The very first X6 is now great value in the used market.
You probably did not realize this, but the BMW X6 was first introduced some 13 years ago. Yes, this curvaceous looking BMW has aged like Jennifer Lopez and today its asking price in the used car market will surprise you as it has depreciated by as much as 90 percent.
When New
Arriving in Malaysia officially and with a lot of media excitement in August 2008 with just one variant which was powered by a 3.0 litre twin turbocharged inline-6 petrol engine working twin parallel turbochargers and direct injection to produce 306 horsepower, this 2,979cc engine was shared with the popular BMW sedans on sale at the time and managed a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 250km/h.
Priced new at RM698,000 on the road without insurance it sold very well in Malaysia, initially until private used car importers (AP) flooded the market with units from Japan and England at almost RM200k less. Some used units arrived with the same 2993cc common rail direct injection diesel engine used in the BMW 335D and this at the time was the favorite to own due to its very high torque delivery of 540Nm at a low 1,750rpm and available 245 horsepower.
However, at the time we only had low quality diesel sold in Malaysia and many diesel powered X6’s were having issues. Still, owners loved their high riding sports coupes and sales continued.
When Used
Today, the used car classifieds have dozens of these early model X6’s for sale, both petrol and diesel and they are priced to be considered. From RM68,000 to RM88,000 you can take your time to shop and decide on which unit suits your needs. If you do pick a diesel powered X6, rest assured we now have good quality Euro5 diesel in Malaysia which is available at all BHPetrol stations nationwide.
Which Model
We browsed the classifieds wearing the shoes of potential buyer and decided on a 2009 model Japanese reconditioned unit with a single Malaysian owner instead of a local BMW Malaysia unit from the same year. The price difference is about RM10,000 before haggling.
With a used Japanese reconditioned unit, as long as it is accident free and you get a full service record from the salesperson or the private seller, you know it is going to be a higher quality car as the cabin specifications are better over the local model. Paint finish if it is factory paint will be great and you get that original red leather interior over the drab black on grey interior in the local model. Then there are the larger alloy wheels and the subtle body-styling kit that comes fitted.
What To Look Out For
Like with any used BMW after 5 years on the road (well this X6 has been running for 12 years plus), check for oil leaks, interior plastic trim damage, sagging roof linings, slow shifting 8-speed gearboxes, non responding warning lights on the meter cluster and troubled infotainment systems.
There is a very good chance that the used car dealer has ‘played’ with the mileage showing, so service records must be shared (at least for the last two years) to show the work done on the X6 against the recorded mileage. If there are no service records, this is the first warning to walk away. If the dealer or seller refuses to allow you to take the X6 for an inspection with your trusted mechanic, then you need to walk away.
Also, check the tyres on the X6 as the factory size is 19-inch with 255 width and some previous owners might have upgraded to 20 or even 21-inch wheels which means tyre replacement costs could be anywhere between RM950.00 a piece to RM2,200.00 as these are run-flat tyres and there is no space for a spare tyre in the rear luggage area.
If you install standard non run-flat tyres, then you will need a tyre repair kit (suggestion is OKO tyre puncture kit from UK which costs from RM195.00 on Shoppe or facebook and works very well).
If you do get the X6 checked, service records in order, mileage true and car was well looked after, then it is time to haggle at least 5-8 percent of the price and the dealer must charge a fair fee for road transport department transfer and Puspakominspection.
Please note that the very latest 2020 model X6 arrived in Malaysia early last year at a price of RM729,800 and it really does not look at that different from the 2008 model X6. A fresh coat of paint, some funky new allow wheels and a new registration number and your neighbors and friends might not realize you bought a used X6 that has lost some 85-88 percent of its value. Good value, right?
