BMW X6 E71 Review (2008-2014)
BMW X6 cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
Fun to drive
Undeniably eye-catching looks
Plenty of boot space
Cons
Four seats rather than five
Not as reliable as a Lexus RX
Stiff ride compromises comfort
The CarGurus verdict
You buy the X6 for its looks. Or you avoid it for the same reason.
Beneath the love-hate styling, the X6 is a very capable SUV. Even the least powerful models are quick cars, and the range-topping models are exceptionally swift. What's more, the X6 has the handling to match.
The trouble is, the X5 is very nearly as fun to drive, rides more comfortably, and has more passenger space than the X6. It's a better car for most buyers, especially those with children. Likewise a Porsche Cayenne delivers a sporting drive but without the cramped rear headroom caused by the X6's sloping roofline.
While the rational case for the X6 is hard to make, if you fall for the car's swagger, there's a lot to enjoy. Just be sure that you budget for steep running costs, and can live with the car's stiff ride.
BMW developed the X6 to be more sporty to drive as well as look at. On a narrow country road, the X6's colossal size can be intimidating, but on wider, flowing roads it's a sharp and rewarding car, with precise steering and exceptional reserves of grip. Every X6 has BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive, so it's composed and able whether the road is wet or dry. Perhaps the Porsche Cayenne is better still, but it's a close run thing.
There is a downside to making a two-tonne SUV handle like a sports car, and that's a very firm ride. With sports suspension and 19-inch alloy wheels, the X6 is stiff and unforgiving of poorly surfaced roads, which can be wearing if you're not in the mood to press on. It's a shame this X6 was never available with the more comfortable air suspension at the rear that became an option with the second-generation X6.
The regular X5 also strikes a better balance between B-road fun and everyday usability, but then the X5 doesn't have the head-turning presence of the X6.
In 2008 when the X6 was a new BMW, buyers could choose from two diesel and two petrol engines, all matched to an automatic transmission. The entry-level engine, if you can call it that, was the 232bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel in the X6 xDrive 30d. BMW claimed a 0-62mph time of 8.0 seconds. The 35d had 282bhp, and could reach 62mph in 6.9 seconds.
The petrol models were quicker still. The 302bhp xDrive 35i could complete the benchmark sprint in 6.7 seconds, while the 402bhp xDrive 50i could reduce that to 5.2 seconds.
In 2010, the X6 xDrive 40d replaced the 35d, with power increasing to 302bhp. The 30d also received some tweaks, putting power up to 241bhp.
For those who believe you can never have too much power, BMW introduced the M50d in 2012. With a mighty 375bhp and a ridiculous 546lb ft of torque, the M50d is comfortably the quickest diesel X6.
Not fastest of all, though. That title goes to the X6M, launched in 2010. With its 547bhp twin-turbocharged V8, this heavyweight hooligan of a car will hit 62mph in just 4.7 seconds, and provide plenty of drama along the way.
A facelift in 2012 brought some tweaks to the engines with reduced emissions, along with updated styling and the availability of LED headlights. These kept the E71 X6 competitive with the Mercedes GLE Coupé, Porsche Cayenne, and Range Rover Sport until the second-generation X6 arrived in 2014.
All versions are well equipped, with the high-spec M Sport being especially popular. The infotainment system may be basic by today's standards, but the iDrive controller is easy enough once you get used to it.
If you are counting the pennies, you're probably not going to go anywhere near the X6. Although early examples may be affordable to buy, none of the line-up is going to be cheap to fuel or insure.
That said, the most sensible buy is the xDrive 30d. This version achieves fuel economy of 34.4mpg on the combined cycle, although in reality count yourself lucky if the car returns over 30mpg. Later cars with an eight-speed automatic gearbox rather than the earlier six-speed unit are slightly more efficient.
The 35d and later 40d have considerably more power than the 30d, but are only slightly thirstier, according to the official figures. The 35d can achieve 34mpg on the combined cycle, or more likely 25-30mpg on the road rather than in the lab. And while much quicker than the other diesels, the X50d can still achieve mpg in the mid twenties.
