"BMW convertible no longer a ragtop"

I've seen one and it looks great. This is a similar type of design Mitsubishi tried in the early '90s with the 3000GT VR4. I hope the BMW engineers get the mechanisms right. Mitsu had big time issues and lawsuits.

Bill in Omaha '86 535i

My nephew from California came to Europe to take delivery of his 335i convertible and I joined him in Munich. We picked up the car on 23rd May. Drove it 850 miles the first day, back to Manchester UK where I live. We then drove it another 1000 miles or so over the next few days through the twisties of England and Wales.

It is a mighty impressive car and with the roof up, it has more or less the same torsional rigidity as the coupe (I own a 335dcoupe) but what is staggering is how rigid it feels with the roof down. A few years back I had test driven a 325 open roof and wowed never to buy a convertible, such was the body flex. But this one is quite another ball game altogether. The roof takes 22 seconds to open and an extra second to close. (We got drenched when a sudden cloudburst chanced upon us on the autobahn in Munich). Somehow, the car looks smaller than the coupe and feels a little more tossable.It also has stunning looks. The photos don't do it justice.

My nephew had traveled with a full sized suitcase and it fitted snug in the boot even with the roof open. There is room for other nick- knacks around on the sides when the roof is open. The stowage capacity is only about 20 % compromised.

Thought will post some first hand initial impressions,

Vijay

P=2ES. I saw one advertised in a UK paper for =A345,000 that comes close to $90,000 taxes included. My nephew paid more like $75,000.00. That is quite a saving but then you save about the same in percentage terms on a cup of Starbucks grande latte in the US. (It costs $4.60 over here!)

Vijay

Sorry my friend but I really find that hard to believe - the boot/trunk space with the roof collapsed is smaller than that of the original Ford Sunliner actually about as big as a small waste paper bin. However, when raised the space is 99% the same as the standard car.

The wife wanted me to get her one and I could have the 335I version but a bit too small for me - I'll stick with the new 7 series - love that V8!

My nephew from California came to Europe to take delivery of his 335i convertible and I joined him in Munich. We picked up the car on 23rd May. Drove it 850 miles the first day, back to Manchester UK where I live. We then drove it another 1000 miles or so over the next few days through the twisties of England and Wales.

A friend of mine also in Manchester has bought one, so I hope to get a ride soon.

He is off to France to do some touring in his {green}.

It isn't new technology. The Ford Skyliner had one in the late '50's. Today, you see them everywhere - Mercedes, Volvo, Cadillac, Chrysler, Lexus, and even that POS Pontiac G6 has one as an option.

Dan

I'd be very surprised if it's BMW engineers. Karmann and one or two others whose names I forget make just about all the convertibles, hard or soft top.

DAS

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