2012 BMW 6-Series vs 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL Class

2012 BMW 6-Series

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL Class

Select style

2-Door Conv 640i

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
6 Series 2-Door Conv 640i	21	31	$74,610	$81,100
6 Series 2-Door Conv 650i	15	23	$83,260	$90,500
6 Series 2-Door Conv 650i xDrive	15	23	$86,020	$93,500
6 Series 2-Door Coupe 640i	23	33	$67,710	$73,600
6 Series 2-Door Coupe 650i	15	23	$76,360	$83,000
6 Series 2-Door Coupe 650i xDrive	15	20	$79,120	$86,000
M6 2-Door Conv	14	20	$104,050	$113,100

Select style

2-Door Roadster SL 550

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
SL-Class 2-Door Roadster SL 550	14	22	$96,395	$103,650
SL-Class 2-Door Roadster SL 63 AMG	12	19	$130,609	$140,440

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$74,610

$96,395

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$81,100

$103,650

Monthly Payment Estimate

$1352 / month

$1728 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

8.6

Read Our Full Review

8.4

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

Elegant, stylish, comfortable, and quick, the 2012 BMW 6-Series is one of the top choices for a grand-touring coupe or convertible--as long as your budget can handle it.

A powerful near-exotic luxury convertible, or a grand tourer with German precision? The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL Class is both.

TCC Likes

Smooth, strong acceleration
Good gas mileage in the 640i model
Sleek good looks

Consumes long-distance drives like caviar
Either way, a stunning performer
Top-five seats

TCC Dislikes

At 4,200-plus pounds, weight is noticeable
Not-so-great gas mileage with the V-8
Piling on the features quickly adds to the price

For a two-seater, it's big and heavy
Trunk spaces starts small, gets puny
Incredibly expensive

Fuel Economy

City

21 mpg

14 mpg

Highway

31 mpg

22 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Compact Cars

2 Seater

Interior Dimensions

Front Shoulder Room (in)

56.9

54.0

Passenger Volume (ft³)

89.0

50.0

Second Head Room (in)

36.5

Second Shoulder Room (in)

49.6

Front Leg Room (in)

42.1

42.9

Passenger Capacity

Front Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

56.9

Second Leg Room (in)

30.5

Front Head Room (in)

40.3

37.7

Second Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

Exterior Dimensions

Min Ground Clearance (in)

- TBD -

Length, Overall (in)

192.8

180.4

Height, Overall (in)

53.7

51.1

Track Width, Rear (in)

65.0

60.5

Wheelbase (in)

112.4

100.8

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

74.6

71.7

Track Width, Front (in)

62.8

61.4

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

10.6 - 12.4

10.2 (7.2 w/top down)

Brakes

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

13.6 x 0.9

11.8 x 0.4

Brake Type

Pwr

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

13.7 x 1.2

13.0 x 1.1

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

18.5

21.1

Steering

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

17.2

16.3

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

38.4

36.2

Steering Type

Pwr Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

- TBD -

2.6

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

N/A

Tires

Front Tire Size

P245/45R18

P255/40R18

Spare Tire Size

Front Tire Order Code

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

P245/45R18

P285/35R18

Rear Tire Order Code

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

4255

4220

Wheels

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)

18 x 8

18 x 9.5

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Front Wheel Size (in)

18 x 8

18 x 8.5

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

10.8

- TBD -

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

- TBD -

760

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

210

180

Engine

Displacement

3.0L/182

5.5L/333

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

315 @ 5800-6000

382 @ 6000

Engine Type

Turbocharged Gas I6

Gas V8

Fuel System

Direct Injection

Electronic Fuel Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

332 @ 1400-4500

391 @ 2800-4000

Engine Order Code

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

Transmission

Clutch Size (in)

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

2.11

1.92

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Rear Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.29

1.00

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.30

3.42 (R2 2.23)

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.67

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

3.14

2.86

Trans Order Code

2TB

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

3.23

2.65

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.67

1.37

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic w/Manual Shift

Automatic

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.00

0.82

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.84

0.73

First Gear Ratio (:1)

4.71

4.38

Summary

Vehicle Name

BMW 6 Series

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Body Style

Convertible

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

N/A

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-link

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

N/A

Suspension Type - Front

Double Wishbone

Independent

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Emissions

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

7.3

11.0

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