650 ground clearance

Read a few posts noting that the nose of the 650 can scrape easily, anybody having problems with the ground clearance in normal driving - not something I want to worry about frankly. And any difference between the M sport vs non-sport in this regard?

Thanks

I have nightmares about scraping the nose of my car - I wish I was kidding - but it isn't horrible thanks to the sensors. I've had a few close calls with the underbody and nose that have caused me to use extra caution when driving around town (keeping my distance from curbs, keeping a mental list of parking lot entrances/exits that have steep dips, etc.), but I haven't caused any physical damage. The plastic underbody piece may have a few scrapes and there may be a couple scrapes on the underside of the front bumper, but there is no visible damage.

I haven't measured the M Sport vs. the non-M Sport clearance, but I think they are pretty close. I rely very heavily on the front PDC sensors, but they aren't 100% reliable. They offer some guidance, but some curbs are too low to be detected but high enough to scrape the underside.

So, yes, it is an issue but it's manageable.

Just go over any curb at an angle, one wheel at a time. Should be fine. The PDC is pretty good at letting you know if you will clear a curb or not. I've tested it extensively. If you have side view cameras, you will get yet another reference point with that.

I've scraped the little plastic "brushers" underneath the bumper like Southern but never anything worse that that. That was transitioning from a descending driveway to an ascending road and going a bit faster than I should have. It's not crazy low IMO. It just appears that way because of the large scoops. Having owned both, I also believe that the M-Sport and standard bumpers share a very similar ground clearance as well. Once again, I think the M-Sport just appears to be lower. If there is a difference, it's very little.

Absolutely nothing to worry about in normal driving.

Yes, there's a difference in MSport and non-MSport cars. Another reason I skipped the MSport, frankly.

Originally Posted by XZLR8

Yes, there's a difference in MSport and non-MSport cars. Another reason I skipped the MSport, frankly.

Do you know what the difference is? I'm really curious. From an eyeball perspective, I wasn't able to tell.

Is it published somewhere?

Originally Posted by Itinj6

Absolutely nothing to worry about in normal driving.

+1. They seemed to find the perfect balance with this car. The long, low coupe styling, in addition to other 6er touches, helps it to drive better than the equivalent 550i, but it's not so low that it is impractical. I wouldn't consider going any lower as my car is a road car - not a track car - so it would primarily be an aesthetic change, which, ironically, would hardly be an upgrade after one run in with a curb.

Well, it's not as low as a Vette, but it's low. I live in downtown Houston. The streets have been re-paved many times creating valleys where pavement ends and driveways begin. My front end scrapes all of the time. Sometimes on approach, I can enter at an angle, but egress due to traffic will call for me to make a head on approach. In that case, the front scrapes every time. I have had my front bumper replaced once already and I have a scratch on my new one. The sensors do help, but what would be better is just one more inch of clearance. My Porsche can be raised up when you find yourself in this situation as could my CLS. Also, my car is white, so each scratch shows up black.

BTW, my last 6 had a mangled underside when I traded it in, so this is not a new problem.

Parking curbs usually are ok, but when you pull up to a sidewalk that doubles as a parking stop you better beware. The long front overhang adds to the issue stated above, so an Aston by comparison probably wouldn't be as easy to scrape but they have no sensors.

All in all, I'd buy it again but I wish the front end angled up just a bit.

Originally Posted by Itinj6

Do you know what the difference is? I'm really curious. From an eyeball perspective, I wasn't able to tell.

Is it published somewhere?

I don't remember exactly, but I remember measuring (yes, I'm that guy) before I ordered my initial Coupe. If I recall, it was between an inch or two, particularly on the corners (which tend to droop on the MSport cars).

I don't know of anywhere it's published.

Originally Posted by XZLR8

I don't remember exactly, but I remember measuring (yes, I'm that guy) before I ordered my initial Coupe. If I recall, it was between an inch or two, particularly on the corners (which tend to droop on the MSport cars).

I don't know of anywhere it's published.

I believe what you say but damn if my eyes were that deceiving to me.

I was meaning to take that measurement back in April when I turned in for the M-Sport but it completely slipped my mind.

It wouldn't have affected my decision to get the M-Sport but curiosity was killing me, especially when we were discussing the clearance issues months ago.

Do I dare go into the dealership with a tape measure and risk looking like a serious idiot? Lol.

Originally Posted by Itinj6

I believe what you say but damn if my eyes were that deceiving to me.

Even if you look at the 6er on the BYO site, switching back and forth from non-M to M, I think you'll see a difference at the corners.

