335 Coupe vs. Convertible

NewBMW · 12-08-2006, 08:41 AM

Nice to meet you all! I'm new to the BMW family and ordered a E92 early last month.

The dealer called today and offered me the option of swapping for a 335 Convertible (at additional cost of course). I live in Asia, and when I ordered the coupe the convertible option wasn't available. I'm would go for the E93 except for the fact that it weighs 400 pounds more than the E92.

I'm wondering if you have seen any information with respect to how the performance and more importantly "feel" will be affected? I read from the posts that the E93 will do 0-60 in roughly 0.5 secs more than the E92. Thats seems tolerable but I wonder how the extra weight will affect handling. The E93 as offered also will not include the Sports seat and suspension.

Many thanks.

Dave_3 · 12-08-2006, 09:00 AM

I think the fact that BMW removed the roof will make more of an impact on the handling (through structural rigidity) than the weight gain. The weight will effect your performance slightly.

So, unless it was designed from the off with a Cabriolet in mind it will not be so "tight" or crisp in the handling. But that is relative to the coupe.

Will BMW use the same taut suspension as the Coupé ? They might go for something a little softer to suit that customer base ?

Swings and roundabouts

D.

Zeroday · 12-08-2006, 09:16 AM

you'll be carrying 400lbs of extra baggage. it will probably be noticeable in acceleration and handling.

ArmyBimmerDude · 12-08-2006, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeroday

you'll be carrying 400lbs of extra baggage. it will probably be noticeable in acceleration and handling.

True. Performance wise you will lose a noticable amount with the convertible.

NaViT · 12-08-2006, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmyBimmerDude

True. Performance wise you will lose a noticable amount with the convertible.

thats true if compared to a normal 335i, but the cars still gunna feel fast not like when you sit 2 fat people in the back...

NewBMW · 12-08-2006, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeroday

you'll be carrying 400lbs of extra baggage. it will probably be noticeable in acceleration and handling.

Looking at the UK website the weight penalty is 462 pounds - that is quite a penalty.

I'll probably stick with the coupe.

Many thanks for the input.

Rubber Ducky · 12-08-2006, 04:37 PM

Am going thru the same question: coupe or convertible?. Without the convertible to drive, it comes down to expectations vs available numbers.

Expectations have a lot to do with what you have now. I'm in an '04 330i ZHP. 0-60 advertised by BMW for this car (w/ ZHP) is 6.0 sec., but Car And Driver beat that by .5 seconds. BMW touts 5.5 for the Step 335i coupe and 5.7 for the new convertible (again, Step), but again the 335i coupe is testing at about .5 sec. under BMW's number.

What does this mean for the convertible? 1.) If the .5 sec.-under-BMW benchmark holds, it should be somewhere around 5.2 in testing. 2.) If your butt's calibrated to a car that matches my ZHP, the convertible should be about .3 sec. faster.

If you do a lbs-per-HP calculation, this makes sense. Won't bore you with the math, but even with the porky weight gain, the delta favoring the convertible over the ZHP is about the right magnitude to go with a .3 sec. improvement give-or-take.

Bottom line: there is reason to expect the convertible to come in in the mid 5-second range, a tick slower than the coupe but faster than all the E46s except the M3.

And why Step? I have it in an '07 550i and have driven it in the 335i. It is a great transmission and can shift better than I can, so - with little speed penalty and the paddle shifters - it's a great way to go. This month's Roundel has a good article on the subject.

Mr. Smith · 12-08-2006, 05:00 PM

i dont know about the performance, but it sure would be nice to have a convertable...

Mr. Smith · 12-08-2006, 05:01 PM

btw, welcome to the forums

scubajag · 12-08-2006, 08:17 PM

Come on folks - are you serious - if you want tremendous acceleration, get a Porsche. The 400 lbs is not going to seriously affect your vehicle unless you plan to enter it into the Daytona 500. If you want a convertible, which is much different than a coupe, get the convertible and don't get hung up on 0-60 time trials.

E36_325i · 12-08-2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scubajag

Come on folks - are you serious - if you want tremendous acceleration, get a Porsche. The 400 lbs is not going to seriously affect your vehicle unless you plan to enter it into the Daytona 500. If you want a convertible, which is much different than a coupe, get the convertible and don't get hung up on 0-60 time trials.

Couldnt have said it better myself!!!!!!

Fester · 12-08-2006, 08:27 PM

If you really like convertables - go for it. I don't and even if covertable is much faster and handles better, I won't go for it. It's boils down to what you really want.

valdeztke · 12-08-2006, 11:13 PM

If you want an even faster car ... get a Z06.

