2007 BMW 335i Cabriolet Review

Specifications

Have you ever noticed how any 3-Series Convertible, no matter the model orthe generation, always manages to look good? There’s something about BMW’s 3-Series drop-top that, unlike the sedan or the two-door coupe, has an effortless sort of look to it. And while the 3-Series has become a symbol of ubiquity, a sort of mass-market BMW, you couldn’t say the same about the Cabriolet. It will always be cool, always be stylish and somehow, always be in fashion. Things will no doubt stay constant as BMW moves its loyal convertible buyers into the new generation 3-Series Cabrio, complete with folding hardtop roof, the first BMW to feature this technology.

Unlike the early ’90s Cabriolets, which were very upright, very simple looking automobiles, the Cabriolet and the Coupe are slick and aerodynamic. There’s still a bit of two-door sedan to the way it’s lines flow below the waist, but this is definitively the sleekest car to ever wear the 3-Series badge. Nevertheless, this is a car that speaks to its BMW-ness in large volumes; it’s instantly recognizable as a 3-Series, despite having different head and taillights from its sedan counterpart. While vertical growth seems to be the primary domain as a styling trend, long and lean rules the designlanguage for the two-door 3. Its tapered, aggressive nose and predator styling is appropriate given that just about anything on the road could be its prey, especially if it’s a 335i like this one.

The majority of the convertibles launched this year, with the exception of a handful of roadsters and super-expensive machines, possess folding hardtop roofs, and despite this newfound popularity the fact of the matter is that integrating large panels of steel and glass isn’t easy to do, especially if you want to keep some grace to the car’s design. Looking at the 3’s nearest competitor, the Volvo C70, there’s almost nothing about the BMW that gives away its lavish three-segment roof. While both cars were designed as coupes before their convertible conversion, it’s the BMW’s tail that comes across as looking natural. The windshield also ends well before the driver’s head, enabling him or her to still get the benefits of a convertible. Even better, when the roof of the 3 is fixed it could pass for a regular coupe if not for the defined segments that split it up (dark colors hide this better). Further credit goes to BMW for its ability to incorporate drain gutters and the trademark Hoffmeister kink in the rear quarter window,plus the speediness of the whole operation. Dropping the top takes just 22 seconds, and raising it takes place in only 23, the speediest in the segment.

If practicality is ever an issue against buying a convertible, the 335i has it in spades. Here’s a car you can drive 365 days a year, rain, snow or shine with no worries of leaks. It’s also considerably more resistant to break-ins than its cloth-top rivals, should you park outside. For the simple reason it’s got a giant roof to swallow, the trunk of the 3 is quite large; 12.4 cubic feet with the roof up, and 7.4 cubic feet when it’s down. The cargo area is best accessed when the roof is up, as the opening is quite small, but it’s actually bigger than anything else in class. For those times when even more space is needed, the 3-Series also features a folding rear seat with a wide opening for skis and snowboards. Folding the seat down eliminates both spots, but the fact that they actually do this is impressive and significantly enhances its day-to-day usability.

Instead of outright denying it, BMW stated at the car’s launch that no convertible, no matter how advanced the technology or how much was invested in it, is going to be as stiff and responsive as its coupe counterpart. There’s just too much to be made up in weight and torsional rigidity from the large, open section that’s missing. What surprised us was how close the driving experience was roof up and roof down. The setup of the car is softer than the regular coupe, which makes for a more relaxing drive. You feel more at ease with the top down than on full senses alert. While others may see this as a criminal offense for BMW (what, soften it up? Never!) I see no harm in this route because its engineers have done a phenomenal job in keeping the car as tight as a drum even when the roof is down. There’s no cowl shake and only the mildest of tremors to be felt on bumpy roads when the roof is down, which is due in part to the extra-strong chassis, and in part to the fact that this is the strongest convertible that BMW has ever created.

All of this talk of strength does have a down side, weight. Lightweight materials such as aluminum and thermoplastics are used throughout the car, not only to keep it trim, but to improve weight distribution. Adding bracing and all the convertible necessities means the 3-Series is no featherweight. Compared to an equivalently equipped 335i Coupe, the Cabriolet has put on 375 pounds of mass. If that sounds like a lot, it is – consider the fact that a 335i Cabriolet with a driver and passenger in it weighs as much as an empty 750i. The extra weight takes a bit off of the twin-turbo six’s edge, but against all odds it hides the difference well. BMW says that the difference for the industry standard 0-60 mph dash is just 0.2 seconds, a believable fact considering it’s one of the most flexible engines ever made. The 335i with its 300 horsepower output is well beyond brisk, and is perfect for those impromptu meetings of wind and freshly coiffed hair.