I skipped the M-Sport for greater reasons than this, but it was something I considered.

Thanks guys, looks like it could be a issue. Does appear from pics at different angles that the M sport nose does sit slightly lower. Have to take a look when the dealer get a M sport 650 in later this month.

I have yet to scrape the front of my 650 M sport. It seems low but I don't hit in places where my old 2011 550 Msport did...

M sport and non-M sport share the same suspension and spring parts number.

There is no difference of height and the ground clearance (or the rigidity of the suspension, for that matter) between the two.




Also, ground clearance is quite good compared to other sporty cars, and hasn't been a problem for me.
In fact, my 5 series with M sports package sits much lower.

But because the suspension of 6 series with either M or non-M or in sports setting or not, is more softer than a 5 with M package and the 6 seems to bounce up and down a little more on speed bumps and thus the more feeling of scratching on the 6.

Never scraped anything in my M-Sport - not yet anyways. I generally free very confident too. Of course, I use the "PBS" (Park By Satellite) feature every time I park as well - which definitely helps.

Originally Posted by xDrive McGee

Never scraped anything in my M-Sport - not yet anyways. I generally free very confident too. Of course, I use the "PBS" (Park By Satellite) feature every time I park as well - which definitely helps.

???

Originally Posted by TopDownInFL

???

LOL. Is that skepticism or a commentary on how poorly I type with my thumbs?

Originally Posted by xDrive McGee

LOL. Is that skepticism or a commentary on how poorly I type with my thumbs?

Neither. Ignorance. What is Park by Satellite?

Originally Posted by TopDownInFL

Neither. Ignorance. What is Park by Satellite?

My guess is the auto park feature....

I assume he's referring to the top view/sensors. I'd be screwed without the sensors. It's a balance between not pulling so far forward as to scrape the front but being close enough that your a$$ isn't hanging out waiting for Granny in her Buick to run into.

Here are some close-ups of the M Sport front bumper that show the relative heights of the three components that you have to avoid scraping.

Yeah, I was making a non-funny reference to the faux top-down view the car stitches together with all its cameras. I like to pretend I have a geosynchronous satellite overhead at all times - as part of the technology package. It's an xDrive, so I don't think auto-park is available. But the "overhead" view is really good for placing the front of your car and making sure you are not about to scrape a low-lying protuberance.



PS - I gave the car a difficult test this morning by pulling into a parking lot rather hot, and with a pretty steep grade. It did indeed scrape just a little, but nothing that made me worry. I was pretty much asking for it.

Great pics. Thanks!

Originally Posted by xDrive McGee

Yeah, I was making a non-funny reference to the faux top-down view the car stitches together with all its cameras. I like to pretend I have a geosynchronous satellite overhead at all times - as part of the technology package. It's an xDrive, so I don't think auto-park is available. But the "overhead" view is really good for placing the front of your car and making sure you are not about to scrape a low-lying protuberance.

I do the same thing. I was recently in my mother's new Lexus GS and felt incapable of even parking the thing without the cameras. Sad, really. Ha.

Originally Posted by xDrive McGee

Yeah, I was making a non-funny reference to the faux top-down view the car stitches together with all its cameras. I like to pretend I have a geosynchronous satellite overhead at all times - as part of the technology package. It's an xDrive, so I don't think auto-park is available. But the "overhead" view is really good for placing the front of your car and making sure you are not about to scrape a low-lying protuberance.



PS - I gave the car a difficult test this morning by pulling into a parking lot rather hot, and with a pretty steep grade. It did indeed scrape just a little, but nothing that made me worry. I was pretty much asking for it.

You're a nut lol . Was it the painted part of the fascia that scraped or the panel underneath?


As for parking... I don't even look outside the car anymore when I park. I'm glued to the screen. It's like a video game lol. Love the top-view cams.

It was actually on the painted fascia. Have to get on your hands and knees to notice it, but it's definitely there - a few inches in length near the driver's side corner on the underside. Think my $500 damage allowance will cover it? LOL I am idiot.

See what I sacrifice in the name of auto science?

Originally Posted by Itinj6

I don't even look outside the car anymore when I park. I'm glued to the screen. It's like a video game lol. Love the top-view cams.

lol. I'm the same way - aside from the occasional glance at the side mirrors since I (stupidly) skipped the top view option. It really annoys me that it says "don't rely on cameras alone" (or something to that extent) at the top of the screen as to obstruct the view a little... Lawyers - can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.