ArmyBimmerDude · 12-09-2006, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaViT

thats true if compared to a normal 335i, but the cars still gunna feel fast not like when you sit 2 fat people in the back...

Hmmm.....462 additional pounds divided by 2 = 2 fat people! And lets not even talk about when you decide to change rims and such.

Shift · 12-09-2006, 12:57 AM

Check out this video clip of the new E93 track testing. I'm guessing you will be more than satisfied with the handling of the convertible.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/autoexp...w_3series.html

Rubber Ducky · 12-09-2006, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shift

Check out this video clip of the new E93 track testing. I'm guessing you will be more than satisfied with the handling of the convertible.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/autoexp...w_3series.html

Watching this video, can't help wondering if cornering/skid pad numbers will be better in convertible with top down than for coupe, lower center of gravity the reason.

That also makes one curious about what happens to the vaunted 50-50 weight distro with the roof folded into the trunk... Hmmm...

cntlaw · 12-09-2006, 06:47 AM

Every convertible version of a coupe I have come across weights more, slower. Getting a M3 E93 is the solution, but again, we will say, the M3 coupe is lighter and faster.

Brunotheboxer · 12-09-2006, 08:11 AM

i would go convertible. the performance will be good enough for me even with extra weight. i also remember reading that bmw convertibles hold their value very well.

DUH CAR · 12-09-2006, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brunotheboxer

i would go convertible. the performance will be good enough for me even with extra weight.

EXACTLY!

