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Most established auto manufacturers have a halo car or two that tend to steal the headlines from their stablemates. Ford has the Mustang, Porsche the 911, and BMW the M3 and M5. Sometimes, this results in other great offerings going completely under the radar. Just look at how long it has taken for the Boxster to be recognized as a ‘proper’ Porsche. In BMW world, the M cars rule over all else, to the point that even lesser-known M models tend to pale in popularity to the more established M variants.

One such car is the BMW M6 Gran Coupe. A car that sold in limited numbers and is a very rare sight on the roads today. How does it stack up to the M5 of the same generation, and is it a desirable used buy today? We delved into the details to find out.

The BMW M6 Gran Coupe

The M6 nameplate actually predates the OG M5 by a year, or it does in the US, where the 1984 635 CSI was named the M6. It certainly deserved the title, as it had the legendary M88 inline-six engine first used in the M1 supercar, and a whole host of M upgrades that were introduced on the first-ever M5 a year later.

But while the M5 became a central part of BMW’s lineup, the M6 ended production in 1989 and only returned in 2005 as the V10-powered stablemate to the E60 M5. The third-generation M6 took its place in 2012, and it was the first to be offered in the strangely-named Gran Coupe body style. The ‘Gran’ bit referred to the four-door layout, and it successfully blended the swoopy styling of the coupe with the practicality of a sedan.

It was sold alongside the M5 sedan, as well as the M6 Coupe and Convertible. All shared the same engine, transmission and suspension setup. A Competition package was introduced in 2014, consisting of a retuned suspension, M differential, and a sports exhaust. It also boosted power by a nominal 7 hp with no increase in torque.

Starting with the 2016 face-lifted models, the power and torque hike increased to 31 hp and 14 lb-ft over the standard car.

Aftermarket tuners have found that these engines have serious performance potential, with some offering upgrades that push power up to almost 800 hp.

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Why Is The M6 Gran Coupe So Rare?

From the production figures listed in the table above, global M6 Gran Coupe sales amounted to just 34% of M5 sales, and this is despite a longer production run. This disparity was similar in the US. The reason for the sales differences comes down to a couple of factors. Firstly, the M6 Gran Coupe was priced slightly higher than the M5, and aside from the swoopy styling and carbon-fiber roof insert, it didn’t offer much more for your money. Secondly, the Gran Coupe body style was a new concept back in 2013, and customers tend to stick with what they know.

As a used buy, the M6 Gran Coupe may well be the better choice. They tend to cost a bit less than an equivalent M5 and those lines have aged remarkably well. This generation of M5/M6 was also the last to be offered with a manual transmission. Finding one could be tricky, though, as they were only available in the US, and just 103 M6 Gran Coupes, and 577 M5s were ordered with the a stick.

Other BMW M5 Alternatives

The article’s headline may state that an M6 Gran Coupe could be yours for less than $50,000, but this is somewhat misleading. That’s because an M6 Gran Coupe can be had for way less than that. There are decent examples for sale from as low as $35,000. For $50,000 you can find one of the very last 2019 Competition Pack cars with under 30,000 miles on the clock.

The equivalent M5 commands similar prices, but mileages tend to be higher across the board. Its replacement, the G90 M5, arrived in 2018, and you can find a few high milers for $50,000. But what of the other four-door M cars? Are there even better options out there at these prices? The holy grail E39 M5 starts at the $30,000 mark, with good ones closer to $50,000, but these are more collector cars than daily drivers, and maintenance isn’t cheap.

The previous-generation G30 series M550i xDrive is not a true M Car, but its 523-hp 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and all-wheel-drive grip make it just as quick as the M6 Gran Coupe off the line, and it costs similar money. However, you do get a far more modern interior and infotainment system. But, if your budget doesn’t stretch much above $35,000, the M6 Gran Coupe is one of the finest options out there.

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The Thinking-Man’s M5

The BMW M5 has been referred to as the family man’s Porsche 911. It can match many sports cars for pace, but the added space and practicality make it more accessible as a daily driver. With the M6 Gran Coupe offering just as much practicality and speed, but with a dash of extra style for very similar money, it should be considered the thinking man’s M5.

Good ones can be had for not much more than a new Toyota GR86, but remember that M cars come with M-priced parts and maintenance bills. That said, depreciation should be minimal, and the joy of driving a proper M car outweighs most concerns about wallet-denting service bills. If you can, get one.

Sources: BMW, AutoTempest, BMW M Register