 A world premiere: four-cylinder with High Precision Injection
Premiere: Vierzylinder mit High Precision Injection
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The new BMW 3 Series Convertible
Following the Saloon, Touring and Coupé, the Convertible is the fourth variant within BMW's highly successful 3 Series. But despite this close relationship borne out by many design features and highlights typical of the brand, the Convertible is a genuine individualist. Looking at the front end, for example, the observer will see immediately how new model stands out clearly from its Saloon counterpart, and in a comparison with the BMW 3 Series Coupé, all similarities end at the transition from the engine compartment lid into the A-pillar. The sporting style of the new Convertible is powerfully borne out by the contours of the long and low-slung engine compartment lid as well as the design of the front air dam and headlights. Indeed, through their looks alone, the headlights give the Convertible a self-confident, highly concentrated appearance. The new BMW 3 Series Convertible comes as standard with bi-xenon headlights characterised in their round shape by corona rings. This makes the Convertible easy to recognise also at dusk through its striking light rings, showing clearly from the start that this is a genuine BMW. Adaptive Headlights and Bending Lights are available as an option.
The side view of the car is characterised in particular by the horizontal orientation of the shoulder-line giving the new BMW 3 Series Convertible particular style and elegance. The extra-voluminous, large wheel arches, in turn, add a powerful touch of sporting performance. The rear view is also dominated by horizontal lines, the lights integrated in the rear end and the sides of the car being split up into two sections and extending all the way into the rear lid. LED-fed, horizontal light rods, finally, also ensure striking night design from behind.
The new BMW 3 Series Convertible is available with a wide range of innovations on the drivetrain. All gasoline engines featured in the new Convertible come with BMW's new High Precision Injection, that is second-generation direct gasoline injection ensuring a significant reduction of fuel consumption also in everyday motoring. In its most sporting and dynamic rendition, the new BMW 3 Series Convertible comes with the world's first straight-six power unit incorporating Twin Turbo technology, High Precision Injection, and an all-aluminium crankcase. Displacing 3.0 litres, this power unit develops a superior 225 kW/306 hp and maximum torque of 400 Newton-metres/295 lb-ft giving the new BMW 335i Convertible truly outstanding driving dynamics at all times. Through the combination of turbocharging and direct gasoline injection, the top-of-the-range model is also a fascinating example of Efficient Dynamics. Acceleration to 100 km/h in the new BMW 335i Convertible comes in just 5.8 seconds, acceleration from 80-120 km/h in the car's second-highest gear takes a mere 7.1 seconds, this ongoing surge of power then continuing all the way to the top speed of 250 km/h or 155 mph, where electronic speed control cuts in to set a limit. Average fuel consumption under the EU standard is 9.9 litres of premium fuel for 100 kilometres - equal to 28.5 mpg Imp - that is a standard of fuel economy most impressive for a car of this class and performance. This extremely efficient enhancement of power and performance on the road is attributable first and foremost to BMW's new system of direct gasoline injection. The benefits offered in this case result above all from the central position of the piezo-injector between the valves and in the immediate vicinity of the spark plug, where the innovative fuel injector opening to the outside is able to distribute fuel in particularly consistent conical arrangement throughout the combustion chamber. This ensures not only even more precise dosage of the fuel/air mixture, but also an appropriate cooling effect allowing a higher level of compression and thus optimising the entire combustion process in its all-round efficiency. Yet a further advantage is that High Precision Injection is also suitable for lean-burn operation with particularly efficient dosage of the amount of gasoline in the fuel/air mixture. And thanks to the jet-guided combustion process introduced with High Precision Injection for the first time, the lean-burn mode can be maintained over a particularly wide range of combustion and engine running conditions. No less than three engines applying this principle are featured in the new BMW 3 Series Convertible. The two new straight-six power units with High Precision Injection are based on the 3.0-litre with its composite magnesium/aluminium crankcase. Maximum output of the new BMW 330i Convertible is 200 kW/272 hp, peak torque is 320 Newton-metres/236 lb-ft, accelerating the car to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and providing a top speed limited electronically to 250 km/h or 155 mph. The exceptional efficiency of BMW's new direct fuel injection is confirmed by average fuel consumption under the EU standard of 8.1 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 34.9 mpg Imp. The new BMW 325i Convertible comes with BMW's second straight-six 3.0-litre power unit developing maximum output of 160 kW/218 hp and peak torque of 270 Nm/199 lb-ft. Again, the car's performance is truly dynamic in every respect, with acceleration to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 245 km/h. A further particular forte of the new BMW 325i Convertible is average fuel consumption under the EU standard of 7.9 litres/100 kilometres or 35.8 mpg Imp.
