E93 - Still a 3 series?

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The 3 series is known for being a really involving, enjoyable drive that can be used for a relative amount of fun but with everyday practicality.

But I am curious as to the effect having a hard-top convertible has had on the car itself? How has the extra weight over the rear & change in structure affected the cars drive? I don't think the extra 210kg will make a huge difference in the performance, but I'm concerned the position of the weight (as well as loss of rigidity) will have a much more negative affect on the cars abilities when compared to the coupe.

Then again they did make an M3 version, which in my mind would suggest that perhaps the difference is only slight with the more powerful engines?

Has anyone driven both an E92 and E93 (pre facelift)? Specifically the 335i? Care to comment on any differences noticed? I'm not really concerned about outright speed, more the ride & drive of the car.

Also, does anyone own one and regret it in any way?

Excuse the silly title, I know all 3 series have had convertibles but this is the first with a much heavier folding hard top.
 
I had a 330i for a long weekend a couple of years back, it drove fantastic and felt great both with roof up and down. Only down side to it for me was the severe lack of space in the boot when the roof was down!
 
I test drove a 335i cab and was underwhelmed. You could feel the weight and it didn't feel hugely quicker than my 530i. Got home and did the maths only to find how the power to weight ratio was disappointmenting. Numerous complaints from owners of rattles etc as well.

It weighs as much as an m5 :(
 
Yeah boot space does look minimal when down, although it is expected and is not marketed as the most practical of cars anyway. Worthy compromise for the looks and use of a convertible, maybe?

Fox, you have just shot down my newest dream :( Does it really feel that slow? I've arranged a test drive in one at Coventry but I wasn't expecting it to feel that slow. I assume you also test drove a few E92s? How are they in comparison? Is the difference that significant? How was it in the bends?
 
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I'm surprised that it's had such an impact actually, I never thought it would be so different as to scratch it off a purchase list so easily.

I'll see how it feels, perhaps it was simply the car you drove? (Long shot I know, but I'm still hoping :)) I've only driven and E90, would be nice to see how it compares to an E92. Did you notice the E92 335 to be much better?
 
The weight will make a difference, but it's quite a personal thing so if you are considering buying one then do test drive one, don't write it off without having driven one. The joys of topless motoring may be worth the reduction in performance.
 
Not driven the Coupe 335i yet only as a 325d. Lining up a test drive for next week.

The e93 was a 3 month old one so I can't see It being broken. It's just very heavy.
 
All 3 series have been (relative to their coupe brothers) dogs in my book. Never seen the appeal of such saloons with their yeds chopped off. Rattly, shakey, noisey things the lot
of em!
 
from the stats ive found:

E93 335i Cab 170bhp/tonne
E92 335i Coupe 194bhp/tonne
E39 530i Sport 144bhp/tonne

So i still find it hard to believe it felt no faster than the 530i given that difference! I know going from the e92 to the e46 330i, the difference was absolutely massive, whats the weight difference between the e46 and e39? Is it less than the difference between e92 and e93?

Unless the stats are complete garbage :s either way it does seem to be over 200kg heavier than the coupe, which is a LOT, more than 10% is a huge increase.
 
That's what I was thinking too, it's "only" 210kg more though? Stats wise it doesn't look to make much difference, perhaps the big difference is from the old shape to the new rather than the coupe to the conv.

Fox, please let us know how different the Coupe feels after your test drive.

Housey, I know where you're coming from and I agree in parts but the main appeal to myself with the 3 over the Z is the extra room (as well as price, obviously). For someone of my stature the Z is too small for day-to-day but would be adequate for fun on a B-road. Have you found the hard-top convertibles "rattly, shakey, noisey"?
 
rG-tom said:
from the stats ive found:

E93 335i Cab 170bhp/tonne
E92 335i Coupe 194bhp/tonne
E39 530i Sport 144bhp/tonne

So i still find it hard to believe it felt no faster than the 530i given that difference! I know going from the e92 to the e46 330i, the difference was absolutely massive, whats the weight difference between the e46 and e39? Is it less than the difference between e92 and e93?

Unless the stats are complete garbage :s either way it does seem to be over 200kg heavier than the coupe, which is a LOT, more than 10% is a huge increase.
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He didn't say "no faster" he said "not hugely faster"...
 
DRZ said:
330i vs 335i though, had you had a 330i the difference wouldn't have been quite as massive :p
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?? he said it felt barely any faster than his e39 530i which unless there is something special about his 530i or seriosuly wrong with mine should be not far from identical in the butt dyno stakes, which is what I'm comparing to the e92 335i.
 
DRZ said:
He didn't say "no faster" he said "not hugely faster"...
Click to expand...

Indeed, that. It was quicker and I've never stated otherwise. It just wasn't 'whoa, this is fast' which is what I was expecting from it.

Add 80kg of BMW salesman to the 335i and it's closer to 160bhp/tonne. 15bhp/tonne does not make a car feel hugely faster. I expected the to be blown away by the performance of the 335i. I was not. I am as sure as I can be this is because the considerable extra bulk of the Cab blunts the performance.

As a result, it would simply annoy me to chew through more fuel whilst delivering less performance and not feeling like a properly fast car. Therefore I removed the 335i Cab from my shortlist.

I'm hoping the Coupe is a different story - I want a massive performance increase to justify the 335i. If that isn't present then I'd rather have a 330i and marvel at the technical acheivement that is a 272bhp, 0-60 in 5.9 second car emitting just 173g/km of CO2 with 38mpg on the combined cycle. It's also quite a bit lighter than a 335i, as well.

For me, there must be a clear and irrefutable benefit to the increased costs involved with one car over another. If this isnt there, I'm not interested. My experience with the 335i Cab, coupled with the numerous whinges and moans on various forms about creaks rattles and odd noises from the roof when its up or down have led me to the conclusion that however much I love driving convertibles, and I do, the 335i Cab probably isnt the right car for me.

FWIW the difference in weight between a 530i and 330i is about one passenger worth.
 
was it a TT cab or the newer twin scroll? the twin scroll is meant to be a fair amount down isnt it?

id imagine the 280kg of extra weight over the 335i coupe I had (factoring in your sales guy) would make a huge difference to the feeling, I know the 335i i had did feel absolutely massively faster. Would be interesting to see how much 335i's vary in power, some are reputed to be pushing out nearer to 330bhp iirc?
 
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