BMW 3 SERIES CONVERTIBLE (2000 -TO DATE)
MODELS COVERED: E46 3 SERIES CONVERTIBLE 2000 TO DATE (318Ci 2.0i, 320Ci 2.2i, 323Ci 2.5i, 325Ci/Sport 2.
5i, 330Ci/Sport 3.0i, M3 3.2)
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
The E46 generation of 3 Series Convertibles were hugely significant cars for
BMW. Although its predecessor, the E36, had a relatively easy run at the marketplace, the later cars had to contend with vastly improved rivals from Mercedes,
Audi and
Saab. As the recognised market leader, the BMW has thus far managed to stave off these more concerted attempts to dethrone it, but make no mistake the 3 Series is top dog on merit. If youre in the market for a used BMW 3 Series Convertible theres a decent amount of choice facing you and no real lemons in the whole line up.
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Whats more, these cars are usually well looked after so there are many more diamonds than dogs on the forecourts. The E46 3 Series Convertible is one of those cars where its actually quite difficult to go wrong when buying used.
Ever since
BMW took over building its own drop-tops, the 3-series version has always looked sleek with the lid off and the current one continues the tradition perfectly. Its based on the Coupe version and shares that cars sheet metal as far back as the windscreen pillars. The Coupe itself, as BMW addicts will already know, does in fact share little more than door handles, indicator repeaters and badges with the saloon on which the whole 3 Series range is supposedly based. Take one look at the convertible and you appreciate the trouble BMW has gone to make the two-door models lower, wider and longer with a more steeply raked windscreen.
As with the previous generation version, no fixed rollover hoop or bulky tonneau cover disturbs the lines of the E46 Convertible. 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. Redesigned 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 that 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.
If you want the best, youll have to dig deep for it. Youll be hard pushed to find any outrageous bargains on E46 3 Series Convertibles as the demand is usually high, but buying out of season (Oct-Nov time) certainly helps if youre looking to exploit a slower market. As a guide, BMW 320Ci models open at around £17,200 on a 2000X plate, with automatic versions fetching at least a £1,000 premium. The rare 323Ci models are the best bet if youre looking for a value pick with prices kicking off at £16,700 for a 2000W plated car.
Its replacement, the 325Ci, can be yours from £18,000 on a 2000X plate or £19,200 if you want the aggressive looking Sport trim level. The 330Ci is a seriously quick car and these disappear from dealerships pretty rapidly too. If you can lay your hands on one, expect to pay from £18,600 for a 2000W plated car or £20,500 for a Sport. The M3 Convertible represents the top of this particular tree and these start at a heady £28,000 for a 2001 Y plated car.
Expect to add £1,000 for the SMG gearbox.
This shape 3 series has had an encouraging record as far as reliability is concerned and general build quality is very good. Check the usual clocked odometers, body nicks and scrapes, damaged trim, cellphone mounting holes in the dashboard and a cast-iron full BMW dealer service history. Its worth being fussy (avoid dull colours, low ex-rep specifications and gloomy interior trim colours) so that, when resale time comes, youll get a lot more for your part exchange than you might expect. Be suspicious of cars that have had many owners in a short time (this could be a sign of ongoing problems).
If you really want peace of mind, buy from a BMW dealer but be prepared to pay the premium. As with all convertibles, check the soft top for signs of rips, discolouration, water ingress or damage. The folding procedure for the electric hood isnt immediately obvious and an attempt to gorilla the hood down manually can blow the motors. The SMG gearbox as fitted to the M3 model is a massive improvement over its predecessor and some 60% of M3 owners have chosen to change gear with paddle rather than stick but its worth checking to see if the clutches are still working properly.
Negotiate a reverse hill start if possible to find whether theres excess slippage.
(approx based on a 318Ci Convertible) A clutch assembly is around £130. Front brake pads are around £40, a full exhaust about £360, an alternator around £100 and a tyre around £40. A starter motor is about £120. A headlamp is about £165.
Youll need a fair amount of disposable income washing about in the slush fund to land an E46 3 Series Convertible. Is it really that good? It's hard not to think so once out on the road, with the dreamily smooth engine note and exceptional refinement. This car flatters your driving without overtly doing so thanks to two clever features - Automatic Stability Control + Traction (ASC+T) and Cornering Brake Control (CBC). It's ASC+T you'll notice most, but only because of the yellow light on the dashboard that occasionally flickers as you hurl the car through the corner. Unless you've the driving reflexes of Juan Pablo Montoya, this electronic safety device could quite literally save you from yourself. No matter how heavy your right foot, the system will only give the rear wheels as much power as they can take without spinning, so every time that little light flashes, you're avoiding a lurid tail-happy slide. If despite all that, you still go too fast into a bend and do exactly the wrong thing (slam on the brakes), CBC will help you out, applying firmer braking to the outside front wheel as the car corners and hugely reducing the risk of a spin. Then there's DSCIII, the latest version of BMW's Dynamic Stability Control System which is standard on all but the 318Ci. Here, sensors positioned in the ABS and scattered around the car detect a possible loss of control before it actually happens and correct the situation automatically by individually braking all four wheels and reducing engine power. It's almost foolproof. All models are respectably quick but the 330Ci and M3 versions are genuinely rapid. A spell in the back after some top down enthusiastic driving can leave passengers feeling a little weather beaten.
It seems convertible buyers respect a meritocracy. The BMW 3 Series Convertible is the best in the business and reaps the reward in sales. Dont expect to find any cheapies washing about the used network, but overall running costs neednt be punishing because of the steady residuals these cars command. Best buys are probably the early 323Ci if youre on a tighter budget or the 330Ci if funds are slightly less of an issue.
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