BMW 6 Series F12

BMW 6 series F12-F13 belongs to the Gran Turismo class and is produced in Gran Coupe, open Convertible variation, as well as a sporty version of the M6. The F12 is the third generation of the BMW six, the first model of which was presented to the public as early as 1976.  The debut of the BMW F12 took place in November 2010 in France, and ready to enter the world market models a year later presented in Shanghai and New York. Currently, the production of the car is carried out at the automobile plant in Dingolfing, Germany.

Compared to the E93 cabriolet version, equipped with a folding rigid roof based on metal, the BMW 6 Series Cabriolet f12 is characterized by a soft folding top.  The updated version is characterized by luxury and at the same time sportiness in appearance and interior, comfort, advanced technical features, wide interior space due to the increased wheelbase.

Body

The exterior design was created by car designer from Germany Nader Faghizadeh. The photo of BMW F12 shows that the exterior differs significantly from the design of its predecessors. BMW 6 convertible has increased in size, has acquired an elongated hood, at the same time its rear part has become a little smaller, and the front part has acquired aggressiveness. The exterior of the car became streamlined and smooth lines.

The front exterior of the BMW 6 F12 reflects the dynamic nature of the car. The large radiator grille, which is a bit forward, gives the car an impetuous look. Also in the front part you can notice a wide air intake, perfectly emphasizing the silhouette of the hood, xenon headlights of graceful shape, as well as wide wheel arches, indicating the significant power characteristics of the motor. The tire size is 18 inches, the BMW 650i version comes with 19-inch wheels.

The photo of the BMW 6 convertible shows that the front bumper is equipped with numerous elements and inserts of chrome. In addition, the car is equipped with additional fog lights, which have three LEDs, thus additionally showing the width of the car.

The side lines of the BMW 6 Cabrio are characterized by smoothness, which gives the exterior a sleek and elegant appearance. The rear of the Cabriolet has a V-shape and elements that further emphasize the width.

The roof of the BMW 6 Convertible is a multi-layer fabric roof that makes the exterior more expressive and elegant. Manufacturers have finalized it based on the parameters of acoustics and rigidity. The car is equipped with excellent thermal insulation, so you can drive it even in severe winter. The roof is adjusted by means of a button located in the central part of the dashboard. The Comfort Access package allows controlling the roof with a remote key. The opening process takes 19 seconds, closing takes 5 seconds longer. This function can be used at speeds of up to 40 km/h.

Interior

The interior of the BMW 6 four-seater convertible provides seats for the driver as well as passengers. Due to the increase in wheelbase, the dimensions of the car have expanded, which provided enough additional space in the cabin. According to reviews about BMW 6 Series Cabriolet, passengers sitting in the back became more comfortable to be in the car, because they do not have to rest their knees in the front seat. The improvement is especially relevant for tall people.

The center panel is designed in Black and features a ceramic iDrive system controller and a 7-inch on-board computer screen. The display, which shows the most important information for the driver, has a glass body and a galvanized frame. Also, the central part of the console is equipped with ventilation holes, audio control buttons, air conditioning. Conveniently, almost all controls face the driver’s side. The parking brake button is additionally installed on the gearbox.  All elements and their design confirm the premium class of the car.

Rich leather interior perfectly combines with wooden, aluminum elements, as well as with black lacquer coating, which is presented for the buyer to choose depending on personal preferences. In the basic configuration upholstery is made of Dakota leather, the exclusive variation is represented by Nappa leather in four color shades. In the front part of the cabin there are convenient and spacious compartments for large things, as well as for small things. Cup holders are installed in front and behind the armrests.

The color range of the body is wide and includes 11 variations. For lovers of calm shades, the elegant classic Cashmere Silver is suitable. More daring drivers will prefer Mediterranean Blue. The color of the car perfectly matches the interior trim of the BMW F12 Convertible.

As for the volume of the luggage compartment in the BMW 6 Series Convertible, its capacity has increased to 348 liters compared to its predecessors, with the roof lowered, this figure becomes slightly lower and is 300 liters. Under the raised floor there is a repair kit and a set of tools.

Engine

As for the characteristics of motors BMW F12, power units of the convertible are represented by three modifications: two gasoline and one diesel engine. The most powerful indicators has an eight-cylinder V-shaped unit N63B44. The motor is compact and light.  It is installed on the 650i version and has a working volume of 4.4 liters. The engine is able to develop power up to 407 horses at 5500 rpm and accelerate to a hundred in 4.8 seconds.

