diff --git a/m4/cxx0x_compiler.m4 b/m4/cxx0x_compiler.m4
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c3509b85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/m4/cxx0x_compiler.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+# whether compiler accepts -std=c++11 or -std=c++0x
+# can be disabled by --disable-gxx0xcheck
+
+AC_DEFUN([GXX0X],[
+  save_CXX="$CXX"
+
+  # put this check first, so we get disable C++11 if C++0x is
+  AC_ARG_ENABLE(gxx0xcheck,
+    AC_HELP_STRING([--disable-gxx0xcheck],
+      [try flag -std=c++0x to enable C++0x features [[default=yes]]]),
+      [gxx0xcheck=$enableval],
+      [gxx0xcheck=yes])
+  AC_ARG_ENABLE(gxx11check,
+    AC_HELP_STRING([--disable-gxx11check],
+      [try flag -std=c++11 to enable C++11 features [[default=yes]]]),
+      [gxx11check=$enableval],
+      [gxx11check=yes])
+
+  # try flag -std=c++11
+  AC_CACHE_CHECK([whether $CXX accepts -std=c++11], dune_cv_gplusplus_accepts_cplusplus11, [
+    AC_REQUIRE([AC_PROG_CXX])
+    if test "x$GXX" = xyes && test "x$gxx11check" = xyes && test "x$gxx0xcheck" = xyes ; then
+      AC_LANG_PUSH([C++])
+      CXX="$CXX -std=c++11"
+      AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([
+        #include <iostream>
+        #include <array>
+        ],)],
+        [dune_cv_gplusplus_accepts_cplusplus11=yes],
+        [dune_cv_gplusplus_accepts_cplusplus11=no])
+      AC_LANG_POP([C++])
+    else
+      dune_cv_gplusplus_accepts_cplusplus11=disabled
+    fi
+  ])
+  if test "x$dune_cv_gplusplus_accepts_cplusplus11" == "xyes" ; then
+    CXX="$save_CXX -std=c++11"
+    CXXCPP="$CXXCPP -std=c++11"
+  else
+    CXX="$save_CXX"
+    
+    # try flag -std=c++0x instead
+    AC_CACHE_CHECK([whether $CXX accepts -std=c++0x], dune_cv_gplusplus_accepts_cplusplus0x, [
+      AC_REQUIRE([AC_PROG_CXX])
+      if test "x$GXX" = xyes && test "x$gxx0xcheck" = xyes; then
+        AC_LANG_PUSH([C++])
+        CXX="$CXX -std=c++0x"
+        AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([
+          #include <iostream>
+          #include <array>
+          ],)],
+          [dune_cv_gplusplus_accepts_cplusplus0x=yes],
+          [dune_cv_gplusplus_accepts_cplusplus0x=no])
+        AC_LANG_POP([C++])
+      else
+        dune_cv_gplusplus_accepts_cplusplus0x=disabled
+      fi
+    ])
+    if test "x$dune_cv_gplusplus_accepts_cplusplus0x" == "xyes" ; then
+      CXX="$save_CXX -std=c++0x"
+      CXXCPP="$CXXCPP -std=c++0x"
+    else
+      CXX="$save_CXX"
+    fi
+  fi
+])
diff --git a/m4/cxx0x_nullptr.m4 b/m4/cxx0x_nullptr.m4
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..18d44451
--- /dev/null
+++ b/m4/cxx0x_nullptr.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+AC_DEFUN([NULLPTR_CHECK],[
+  AC_CACHE_CHECK([whether nullptr is supported], dune_cv_nullptr_support, [
+    AC_REQUIRE([AC_PROG_CXX])
+    AC_REQUIRE([GXX0X])
+    AC_LANG_PUSH([C++])
+    AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM(,[
+      char* ch = nullptr;
+      if(ch!=nullptr) { ; }
+      ])],
+      [dune_cv_nullptr_support=yes],
+      [dune_cv_nullptr_support=no])
+    AC_LANG_POP
+  ])
+  if test "x$dune_cv_nullptr_support" = xyes; then
+    AC_DEFINE(HAVE_NULLPTR, 1, [Define to 1 if nullptr is supported])
+  fi
+])
diff --git a/m4/cxx0x_static_assert.m4 b/m4/cxx0x_static_assert.m4
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b68d155b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/m4/cxx0x_static_assert.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+AC_DEFUN([STATIC_ASSERT_CHECK],[
+  AC_CACHE_CHECK([whether static_assert is supported], dune_cv_static_assert_support, [
+    AC_REQUIRE([AC_PROG_CXX])
+    AC_REQUIRE([GXX0X])
+    AC_LANG_PUSH([C++])
+    AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM(,[static_assert(true,"MSG")])],
+      [dune_cv_static_assert_support=yes],
+      [dune_cv_static_assert_support=no])
+    AC_LANG_POP
+  ])
+  if test "x$dune_cv_static_assert_support" = xyes; then
+    AC_DEFINE(HAVE_STATIC_ASSERT, 1, [Define to 1 if static_assert is supported])
+  fi
+])
diff --git a/m4/opm_core.m4 b/m4/opm_core.m4
index 40e1b7c5..a5b24a0c 100644
--- a/m4/opm_core.m4
+++ b/m4/opm_core.m4
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ dnl -*- autoconf -*-
 AC_DEFUN([OPM_CORE_CHECKS],
 [
 
+# Language features
+GXX0X
+STATIC_ASSERT_CHECK
+NULLPTR_CHECK
+
 # Checks for libraries.
 
 # Bring in numerics support (standard library component)
diff --git a/opm/core/wells/WellsGroup.cpp b/opm/core/wells/WellsGroup.cpp
index e1bed0cb..8c541431 100644
--- a/opm/core/wells/WellsGroup.cpp
+++ b/opm/core/wells/WellsGroup.cpp
@@ -762,27 +762,16 @@ namespace Opm
         }
     }
 
-// macro to insert const_cast to get a round bug in GCC 4.6.3 where it
-// suddenly believes that "this" is a const pointer, although we are not
-// in a const method.
-#if ( __GNUC__ == 4 ) && ( __GNUC_MINOR__ == 6 ) && ( __GNUC_PATCHLEVEL__ == 3 )
-#define CONST_CAST(T,v) const_cast<T>(v)
-#else
-#define CONST_CAST(T,v) v
-#endif
-  
     std::pair<WellNode*, double> WellNode::getWorstOffending(const std::vector<double>& well_reservoirrates_phase,
                                                              const std::vector<double>& well_surfacerates_phase,
                                                              ProductionSpecification::ControlMode mode)
     {
         const int np = phaseUsage().num_phases;
         const int index = self_index_*np;
-        // note: CONST_CAST is just to work around a bug in GCC 4.6.3; it
-        // is not really needed, and should be a harmless no-op.
-        return std::make_pair<WellNode*, double>(CONST_CAST(WellNode*,this),
-                                                 rateByMode(&well_reservoirrates_phase[index],
-                                                            &well_surfacerates_phase[index],
-                                                            mode));
+        return std::pair<WellNode*, double>(this,
+                                            rateByMode(&well_reservoirrates_phase[index],
+                                                       &well_surfacerates_phase[index],
+                                                       mode));
     }
     
     void WellNode::applyInjGroupControl(const InjectionSpecification::ControlMode control_mode,