BMW 650i Convertible 2008 Review

Road Test

RRP: $228,800
Price as tested: $240,550 (main options: active cruise control $4500; premium audio $3000; 19-inch alloys $2800; lane change warning $1200)
Crash rating: n/a
Fuel: Petrol, 95 RON
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 11.7
CO2 emissions: (g/km): 281
Also consider: Jaguar XK8 Convertible, Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, Mercedes-Benz SL 350

Overall rating: 3.5/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.0/5.0
Safety: 4.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.5/5.0
X-factor: 3.5/5.0

About our ratings

BMW could never be accused of making cars that blend into the automotive landscape. However, even within the Bavarian manufacturer's line-up, few models make a statement like the 6 Series. Its big, bold and meaty aesthetic demands attention, and speaks of a car with some substantial performance intent.

In both coupe and convertible form, it's a car that doesn't shy away from offering a strong presence on the road. As we experienced in our week in the 650i Convertible, you are never likely to be short of second takes and extended stares -- not all of them approving.

When first released locally in early 2004, the new 6 Series was a design that, like its smaller 5 and larger 7 Series sedan stablemates, drew quick and often polarised opinions on its styling. Over the last four years, however, it's aged well and now seems somehow less controversial.

Thus when it came in for a mid-life upgrade earlier this year (read our launch review here), significant design changes were not on the agenda. For those with a keen eye, you might spot some minor work around the front apron and headlight clusters, and the bootlid and rear bumper, but externally that is about the extent of it.

Internally, the cabin features a slightly softer edge to the materials, although the main changes have been in terms of features and options. As always with BMW vehicles, there is no shortage of the latter, as evidenced by our test car whose sticker easily crept up to over $240K.

Standard equipment now includes sun-reflective leather seats (which BMW says reduces the surface temperature by up to 20 degrees -- although it was never really hot enough for us to truly test this), upgraded cruise control with brake function, an updated iDrive that mirrors the rest of the updated BMW range, and a USB/audio interface for the sound system that allows greater control of external audio devices such as MP3 players.

Option-wise, the big-ticket items are the active cruise control with 'Stop & Go' function, a lane change warning system and new premium audio system -- all of which were fitted to our car.

Mechanically, although the 4.8-litre V8 engine remains unchanged, it drives through a new six-speed Sports Automatic Transmission complete with steering wheel mounted paddle shifts for the manual mode.

And it is this that really differentiates the upgraded 650i Convertible from its predecessor in terms of the drive experience.

The car gained its bigger 4.8-litre V8 with the last update in 2006 and it remains a delightful powerplant. From the minute you fire it up, there is a glorious rumble that has you questioning whether to crank up the premium sound system with some appropriate fast touring music or mute it and enjoy the engine's soundtrack.

Plant the right boot and the car moves off the line in a very strong fashion. Given its near two tonne weight, acceleration under full throttle is solid rather than screaming, but it is delivered in a beautifully linear fashion. The engine happily keeps pushing right through to the 6500rpm redline with an accompanying intense deep growl.

With the new transmission switched into Sport mode, it will keep the revs running up through the strong midrange and manual shifts are affected in a very quick, slick and responsive manner for an enthusiastic punt along a winding country road. There is also a sport button on the dash that adjusts dampers, steering effect, and throttle response which adds an extra edge to the dynamics.

Although the car corners very flat, and displays enormous levels of grip, you are still left with the feeling that it is very much in the rapid grand touring mould rather than a serious sports car. The steering in particular, although direct and responsive, seems to lack the feel and sharpness of some of BMW's other models and you can never shake the sense that you are pushing hard in a fairly hefty beast.

This is also reflected in the fuel consumption. The official combined figure is 11.7L/100km but with the delightful engine urging a reasonably enthusiastic drive, we only managed to achieve an average of 17.6L/100km over a week of city and country driving.

The firmer dampers also take the edge off the ride comfort and with our test car's 19-inch runflats almost pushed it into the 'too hard' basket. Under virtually all circumstances, the body feels very tight and solid with the roof down but here again the firmer settings betrayed an ever so slight niggle in rigidity over rougher surfaces.

There is no doubt that the car is very competent in the twisty stuff, but its forte is long-distance cruising and with the transmission and suspension, et al, switched back into normal mode, it simply eats up the kilometres. Under moderate throttle, the transmission shifts with a creamy smoothness and the ride comfort, helped by great supportive seats, is supple and cosseting.

Top down, there is little wind movement around the cabin and with the fully lined fabric roof in place, the cabin is surprisingly quiet allowing you to sit back and relax and enjoy the superb audio system.

The same, however, cannot be said for the active cruise control that still appears to need a bit of technological refinement. It works well enough in slowing the car when another vehicle pulls in front of you, but is terminally slow in re-accelerating to reach your locked in speed once the object of intrusion has been dispatched with.

Elsewhere, the car is pretty much as the previous model. Up front you have a very comfortable and cocooning space and while access to the rear 'plus-2' seats is easy courtesy of the electric front seats. Be warned though, even with small children in the two individual and heavily sculpted rear seats you have to compromise a little legroom up front to ease the squeeze.

Rear vision is just okay with three-quarter views heavily obstructed by the thick fabric c-pillars but thankfully, rear-parking sensors are standard. Perhaps too, this is where the lane change warning system becomes a valuable option.

The 650i Convertible remains a consummate and capable grand tourer that stands out from the crowd. The new transmission gives it a more sporting edge to take greater advantage of the superb V8 engine.

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