2008 BMW 650i Convertible Review | Buyer Guide
Still Impressive Four Years Later
When the BMW 645i was introduced for the 2005 model year, it was an immediate hit. Automotive writers, and car lovers alike, praised its head-turning styling. Autoweek magazine enthused, “even standing still, the car looks fast.” Everywhere I went, people admired its sexy look and wanted to know more about it.
Four years later, and now called the 650i, this sporty Bimmer still draws a crowd. Top-up or top-down, it’s a visually exciting car to behold. The 650i is about the same size as the BMW 550i sedan, but it rides on a four-inch shorter wheelbase, which makes it look more muscular. Optional 19-inch wheels, like the ones on my test car, enhance this effect.
The convertible top is a nice piece of design. At the press of a button, it retracts quickly into a bin in back. In the up position, it provides a smart-looking coupe silhouette. And with the top down, the glass rear window doubles as a windblocker.
Moving to the inside, the cabin is finished in attractive leather that reflects the heat of the sun so that your bottom doesn’t fry on a hot day. A leather-clad dashboard adds a classy note, and a meaty steering wheel provides plenty of grip for sporty driving. But there are shortcomings too, like minimal legroom in the backseat, and a lack of storage space. (There’s no place to stow the owner’s manual.) Furthermore, the single cupholder is a tack-on device on the transmission tunnel.
BMW equips the 650i with a plethora of sophisticated gadgetry. Park Distance Control, Dynamic Stability Control, adaptive headlights and a navigation system are all standard. Unfortunately, you still have to deal with the iDrive that controls the audio, climate, navigation and telephone functions. This is a system that is more complicated than it needs to be, and not very intuitive.
My test car came with an assortment of high tech options, like Active Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Head-up (windshield) Display and Night Vision. I found all of these devices useful, except the night vision. This system is supposed to spot obstacles down the road that your headlights might not pick up, but the infrared image displayed on the navigation screen is more of a distraction than an aid.
Putting aside the pros and cons of the options, the real goodies in this car are found beneath the sheet metal. Under the hood, BMW has installed its silky-smooth 4.8-liter V-8. As in its 5-Series counterpart, it pumps out a hearty 360 horsepower. Hit the accelerator, and this power plant shows its muscle as it revs up to the 6500-rpm redline. The engine also generates just the right amount of throaty rumble to let you know that it’s doing its job. Transferring power to the rear wheels is a choice of two six-speed transmissions—a manual and a new automatic. The rough shifting sequential manual from last year has been discontinued.
My test car had the automatic, which comes with paddle shifters for manual gear changing. The 650i also gets Dynamic Driving Control. A button behind the shifter engages a “Sport” mode, which enhances the engine’s response, quickens shifts and tightens the steering. Adding to the mix is Active Roll Stabilization, which helps the 650i to corner more flatly. All of these systems combine to make for a terrific driving experience on a twisty road. This big Bimmer slices through turns quickly, and without breaking a sweat. On the highway, it cruises effortlessly at speeds that could land you in jail.
As you might expect, the BMW 650i convertible does not come cheap. The base price is $83,475. My heavily loaded test car had a bottom line of $98,970.
Snapshot Review
Head-Turning Looks
Great Power Train
Terrific Handling
Minimal Storage Space
Unfriendly iDrive
