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Driven: 2016 BMW 640d xDrive Convertible - Everyday Living

The time has come to talk about some of the more commonsensical aspects regarding the 640d xDrive Convertible. This particular model is not available in the United States, nor in the United Kingdom, but the rest of Europe can spend its euros on this diesel-powered luxobarge. Specifically, prices start from €95,850.
2016 BMW 640d xDrive Convertible 105 photos
Photo: Florin Profir
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What that means is that the 6er Convertible model with all-wheel-drive and a turbo diesel engine is the fourth most expensive in the seven-model lineup. The cheapest drop-top in the list is the 640i Convertible, which retails for €88,350 in Germany and $86,095 across the pond. At the other end of the 6er Convertible spectrum, we have the M6, which starts from €134,000 or $120,995.

But this is BMW. And as it’s often the case with German cars, the options list is where things get butt clenching. The 640d xDrive Convertible on hand is laden with a bucketload of extras, the reason why this configuration will set you back €120,892. It’s a lot of money, I agree, but its closest rival isn’t cheap either. In fact, a Mercedes-Benz S500 Cabriolet starts from €139,051.

One option I would definitely not spend my money on is the 20-inch alloy wheels (€1,171). 19 inches or even 18 inches will do just fine, especially if you hold ride comfort in high regard. The most expensive options in our car, however, are the Design Pure Experience pack (€5,856) and the Innovation Package (€4,375; includes adaptive LED headlights, high-beam assist, and head-up display).

2016 BMW 640d xDrive Convertible
Photo: Florin Profir
The 640d xDrive Convertible also gets a plus point for fuel economy. The 3.0-liter straight-six engine isn’t a fuel sipper, though, because it has to haul over two tonnes of car. For the simple reason that the official fuel economy figures as per the New European Driving Cycle are notoriously overestimated, I’ll get straight to the figures I’ve achieved in real-world driving conditions and scenarios.

The least this car drank up is 7.1 liters/100 kilometers (33.1 U.S. mpg) at a steady average of 80 km/h (50 mph). If the average speed rises to 130 km/h (80 mph), consumption soars to 9.1 liters/100 kilometers (25.8 mpg). In stop-and-go city traffic, the average I’ve managed is 12.2 liters/100 kilometers (19.27 mpg). For all intents and purposes, you won’t need to stop very often for fuel if you drive a BMW 640d xDrive Convertible in a grand touring manner. At least not as often as you would with a 640i xDrive Convertible or, God forbid, an M6 Convertible.

But let’s get our feet on the ground for a second and agree that most people won’t drive the 6er Convertible with the grace and pace of a GT. They’ll most likely use it even for the most mundane of chores, such as going to the shops for a carton of milk or whatever. Given the circumstances, a question has to be posed: how is the 2016 BMW 640d xDrive Convertible LCI like as a daily driver? OK-ish, I guess.

On narrow roads like you’d find in every conceivable corner of the Old Continent, the BMW 6 Series Convertible is surprisingly easy to drive. The width can be intimidating at first, but you’ll soon get used to it.

2016 BMW 640d xDrive Convertible
Photo: Florin Profir
Another thing that’s so-and-so is the ride. Don’t get me wrong, the suspension does a fine job at ironing out asphaltic imperfections. The 20-inch wheels wrapped in run-flat tires are the Achilles heel. Potholes and the lot are the weak points of such a wheel-tire combo, which is why you’ll often feel the suspension work with your bum and spine.

On the upside, trunk capacity is generous at 350 liters (12.36 cubic feet) or 300 liters (10.59 cubic feet) with the roof retracted in its special compartment. In either mode, there’s enough space for the luggage you and your S.O. need to take on a weekend’s trip away from the city.

But for all that, the 2016 BMW 640d xDrive Convertible's wind deflector is a backbreaking pain to install. I have but one word to describe the sadistic procedure: origami. When you don’t need it, you’re still in a world of pain because the wind deflector is just as hard to fold away. And yes, it is more of a handful than the wind deflectors you get with the BMW 4 Series Convertible and MINI Cabriolet.

The last element that’s worth mentioning in the realm of everyday living with this diesel-powered, all-wheel-drive ragtop is the ground clearance. The car has 123 millimeters (4.84 inches) of it, as well as a front overhang that needs its own ZIP code, to be honest. Combined, these details translate into lots of scraping under the front bumper.
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Editor's note: In case you haven't noticed, we have a brand-spanking new test drive format, which aims to give you a lot more information about each car that we drive. Short drives will still be delivered as a single text, but most of the cars we get our grubby hands on will get the full treatment, spanning across five different chapters.

The Interior Assessment chapter plans to tell you all about a vehicle's cockpit, whether it deserves that moniker or if it's simply a “cabin.” Design evaluation revolves around the exterior looks of the cars we drive, while Driving Take will try to put you in the driver's seat and show you what it's like behind the wheel.

Last, but definitely not least, the Everyday Living chapter is all about car ownership, including fuel economy, overall costs and driving comfort. All these details and more are then rounded up and delivered in the surprisingly named Roundup, which is the final test drive chapter and conclusion at the same time.

About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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