BMW 6 Series I (E24) — Wheel Fitment & Specs
Overview
The BMW 6 Series I (E24) is the first generation of grand tourer cars produced from January 1976 to April 1989, replacing the E9 coupé. It was manufactured in West Germany by Karmann and later Dingolfing, featuring a 2-door coupé body style with petrol straight-six engines. The E24 shared many parts with the BMW 5 Series (E12) and received an update in 1982 incorporating elements from the new E28 5 Series.
Wheel fitment
| Bolt pattern (PCD) | 5x120 |
| Centre bore | 72.6 mm |
| Bolt / thread | M12 x 1.5 (bolts) |
| Seat type | tapered |
| Factory setup | square |
| TPMS | none |
Aftermarket wheel sizes — read per position:
| Position | Width | Offset |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 6.5J–8J | ET5–ET38 |
As a rule, each extra 1J of width wants roughly +8–10 ET to keep the wheel tucked. The exact offset and any spacer are confirmed by the fit-check.
UK popularity & demand
Based on DfT VEH0124 vehicle-parc data (2025), there are approximately 19,390 BMW 6 Series on UK roads, placing it in the top 11% of car models by volume across our fitment database. That makes its wheel fitment a high-demand size to keep in stock — one reason we track its exact spec here.
Source: DfT/DVLA licensed-vehicle statistics (VEH0124), matched to the AIWheelTech fitment database.
Engines & drivetrain
| Variant | Engine | Fuel | Power | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M6 (US) | 3.5L BMW S38B35 I6 | petrol | 344 hp | RWD |
| M635 CSi (early) | 3.4L BMW M88/3 I6 | petrol | 279 hp | RWD |
| M635 CSi (late) | 3.4L BMW M88/3 I6 | petrol | 279 hp | RWD |
| 635 CSi (late) | 3.4L BMW M30B34 I6 | petrol | 217 hp | RWD |
| 635 CSi (mid) | 3.4L BMW M30B34 I6 | petrol | 214 hp | RWD |
| 635 CSi (early) | 3.4L BMW M90 I6 | petrol | 213 hp | RWD |
| 633 CSi (early) | 3.2L BMW M30B32 I6 | petrol | 197 hp | RWD |
| 630 CS | 3.0L BMW M30B30V I6 | petrol | 184 hp | RWD |
| 633 CSi (late) | 3.2L BMW M30B32 I6 | petrol | 184 hp | RWD |
| 628 CSi | 2.8L BMW M30B28 I6 | petrol | 179 hp | RWD |
Performance
| Variant | Power | 0–62 mph | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| M635 CSi (early) | 279 hp | 150 mph | |
| M635 CSi (late) | 279 hp | 150 mph | |
| M6 (US) | 344 hp | 155 mph |
Dimensions
| Length | 4755 mm |
| Width | 1725 mm |
| Height | 1365 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2630 mm |
| Kerb weight | 1450 kg |
Body styles & production
| Body styles | Coupé |
| Produced | 1976–1990 |
| Units produced | 86,216 |
Trim levels
Factory colours
History & notable variants
The E24 was designed by Paul Bracq, featuring a B pillar unlike its predecessor. Production began at Karmann before moving to Dingolfing. Notable variants include the M635CSi (1983) and North American M6 (1987). The car received a facelift in 1982 with updated styling, engines, chassis, suspension, electronics, and interior elements from the E28 5 Series. It was succeeded by the BMW 6 Series II (E63) after a 16-year hiatus.
Reliability & owner notes
- Pros: Stylish design; powerful straight-six engines; shared parts with popular 5 Series
- Cons: Limited body style options; increased weight due to safety regulations in North America