February 2025 – The Carmax Unicorn Blog

Sometimes, I remind myself that not everyone is pursuing 600 horsepower and can be more reasonable than me (see my GLE63 here!) I find really nice unicorns for grown-ups. Unlike yesterday’s Alpina B6, here’s a very nice, low-mileage BMW 650i Gran Coupe with the same motor…almost. This sedan is more affordable and more sedate – yet still high-performance- and meets all the unicorn requirements. And super low miles.

As far as accoutrements, the 650i is fully loaded, with heating, cooling, and massaging seats, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, auto cruise control, and Bang & Olufsen audio – all the same stuff on the Alpina B6. The car has the Cold Weather Package, Comfort Package, Driver Assistance Package, and M Sport Package – so you get M logos almost like a real “M” BMW. I like the unblemished, handsome, tan interior.

And unlike the Alpina from yesterday, two keys!

The 650i has the same 4.4 liter V8 the M6 and B6 are based on, albeit without the beefed-up tuning and horsepower. It “only” makes 445 horsepower, and yet, with the eight-speed automatic, it will pull off a 4.5 second 0-60 mph run and hit a governed top speed of 155 mph. That’s sleeper sedan numbers there! I’m 12 years into my CarMax unicorn ownership experience. While my GLE63 does sub-4 second 0-60, the other CarMax cars I’ve owned – the Mercedes S55 and S600, the Porsche 911, and the BMW M3 – all did mid-4 seconds to 60, and I was perfectly happy. I swear my next car will be more reasonable, and I’ll stop chasing horsepower.

The 2015 BMW 650i Gran Coupe sold for maybe $80,000 ten years ago. It’s less than half that now and has a ridiculous 19,000 miles on it. MaxCare will see you through another five years and 106,000 miles of driving, if you choose, on a ten-year-old car. That seems like a deal. This car is here in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Stock No: 26664921 VIN: WBA6B2C53FGB99228

Only a couple hundred expensive Alpina B6 unicorns make their way to US shores annually before depreciating like hell. We like depreciation. We also like that when they make it onto a CarMax lot, we can protect ourselves from financial ruin by buying the MaxCare warranty, which will cover this nine-year-old somewhat exotic car until 2030 and another 90,000 miles.

This one is a 2016 Alpina B6, a 6-series Gran Coupe modified by BMW partner Alpina. It’s a cousin of the BMW-produced M6. The difference? The B6 has 40 more horsepower, all-wheel drive (X-Drive), an eight-speed automatic instead of the “M” seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and costs $4,000 more than the M6 when new. As with all unicorns, it’s all about tradeoffs. Reviews suggest the lower horsepower M version is more aggressive, and the Alpina is more like a luxury car with a more powerful motor.

Inside, the Alpina looks a whole lot like any B-series Gran Coupe. This one has air-conditioned, heated, and massaging seats, a heads-up display, a heated steering wheel, Bang & Olufsen audio, and auto cruise control. Everything you need for high-speed cruising.

The downside of the Gran Coupe for tall guys is the seating position. I’m 6’4″, and the last time I drove an M6 Gran Coupe, I was disappointed with how far behind the B-pillar my noggin was. You can see it in the CarMax shot above (the seating position, not my head). That made getting out of the car harder than usual, having to twist and thrust my torso up and past the pillar. It was a deal breaker. Below, you can see the Alpina logo on the steering wheel that distinguishes the Alpina from a vanilla B-series, and the infuriating photo CarMax provides to indicate they only have one key for the car. You’re on your own to get a second. Total bullshit for a company with $2 billion in profits last year.

Back to the motor. The 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 makes 600 horsepower and with X-Drive will rocket the 4,700 lb sedan to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. It has an electronically limited top end of 200 mph. Yup – TWO HUNDRED MILES PER HOUR! The M6 has a governed top speed of 155 mph. That’s why you pay the extra money!

Maybe they’re out there, but I don’t know where you can get a 200 mph, limited-production German car (or any car) for $44,000. And throw in maybe $5-7,000 more for a near bumper-to-bumper extended warranty that’ll last until the car is 14 years old. The 2016 BMW Alpina B6 sold for maybe $125,000 when new. And now selling for a third of that. Tomorrow, my daughter and I are going to CarMax to look at a 2025 Honda CRV for $44,000. Which would you rather drive? This is an accident-free, three-owner car that lived in Illinois and Florida (wealthy snowbird auto enthusiasts?). Oddly, it’s available only here at the Bradenton CarMax with no option to transfer. I’m heading to the Daytona 500 this week. I’d happily buy it for you and drive it back. Email for instructions on how to get me the cash!

Stock No: 27020592 VIN: WBA6D6C50GGK18284

And just for fun, here are the last two Alpina B6s I found at CarMax.

Quick Hit – Rare 198 MPH Alpina B6 On A Unicorn Budget

Pair of Pretty and Pricey Alpinas (Say THAT Three Times Fast!)

Month: February 2025

Quick Hit – 2015 BMW 650i Gran Coupe. A Reasonable Alternative to the Alpina B6?

Rare 600 hp 2016 Alpina B6 – $44k