2005 BMW 6 Series Review

Specifications

A Star is Born

Beverly Hills, California is a magical place. Palms tower majestically overhead, the air is filled with the sweet aroma of fresh blossoms and exotic flowers, and the outside temperature is identical to the inside of the hotel - a strange sensation after having just left behind the northwest mid-winter.

The hotel that takes on the citys name is at least as magical as the area itself, having been host to the worlds richest and most famous for decades. Rodeo drive runs perpendicular to the Beverly Hills Hotels Sunset Boulevard address, its edges lined with massive ficus trees extending their intricate latticework of roots across the greenery in search of moisture. They look as if theyve been there for centuries.

Of course they arent that old, nor are the richly appointed homes that crowd the famed roadway. Premium cars pour through the street, congregating at stoplights before parking nose to nose in circular driveways behind wrought iron gates. BMW seems to be the marque of choice. Sure, Mercedes SLs are as plentiful here as Honda Civics in my town, with a Lexus or two, the odd Jag, and even a new Rolls-Royce Phantom, motoring along. Yet more often than not a duo of his and hers Bimmers occupied the horseshoe driveways of the wealthy inhabitants, some having made their millions in business, others by inheritance and no doubt stars made by way of neighboring Hollywoods lure.

Could BMW have picked a more ideal location to launch its latest star? I cant think of one. And the new 6-Series Coupe and Convertible have star power, drawing as much attention from local passersby as Ben and J Lo in a bridal boutique.

And for good reason. BMWs new flagship coupe and convertible are gorgeous, the topless model especially. While I spent the better part of the morning in a couple of hardtops, one with a 6-speed manual and the other with the brands velvety smooth 6-speed automatic with manual mode, these werent the reason I was invited to take part in the event. I covered the coupe previously after a trip to Malaga, Spain. The convertible that just debuted in Detroit, however, is the biggest news.

BMW hasnt built a large, 4-seat, volume convertible since the late 56 through 59 Albrecht Goertz designed 503, and even that model in fixed and removable roof form only combined to sell 418 units over its 4 year lifecycle.

Forty-five years is a long time for any premium manufacturer to go without such an important image car. But BMW isnt a “micro brewery” anymore, a term the cars head designer Adrian van Hooydonk chose to classify just how small a player the Bavarian brand was fifty or so years ago. Its now a major player in the sport-luxury scene, with vehicles in almost every vehicle segment and more on the way.

The 6 convertible is the most aspirational of BMWs full range, and the most enticing since the now passed Z8 roadster. But compared to the lovely Z8, the 6 is much more practical. With seating for four, a trunk large enough to carry two golf bags and a few tote bags with the top down, and comfort and convenience items to make Prince Rainier III of Monaco blush, BMWs new flagship makes purchasing the two-door a pragmatic decision.

But while its possible to calculate the pros against the cons and come out still being able to justify the purchasing decision, the 645 is more about passion. Its easily the best execution of the brands new design language to date, with a sculpted hood and front fender lines, raised rear decklid and tasteful taillights, and exquisitely creased side marker lights, all masterful examples of complex curves and angles combining into one, completely cohesive modern art exhibit.

But art doesnt go as quickly as the 645 Ci Convertible. The 4.4-L engines 325-horsepower revs to maximum with little effort, all the while pushing the big convertible forward with purposeful intensity. BMW states its zero to 60 mph time is a mere 5.8 seconds, but my guess after taking the wheel was the German brand was once again being conservative.

BMW offers three transmission choices, all no charge options. As previously mentioned I spent a fair bit of time with the automatic, which will probably be the gearbox of choice for the majority of owners. Fortunately its a great piece of engineering, as smooth as Häagen-Dazs with no midriff side effects. I would opt for the 6-speed manual, which might just be the slickest shifters Ive tried in ages. That said I spent time with BMWs sensational SMG 2.0 sequential manual with steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters in Spain and was duly impressed. No matter how you look at it the consumer wins, with BMW offering more drivetrain options than any of its rivals.

The 6-speed manual convertible at my disposal in the afternoon featured a standard suspension setup, which delivered a wonderfully smooth ride and was quite capable in the corners. Just the same I would opt for the same sport suspension that I tested in the coupe, which fortunately is available. Either way the cars active steering makes it turn-in like a go-kart and the dynamic drive flattens out undulations and curves. Its a magnificent driving car, feeling smaller and lighter than it really is but still planting itself firmly on all fours while high-speed touring.

I think the 6 is the first convertible Ive ever tested that allows a driver to drop the top while moving, ideal for sealing off offensive fumes when in rush hour traffic or being able to hurry away from standstill even if the top isnt completely stowed but the light has turned green anyway. I also appreciated having the ability to drive with the top up and all the windows, including the slender rear glass dropped for ultimate aeration. Thats a unique feature that no rival convertible offers.

While exterior noise is apparent when the soft-top is up, its still very quiet thanks to polyurethane foam insulation between the rubberized outer layer and inner roof lining. Theres nominal wind noise even at extremely high speeds too, coming close to coupe-like decibel levels.

With the top down its easy to keep a conversation going even when pushing the limits of the law, and the power rear window acts as a wind buffer for rear passengers when upright. BMW also supplies a rear wind blocker that can be added when only two are aboard, which is said to reduce wind even more. But personally, I love the wind in the hair aspects of convertible life.

Like the coupe the convertibles interior quality is near perfect, with seriously high-grade plastics, beautifully finished leather and top-tier metal accents. Wood is also available, as is just about anything else youd like to personalize your BMW with.

As I mentioned in previous reviews, BMWs once controversial i-Drive user interface is much less confusing in its new 2.0 guise, with only a few easy steps to configure the navigation system, climate control, audio system or personal settings. I really like the big, aluminum knob and find the system easy to navigate even when driving.

A few additional items set the 645 Ci Convertible apart from its competitors, one being adaptive headlights that have the ability to “see” around corners prior to the cars arrival. Also on the list is a head-up display (HUD) system that projects important information right onto the windshield, a good idea that minimizes the need to take a drivers eyes off the road. The new drop-top also features Active Cruise Control (ACC), which can be set to keep a safe distance from traffic ahead automatically. I also enjoyed the optional LOGIC7 audio system, delivering impressive sound quality even when the top was lowered.

While I love the coupe, the new convertible is even more elegant. Somehow the tall rear decklid looks even better when the top is down. Its a styling statement that should look as fresh four years from now as it does today, a benefit that BMWs new designs are now starting to show signs of achieving.

Will the new model one day be as revered as the 503 convertible? Theres no reason why it wont, other than the fact that BMW will no doubt sell more than 418 examples. Its wonderfully agile, impressively powerful and built to a level of sophistication that few of its peers can match. Whats more, its positively gorgeous, the most important asset of a destined classic.