BMW 650i Convertible Review

What an exercise in time travel it would be to take a citizen of Münich from 1960 and transport him or her to 2011. Back then, as Germany battled to recover from World War II, The Bavarian Motor Works Pty Ltd (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG) was manufacturing three-wheeler bubble cars for consumers who had previously made do with a motor cycle or pushbike.

The subject of this review, the gorgeous BMW 650i Convertible is an unbelievable distance in history and technology from those three-wheelers.

BMW nearly drove into the wall in the 1959. The bubble cars were a desperate stopgap.  What saved the company was a single model called the BMW 1500, a sporty sedan that effectively provided the template for the company’s unique brand of motoring. The 1500 was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1961. It proved so popular that in 1963 the company paid shareholders their first dividend in 20 years.

Fifty years after the 1500′s debut, the $248,300 650i Convertible epitomises everything for which the marque is celebrated.

Exterior and Interior Design

This second generation 6-Series Convertible looks very different from its predecessor, which was introduced locally in May 2004. BMWs experienced a design revolution for the new century with much more complex angles and curvature. The E63 6-Series was the first BMW droptop in this sector but the coupe paid tribute – not in its appearance but in its blend of ‘ultimate driving machine’ and spacious luxury – to the original 635 CSi of 1978. With E63 the coupe preceded the convertible to market but BMW has done it the other way around this time, introducing the open car first, in time for the European summer. The two were developed simultaneously.

For the current (F12) 6-Series BMW created a design language that is a happy compromise between the remarkable blandness of the new 5-Series and the extravagant, confused angles of the Z4 sports car(described by design expert Marc Newson as having been designed with a machete).

The designers adapted themes from modern powerboats such as the smoothly sloping bonnet with its pronounced V-shape culminating at the famous blue and white oval above the dual-kidney radiator grille. This is a modern streamline, much more integrated than the confronting design of the previous model which has dated in the way aggressive designs often do.

Extensive use of aluminium and plastic helps keep weight down on this large, safe convertible.

If anything though, the interior design is even more persuasive. Like so many BMWs, the 6-Series has the centre section of the instrument panel canted slightly towards the driver. It is an elegant, bespoke cabin with an emphasis on the highest quality materials including optional leather fascia. The i-Drive is a little less infuriating than it used to be, but still fundamentally counter-intuitive.

The fabric roof is a masterpiece. Multi-layered, available in three colours, it takes 24 seconds to erect and 19 seconds to lower. You can operate it at any speed up to 40 km/h. This roof is so good that it makes heavy, ornate folding metal roofs seem absurd.

Many convertibles suffer from what was once popularly called ‘scuttle shake’. The metal roof is generally an indispensable element in a car’s structural integrity. But the new 6-Series is so stiff that even with the roof down, there is rarely even the smallest amount of body flexing. (The acid test is to turn into a steep driveway at walking speed.) The previous model was good but this one is outstanding and superior to rivals such as the E-Class Mercedes.

Accommodation

With its longer wheelbase, the new 6-Series Convertible offers rear occupants more room. There is also a two-inch increase in cabin width.

While the driver’s status is acknowledged (because there can be no Ultimate Driving Machine without one!), the three passengers are in no way neglected. This is a ’2 + 2′ design, but not in the way of some 1960s and 1970s designs where the ‘+2′ had better be children of five or younger, not adults. There is quite good space in the rear.

The 650i Convertible is lavishly equipped without resort to the options list. For $3000 you can have the dash trimmed in Nappa leather and a further $500 gets elegant piping. But you pay nothing extra for the American Oak wood trim fitted to the test car. Dakota leather trims the seats and is plush enough. Or you can pay more for Nappa.

You get bi-xenons, adaptive cruise, satnav, a reversing camera and heads-up display in a long list of standard kit.

Performance and Economy

The 650i Convertible is a great performer. BMW’s makes some of the world’s best engines and this is among them. Don’t be fooled by the relatively small capacity of 4.4 litres because there are two turbochargers. Torque is of the essence, 600 Nm of it available from 1750 rpm through to 6400. Peak power, too, covers quite a range of revs – 5500 to 6400. Zero to 100 km/h takes 5.0 seconds and the first of eight forward ratios in the seamless automatic transmission gets this heavy car off the line with a joyous thrust. You’ll use barely more than seven litres per 100 kilometres of highway cruising. What a life!

Ride and Handling

Its stiff structure contributes to the 650i Convertible’s flawless dynamics. Adaptive Drive is standard. This feature eliminates body roll and gives the driver four separate driving modes with further choices available through the i-Drive menu. Even ‘Comfort’( the softest of the four suspension settings) gives sports car handling. , it turns into corners like a sports car. But, really, ‘Normal’, suffices, giving an amazingly supple ride for a car running on 19-inch wheels shod with the once notorious run-flat tyres.  ’Sport+’ mode is fabulous. Special flaps inside the mufflers open at quite low rpm to deliver a wonderful V8 exhaust symphony.

The electric-assisted steering transmits just the right weight and feel at the gorgeous Nappa-trimmed wheel.

Rivals

You could have a Porsche 911 for similar money or save close to $70K by choosing a Mercedes-Benz E500. Any of these three offers the best in open air motoring. But the choice is a question of personal taste. But the BMW 650i Convertible makes the most individual statement and is the most bespoke.

Summary

This latest 6-Series Convertible is beyond reproach in its performance, dynamics, safety and luxury. Here is one of the best BMWs of all time.