In the name of science, we conducted a test on a handling circuit to see if there was any difference in the driving dynamics between the two roof settings. Where you won’t feel a thing on a cloth-topped cabrio, there’s quite a bit of difference to be felt. Although there’s less shake when the roof is up, the 3 Cab actually suffers slightly, with slightly more body roll. When you drop the roof, not only is the car’s center of gravity lowered significantly, the heavy metal and glass roof now resides over the tail end of the vehicle, improving its weight distribution and improving its back end grip. The difference is far less noticeable than the Volvo C70 or the Volkswagen Eos, and it’s unlikely that such a difference would be felt under normal driving conditions. We also came back truly impressed about how balanced and sporty the 335i felt under hard cornering and quick changes in direction (thanks of course to Active Steering).

Looking forward out of the driver’s seat, there’s nothing new about the 3-Series Cabriolet. It looks just like any other 3-Series, with theexception of a little button next to the handbrake that lowers and raises the roof. Although the seat design in the Cabriolet is different compared to the normal Sedan, as the seatbelt and headrest are one integrated unit, these incredibly comfortable sports seats offer the same degree of adjustability, including the side bolsters. Ventilated seats might only be offered on the top of the line 7-Series, but the 3-Series Cab one-ups the big flagship in another way. Its leather-lined seats feature new SunReflective technology, which is an anti-infra red dye that bounces back the rays that heat up leather seats, keeping them up to 30-degrees cooler. It’s not as groundbreaking as the twin-turbo engine, but when bare skin touches leather on a hot day, you can bet it’s just as important.

Moving backwards, the rear quarters are slightly less spacious than the Coupe as the roof mechanism and bracing required the seats to be positioned closer together, though legroom is quite generous for this class. Rear seat passengers also receive their own vents, and are protected from rollovers with sturdy pop-up bars. The visibility is better than beforeas well, with equal amounts of open glass as the Coupe. All in all, it feels just about identical to the Coupe, which means mission accomplished.

Starting the 335i up with the pushbutton starter doesn’t give much to its vital signs. They’re tucked away beneath the faint tick of the metered direct injection fuel system and the balanced nature of the straight six, but you’d never know about the 300 horsepower based on the way it sounds at idle. But before you’ve made your way through the first 1,000 rpm, you feel that this engine is alive, especially if the roof is down. The high-pitched nature gives way to a well-oiled bark as the revs climb uninterrupted by the turbocharger’s whistle. No, not alive in a high-revving sort of way, but in a hefty, almost diesel sort of way. It pulls like a big-block V8, but the sound and the feel is definitely not like either. Cruising on the highway, the 335i remains resolutely draft-free, and almost completely undisturbed when the wind-blocker is up.

The new 3-Series Cabriolet might not be the most involving of the 3-Series lineup to drive, but when you compare it to other folding hardtop convertibles on the road, you won’t find any four-seater that can be driven as quickly with so little effort. A harder edged Cabriolet will come along eventually, and it’ll be wearing the M badge. I suspect it will once again make a very good smaller sibling to the M6, which offers an uncanny blend of raw performance and comfort in a way the auto industry hasn’t seen too often.

The 3-Series Cabriolet is a fantastic experience, and it’s possible to get into one for sums of money that aren’t terribly large. Opting for the entry level 328i with its 230-hp, 3.0-liter inline-six will only set you back $43,200, which is just a bit more money than a Volvo C70 will cost you. We’d whole-heartedly recommend the 335i, not only to make up for the extra weight, but because it’s a fantastic engine plain and simple. Pick and choose your options carefully though, as a $49K base 335i Cabriolet can quickly rise through the $50s and into the high $60s. Even then, the 335i is easily the best four-seat folding hardtop on the market, and a strong contender for the best folding hardtop convertible ever conceived, seconded perhaps only to Mercedes’ vastly more expensive SL. Failing that, it’s one of the best all-round convertibles for under $75K.

Specifications (BMW 335i Cabriolet):
Price range: $49,100 - $66,095
Price as Tested: $57,450
Body Type: 2-door hardtop convertible
Layout: front engine, RWD
Engine: 300 hp, 300 lb-ft of torque, 3.0L, 24-valve DOHC twin-turbocharged I-6
Transmission: 6-spd manual (opt. 6-spd auto w/opt. paddle shifters)
Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS, EBD, BA, CBC
Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 180.6 / 70.2 / 54.5 / 108.7 in
Curb Weight: 3,946-3,957 lbs
Tires: 225/40R18 front, 255/35R18 rear (std. 225/45R17)
Trunk: (roof up/down): 12.3 / 7.4 cu-ft
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 19-20 / 28-29 mpg
Observed Fuel Economy: 23 mpg
Warranty (mo/miles): 48/50,000 comprehensive
Competitors: Audi A4 Cabriolet, Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet, Saab 9-3 Convertible, Volvo C70 T5
Website: www.bmwusa.com