Test drive BMW 6 series E63 2003 - 2007 coupe

Winter will ask strictly

Riding on a convertible in our time is about the same as walking in a tailcoat. However, in an open car you can drive even in winter. We were convinced of this by the example of the BMW 645CI.
If you are not the owner of a convertible or a relatives, then you are unlikely to ride with a lowered roof among the snowy fields. Usually, to represent their open models, manufacturers choose more traditional places and seasons. However, the realities of the market forced BMW to arrange a 645CI convertible premiere in winter. The season was nearing, orders are already accepted, and with the fact that this winter in Germany was one of the most snowy, not one of the marketers could do anything. Then such an informal installation was born: the best qualities of machines are manifested precisely in extreme conditions.
A person close to the emperor. If the automobile world were a monarchy, then Formula 1 cars would probably take a place on the throne, and probably other racing cars would be in persons of royal blood. However, the members of this august family, like everything else, are greatly limited by conventions and in touch with the usual world little. So sports shells on four wheels are closed to the cities. Complete freedom of movement is available only to representatives of the nobility with a lower rank. And here the most honorable titles went to their relatives by blood - relatives and convertibles.
The circle of courtiers is small: there are not so many relatives in the market, and four -seater convertibles - even less. So the latest replenishment of the sixth BMW series is an open version of the 645CI compartment - in its class remains alone. Other competing brands offer lovers of fresh winds of the model in more compact segments. On one side, BMW seems to move against the flow. On the other hand, the choice of pure plot is justified from a marketing point of view.
Fifty fifty. The magnificent seven and the hard five collected a lot of critical reviews regarding the style. And although it is argued that this did not affect the volume of sales negatively, many remained skeptical questions. When a new six appeared (see Autopilot No. 12/2003), it finally became clear what the team of designers was looking for and what was striving for the leadership of Chris Banlla. If you counted the two previous developments by unsuccessful experiments, look at 645CI. Doesn't it seem to you that this model justifies those sketches? In our opinion - more than. Even deprived of a very important gear in the point of view of the roof of the roof, looks like an example of the elegant restraint of the BMW and has a clear charm of speed, which is so appreciated in expensive cars.
However, with the top raised, the car does not lose charm. This was partly dictated by the choice of soft tent in return for the hard folding roof. The latter could not have been so accurately entered into the required silhouette - it would be necessary to reduce the length of the cabin or increase the rear overhang to accommodate the folded top. However, as the main argument of this choice, BMW calls the lesser influence of the soft top on the weight of the car. Firstly, the awning is easier, and secondly, it develops more compactly. So in the closed and open options, almost perfect weighting on the axes, close to the ideal - 50:50, is preserved.
Hardened fighter. Maybe it is for the better that they decided to present the car, regardless of the weather: we have a chance to check whether an expensive convertible is able to protect its owners from climate whims. The softness of the thread is given out only by barely noticeable lines of the arc of the frame and a rough texture. He keeps a form very clearly. The inner layer completely hides the most complex filling. The fact that the roof is folding is inside the cabin only by the absence of ceiling consoles with lamps and pockets for trifles today. For complete sealing, the glass of the doors before opening are slightly lowered and again enter the grooves on the frame when closing the door.
As expected, on the move no particularly new impressions of the convertible with a raised top compared to simply the compartment does not produce. That is exactly the case when stability is a sign of skill: an eight of 4.4 liters copes with a 200 kg carpet. An increase in the mass of an open body compared to closed is actually a common thing. The folding top itself is not heavier than the usual fixed roof. But the latter closes the structure of the supporting body. To compensate for the absence of the roof, you have to make a tougher lower part. And besides, add elements that protect passengers when overturned. At the BMW 645CI, this is an enhanced windshield frame and advanced in 0.18 seconds of the safety arcs behind the rear head restraints. Although these additional nodes are made of aluminum - like the hood, doors and suspension elements - they still have weight.
Suspension setting makes it clear that large convertibles are intended not only to extract the pleasure of speed-for the sake of excellent controllability, they did not neglect comfort, so that the 645th road irregularities overcome the slightly worse than the 745th. At least while we are talking about the streets of Munich. Almost any suspension will be comfortable on the German autobahn, the only question: at what speed? Due to the fact that winter tires stood on test machines, the speed was limited to 240 km/h. In fact, only a warning signal sounds at this mark, and technically the machine is still able to accelerate to 250-but here is already a real limit. All German manufacturers put an electronic speed limiter on cars, which does not allow to overcome this line. Because otherwise it is too easy to get carried away: to go along an autobahn at a speed of 200 and even 240 km/h on the BMW 645CI as easily as on 130. The speed is perceived as completely safe, and the car remains obedient.
Summer with you. Fortunately, on the day of the test, the weather was sunny, so we removed the top of the car without much fear. Only the alleged reaction of those who see a convertible among snowy landscapes was embarrassed. But it was more interesting ourselves whether we can handle it, that is, we are in this machine, with such a temperature around zero. So, let's go: to lower the top, just press and hold the button. First, glasses are lowered, then the awning freezes with the lifted front and tail, then the compartment lid opens for it. Then everything is cleaned there. The whole process takes 25 seconds. It can also occur in motion, but at a speed of not more than 30 km/h: it is worth exceeding it, as after a warning signal, this complex mechanic freezes. The main reason is not only high air resistance, which can break the detailed roof and mechanism, but also that the transformation all the time you need to hold the button pressed. And this distracts the driver. It is no coincidence that most convertibles and relatives can be lifted or upper. For security reasons, it is usually possible to open or close the tent latches on the windshield frame, but this issue is also resolved on 645CI, so the top is really fully automated.
The result of the ride was quite predictable: it is almost impossible to ride without a top and glasses - it is elementary cold. But with raised glasses and climate control in maximum mode, it is quite possible to feel on the island of summer even at a speed of 80-100 km/h. The rear window, which extends separately, provides some protection against draft, but it does a mesh windproof screen much more efficiently. It has to be installed and folded manually. Like the partition between the compartment for the folded tent and the trunk.
If the top is raised, then with the help of a retractable lever the compartment can be reduced by adding to 300 liters of the trunk capacity another 50. This is not so much - the compartment has 645CI luggage volume, but the result is very good for the convertible. After all, this compartment and sedans are designed to work with road expresses, and the convertible is more suitable for leisurely walks from the villa to the hotel on the coast ...

Text Valery Chusov, photo by Alfredo Martinese and BMW AG

BMW 645ci Cabrio
Gasoline engine V8
Working volume (cubic cub) 4398
Power (L.S. at about/min) 333 at 6100
Moment (nm at rpm) 450 at 3600
The rear drive
Gearbox 6-speed automatic STEPTRONIC
Length/width/height (mm) 4820/1855/1373
Wheel base (mm) 2780
Equipped mass (kg) 1820
Maximum speed (km/h) 250
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 6.2
Fuel consumption (city/highway, l/100 km) 16.8/8.5
The price in Moscow is $ 137 thousand.

   

   
 
 

Source: "Autopilot"