2004 BMW 6 Series Review

Specifications

Bucking Trends and Setting a Few of Its Own

The 6-Series BMW, a completely new vehicle, draws heavily upon the 6-Series coupe lineage of yore. In keeping with its predecessors reputation for sleek lines and exhilarating performance, the 4-seat 2004 model is drop-dead gorgeous and thanks to 325-horsepower, amply fast.

Visually BMW has hit the jackpot, with 90 percent of the 645s creamy exterior. Where did they go wrong with the last 10-percent? In my opinion its the same place they went wrong with the exterior design of the new 7-Series and to a lesser extent the 5-Series: the trunk and taillights. Whether design overseer Chris Bangle is to blame for the weird “clump” of a decklid and stilted taillights is irrelevant, as
it would be a waste of time to rip a divisive paragraph or two on new design head Adrian van Hooydonk, who actually penned both the 7 and the new 6 within BMWs Southern California Designworks/USA studio, the post he just graduated from. When it all comes down to it, I just find it regretful that what could have been one of the coolest coupes on the market, next to the ultra-sleek Jaguar XK8, sports a tail that stands-out like a wart on the tip of beautiful models nose. A colleague of mine compared the bulging trunk lid to that “gracing” the rear end of a pre-2001 Dodge Stratus - ouch! Sadly I couldnt disagree.

The coupe and cabriolet formats of the 645i will turn heads and attract the attention of car buffs young and old nevertheless. Its athletic yet graceful lines transcend age barriers like chocolate truffles at Christmas. With regards to the open-air car, van Hooydonk did a remarkable job of maintaining the coupes sleekness when designing the outer shape of the convertibles soft-top. Often, retractable soft-tops in the closed position look unsightly and incongruent with the cars body style, but not so with the 645Ci. The tight fitting fabric roof protecting the leather interior is beautifully contoured with wide, long “D” pillars that blend smoothly into the cars rear deck. A slim rear window, which actually powers down for increased airflow, emphasizes the low profile of the cloth top. Although the design of the 3-layer convertible top is among the best that I have seen covering four seats, it comes at the expense of restricted rearward visibility and condensed headroom. At just shy of six-feet, my thinly covered cranium brushed the roof when I sat in the rear of the 645Ci. However, adopting my usual slouching position eliminated the concern. And given the Houdini-like body-distorting ingress and egress challenges imposed by the roof, the rear seat is best suited to future BMW owners.

Of course, the curse of enclosure can be disposed of by the push of a single button mounted fore on the center console. Dropping the 645s cloth transforms the quiet running soft-top coupe into a testosterone dispensing rumbling beast. In its retracted position, the roof is neatly concealed beneath a hard tonneau cover, which creates a smooth, attractive transition between exterior and interior environs. The rear window can be raised when the roof is retracted in order to screen against excessive wind buffeting. The beauty of this setup is that unlike mesh screens, the transparency of the glass keeps it from interfering with the cars flowing sight lines. At highway speeds, with the side windows and rear window raised, buffeting and wind rush is very well controlled, with conversation manageable and the sound system capable of being enjoyed without resorting to ear-splitting volume levels. Roof up or down, those riding in the available 12-way, power adjustable, heated front buckets will enjoy their spectacular comfort and support. My perches were covered in Chateau Red, butter-soft Dakota leather, which imparted the rarified sense of quality owners have come to expect of their BMWs.

The dash layout of the coupe and convertible differ slightly from the theme adopted by its 5 and 7-Series brethren, and I much prefer it. The primary gauges in the 645 are set together in a large pod facing the driver. HVAC controls reside mid-point in the dash, beneath the iDrive screen and central air vents. The dual-zone climate control system is simple to operate, which is a refreshing juxtapose to the gimmicky and bewildering iDrive technology. Now I dont particularly like a huge cluster of buttons, switches and dials to control the many sophisticated functions of a modern, technology laden automobile, however, I abhor multi-function devices even more, and there is no greater multi-function device than BMWs iDrive. And thats all I have to say on the matter. But regarding cupholders, there arent enough. Only two in a four-seat car? Nevertheless, a beautifully sculpted metal holder snaps into place on the center console and a second one is located under the rear portion of the center-console armrest, only accessible when the armrest cover is open at a 90-degree angle. How unfortunate that one of the worlds great touring cars can only keep two occupants properly caffeinated.

When its sitting still, the 645Ci is a work of art to admire. When its being driven, it is a machine to become one with. I know that sounds a little too Zen-like for an automobile, but describing the bond that develops between the 645Ci and its driver when its roof is down and the sun is shining is difficult to put into words. The 645Cis exhaust note is intoxicating, but discreet. Those with a mechanical ear will undoubtedly detect the burble of a high performance V8. Displacing 4.4-liters (268 cu-in), BMWs 32-valve DOHC powerhouse features the brands exclusive Valvetronic technology, which maximizes the engines output throughout the rev band by constantly adjusting the timing of the intake valves. The end result is 325 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 330 pounds-feet of torque at only 3,600 rpm. And given the cabriolets less-than-svelte curb weight with the 6-speed manual gearbox of 4,178 pounds, a healthy dose of power is needed to propel it with any degree of authority. BMW claims the 645Ci has just that, and resultantly is capable of a 0 to 60 mph run in just 6.2 seconds, which is sufficient to devour freeway onramps in a few short blinks of the eye.