BMW is also introducing direct gasoline injection on its four-cylinder power units, with the new BMW 320i Convertible for the first time featuring a four-cylinder with High Precision Injection. This 2.0-litre develops maximum output of 125 kW/170 hp together with peak torque of 210 Nm or 155 lb-ft. This superior power accelerates the new BMW 320i Convertible to 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds and gives the car a top speed of 228 km/h or 141 mph. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of just 6.6 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 42.8 mpg Imp) clearly demonstrates the progress BMW has achieved also in the area of all-round fuel efficiency. Apart from the electrical coolant pump operating only when required and the volume flow-controlled oil pump, brake energy regeneration and the automatic engine Start/Stop function also contribute to this superior efficiency. Intelligent alternator control concentrates the generation of electricity for the car's on-board network on the engine overrun and brake application phases, meaning that electric power for the network is generated only under these conditions. The automatic engine Start/Stop function, in turn, serves to switch off the engine when idling. This is done automatically as soon as the car comes to a standstill and the engine is then re-started once the driver presses down the clutch pedal. As a result of all these improvements serving to maximise the car's efficiency, the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder offers an improvement in fuel economy of up to 20 per cent despite the increase in engine output and performance.
The new BMW 3 Series Convertible comes as standard on all gasoline and diesel models with a six-speed manual gearbox. A six-speed automatic transmission now developed to an even higher level is however available as an option, offering the very best in motoring comfort and immediately following the driver's commands in dynamically converting superior engine power into supreme driving pleasure. Even more effective hydraulic control, an innovative torque converter, and management software enhanced to a significantly higher standard all interact to ensure a spontaneous reaction to even the slightest movement of the gas pedal with far quicker reaction and gearshift times. And should the driver wish to manually adjust the sporting character of the car's power transmission, all he has to do is shift gears by means of paddles on the steering wheel.
The efficiency and practical benefits of the brake system are enhanced to an even higher level than before by DSC Dynamic Stability Control with its new, innovative functions: On the six-cylinder versions of the new Convertible, BMW's latest generation of DSC suspension control not only controls the ABS brake function and stability on slippery surfaces by intervening in the brakes and reducing engine power, but also sets off even the slightest fading effect at extremely high brake temperatures. A further function is regular Dry Braking for optimum brake power also in the wet, while Brake Pre-Loading ensures even quicker brake standby whenever required. And in conjunction with Active Steering, DSC Dynamic Stability Control is even able to build up an appropriate but discreet counter-steering effect when applying the brakes on surfaces with different frictional coefficients to give the car greater stability under such circumstances.
The intelligent combination of innovative and proven materials, together with modem production technology, makes the bodyshell of the new BMW 3 Series Convertible particularly light but at the same time very sturdy and stable. Indeed, BMW's body development specialists have achieved particularly impressive results in optimising the torsional stiffness of the new open four-seater. Carefully conceived arrangement and configuration of the car's load-bearing structures, crash boxes and deformation zones help to keep impact energy well away from the body in all kinds of collisions. Inside the passenger compartment, carefully interacting, centrally controlled restraint and impact-absorbing systems ensure superior safety for all the car's occupants. The frontal and head/thorax airbags, belt latch tensioners and belt force limiters are activated by sensor-controlled safety electronics as a function of the type of accident and its severity. The head/thorax airbag integrated on the outside of the seat backrests inflates in a collision from the side over a large area extending from the bottom of the backrest all the way to the upper edge of the headrests, ensuring effective safety and protection at upper body and head level regardless of the occupant's current seating position. Superior safety in a rollover, in turn, is ensured not only by the extremely stable A-pillars and the frame around the windscreen, but also by a rollover sensor permanently monitoring vertical and horizontal movements of the car. A central computer also serves in this case to evaluate driving data, moving up the rollbars behind the rear-seat headrests in the event of an impending rollover and at the same time activating the belt latch tensioners on the front seats as well as the head/thorax airbags.
The new BMW 3 Series Convertible comes with BMW's trendsetting iDrive control concept masterminding the Navigation, Climate Control, Entertainment and Communication functions. The driver first chooses his settings by means of the iDrive Controller on the centre console, the functions and options chosen then being presented on the Control Display. Eight favourite buttons for any functions the driver or passengers may prefer serve to further facilitate and streamline operation of the system. So pressing just one single button, the driver is able to retrieve features such as telephone numbers dialled frequently, a frequent destination or his favourite radio station.