If you must have a petrol, your forecourt loyalty card will quickly rack up points. Even the 35i returns just 25.9mpg according to the official figures, with low 20s mpg more likely in reality. The 50i will be in the high teens or early twenties. As for the crazy-quick X6M, you'll need to drive with saintly levels of restraint to achieve even 20mpg.
If the fuel bills don't empty your bank balance completely, insurance premiums might. The 30d is in group 44 of 50. The 35i, 35d and 40d are in group 47, while the 50i, X6M and M50d are in group 50, the costliest group there is.
Vehicle Excise Duty bills will be costly, too. Even 30d owners will need to pay £330, while many of the more powerful models attract a car tax bill of £580.
Servicing and maintenance bills will be high. You can take the edge off by taking advantage of BMW Value Service, which reduces the cost of servicing at BMW franchised dealers. Genuine BMW parts will be used. However, there are plenty of independent BMW specialists up and down the country who will almost certainly undercut main dealer prices.
BMW X6 E71 (2008-2014) Expert Review If you want the most reliable used SUV, then take a look at the Lexus RX. It's not as striking as the X6 or as exciting to drive, but it's as dependable as any luxury 4x4.
The BMW X6 may not achieve the near-flawless reliability of a Lexus, but it's not an unreliable car by any means, generally finishing mid-table in reliability and satisfaction surveys.
The mechanical parts are generally robust, but some owners report problems with electrical equipment. Trouble with the axle and suspension components are more common than issues with engines and gearboxes.
Over the years the X6 has been subject to a number of recalls. These include a recall due to the risk of fire caused by movement of the blower regulator connector leading to frictional corrosion. This applied to cars made before 21/08/2011.
Another recall related to a possible short circuit in the auxilliary water pump. This applied to cars built from 02/10/2008 to 22/10/2011.
To check if any used X6 you are thinking of buying has had any recall work carried out, make a note of the registration number and go to the recall checker on the gov.uk website. Most should have been fixed long ago but it pays to be sure.
- These days most big 4x4s have at least one hybrid version, but this was rare in the days of the first-generation X6. While the production version was never offered in the UK, the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid pointed to the future with its petrol-electric powertrain. Shown at the Frankfurt motor show in 2007, the ActiveHybrid used the V8 twin-turbo engine from the 50i and two electric motors. BMW claimed the ActiveHybrid was 20% more economical than the equivalent car relying on an internal combustion engine alone.
- One of the keys to the BMW X6's nimble handling is Dynamic Performance Control, a system that made its debut in the X6. Dynamic Performance Control works by detecting if the front or rear tyres are about to slide wide when cornering. If this occurs, Dynamic Performance Control varies the distribution of drive forces between the wheels to maintain stability. Transferring additional wheel speed to the outer rear wheel pushes the car round the corner for neutral and balanced handling.
- The styling of the X6 may be controversial, but as many people love it as loathe it. Sales for the first-generation of the X6 exceeded BMW's expectations, hitting 150,000 sales in three years, and going on to sell almost 250,000 worldwide by the time the second-generation X6 replaced it. The looks may have raised eyebrows in 2008 (and still do today), but would Mercedes have launched the GLE Coupé, and would Audi have developed the Q8, without the X6 establishing the niche?
- If you want sensible running costs: pick the xDrive 30d. It may be the slowest of the X6 range, but it's not slow by most standards. The six-cylinder diesel still packs plenty of punch, but it's the most fuel-efficient choice. Unless you demand more performance, the 30d is all the X6 you really need.
- If you must have a petrol: go for the xDrive 35i. While the 50i and X6M may be quicker, few owners will feel short-changed by the 35i's 302bhp. The six-cylinder engine is smooth, and while it's quite thirsty, it doesn't get through unleaded at the same rate as the more powerful petrol models.
- If you want to balance high performance with economy: try the 40d. While less economical than the 30d and more expensive to insure, the penalty at the pumps isn't too severe. The 40d has noticeably more punch than the 30d, and gives the high-performance petrol models a run for their money when it comes to vivid acceleration.
- If you want the ultimate X6: choose the X6M. It makes the rest of the range seem tame, with other-worldly acceleration matched only by its appetite for petrol. Running costs are high, though, so be prepared for big bills and consider the M50d as a more sensible alternative.