Whether tooling about town or tackling mountain passes, BMWs new flagship convertible never has to reach too deeply into the well to stay out front of the pack. Power output is delivered in a smooth, progressive manner by a mill that eagerly spins to redline, while exhibiting delightful polish and refinement. BMW engineers have ensured that the engine is free of any and all unpleasant vibrations and thrashiness. The smooth torque generated in my tester was funneled through a six-speed manual gearbox before making its way to the rear wheels. Somehow BMW has managed to fabricate a drivetrain that functions so smoothly it feels capable of compensating for a drivers unflattering shifting skills. Driveline slap and clunk is non-existent, which certainly imparts a sense of quality, especially when trudging along in stop-and-go traffic. Although the stick in the 645Ci is a little taller and its throws a little longer than in some competing brands I have sampled, it actuates with deft precision. Each of the 6-forward gears notches smoothly in and out of place without resisting or feeling vague. Once a cog has been inserted, the clutch takes-up very easily and smoothly as the pedal nears the end of its outward travel. If a manual is not to your liking, BMW includes two more relaxing alternatives. The first is a Steptronic automatic offering six forward gears and manual actuation. The second is a variation of the brands 6-speed SMG, or sequential manual transmission, the same type as used in the hot M3, albeit watered down somewhat.

The 645Ci is also not technology-starved when it comes to handling enhancing drivers aids. BMW equips the midsize convertible with Active Steering and Active Roll Stabilization. I sampled this system in the 545i previously and was quite impressed with its ability to improve the vehicles agility and nimbleness at low speeds, as well as stability at high speeds. The same holds true for its effectiveness in the 645Ci. Essentially the technology inserts a planetary gear into the steering column, which either increases the amount of steering input or decreases it, depending on the vehicles speed. The advantages include go-kart quick steering when maneuvering through parking lots or around tight bends, and decreased steering sensitivity when highway cruising. The latter technology mentioned Active Roll Stabilization (also termed Dynamic Drive), which uses electronically controlled actuators integrated into the roll bars to apply opposing forces on the front and rear axles during cornering. This sophisticated suspension technology keeps the car pan-flat during aggressive maneuvers. It also mitigates the need to control body-roll through the use of human-punishing spring-rates.

Needless to say, the BMW suspension and chassis folks toiled long and hard to develop a setup that smoothes out the roughness, while providing serious handling capabilities. Few cars Ive experienced have achieved this elusive goal as perfectly as BMWs new 6. The 645Ci treats its occupants to a comfortable, yet nailed down ride. Toss it into a corner and presto, the car becomes a tenacious road-hugging beast. Turn-in is predictable, lightening quick and progressive in nature. Both road feel and steering feedback are exceptional, leaving little in the drivers mind about what is taking place down below where the rubber meets the road. Should driver enthusiasm outrun driver skill, the Bimmer soft-top carries an electronic safety net, part of which is its Dynamic Stability Control (DSC III) system, a system that will engage wheel specific braking and engine modulation to assist the 645Ci in obtaining a foothold on the road.

Additional aspects of the 645s electronic safety net include Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Cornering Brake Control, the latter of which enhances stability and control when the four disc brakes are applied during a turn. The powerful ABS-equipped binders maintain their cool stop after stop, thanks in part to inner venting. Braking effort is predictable and easily modulated by linear, progressive pedal actuation. Due to the pedals lightness, little foot pressure is required to achieve maximum braking performance, which by the way induced negligible nosedive, feeling surefooted and astonishingly brief.

In addition to its powerful brakes and electronic aids, active safety features include adaptive Xenon headlights that swivel between 9 and 15 degrees in the direction of a turn, throwing a bit more light on the vehicles anticipated path. In the event of a crash, passive safety equipment takes over occupant protection duties. The 645Cis list of passive safety items is very comprehensive and includes front occupant airbags with passenger seat occupant detection, plus side airbags and an Active Knee Protection airbag system for those in the front. Both front and rear occupants receive the benefit of BMWs Rollover Protection System (RPS), which includes two aluminum roll bars that pop up from behind the rear seat headrests in the event of a capsizing. The second aspect of BMWs RPS is an ultra strong windshield frame, designed to resist collapsing under the vehicles weight.

The 645Ci is a premium automobile, which arrives very well equipped without the need to tick numerous boxes on an order sheet. Standard equipment includes power windows, power locks, power mirrors, power seats, climate control, cruise control, power roof, AM/FM/CD and navigation. Should there be a desire to do some additional box ticking, several option packages are available. A Sport Package adds Active Steering, sport seats, 19-inch alloy wheels and high-gloss shadow-line exterior trim. A Premium Package consists of a 6-disc CD changer and BMWs LOGIC7 sound system. Also, a Cold Weather Package is available, which adds a ski bag and heated front seats and steering wheel.

The 2004 BMW 645Ci is a tremendous automobile, full of cutting-edge technology, prestige and pizzazz. Its rigid body structure and sophisticated chassis architecture have created a topless cruiser with outstanding stiffness, almost entirely devoid of cowl shake. Roof up or down, the 645Ci is tight and completely rattle-free. It delivers endless wind in the hair driving pleasure and is quite practical by convertible standards. Its trunk is capable of ingesting more gear than many rival soft-tops I have examined, plus it can seat up to four adults in relative comfort.

While Id love to see a few things changed, I have still grown fond of the 645Ci. Its a formidable player in todays premium convertible market, offering a unique approach to design and soft-top execution, bucking trends to the level it may possibly create a few of its own.