2008 BMW 6 Series Review

PROS  Silly smooth and powerful V8, Tenacious handling, Lots of safety and tech goodies

CONS  Firm ride, Poor rearward visibility, Long doors, iDrive

BMW 6-Series, Cadillac XLR, Jaguar XK, Lexus SC, Mercedes-Benz SL, and Porsche 911. In the rarified air of personal-luxury cars there are few players. They've each carved a slice of the personal-luxury pie. In the case of the 6-Series, the serving is flavored with one part sport, one part technology, and a dash of luxury.

The 6-Series comes in two-door coupe or convertible form in either 650i or M6 trim. Both body styles seat four and have rear-wheel drive. Convertibles get a power-operated soft top with a heated glass rear window that can raise or lower independently of the top.

The 650i comes with a 360-horsepower 4.8-liter V8 engine that mates to either a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic transmission with separate shift gate for manual operation. The M6 comes with a 500-horsepower 5.0-liter V10 engine. It mates to either a 6-speed manual transmission or a clutchless seven-speed manual transmission. The seven speed can be shifted manually using the console-mounted shifter or steer-wheel-mounted paddles and has an automatic mode.

Antilock brakes, stability control, brake assist, front- and rear-obstacle detection system, tire-pressure monitor and dual-front, front-knee, and front-side airbags are standard. Coupes get side-curtain airbags and convertibles get an automatically deploying rollover-protection system. A lane-departure warning system and forward-looking night vision camera are optional.

650i models come with dual-zone automatic climate control, power tilt-telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, leather upholstery, eight-way power front seats with lumbar adjustment, memory system, heated and automatic day/night power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, sunroof (coupe), navigation system with voice recognition and traffic information, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, Bluetooth cell-phone link, rain-sensing variable-intermittent wipers, heated door locks, automatic headlights, theft-deterrent system, fog lights, steering-linked adaptive HID headlights with washers, active suspension, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

M6 models add limited-slip differential, uprated brakes, heated 14-way power front seats, ski sack, passenger-side mirror tilt-down back-up aid, upgraded sound system, heated washer jets, active steering, adjustable sport suspension, and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Satellite radio, iPod adaptor, head-up instrument display, keyless starting, and automatic door-closing system are among the options. In addition, there are numerous interior upgrades. Prices start at $75,600 for the 650i coupe and climb to $105,100 for the M6 drop top. All models have a destination charge of $775 and are assembled in Germany.

Get Up and Go BMW claims a 0-60 mph time for the manual transmission 650i coupe of just 5.3 seconds. That's nearly as fast as true high-performance cars like the Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Viper.

After just a few minutes behind the wheel and there's little doubt that BMW's boast is accurate. The engine provides stirring thrust at low speeds and outstanding passing power. There's a slight wobble at idle that seems out of character for a luxury car but is probably tied to the engine's prodigious power output. Otherwise the engine is very smooth and willingly revs up to redline.

The six-speed manual transmission has notchy shift action, but a firm clutch with a well-defined pickup point. There was an odd vibration in third gear which was likely the result of ham-fisted driving at one or another press event rather than a design flaw.

The manual-transmission 650i is EPA rated at 15 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. Unimpressive numbers but about average for a vehicle in this class. Making matters worse is BMW's request that the 650i use only premium-grade fuel.

In routine driving expect to average about 16 mpg. If your commute includes lots of gentile highway travel you might average as high as 19 mpg. In straight highway driving, it's easy to average 22 or 23 mpg.

On the Road The 650i clearly favors sport over luxury. Still, the ride isn't as firm you might expect. Yes it's considerably harder than luxury-oriented rivals like the XK or SL, but it's also measurably softer than sport coupes like the Corvette or 911. The best part is in the way the suspension stays composed when the road grows bumpy. Secondary body motions are minor and there is no bounding or bouncing on the highway.

Throw in the optional sport suspension, which brings along hard-riding 19-inch tires, and the ride becomes harsh on rough roads. Still, the suspension has enough compliance to filter out road shock and makes daily commuting tolerable.

On the flip side there are few direct rivals that will hold the road with as much confidence as the 650i. It is too large and heavy to be a true sports car, but the taught suspension, firm and accurate steering, and the powerful brakes install confidence in drivers--both novice and experienced.

The available active suspension gives the driver just a touch more control, but also seems to place the 650i on edge. It's best to leave it set to normal, switching to sport on only when the situation calls for more response.

The 650i cruises quietly and sedately. Wind noise is low and the engine becomes audible only at high rpm. Road noise is sometimes a problem as the fat tires rumble on coarse concrete pavement.

Behind the Wheel The interior is clearly upscale but isn't as sumptuous as some competitors. It features a pleasing mix of soft-touch plastics, real wood and leather, and blushed aluminum. Assembly quality is on par with other luxury coupes.

Refreshingly, driver's face traditional analog speedometer and tachometer. The optional head-up display projects vehicle speed and other important information onto the base of the windshield. It's a nice safety feature that works well. Window and mirror controls are well placed, but the door lock switch is the center of the dashboard rather than on the outboard armrests.

Basic radio and climate control functions are easily accessed by center-stack mounted switchgear. Advanced functions, Bluetooth, and navigation are controlled through a system BMW calls iDrive. It consists of a display screen and a jog wheel that's placed on the center console. iDrive is complicated, takes time to learn, and is more distracting than it should be.

A wide center console and steeply sloped windshield give the interior of the 6-Series a fighter-jet feel. The front seats are nicely bolstered and quite firm--in BMW tradition. Plus-sized adults may complain that the seat bottoms aren't wide enough. Leg room is ample, but head room is only adequate. Visibility is restricted to the rear on both coupes and convertibles by thick roof pillars, and the long doors can cause entry-exit problems in parking lots.

In back, there are two seats. They are comfortable, but only very small adults or children will find adequate room. Even so, the front seats have to be pushed forward to provide even scant knee space. As it is on most two-doors, rear-seat entry-exit is difficult.

At 13.0 cubit feet, the trunk is reasonably roomy given the class of vehicle. Three or four golf bags or large suitcases will fit no problem. Interior storage is inadequate. The center console bin and glove box are small, the door map pockets are tiny, and there's only one cup holder, which seems like a tacked on afterthought.

Bottom Line No one needs a car like the BMW 6-Series, but that's partly the point. Personal-luxury coupes are about personal satisfaction, and in that vein, the 650i sure satisfies. With seamless power, confident handling, and refined road manners it s a driver's dream. For good measure, BMW's added enough techno and safety goodies to make Bill Gates blush.

Owners will have to put up with traditional coupe compromises like daunting entry-exit and poor outward visibility. You'll also have to contend with high prices and iDrive's confounding control interface. Still, the 650i is a rewarding car to drive, has exceptional resale value, and comes with BMW's four-year no-charge maintenance plan.