12-08-2006, 08:41 AM	#1
NewBMW Enlisted Member 2 Rep 45 Posts Drives: 335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Asia iTrader: (0)	335 Coupe vs. Convertible Nice to meet you all! I'm new to the BMW family and ordered a E92 early last month. The dealer called today and offered me the option of swapping for a 335 Convertible (at additional cost of course). I live in Asia, and when I ordered the coupe the convertible option wasn't available. I'm would go for the E93 except for the fact that it weighs 400 pounds more than the E92. I'm wondering if you have seen any information with respect to how the performance and more importantly "feel" will be affected? I read from the posts that the E93 will do 0-60 in roughly 0.5 secs more than the E92. Thats seems tolerable but I wonder how the extra weight will affect handling. The E93 as offered also will not include the Sports seat and suspension. Many thanks.
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12-08-2006, 09:00 AM	#2
Dave_3 Brigadier General 652 Rep 3,445 Posts Drives: G22 M440D Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: CH / SCO iTrader: (0) Garage List 1973 Escort RS2000 MK1 [10.00]	I think the fact that BMW removed the roof will make more of an impact on the handling (through structural rigidity) than the weight gain. The weight will effect your performance slightly. So, unless it was designed from the off with a Cabriolet in mind it will not be so "tight" or crisp in the handling. But that is relative to the coupe. Will BMW use the same taut suspension as the Coupé ? They might go for something a little softer to suit that customer base ? Swings and roundabouts D. __________________ Escort Mk1 RS2000 (2.1 2x44IDFS, BVH, Kent FR32, 5spd, 180 BHP) : M440D ¦ Previously : F32 435D : F32 430D M Sport sDrive, 335D E92 2006
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12-08-2006, 09:16 AM	#3
Zeroday Colonel 46 Rep 2,350 Posts Drives: Plymouth Volare Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: your nerves iTrader: (0)	you'll be carrying 400lbs of extra baggage. it will probably be noticeable in acceleration and handling.
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12-08-2006, 04:37 PM	#7
Rubber Ducky Lieutenant 47 Rep 519 Posts Drives: 2020 M340i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cocoa Beach FL iTrader: (1)	Am going thru the same question: coupe or convertible?. Without the convertible to drive, it comes down to expectations vs available numbers. Expectations have a lot to do with what you have now. I'm in an '04 330i ZHP. 0-60 advertised by BMW for this car (w/ ZHP) is 6.0 sec., but Car And Driver beat that by .5 seconds. BMW touts 5.5 for the Step 335i coupe and 5.7 for the new convertible (again, Step), but again the 335i coupe is testing at about .5 sec. under BMW's number. What does this mean for the convertible? 1.) If the .5 sec.-under-BMW benchmark holds, it should be somewhere around 5.2 in testing. 2.) If your butt's calibrated to a car that matches my ZHP, the convertible should be about .3 sec. faster. If you do a lbs-per-HP calculation, this makes sense. Won't bore you with the math, but even with the porky weight gain, the delta favoring the convertible over the ZHP is about the right magnitude to go with a .3 sec. improvement give-or-take. Bottom line: there is reason to expect the convertible to come in in the mid 5-second range, a tick slower than the coupe but faster than all the E46s except the M3. And why Step? I have it in an '07 550i and have driven it in the 335i. It is a great transmission and can shift better than I can, so - with little speed penalty and the paddle shifters - it's a great way to go. This month's Roundel has a good article on the subject.
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12-08-2006, 05:00 PM	#8
Mr. Smith Second Lieutenant 2 Rep 229 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Sedan (Ordered) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	i dont know about the performance, but it sure would be nice to have a convertable... __________________ Ordered: 2007 328i Sedan/ Montego Blue/ Beige interior with wood trim/ STEPTRONIC/ Sport package/ Premium Package/ Cold Weather Package/ Comfort Access Comes in January
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12-08-2006, 05:01 PM	#9
Mr. Smith Second Lieutenant 2 Rep 229 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Sedan (Ordered) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	btw, welcome to the forums __________________ Ordered: 2007 328i Sedan/ Montego Blue/ Beige interior with wood trim/ STEPTRONIC/ Sport package/ Premium Package/ Cold Weather Package/ Comfort Access Comes in January
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12-08-2006, 08:17 PM	#10
scubajag Scuba-JAG 24 Rep 528 Posts Drives: Jet Black 2006&07 B.R. E-92 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: St. Petersburg, Fl iTrader: (0)	Come on folks - are you serious - if you want tremendous acceleration, get a Porsche. The 400 lbs is not going to seriously affect your vehicle unless you plan to enter it into the Daytona 500. If you want a convertible, which is much different than a coupe, get the convertible and don't get hung up on 0-60 time trials.
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12-08-2006, 08:27 PM	#12
Fester Major 27 Rep 1,129 Posts Drives: '13 Porsche 911 (991) 4S Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Silicon Valley, CA iTrader: (0)	If you really like convertables - go for it. I don't and even if covertable is much faster and handles better, I won't go for it. It's boils down to what you really want. __________________ 2013 911 4S ...GT Silver/Espresso custom build w/ lots of options and all alphabets soup! 2007 335i Coupe ...TiAg/Grey custom build...Sold!
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12-08-2006, 11:13 PM	#13
valdeztke Lieutenant 22 Rep 456 Posts Drives: 2008 GTI Join Date: May 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	If you want an even faster car ... get a Z06. __________________ 2008 E92 335i Space Grey Coral Rep SOLD 2011 Cadillac CTS-V CURRENT Juan Barnett, Founder, dcautogeek.com T: @DCAutoGeek juan@dcautogeek.com
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12-09-2006, 12:57 AM	#15
Shift Private 2 Rep 52 Posts Drives: E93 335 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: PDX iTrader: (0)	Check out this video clip of the new E93 track testing. I'm guessing you will be more than satisfied with the handling of the convertible. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/autoexp...w_3series.html
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12-09-2006, 06:47 AM	#17
cntlaw Major General 235 Rep 6,874 Posts Drives: 330i E90 C55 AMG Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i E90 [0.00] 2006 BMW 330i E90 [0.00] 2005 Mercedes Benz ... [0.00] 2002 Z3 2.2 USA Spo ... [0.00] 2002 Toyota MR-S Co ... [0.00]	Every convertible version of a coupe I have come across weights more, slower. Getting a M3 E93 is the solution, but again, we will say, the M3 coupe is lighter and faster. __________________ BMW 2006 330i E90 Jet Black/Black Leathers/Aluminium, Steptronic Active Steering; MTech Aero Kit Carbon Fibre Splitters/Diffuser. Bilstein PSS9 Coilover, Rays VOLK Racing RE30 Formula Limited Edition 18" Pirelli Rosso; Project Mu 355mm Forged 4pot Caliper. HID:Osram D1S 6000K, PIAA 6500K White Ring, Philips Diamond Vision HB4 5000K, PIAA H490/H491 Super Bright 6500K LED Interior Lights. Chrome S.Wheel Cover, Rear Windows Sunshades.
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12-09-2006, 08:11 AM	#18
Brunotheboxer Colonel 371 Rep 2,984 Posts Drives: 2014 Shelby GT500. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston/Cape Cod iTrader: (0)	i would go convertible. the performance will be good enough for me even with extra weight. i also remember reading that bmw convertibles hold their value very well. __________________ "...I maybe drunk, but you're ugly, and I can sober up..."
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