In the Garage: 1988 BMW M6

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER
1988 BMW M6 coupe owned by David N. Millman

WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING
The 6-series BMW coupes built from 1973 to 1989 are highly prized for their svelte design and Autobahn-level performance, especially the “M” sports models sold during the last six years of production. “I considered the M6 and a variety of its competitors over a time period of many months before I decided to purchase it,” Millman says.

“A significant reason why I chose the M6 is that it has a functional back seat that can comfortably carry two passengers and a reasonable-size trunk, while at the same time being a very high performance, comfortable and safe cruiser. I have always been addicted to high performance cars.”

HOW LONG HE’S OWNED IT
Since 1987

WHERE HE FOUND IT
Millman ordered the M6 new -- in “Royal Blue” with “Lotus White” interior -- from a Pennsylvania dealer. He took delivery at BMW’s Munich, Germany factory and drove the coupe to Paris and London before having it shipped to the U.S. from Belgium.

CONDITION
“From the time I purchased the car new until today,” he says, “my M6 has been serviced by the same BMW master mechanic at the dealership where I purchased the car. The car has not been modified at all.” The coupe has over 157,000 miles and Millman has kept the manuals and service records.

TIPS FOR OWNERS
Millman cautions that the coupe’s rear-wheel drive without traction control and the rare metric wheels and tires perform fine on wet and dry roads, but make the car a handful to drive in snow. “I discovered this the first winter I had the car when I did a 360-degree spin in the car on a snow-covered highway, fortunately without hitting anything,” he says.

VALUE
The original price was almost $56,000, says Millman. The NADA Guides places a “high retail” value of $17,600 on a 1988 M6 without options.

THE BOTTOM LINE
“Since I have had the car for 25 years, it has great sentimental value,” he says. “I no longer drive it as much as I used to because I now have several other cars. However, because it has been such an unusually good car -- fast, reliable, strong, safe, comfortable, classy -- I have kept it.”