One of the options particularly attractive in a convertible is a newly developed, special type of leather for the seat upholstery and interior trim: BMW is one of the first carmakers in the world to use a new process for treating leather surfaces referred to as SunReflective Technology. In this case modified colour pigments serve to reflect the infra-red radiation contained in sunlight, effectively preventing the overheating effect otherwise experienced particularly in perfect weather for open-air motoring. On dark interior colours, the difference in temperature provided by this new leather may be up to 20 °C, while with light colours the surface heating effect is much smaller, anyway, from the start. A wind deflector developed especially for the new BMW 3 Series Convertible reduces air turbulence within the interior also at high speeds. This new wind deflector is fitted firmly in the rear by way of mounts provided as standard in the side panels and is then moved up into position. Since the rotary knob on the fastening mechanism moves the fastening anchors on both sides of the deflector, one single operation on either the driver's or front passenger's side is sufficient to fit the deflector firmly in position.
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For this is the first BMW 3 Series Convertible to feature a
retractable hardtop protecting the car's occupants from wind and weather.
The three-piece roof in lightweight steel plate structure closes fully
automatically within just 23 seconds over the passenger compartment, opening
a bit faster in precisely 22 seconds and disappearing completely into the
rear end of BMW's open two-door. The retractable hardtop gives the new BMW
3 Series Convertible a truly unique standard of comfort, solidity and value
not to be found anywhere else in this segment. And at the same time it preserves
the elegance and uniqueness characteristic of this model just like the uniquely
open driving experience. Fascinating innovations are also be found within
the engine bay, the new 3 Series Convertible for the first time featuring
newly developed six-and four- cylinder power units with direct gasoline
injection. The top model in the range is the BMW 335i Convertible, with a
Twin Turbo straight-six power unit developing maximum output of 225 kW/306
hp. And when launched in Europe on 24 March 2007, BMW's new open four-seater
will also come in the guise of the BMW 330d Convertible featuring a 3.0-litre
straight-six diesel engine with an all-aluminium crankcase and the latest
generation of common-rail fuel injection. Even at high speeds, the new roof
structure ensures an incomparable standard of smoothness and silence inside
the car. And the extremely stiff body with supreme torsional stiffness provides
ideal conditions for superior agility and dynamism on the road. In terms
of flexural stiffness, the new BMW 3 Series Convertible offers the highest
standard ever achieved by an open-air BMW. Harmonious weight distribution
and the sophisticated chassis and suspension further enhance the sporting
characteristics of this unique car.
The roof structure made up of thee elements provides an ambience
within the interior quite similar to that of a coupé. And thanks to
the large windows offering superior visibility also when the roof is closed,
as well as full lining inside of the roof, the new Convertible provides a
bright and exclusive ambience at all times. Compared with the former model,
the rear side windows are 30 per cent larger and visibility to the rear has
been enhanced by 38 per cent. After lowering the roof into the rear compartment,
the occupants enjoy an atmosphere of truly unlimited openness which has always
been typical of the BMW 3 Series Convertible and is borne out in particular
in this case by the low shoulder line. With the roof closed, the greenhouse
moved further to the rear becomes another symbol of dynamic performance
additionally accentuated by the gentle sweep of the engine compartment lid
merging into the low-slung A-pillar. The roofline gradually moving down to
the rear remains slim and slender also around the C-pillar, reaching the
rear end in a distinctly visible angle, and therefore giving the BMW 3 Series
Convertible its unique look and design even with the roof closed. An aluminium
trim bar extending all round shows clearly where the roof begins, while the
functional elements for the roof kinematics are covered by roof trim bars.
The three elements making up the hardtop are lifted
electrohydraulically and fully automatically in a smooth, flowing motion,
swivelled to the rear and placed in compact arrangement on top of one another
in the roof compartment at the back. To take up the roof elements, the rear
lid on the Convertible also serving as the roof compartment lid opens up
backwards against the direction of travel. To make full use of the storage
capacity available at all times, the roof and luggage compartments are separated
from one another by a variable cover. With the roof closed this cover may
be folded to the inside to provide even more storage space. And as soon as
the cover is lowered again, all the driver has to do is pull back a button
on the centre console in order to open up the car. This process of pulling
back the button marks an analogy to the actual movement of the roof itself,
which may also be opened and - as an option - closed by remote control from
the car's central locking.
Flowing lines, powerfully tense surfaces and an attractive
combination of convex and concave contours determine the design of the interior
also in the new BMW 3 Series Convertible. At the top the instrument panel
is inclined towards the driver, while the controls and switches for the air
conditioning, the audio and navigation unit are also within optimum reach
and visibility from the front passenger's seat. The side panels flow smoothly
and consistently all the way from the dashboard at the front to the backrests
on the two rear seats. The centre console also extends all the way from front
to rear, serving at the back as a storage compartment between the two single
seats. Special light effects, colour schemes and the choice of materials
in the new BMW 3 Series Convertible provide a unique ambience, the light
bar on the inner door and side linings available as an option adding a particular
touch of style and class. Handles and switches such as the door handles and
gearshift lever are finished in particularly sophisticated metal to ensure
an exclusive flair not only in their looks, but also in their touch.
