2013 BMW 6 Series Problems: 7 Known Issues

On the 2012-2013 BMW 6 Series N63, bMW SIB 11 16 14 includes F12 6 Series convertibles with the N63 engine produced from March 2011 through July 2012 and F13 6 Series coupes with the N63 engine produced from July 2011 through July 2012. It defines an ISTA timing-chain elongation test; BMW states that the check and related Customer Care Package are not recalls or mandatory technical campaigns.

On the 2013-2019 BMW 6 Series N63TU1, bMW SIB 01 01 22 identifies U.S.-specification F12 650i and 650i xDrive vehicles from model years 2013-2018, F13 650i and 650i xDrive vehicles from model years 2013-2017, and F06 650i and 650i xDrive Gran Coupe vehicles from model years 2013-2019 with the N63TU1 engine, subject to the production and class definitions in the bulletin. The settlement path concerns alleged excessive oil consumption; it does not establish valve-stem seals as the cause in every vehicle.

On the 2013 BMW 6 Series S63B44T0, nHTSA campaign 12V-475 (September 2012) covers 2013 M6 Coupe and Convertible built July 19 to September 11, 2012 (with the 2013 M5). A manufacturing tolerance error allowed the oil pump's driveshaft to separate from the pump rotor, causing sudden total loss of oil pressure, engine stall and, if driven, catastrophic engine damage. This is specific to the S63TU twin-turbo V8 in the F12/F13 M6, not the N63 650i.

On the 2013-2015 BMW 6 Series, two separate driver-airbag inflator defects affect the F-generation 6 Series. Recall 17V-495 (August 2017) covers 2013 M6 Coupe and Convertible built May 14 to July 25, 2012, whose PSDI-X inflator may have been improperly welded, so the housing can separate on deployment and throw metal into the cabin. Recall 24V-527 (July 2024) covers 2015 6 Series Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe (640i/650i, produced April 2 to May 9, 2014) fitted with a Takata PSDI-X inflator that may contain a supplier production anomaly and could rupture; 1,145 BMWs were included. Both are official NHTSA campaigns with a free remedy.

On the 2012-2018 BMW 6 Series N55B30, the 2012-2018 640i uses the N55 inline-six with an electric main coolant pump that is a known wear item across every N55 application. On 6Post, 640i owners report failures around 60,000-100,000 miles: sudden high-temperature warnings, reduced-power mode, the pump running continuously after shutdown, or a stored coolant-pump fault. Because the pump is electronic it usually fails without the whining or weeping a mechanical pump gives, and overheating can follow quickly. The V8 650i's N63 does not share this pump.

On the 2004-2018 BMW 6 Series, e64 (2004-2010) and F12 (2012-2018) convertible models experience hydraulic top mechanism failures due to pump motor corrosion, seal degradation, and hydraulic cylinder leaks. The convertible top may stop mid-cycle, operate slowly, or refuse to open/close entirely. The hydraulic pump motor is prone to corrosion from moisture intrusion, and the hydraulic cylinders develop seal leaks over time. OEM pump replacement is extremely expensive ($2,000-3,500 for E64 pump 54347154648, similar for F12 pump 54347299838). Top Hydraulics (tophydraulics.com) offers pump and cylinder rebuild services ($600-1,200 with 3-year warranty) that are universally recommended by the E64/F12 community as superior to new OEM parts. Their rebuilt pumps and cylinders often outlast new OEM units.

On the 2012-2018 BMW 6 Series, the adaptive (cornering) headlights on the 6 Series suffer from stepper motor and control module failures. The stepper motors that swivel the headlight beams left and right based on steering input wear out, causing the headlights to point in incorrect directions or not respond to steering changes. The adaptive headlight control module can also fail, triggering a dashboard warning and disabling the adaptive function entirely.