TIME to dream. A distant aunt leaves you a modest fortune in her will and you don't need her unexpected windfall for practical purposes.

That means the roof doesn't leak, the kids are buying their first homes (lucky youngsters) and you manage very nicely on your salary.

But you've always rather fancied a smart set of wheels; something just a little bit special. The sort of car that turns heads and makes you dream of heading for some sun and a smart little hotel on the French Riviera.

Well, if your surprise inheritance runs to a little less than £60,000 you could be putting the latest big BMW on your shortlist of pleasurable playthings.

It would certainly be an indulgence, especially in the convertible form you see here.

Part of the newly revised 6 Series range, you can choose from a fixed roof Coupe (from £59,430) or take a Convertible, which robs the already limited rear legroom and costs £5,900 more. Or, for the same price as the fixed head car, there's the rather rakish four door Gran Coupe, with extra space in the back.

You wouldn't buy any of them for purely practical reasons; BMW makes much less costly cars that will fit family duties much better. You go for a 6 Series because you want one - and can afford to feed your indulgence.

Now the range grows a little more tempting with a host of upgrades aimed at making the cars a bit more economical (a relative term here), look a little sharper and feel and act rather more the luxury machines they already were.

Styling changes are so subtle only the owner of an old one is likely to notice, confined to modest reworkings of front and rear metalwork and lights and different alloy wheels. Inside, there is even more leather than before (now taking in the dashboard), along with flashes of high gloss black.

On a more practical level, what BMW calls ConnectedDrive is now standard. This includes navigation and infotainment and keeps the driver informed about traffic problems and can even reserve your hotel room (I didn't try that one).

Under the bonnet, small tweaks have produced a bit more economy from the diesel engine and smaller of the three petrol engines offered. The latter trio now have a loud button that adds an edge to the exhaust note when you're feeling a little sportif.

None of the newcomers is destined to be a big seller, even if they add lustre and useful profits to the BMW brand. The UK took 2,830 versions of the 6 Series last year, with about half of them the more practical Gran Coupe.

So whichever model your windfall lands on, it will remain a rare car. That, of course, is part of its attraction.

So too is the way a sunny day tempts you to purr back the roof on the convertible and enjoy the sunshine. With windows up and rear mesh wind deflector in place (£290) there's enough protection to produce a pleasantly gentle breeze at a motorway cruise.

Even at a crawl the big diesel engine never intrudes and provides all the performance you could crave, while showing 34mpg on my modestly miled test route.