Standard drive on the new BMW 3 Series Convertible, with the
engine at the front and the drive wheels at the rear, guarantees maximum
agility, directional stability and safe handling at all speeds. With engine
power being transmitted to the rear wheels, the rack-and-pinion steering
with hydraulic power assistance remains free of drive forces at all times.
BMW Active Steering specially tailored to the BMW 3 Series Convertible is
available as an option, varying the steering angle individually as a function
of road speed. So the same movement of the steering wheel at lower speeds
turns the steering transmission and the front wheels of the car further than
at high speeds, enabling the driver to manoeuvre at low speeds with minimum
effort and movements of the steering wheel, while keeping the car precisely
on course at high speeds. Featuring a double-joint tiebar spring-strut axle
made largely of aluminium at the front and a five-arm axle at the rear, the
BMW 3 Series Convertible comes with the currently most advanced and sophisticated
suspension in its class. A further significant feature is the car's
high-performance brake system, with BMW becoming the first carmaker in the
world to fit its models with a continuous wear indicator providing permanent,
ongoing information on the condition of the brake pads. The 17-inch light-alloy
rims featured as standard on the new BMW 3 Series Convertible come on 225/45R17
runflat tyres. As a further feature, the Tyre Defect Indicator permanently
monitors air pressure and warns the driver as soon as air pressure in the
tyres drops more than 30 per cent below the ideal level.
The new BMW 3 Series Convertible offers four occupants the
supreme pleasure of motoring in the open air. The front seats are equipped
with integrated belt systems, the centre console extending all the way to
the back splits up the rear seat bench into two separate individual seats
with generous headroom at the top. In comparison with the former model, the
passengers at the rear enjoy 8 centimetres or 3.15´´ more shoulder
room and 12 centimetres or 4.75´´ more elbow room. Access to the
rear seats is facilitated by the Comfort Entry function on the front seats,
with the seat release lever positioned at exactly the right point at the
top on the outside of the backrest. Offering capacity of up to 350 litres
or 12.3 cubic feet, the luggage compartment is also generous in every respect.
And even with the roof open, the capacity available is still 210 litres or
7.4 cubic feet, quite sufficient for taking along large hard-shell suitcases
or two golf bags. Yet a further advantage is that the rear part of the passenger
compartment may be used as an additional storage area: After tilting down
the single-piece rear-seat backrest, the driver and his passengers have the
benefit of a large, flat surface simply ideal for transporting even bulky
objects without the risk of making the upholstery dirty, let alone causing
any damage. A feature quite unique for a convertible in this segment is the
optional opening between the luggage compartment and the passenger compartment
measuring approximately 40 centimetres or 16´´ in width. This provides
ample space for taking along long objects such as skis, snowboards or golf
bags loaded through from the luggage compartment to the rear of the passenger
compartment. And obviously, this makes the new BMW 3 Series Convertible
particularly well-suited for travelling with a friend and for handling all
kinds of transport requirements in everyday motoring. Indeed, this
through-loading facility between the luggage compartment and the passenger
compartment is also readily available for practical use when driving with
passengers at the rear, an opening for through-loading in the middle of the
rear backrest providing additional storage space also with four occupants
in the car. And last but certainly not least, folding storage boxes in the
inner door panels again provide substantial capacity for taking along all
kinds of odds and ends, with the additional advantage of keeping your belongings
out of sight from outside the car.
Offering a wide range of safety and comfort equipment, the
BMW 3 Series Convertible makes every trip a wonderful experience. And numerous
customisation options give the purchaser of a BMW 3 Series Convertible the
opportunity to turn this outstanding car into his - or her - very own personal,
tailor-made model. Precisely this is why the new BMW 3 Series Convertible
is available, over and above its series equipment, with a wide range of high-
tech solutions enhancing the car's audio, navigation and telematics systems
- solutions originally developed strictly for luxury performance cars. Innovative
control of the automatic air conditioning specifically tailored to
comfort-oriented motoring in the BMW 3 Series Convertible is one of these
examples: The automatic ventilation programs selected by way of the iDrive
control system are supplemented by an additional mode, the "Convertible"
mode, in addition to the three stages "Gentle", "Medium", and "Intensive".
With this additional mode, the influence of the interior temperature sensor
on ventilation control is intentionally reduced, temperature control and
blower intensity being based primarily on the outside temperature and the
degree of sunshine instead.