Wednesday 25th October 2006

BMW launches 3-Series droptop

Hard roofed open-top offers cool seats

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2007 BMW 3-Series Convertible

Spring 2007 marks the introduction of BMW’s new 3 Series Convertible. It's available initially in 325i and 335i guises, and followed by smaller engined variants and diesel-powered models.

It'll feature BMW's first electronically operated folding hard-top roof, the world’s first car to be offered with seat-cooling leather and a brace of all-new powerplants, according to BMW.

Stowed or raised in approximately 22 seconds, the new roof adds better visibility and a greater feeling of space and light for occupants, reckons the Blue Propellor. Because the roof features a larger rear glass windscreen and side windows, visibility has improved by 38 per cent compared to the outgoing 3 Series Convertible.

BMW reckons storage space is maximised. With the roof up, the boot provides 350 litres of storage and 210 litres with it down. The rear seat backrests can also be folded flat to provide additional storage space and a through loading system with transport bag can also be specified as an option to allow for longer or bulkier items to be accommodated, roof up or down. The stowed roof can be electronically raised out of the boot area to allow for longer items such as golf clubs to be secured before being folded away again.

SunReflective technology

The new BMW 3 Series Convertible can also be specified with what it calls the world’s first Sun-Reflective Technology leather upholstery that helps keep your bottom cool. Special pigments embedded into the leather help reflect infra-red radiation ensuring treated areas exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period can remain up to 20 degrees cooler compared to untreated leather, said the company.

New direct injection engines

There's a choice of two petrol engines, both with new High-Precision Direct Injection (HPDI) technology. Further engine variants will follow during the model’s life cycle.

The new HPDI system on the BMW 3 Series Convertible uses centrally-mounted piezo crystal injectors spraying atomised fuel vapour directly into the combustion chamber. Combined with Bi-VANOS variable valve technology the system delivers the most efficient burn of fuel for maximum power and parsimonious economy, said BMW.

The 325i Convertible with its all-new 218hp six-cylinder engine develops 199lb-ft of torque. The open-topped 325i covers the 62mph sprint in 7.6 seconds and can attain a top speed of 152mph, at 35.8mpg.

The 335i Convertible flagship houses a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre engine. Using an aluminium cylinder block rather than the magnesium alloy unit from the 325i Convertible, but with the benefit of lag-free forced induction, the 335i posts a zero to 62mph time of 5.8 seconds. The 306hp engine, higher than the output of the E36 BMW M3, has been restricted to a 155mph top speed. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is 28.5mpg. Peak torque of 295lb-ft starts at 1,300rpm through to 5,000rpm.

Both the 325i Convertible and the 335i Convertible come as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox. A new six-speed automatic transmission featuring steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles first shown on the 3 Series Coupé can also be specified.

Future powerplants

The 320i Convertible with its all-new 170hp four-cylinder engine will accelerate from zero to 62mph in 9.2 seconds before going on to a top speed of 136mph, at 42.2mpg.

The 3.0-litre straight-six powering the 330i Convertible is the world’s lightest production six-cylinder engine, said BMW. The 272hp unit gets the 330i Convertible from zero to 62mph in 6.7 seconds and is electronically limited to 155mph, at 34.9mpg.

There's an oilburner too. The 231hp 330d Convertible offers 406lb-ft peak torque output, getting from zero to 62mph in 7.1 seconds with a top speed of 152mph. Fuel consumption is 40.9mpg.

The BMW 3 Series Convertible will debut at the Detroit auto show on 7 January, 2007, and go on sale in the UK in March.

[GTRene]

Now thats a complicated roof...


tho it does reminds me of one of those from this angle(Opel Omega) from 1995?

GTRene

Those pipes are nice though have seen those in the showroom and looks very nice

Edited by GTRene on Wednesday 25th October 11:49

[carl_w]

I've got a feeling that a 330Cd Cabrio with a folding metal roof could actually be the ideal car

[iamthestig]

or a chipped 335Cd twin turbo diesel

[dazren]

Roof looks good. Like the way the side profile is similar to the coupe.

DAZ

[b19 rus]

I have been fortunate enough to own 2 E46 convertibles and to have viewed the 2007 (E93)car. The latest one is by far better looking and that roof is an absolute work oof art. From every angle this car just looks so right.

[mafioso]

Of all the colour combinations to use for their marketing pictures...

[Zod]

mafioso said:

Of all the colour combinations to use for their marketing pictures...

agreed, but there is a certain demographic to which that colour appeals. You see an awful lot of BMWs and Mercedes in these colours in North London and around Bayswater and Knightsbridge. Personally, I think it is revolting.

[PASTHIM]

40+mpg from the 2 litre lugging all that weight around?? Dream on!

[scoobiewrx]

The only BMW i ever owned was a 1975 2002 Ti and i thought that was a great looking car and what a classic shape. I have never been tempted to buy another and personally i think they look fugly these days.

[oagent]

Not exactly good looking. Reminds me of the Omega crossed with a Merc coupe and the arse end of a saab convertible.
The previous one was a far less confused shape in my opinion.

[hobo]

Prefer the old style fabric roofs myself.

[mini_ralf]

Stunningly uninteresting.

[mc_blue]

Very nice - would look good in a dark blue/black colour.

[AndyWoodall]

Love of the looks of the standard Coupe and they appear to have done a pretty good job on this, looks great. Will undoubtably sell by the container full.

Like others have said though, awful colour!

[spunkym]

"The 306hp engine, higher than the output of the E36 BMW M3"

...I thought the E36 M3 had 321bhp - well the S50 engine in the Z3M did for sure.

[dan101smith]

Quote: "The 306hp engine, higher than the output of the E36 BMW M3"

...I thought the E36 M3 had 321bhp - well the S50 engine in the Z3M did for sure. /quote


The Evo had 321bhp, the original E36 M3 had 286bhp iirc?

[xxplod]

Anyone know how much ££££??

[CatherineJ]

xxplod said:

Anyone know how much ££££??

Not yet, my dealer has emailed me to say the order book is open and they are taking deposits though.

[mc_blue]

xxplod said:

Anyone know how much ££££??

Model
Price OTR
Power
hp
Torque Nm
Zero – 62mph seconds
0 - 62
Top speed mph
Combined
mpg

BMW 325i Convertible
£33,030
218
270
7.6
152
35.8

BMW 335i Convertible
£37,895
306
400
5.8
155*
28.5

[jimmyt]

mini_ralf said:

Stunningly uninteresting.

Couldn't agree more.

I can't see how the M3 Conv (when it eventually comes out) is going to be a good looking car. Its not the be all and end all, but when you're spending that much money, I'd rather people didn't mistake it for an Omega!

Isn't it rumoured to have a V8 in it?