BMW 3 SERIES CONVERTIBLE 320Cd
BMW Put Their Money Where Their Mouth Is And Launch A Diesel 3 Series Convertible. Andy Enright Reports
Quite why it took so long is open to speculation, but BMW have at last done the decent thing and plumbed their excellent 2.0-litre diesel engine into their sleek 3 Series convertible body. Possibly embarrassed by the fact that
Audi had conspicuously beaten them to the punch on the diesel convertible front with their latest A4, the Munich-based company have belatedly launched a me-too attempt to muscle in on this market. What this car lacks in originality, however, it more than makes up for in terms of substance.
The acid test of a diesel engine is when its fitted to an open topped car. Here, after all, theres nowhere to hide if the engines as unrefined as a Jim Davidson after show party. Many manufacturers couldnt get away with exposing their customers to the racket of their best oil-burners but BMW s diesels have long been renowned as some of the industrys sweetest, so it was always something of a source of frustration that a diesel 3 Series drop top had never been made available. The 320Cd Convertible fixes that.
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In many ways, the development of this car would seem to be a no-brainer. More than a third of all
BMW UK sales are diesels while a sixth of total sales are convertibles. With both engine and chassis ready to roll, here was the sort of plug and play potential that many manufacturers dream of. And yet BMW have been a little slow off the mark.
Those looking for a real ripsnorter of a diesel drop top will probably prefer upgrade to the 330Cd Convertible, but for most the 320Cd will be more than enough. After all, this 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine delvers 150bhp but as with all diesel engines, its the torque that counts and this powerplant can count on some 239lb/ft which makes it a good deal more muscular in the midrange than a
Honda NSX. In fact it can accelerate from 50 to 75mph in sixth gear in a tad over seven seconds.
The sprint to 60mph is dispatched in 9.5 seconds and the combined fuel economy figure if 44.8mpg means that youll be tempted to use that throttle pedal a bit more liberally. Use it extremely liberally and you could well see a top speed of 131mph.
"Few convertibles can be rationalised on an objective level. The 320Cd is one that makes the job a lot easier"
As well as the SE version, a Sport variant is also offered. Standard equipment on both cars includes anti lock brakes, six airbags, Dynamic Stability Control, Park Distance Control, Cruise Control and a BMW Business radio with single CD player. Upgrading to the Sport trim level adds features like M Aerodynamic body styling, sports seats, sports supension and 18-inch alloy wheels. Changes to the engine management unit, a shorter final drive and a modified exhaust system mark the key changes from the 320Cd coupe, but some suspension settings have also been altered to suit a soft top.
Carbon dioxide emissions of just 153g/km make the 320Cd attractive to company car drivers looking to cut a dash in the car park and it comes with the added bonus of a three per cent reduction in benefit-in-kind taxation due to its Euro4 emissions compliance. A real tribute to BMWs engineering is that the 320Cds engine can pass the stringent Euro4 test without the fitment of a particulate filter. The rest of the 320Cd Convertibles recipe were becoming used to. The looks are as sleek as ever with no fixed rollover hoop or bulky tonneau cover disturbing the line.
However, should the standard automatic traction control and stability systems included as standard not be enough to prevent the car flipping over, strong steel beams instantly shoot out from behind the rear head restraints to protect the occupants skulls. When folded, the hood sits neatly under a metal cover. The front seats, unique to the convertible, incorporate the seatbelts into their structure, rather than attaching them separately to the car body. This, says BMW, allows a better fit, easier access to the rear and stops the passenger belt flapping in the breeze when youre cruising alone, top down.
Speaking of the top, this is another completely redesigned part of the car. The triple-layer hood itself has a padded lining to reduce wind noise and theres a proper glass rear window, with demister, in place of the old, easily scratched plastic pane that annoyed previous generation 3 Series Convertible owners. BMW engineers have also come up with a sneaky hood stowage system which houses the whole convertible roof unit in a removable cartridge. With the roof up, you can fold the container out of the way where it extends into the boot to gain 30 per cent more space than in the old model.
With the roof down, and the optional hardtop to hand (which gives you a stylish four-
seat coupe and convertible in one) the folded soft top can be removed for winter stowage as a single unit. The 320Cd Convertible is a car that instantly leaps to the top of the pile. It might seem a little harsh on
Audi, who had the foresight to pioneer the genre, but even though the 3 Series Convertible has been around for a while, its still the best there is. Expect this to be the best selling drop-top Three bar none.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: BMW 320Cd Convertible
PRICES: £28,355-£30,680 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 15
CO2 EMISSIONS: 153g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.5s / Max speed 131mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 44.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and head airbags / ABS / CBC / ASC+T
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4488/1947/1369
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