Powertrain families
S85B50 V10
M6 (E63/E64) — Cabriolet
2005–2010
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- E64
- Production
- 2005–2010
- Body style
- 2-door convertible
- Platform
- BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive
Body variants
M6 → E63/E64 → Cabriolet
M6 E63/E64: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected cabriolet fits into the family.
E63/E64 revived M6 after a long gap and paired coupé and soft-top convertible bodies with the S85 V10. The seven-speed SMG III was the global core transmission; a six-speed manual was offered in North America, creating a separate regional performance and control specification.
The carbon-fibre roof applies to the coupé, not the convertible, whose reinforcement, roof storage and mass are different. Both bodies used model-specific suspension, brakes, differential and programmable power modes, but dimensions and acceleration cannot be copied between them.
Competition packages and regional editions should inherit the correct V10 drivetrain unless factory evidence shows a mechanical change. Race and prototype projects, including later CSL experiments, are historical records rather than customer derivatives.
2005–2010generation lifecycle
2body branches
1engine/drive families
2range designations
E63/E64factory code
BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drivearchitecture
Cabriolet: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,871 mm
Width1,855 mm
Height1,377 mm
Wheelbase2,781 mm
Luggage300–350 L
Fuel tank70 L
Seats4
Doors2-door convertible
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 cabriolet applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M6 Coupé / Cabriolet | 2005–2010 | S85B50 V10 | 507 PS / 500 hp US | 7SMG | RWD | Global range | BMW M6 E63/E64 history |
| M6 Coupé / Cabriolet 6MT | 2007–2010 | S85B50 V10 | 500 hp | 6MT | RWD | North America | BMW M6 E63/E64 history |
Factory designations
M6 Coupe · M6 Cabriolet
High-performance powertrain
Engine, cooling, exhaust, software and transmission form a distinct M or ALPINA specification rather than an option package on the base model.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
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: BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-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
- E63: 4,871 mm × 1,855 mm × 1,372 mm
- E64: 4,871 mm × 1,855 mm × 1,377 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.
M6 Coupé returns
E63 launched with the S85 V10 and SMG III.
Convertible joins
E64 added a soft-top body with its own structural specification.
North American manual
A six-speed gearbox created a market-specific transmission branch.
V10 M6 ends
Both body programmes concluded before the turbo V8 successor.
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.
Coupe
E63M6 E63 is a distinct E63/E64 body branch. A lower-roof two-door body with longer doors and a more overtly sporting brief than the corresponding sedan. Engines/drive: S85B50 V10.
Cabriolet
E64M6 E64 is a distinct E63/E64 body branch. An open body with a folding roof and generation-specific structural reinforcement, seating and luggage packaging. Engines/drive: S85B50 V10.
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
- E63 — Coupe; E64 — Cabriolet
- Range designations
- M6 Coupe, M6 Cabriolet
- Powertrain families
- S85B50 V10
- 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 M6Wikipedia contributors
Secondary E63/E64 engine, body, transmission and market overview.
- 02BMW M6 E63/E64: the coupé that became a super sports carBMW M
BMW M history for the V10 coupé and convertible generation.
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.
- E63 coupé and E64 convertible need independent roof, mass, luggage and performance data.
- North American manual and SMG III specifications must remain separate.
- 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.
2 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Hatsukari715, Public domain · 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