But instead of oozing absolute driving pleasure, the interior ambiance of the 2016 BMW 6 Series Convertible LCI is more about grand touring, more about cruising around and about not having a single care in the world. Elegant sweeping surfaces, continuous lines, high-quality plastic, thin A-pillars, and softly-sprung seats are the highlights.
Our test car was equipped with what BMW calls Fineline Cognac fine-wood trim. Brushed aluminum or Piano Black interior trim on the door cards, dashboard, and center console would’ve been better, though.
I admit I’m not the biggest fan of wood trim, but I do not hate just for the sake of hating. I can’t stand lacquered wood for a very simple and well-founded reason: scratches. As in a helluva lot of scratches.
Regarding the iDrive infotainment system, I will refrain from boring you to death with the technical details. All I feel it needs to be mentioned is that iDrive is just as intuitive as you would expect it to be thanks to the strategically placed Controller on the center console.
A teeny-weeny detail that grinds my gears, however, comes in the form of the front seats. Just like in the BMW M2, the front seats in the 2016 BMW 6 Series Convertible are slightly crooked, as in not perfectly aligned with the doors and center console. Even if the front seats are offset inwards to the center console, I couldn’t feel any discomfort. It's just that my OCD kicked in.
What about the back seats? Oh man, don’t get me started on them. Even though the rear seatbacks are too upright to sit comfortably, there is too limited leg room for the seats to qualify as so. As such, I’m pretty sure we’re actually dealing with a parcel shelf padded in leather.
Another thing I’ve noticed about the BMW F12 is that the car feels wider and more spacious than the former generation. That extra width translates into acres of elbow room for the driver and front passenger.
From the driver’s seat, I couldn’t help but notice two things that are wrong, bang in front of me. No, it’s not that a diesel-powered car is fitted with flappy paddles. What I’m referring to are the steering wheel and window washer stalk. Is it just me or did BMW pulled these parts out from the X3 F25 and 3 Series E46, respectively? In spite of that, they do their job just fine.
All things considered, it’s a privilege to sit behind the wheel of a BMW 640d xDrive Convertible. While it may not be on the same level as a certain competitor with a three-pointed star on the steering wheel, the 2016 BMW 6 Series Convertible LCI gave me the feeling that I’m sitting inside a cocoon. An upmarket cocoon, that is.