BMW 6 Series Overview
The 2009 BMW 6 Series' aggressive avant-garde styling may not be everyone's cup of German tea, but in the realm of luxury GT coupes and convertibles, everyone hardly matters. This is a price range and segment where buyers make purchases for emotional reasons. Perhaps a past model from the brand used to grace your bedroom wall, or maybe the car's aesthetic somehow speaks volumes about your own style and personality. The important bit is therefore how the 6 Series satisfies the less sexy rational form of the equation -- will the right side of the brain be making a poor decision?
Of course, buying an $80,000-plus large luxury coupe or convertible is inherently not very rational. But given the 6's fair-sized interior, impressive build quality, thrilling performance and surprisingly fair price, this BMW is about as rational as it gets in this arena. Two flavors of 6 Series are available -- coupe and soft-top convertible -- both of which are dubbed the 650i and available with a lone V8 engine. Both are based on the stout 5 Series sedan platform, and although the ride height has been lowered and the suspension retuned for more sporting intensions, the 6 still features the 5's stellar ride and handling balance as well as the magical ability to drive smaller than it actually is.
While many convertibles today boast complex folding hardtops, the 650i features an innovative soft top. Its sleek, buttress-like aft pillars give the car a unique look, but it's the glass window between them that is really worth noting. This is the only convertible on the market whose glass window raises and lowers independently of the roof. This allows two benefits. With the top up, the lowered window increases airflow while preventing sunburns and excess heat. With the top lowered, the raised window doubles as a wind deflector.
BMW 6 Series Features
MECHANICAL:
- 6-speed sport automatic transmission -inc: shift paddles
- 4.8L DOHC 32-valve V8 engine -inc: double-VANOS steplessly variable valve timing, Valvetronic
- Direct ignition system w/knock control
- Aluminum block & cylinder heads
- Electronically controlled engine cooling
- BMW MS S65 electronic engine management system
- Engine start/stop button
- Rear wheel drive
- Aluminum double-pivot front suspension
- Aluminum 4-link integral rear suspension
- Sport suspension
- Front/rear stabilizer bars
- Twin-tube gas-pressure shock absorbers
- Aluminum front/rear subframes
- Servotronic vehicle-speed-sensitive variable-ratio pwr steering
- 4-wheel vented disc brakes
- Dual stainless-steel exhaust tips
- Toolkit
EXTERIOR:
- 18" x 8.0" V spoke cast alloy wheels (style 248) -inc: P245/45VR18 run-flat all-season tires
- Aluminum hood & doors
- Pwr tilt glass panorama moonroof w/pwr shade
- Body-color front/rear bumpers
- Thermoplastic front side fenders
- Sheet molding compound (SMC) trunk lid
- Xenon automatic headlights -inc: dynamic auto-leveling
- Adaptive headlights
- Retractable headlight washers
- Halogen free-form foglights
- White turn signal indicators
- Adaptive brakelights
- LED ground illumination
- Green stripe windshield
- Body-color pwr heated auto-dimming mirrors -inc: passenger tilt-down in reverse, 3-position memory
- Rain-sensing windshield wipers -inc: flat blade design, articulated passenger wiper arm, single-wipe control, retractable heated washer jets
- Chromeline trim
- Body-color door handles w/heated driver door lock
INTERIOR:
- Dakota leather seat & door trim
- 12-way pwr front bucket seats -inc: 3-position driver seat memory, 2-way adjustable headrests, easy-entry feature
- Driver & front passenger 4-way pwr lumbar
- Front center console w/phone provisions
- Adjustable front center armrest
- Rear center console w/storage
- Front/rear floor mats
- Illuminated door sill trim
- 3-spoke pwr tilt/telescopic multi-function leather-wrapped sport steering wheel -inc: cruise controls, audio controls, Bluetooth controls, auto tilt-up, 3-position memory
- Instrumentation -inc: electronic analog speedometer, tachometer w/variable warning segment
- LCD main & trip odometers
- Comprehensive check control vehicle monitor system
- Outside temp display w/freezing temp warning
- Pwr windows -inc: key-off operation, 1-touch open/close, anti-trapping feature, closing from exterior lock
- Central locking -inc: double-lock anti-theft feature, selective unlocking
- Remote keyless entry -inc: selective unlocking, double-lock feature, remote trunk release, window open, alarm, panic feature
- Vehicle & key memory
- Interior pwr trunk release
- BMW universal transceiver (3-function garage door opener)
- Dynamic cruise control
- iDrive system -inc: on-board computer, voice feedback, voice command, TeleService
- Navigation system
- Real time traffic info
- Anti-theft alarm system
- Coded driveaway protection
- Dual-zone auto climate control -inc: auto air recirculation, activated-charcoal micro-filter ventilation, humidity control, bi-directional solar sensor
- Rear window defroster
- Locking glove compartment -inc: rechargeable take-out flashlight
- Front/rear cupholders
- Smoker's pkg
- 12V pwr outlet
- Illuminated door storage compartments
- Brushed aluminum trim
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Dual front sunvisors w/illuminated mirrors
- Courtesy lights -inc: fade in/out feature, front footwells, dual front reading lights, door handles
- BMW ambiance lighting
- Seatback storage compartments
- Fully finished trunk w/reversible anti-slip trunk liner
SAFETY:
- 4-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS)
- Dynamic stability control (DSC) -inc: dynamic traction control (DTC), dynamic brake control (DBC), electronic brake proportioning, brake fade compensation, brake standby, brake drying, comfort stop, start-off assistant, cornering & braking stability enhancement
- Active roll stabilization (ARS)
- Interlocking door anchoring system
- Daytime running lights
- Driver/front passenger dual-threshold dual-stage airbags w/passenger deployment sensor
- Front side-impact airbags
- Head protection system
- Active knee protection airbags
- BMW Assist -inc: auto collision notification, SOS button, roadside assistance, TeleService, (4) year subscription
- Park distance control
- Impact sensor (disconnect of alternator, fuel pump & starter from battery, turns on hazard/interior lights, unlocks doors)
- Battery safety terminal
- Intelligent Safety & Info System (ISIS) for deployment of safety systems
- Front safety belts w/automatic pretensioners & force limiters
- All-passenger automatic locking retractor (ALR)
- LATCH attachments for attachment of child-restraint seats
- Tire pressure monitor
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