The second modification of the gasoline engine is a six-cylinder Twin Power Turbo power unit N55B30, equipped with direct injection. The engine has a capacity of 3.4 liters and is designed for the 640i version. In addition, the turbocharged unit is additionally equipped with a Valvetronic system. Together with these specifications, the engine develops up to 320 horsepower at 5800 rpm. Up to a hundred, the convertible is able to accelerate in 5.2 seconds.  For gasoline engines it is recommended to use premium fuel with marking not lower than AI-95.

The only version of the N57 diesel-powered motor is packaged on the 640d version. The power plant is 3.2-liter, capable of squeezing out up to 313 horses. With a similar acceleration rate, the diesel engine is the most economical when it comes to fuel consumption. Compared to gasoline variations, whose fuel consumption ranges from 8.1 to 11.3 liters per 100 km of travel, the N57 consumes only 5.8 liters of diesel. All engines comply with EURO 6 environmental standards.

To increase the power characteristics of the motor and reduce fuel consumption, owners resort to chip tuning BMW 640 F12 F13. The process involves adjusting the modes of operation of the electronic control unit of the motor by changing the original program. Tuning helps to achieve the following results:

• Increased power and torque;
• Reduced fuel consumption;
• Comfortable operation of the engine and transmission.

Electronics

The BMW 6 Cabrio has adaptive headlights, heated and electric power steering with Servotronic, and a Profesional music storage system. The car is equipped with ConnectedDrive multifunctional auxiliary system, including Warning Lane Change, Lane Departure Warning, speed limiter, Night Vision system, pedestrian detection, rear view camera and Surround View, parking sensors.

The car is equipped with a satellite anti-theft system. The navigation system has an updated design and an improved operating system. The system is able to recognize speech and respond to voice control. The screen display can be divided into several parts, which increases convenience and mobility. The advanced Efficient Dynamics system allows for automatic engine shutdown and startup, and the BMW f12 also features Eco Pro economy mode.

Adaptive LEDs with high and low beam functions are capable of independently distributing light intelligently depending on speed and road. As for other elements of optics, BMW F12 has turn indicators, daytime running lights, adaptive headlights, differently distributing light on the highway and in the city, as well as the function of high beam control Selective Beam, which does not allow dazzling. The system is capable of detecting moving objects ahead and, as they approach, independently switches between high and low beam, avoiding dazzling drivers.

Technical specifications

All engines are packaged together with a sporty variant of the eight-speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission on the convertible indicates comfort and efficiency. The gears can be shifted manually using the paddle shifters.

The iDrive Dynamic Control system allows you to customize most of the convertible’s functions with several modes: Normal, Sport and Sport+ by pressing the corresponding button on the instrument panel.

The BMW 6 Series Convertible features BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive transmission. High driving characteristics are provided due to independent multi-lever arm. Some variations are additionally equipped with shock absorber stiffness adjustment, suspension control system AdaptiveDrive. As for the dimensional characteristics of BMW F12, the length of the car is 4894 mm, width – 1894 mm, height – 1365 mm. The size of wheelbase compared to its predecessors has expanded to 2855 mm. The modest ground clearance of the convertible is not particularly high – only 12.3 cm.  In all-wheel drive xDrive versions this indicator is increased up to 14.5 cm.

The BMW 6 Series Convertible is based on the coupe body, which is based on the shortened architecture of the BMW 7 Series. In this regard, they are technically similar to each other. However, due to the peculiarities in the structure of the convertible has a rather large mass, about 1.9 tons, which is a lot for a sports car.

Options

The base modification of the 2014 BMW 6 Series Convertible is represented by numerous modern systems and technologies: ventilation and heating of the front seats, GPS system, dual-zone climate control, audio and AUX. The car’s steering wheel is multifunctional, the driver’s seat memorizes the position, and the rain sensor is equipped with auto high beam control.

Manufacturers have taken care of safety, so they have equipped the convertible with many airbags, stability control system, three-point automatic belts with a limited tension force, child seat attachment, ABS, EBD, as well as a system of strong bars made of aluminum, located in the area of the rear headrests and triggered at the moment of tipping the car.

Difference between restyling and prerestyling

In 2016, the restyled models of the BMW 6 Series family were presented to the public. Headlights became more compact, equipped with standard LEDs. Together with slightly modified bumpers, the cabriolet became perceived differently. Changes touched the grille, as well as exhaust tips. bmw 6 series convertible has expanded the range of colors, as well as the design of wheels. Due to the changes made, the car has acquired even more sportiness and aggressiveness in appearance. Gasoline variants are equipped with a sport exhaust as standard.

The interior uses even more qualitative finishing materials. The engine lineup of the BMW 6 F12 remains the same.

Generations and configurations

3 generation – restyled

03.2015 – 05.2018

3 generation

06.2011 – 02.2015