BMW’s first car, the Austin 7-based 3/15, came out in the late 1920s. In 1930, the Bavarian brand stepped into the land of sporty convertibles with the 3/15 DA-3 Wartburg. Even when you compare it to more modern ragtops such as the E30 Convertible, it’s pretty clear that the 6 Series in 640d xDrive Convertible form is a very different critter.
At first, I wrongly assumed that a turbo diesel engine and all-wheel-drive have no place in a lavishly appointed car with a folding canvas roof. BMW is the only automaker that currently offers such an unorthodox melange in this segment, which is why I also assumed that it is a case of dementia.
As fate would have it, my expectations were proven wrong by the 2016 BMW 640d xDrive Convertible LCI. I still am just a little bit perplexed by how much sense this machine makes.
What I’m trying to say is that this Bimmer is far from the type of car I’d buy with my heart. Why? Because it doesn’t have the “fizz” factor you might have heard James May talk about when he was the bloke with the long hair on Top Gear.
Photo: Florin Profir
Let me reiterate some examples of what’s wrong with it. The back seats are the work of a sadomasochist. Then there’s the wind deflector, which is too over-elaborated. The bad stuff doesn’t end here. The ride can get pretty jolty because of the big wheels. But most of all, this car lacks the aural pleasure anyone expects from a luxobarge developed by BMW.
On the flip side, the absence of a thunderous exhaust note, as well as the extra grip and traction from the all-wheel-drive system, makes the 2016 BMW 640d xDrive Convertible a surprisingly capable cruiser. I completely abide by the line of thinking which says that a two-door convertible must make a mesmerizing sound to count as a good car. Exceptions have this thing of proving the rules, but at the same time, lest we forget that exceptions can become the rules themselves.
After a bit of time behind the wheel, it came to me that a smooth and silent diesel in a 6er Convertible isn’t a daft engine choice, but an inspired one. Other than the relentless way the 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six pulls, I was also chuffed by how serene the driving experience can be due to the lack of exhaust sound. Even when I got bored of cruising, the 640d xDrive Convertible didn’t disappoint.
Photo: Florin Profir
The feel and feedback you get from the steering wheel are ambiguous, to be sincere, but the two-tonne behemoth will not show its weight to the driver. Be it a sporty drive on whatever B-road or a dash from the lights, the 640d xDrive Convertible will do the job just fine and, best of all, it will reward you. Despite the tight body control and xDrive-enhanced grip, it’s too heavy to feel like a sports car.
And this leads me to the biggest ace up this car’s sleeve: grand touring. By definition, grand tourers are cars that are developed to offer loads of style and comfort on long-distance, high-speed journeys. And you know what? This thing is able to do exactly that.
The Bavarian automaker has bestowed plenty of style upon it, inside and out, the seats and the dampers won’t make your back ache when you arrive at your destination, the torque of turbo diesel engine makes easy with overtaking slow coaches on the highway. To be honest, the list of grand touring attributes doesn't end here.
What we have here, then, isn’t merely a car to get from this side of the European continent to the opposite side. To me, the 2016 BMW 640d xDrive Convertible LCI made me think again about how a car should be assessed and how popular belief can distort the image of what is, in fact, a great GT. In addition to that, the BMW 640d xDrive Convertible is a goalpost other automakers in this segment should take note of.
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.
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. Full profile
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