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BMW 3-Series Convertible road test report

BMW 3-Series Convertible

The current 3 Series Convertible is the fourth generation of drop-top 3s, but the first to have a folding metal roof. First introduced in 2007, the Convertible (along with the Coupe) has now undergone a few mid-life revisions to refresh the range. Most of these are cosmetic, with features such as a new air inlet at the front, an extended bonnet, new headlights (with LEDs in the corona ring) and ‘kidney’ grille, rear light clusters and rear bumper. There are also updated engines and additions to the standard kit on offer, making it an even more attractive proposition for car buyers looking for a premium convertible.

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating
A front-facing image of the BMW 3-Series Convertible

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Image number 2 of the BMW 3-Series Convertible
CRAIG THOMAS SAYS

Performance Performance - 4 stars

The 3 Series Convertible comes with a choice of seven engines – four petrol and three diesel. The 320i (168bhp and 115ft-lb of torque), 325i (215bhp and 119lb-ft) and 330i (268bhp and 236lb-ft) petrol units are unchanged, but there’s a new six-cylinder 335i powerplant that generates 302lb-ft and 295lb-ft of torque. It’s a very smooth engine that provides plenty of punch right through the rev range, and also adds a satisfyingly raucous soundtrack as it approaches the red line – and with the roof down, it’s very tempting to squeeze that throttle to hear it in all its glory. Its 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds (when the engine is mated with the excellent DCT double-clutch gearbox – it’s 0.1 seconds slower with the six-speed manual box) also gives a good indication as to how quick it feels. The range-topping 242bhp, 384lb-ft 330d diesel is unchanged, but the other oilburners are new units. The 320d is a four-cylinder unit with common-rail direct injection and a turbocharger that produces 181bhp and 280lb-ft of torque: it’s a refined unit that, even with the top down, doesn’t make an offensive sound and provides plenty of thrust from low down (peak torque is at 1,900rpm). The 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds shaves off 0.4 secs compared to the previous engine iteration and it provides thoroughly respectable performance. The six-cylinder 325d engine is also new: outputs of 204bhp and 317lb-ft of torque are impressive, as is a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds, but we haven’t had a chance to put it through its paces yet to judge exactly how effective it is.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 5 stars

As soon as you start driving a 3 Series Convertible, you know you’re in a BMW: despite a folding metal roof and extra stiffening of the bodyshell that adds 160kg to the weight of the car, it still feels nimble and perfectly balanced at all times (helped by its 50:50 weight distribution). The extra weight hasn’t compromised the handling, either: the steering has the usual sharpness and accuracy, and provides plenty of feedback to inspire great confidence when chucking the car into bends at pace. There’s also loads of grip available and the body control is hugely impressive for a drop-top, with nary a hint of scuttle shake. The stiffness of the chassis would usually lead you to think that the ride quality will suffer, but despite an initial feeling of firmness, you soon realise that it’s surprisingly supple and compliant (as long as you don’t opt for wheels that are too large for it, with run-flat tyres, it can make it feel a bit on the hard side).

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

Everything about BMW models exudes quality, from the sturdy look and feel of the exteriors to the attention to detail and build quality inside the cabin. The Convertible is, unsurprisingly, no different. All the usual high-quality materials are in place, with soft-touch plastics on the dashboard and doors, plus leather upholstery (now standard on all models) that fits perfectly with the premium feel of the car. In terms of reliability, BMW shows well in customer satisfaction surveys, appearing in ninth place in the most recent JD Power manufacturers’ league table: the 3 Series is also placed 20th in the table of 100 most reliable models. The current 3 Series has been around since 2006, so mechanical reliability is tried and tested, and there should be no surprises for buyers of this new version. The three-piece metal roof that folds elaborately also seems to be reliable, with no record of complaints from owners.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

Although the BMW 3 Series Convertible hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP, the saloon has and, as the variants are largely similar, it’s fair to extrapolate that the results – the full five stars, with five stars for adult occupant protection, four stars for child occupant protection and one star for pedestrian protection – would be largely similar. Safety equipment includes six airbags (twin front, side and curtain airbags); a dynamic stability control (DSC) system that includes anti-lock brakes (ABS), automatic stability control (ASC), cornering brake control (CBC), dynamic brake control (DBC) and dynamic traction control (DTC); anti-whiplash head restraints on the front seats; Isofix child seat anchor points; rear parking sensors; a rollover protection system; run-flat-tyres with tyre puncture warning system; daytime running lights; and dynamic brake lights. For security, there’s a Thatcham 1 category alarm, with remote control and immobiliser, and the folding metal roof offers better protection than the old fabric version.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 3 stars

The front of the Convertible has plenty of head-, shoulder- and legroom for both driver and passenger: there’s also an excellent driving position, with a steering wheel adjusting for rake and reach, plus seats that manually adjust fully. There’s not a great deal of space in the rear, though, and it’s not really big enough for adults, with very little kneeroom and, with the roof up, headroom on the restrictive side. And if you have a wind deflector in place, nobody can use the seats (not even kids). Bootspace of 210 litres (350 when the roof is up) is decent enough, but you can always use the rear two seats for extra storage. There’s not a huge amount of equipment fitted as standard, as is usually the case with BMWs, but there’s a trip computer, air con and radio/CD (with MP3 playback capability). There’s also the option of adding the likes of Bluetooth, cruise control and the iDrive infotainment system to make it into the complete boulevard cruiser.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 3 stars

Prices for the 3 Series Convertible start at £32,910 for the base 320i SE, rising to £43,035 for the range-topping 335i MSport. All cars have fairly basic standard specs, with a very long list of options that can ramp up the price of a new car significantly, so buyers need to think long and hard about which option boxes to tick. Thanks to EfficientDynamics, running costs for the 3 Series Convertible are lower than you might expect for a premium drop-top, with the diesels in particular being economical. So fuel consumption figures top out at 55.4mpg for the 320d, falling to 32.1mpg for the 335i. In the same way, there’s quite a spread of CO2 emissions within the range, from 135g/km for the 320d (VED Band E, meaning £110 a year) to 205g/km for the 335i, placing it in Band K and costing £245 a year in vehicle excise duty. Residual values hold up pretty well, as BMW convertibles are desirable cars on the second-hand market, retaining 42-51% of its value (depending on model) after three years and 60,000 miles.

Submitted: 10/05/2010 14:12:05

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