2019 BMW M850i xDrive Convertible

2019 BMW M850i xDrive Convertible
2019 BMW M850i Convertible. (Courtesy of BMW)
9/28/2019
Updated:
9/28/2019

If you should be a roadside pumpkin peddler during harvest season, the M850i is probably not a good buy. You can only put so many pumpkins in the back seat.

If you own a cotton gin and need a vehicle to pull the cotton trailer to the gin for processing, please don’t choose the M850i convertible.

When the in-laws ask to go on vacation with you, your wife, two kids, and the dog so you can pull their boat? Just rent a large SUV and invite grandma.

However, if you like the spirit of freedom as you feel the wind in your face and taste the fall air in your mouth, then the BMW M850i convertible is the perfect choice.

Your sweetheart will look at you and smile as the breeze teases her hair in the night air. The warmth of her hand will tingle your toes as together you gaze skyward, allowing your joint vision to walk through the night sky. Only to fall on the lights of the city...and the stars, find the stars.

The back view of the M850i convertible coupe. (Courtesy of BMW)
The back view of the M850i convertible coupe. (Courtesy of BMW)

This night adventure will remind you of the night when you were both young, driving from Alpine to Big Bend to go rafting on the Rio Grande. With the stars smiling like sparkling faces of children hanging onto the hem of their mother’s black skirt.

Today you live and work in Dallas, with its big city lights. At night, as you drive south on Highway 75 and exit onto the Woodall Rodgers loop, you will be exposed to a baptism of colored lights from a great city. They seem to blend with Christmas-colored lighting outlining the Bank of America Plaza, JP Morgan Chase Tower, Renaissance Tower, and Commerce Bank Building.

To your left lies the arts district, home-ground to The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Dallas Opera, and AT&T Performance Arts Center. Just as you go through the tunnel that provides a foundation for Klyde Warren Park, you hear the music and excited voice of the people filling the air with a friendly wave. On your right is the outline of the Perot Museum, anchored by American Airlines Center.

The lights from the West End bleed onto the roadway, allowing you a look beyond the road ahead. You get the first glimpse of the stately Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge with its flowing artistic stance at 400 feet. Dressed with steel material covered in a brilliant light that gives the bridge appearance of an angel in flight, with flowing robe and silver hair. On top waves the illuminated American Flag.

The air is cooler now, reflecting the proximity of the Trinity River. The red light on the far side allows you to pause, and see your destination: Trinity Groves, a small village on a slight slope, covered in light that bathes restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues.

You both sit there, enjoying the experience but wishing the drive didn’t have to end. She smiles, and takes your hand, dreaming of the romance ahead. You gaze into her loving eyes and dream of the night ahead. A night filled with Mexican street tacos and margaritas.

This beauty rests on 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in performance run-flat tires, partnered by M Sport Brakes and M Sport Differential.

The interior of the coupe with standard Ambient Lighting. (Courtesy of BMW)
The interior of the coupe with standard Ambient Lighting. (Courtesy of BMW)

The heart of the convertible is the 4.4-liter BMW M Performance TwinPower Turbo V8 with Double-VANOS and Valvetronic valve timing control tech. Also contributing to the performance is high-precision direct injection. The end result is 523 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft. of torque. The driver has the say on how all this tremendous output is to be consumed, through Driving Dynamics Control offering Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport modes.

The 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift mode, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and launch control gives the driver engagement and control while testing the performance of the vehicle.

This BMW convertible has an officially rated fuel economy of 17 mpg city and 20 mpg highway, for a 20 mpg combined average.

BMW is all about delivering a quality ride with performance, but also attuned to comfort and convenience technology.

Quality engineering are demonstrated through the likes of soft-close automatic doors, advanced LED lights with laser, heated 20-way multi-functional seats with lumbar support and front seat memory, plus a rich copper wood trim.

Convenience and comfort enhancing technologies include a Bowers & Wilkins Sound System, Live Cockpit Pro with Navigation, WiFi hotspot, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, wireless charging, and Apple CarPlay support.

The central information display. (Courtesy of BMW)
The central information display. (Courtesy of BMW)

BMW Live Cockpit Pro features a 10.25-inch central information touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. They underlying iDrive 7.0 software also powers the navigation system, Apple CarPlay, natural voice control, Real-Time Traffic, and On-Street Parking Availability. Safety and security features include front and rear Head Protection System, Frontal Collision Warning, and Automatic City Collision Mitigation and Braking.

The M850i is really about two things: You and the car! BMW has taken the two basic driving components -- metal and flesh -- and developed a high performance car with a personality. A personality that expands your hopes, desires, and dreams into a driving machine that will make life more joyous for the driver and passengers alike.

So let the top down. Don’t just observe the world. Become a part of it.

The suggested retail price for this Bavarian machine wonder is $131,950, which includes the features mentioned in this article.

Warranty 4-year/50,000-mile New Car limited Warranty 12-year/unlimited mileage Rust Perforation Limited Warranty 4-year/unlimited mileage Roadside Assistance

Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this publication or [email protected].