April 5, 2007. Copyright 2007, Graphic News. All rights reserved

BMW 3 Series Convertible -- automatic steel roof replaces ragtop
By Neil Winton

LONDON, April 5, Graphic News:  Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is overstating it perhaps, but the new BMW 3-Series Convertible does display two distinct personalities.

With the steel roof automatically stowed away (press the button on the centre console and wait 22 seconds) the car looks fabulous from every angle. The elegant, clean lines sweep back towards the rear, with an uninterrupted, near horizontal wedge shape. But when the sun goes in and the three-piece roof has to be deployed, the look is rather different. Out goes the charismatic purity of line, to be replaced by a dumpy rear end with the joins in the roof rather too prominent.

This isnÕt just a problem for BMW, it is a common negative with coupe convertibles; they tend to look the business in sun bathing mode, but rather less pretty with the roof in place because of the huge engineering and design problems. There is another penalty to pay. Stowing all that metal in the boot -- the canvas roof has gone for good -- severely limits usable storage. BMW says with the roof up thereÕs 350 litres of space. With the roof stowed this is cut to 210 litres, but unfortunately the remaining space is narrow, constricted and hard to use. YouÕd need an elephant to flatten your suitcases to make them fit. There are four seats, and the rear ones are designed to fold flat to provide extra storage.

None of this will hurt sales too much. On the highways and mountain roads inland from the Spanish port city of Valencia, the car drove to the manor born, with simply wonderful steering and road manners. Its powerful new engines perform quietly and efficiently, with the most fabulous noise when urged on.

At launch there will two versions, a 335i SE with a straight six cylinder twin-turbo direct injection 3.0 litre engine producing 306 bhp, and a 325i SE, which also has a more conventional 3.0 litre straight six engine producing 218 bhp. The 335i jumps from a standstill to 62mph-100km/h in 5.8 seconds, and its top speed is limited to 155mph; the 325i does the sprint in 7.6 seconds, and peaks out at 152mph. More engine options will be available in April, including an entry-level four-cylinder 2.0 litre 320i and a diesel, the 330d SE Convertible.

As well as the usual array of airbags and safety devices, if the carÕs computer detects a wheel has left the ground, pop-up rollover bars appear in an instant.

Six speed manual gearboxes are standard. Bi-Xenon headlamps are too. Prices start at 44,800 euros (£30,630) for the 320i.

The car has leather seats which reflect the sun. Called ÒSunReflectiveÓ technology, they have embedded pigments which reflect infra-red radiation to cut the temperature of the seats and armrests by up to 20 degrees centigrade. So if youÕre embarrassed by the podgy way the car looks with the roof in place, you can leave it out in the sun with the roof in the boot.
/ENDS