 19, 2010.

By the 1980s, BMW was losing its edge in the United States, along with any credible claim to the title of “The Ultimate Driving Machine.”

Cars like the 2002tii and 3.0CS were long gone, and replacements, such as the 630CSi and 320i, had suffered horrendously from the effects of U.S. emission regulations. BMWs in general ran hot from thermal reactors, often cracked their cylinder heads and made wimpy horsepower. The introduction of Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection and the oxygen sensor once again made it possible for U.S.-sold  BMW engines to run cleanly, produce respectable (although not European levels) of horsepower—and do away with the dreaded thermal reactors and exhaust gas recirculation. The Bosch Motronic system that replaced L-Jetronic was the first modern engine management system.

A godsend for U.S. BMW enthusiasts was the long hoped-for importation of the M Series cars in the form of the M3, M5 and M6. All three of the first-generation M cars have a following in the U.S., but from the standpoint of potential collectibility, the E30 M3 and the E24 M6 stand out, the latter for its M1-derived 3.5 liter straight six, which put out 256 hp in U.S. trim and 286 hp in European trim.

The newfound brawn was a perfect mate for the Paul Braq-styled shark-nose series. Visual changes were minimal. Larger BBS alloy wheels, a subtle rear deck lid spoiler, a deeper front air dam and M badges were about it. Underneath, the M6 got larger brakes to deal with the additional horsepower. A 5-speed manual transmission was the only choice.

Enthusiast publications were uniform in their praise for the M6, calling it a perfect blend of luxury and performance. Road & Track went so far as naming it among their favorite BMWs yet. The car’s 0-60 times were excellent for the day. Depending on the magazine, they ranged from 6.1 to 6.8 seconds.

M6s must still be considered high-performance automobiles capable of providing grand touring motoring in the truest sense. However, the cars are approaching 25 years old, and as components wear out or maintenance deferred, potential owners can be left footing some very unpleasant bills. Fortunately, few M6s seem to have suffered the fate of less-expensive E24 sixers, and it’s not uncommon to find them in a state similar to this loved 40,000-mile example. 

Ultimate collectibility of the E24 M6s seems to be hampered by the large number of sub-standard examples of visually similar 6-Series cars around—and by the fact that the earlier and more attractive E9 coupes still haven’t found the long-predicted sweet spot with collectors. Nevertheless, decent M6s have hovered in the high teens for quite some time now, so the sight of this one breaking $20,000 has to give fans of early Motorsports cars reason to be optimistic—and should have resulted in both a happy buyer and seller.