hardtop convertible

[weaksauce]

Originally Posted by riverflyer

I did a search and did not find the info I was looking for. Can anyone tell me what years the hardtop convertible option was available for?
Does it increase weight? compromise chasis rigidity?
Any personal owner feedback?
thanks much

I posted this earlier but in the wrong section.

I owned a coupe before getting a convertible. It does increase weight and decrease chassis rigidity, but you will hardly notice (unless your like tanner foust or are trying to shave .1's off your 1/4).

I would trade a bit weight and rigidity to have the open top any day. I would not trade the open top for 400 less weight and more rigidity.

Open top feel is great compared to coupe and makes any downside to the convertible worth it. Just go WOT and the sound...my god.

I think that my top may fail eventually and I may die of pneumonia tho. I open the top even for like 5 minute trips and even if it's under 60 degrees.

BTW - Take this with a grain of salt as I have only had the convert for like 3 weeks now, but so far, so freaking awesome!

[tam099]

I've never tracked my M3 nor do I plan to. I"m sure that's the case for more than 50% of the people here. The convertible is awesome!

[mjposner]

Drove to work this a.m., top down sunny skies, 66 degrees, blip in engine....E93 joy, especially in climate like mine (South Florida)

[JonNYC]

Top down-- even when not necessarily appropriate to the conditions

[STooK]

Originally Posted by JonNYC

Top down-- even when not necessarily appropriate to the conditions

Love it! I used to go top down in the winter time in my s2000. I plan to do so with my e93 this winter as well!

I have owned a e92 335i previous to my e93 and I'll be very honest...I prefer the look of the e92 way more than the e93. But when I'm driving the car, I love the e93 way more than the e92. So it was either I own a car that I would love staring at or own one that I would love driving...well the choice was pretty easy to make.

[bmwusa]

I my first vert and I think it's definitely worth a try, especially if you've never had before.

[gsmooth33]

My first vert was my vette, I then drove an e46 vert for a couple of months and fell in love ! I now own an e93...what can I say nothing beats top down and hearing that v8 roar!! But even more important is when my kids say "dad can we take the white car and put the top down please" SOLD

[Kingofbikes]

Originally Posted by VMcV3y

And, you'll want the wind deflector. Worth every penny (lots of them).

- V

.

Where to buy the right wind deflector? and approx price ?

[STooK]

Originally Posted by Kingofbikes

Where to buy the right wind deflector? and approx price ?

You can purchase them from BMW but it'll be about $420 brand new. Other option is to buy second hand or make a WTB post and pray someone responds. Second hand price is around $275 to $350 depending on condition.

I just bought one for this season and went on a few cruises with it up. It does make a noticeable difference. And I love how it looks as well with the windows up.

[thugmaster]

Originally Posted by fuddman

When the tops up, I prefer the E46 ragtop.
I think the cloth top visually blends well with the main body of the car and the overall appearance of the E46 ragtop cars are every bit as attractive as their coupe brothers and, to me, are actually better looking than the coupes.
Not so with the E93. The E93 top tries hard to simulate the sleek lines of the E92; but, it just doesn't make it - and it's obvious. The top of the E93 has this plopped on look about it that is just inescapable. Unlike the E46s, clearly, the design winner between the E93 and the E92 is the E92.
However, when the top goes down (and the windows are down) I prefer the E93 to the E46.
I've always wished they would have stuck with the cloth top.

Wrap the pillars with gloss or Matt black vinyl, and most people don't realize it is a vert.

[WickedE93]

Originally Posted by thugmaster

Wrap the pillars with gloss or Matt black vinyl, and most people don't realize it is a vert.

+1 and when you drop the top their eyes go like this . LOVE IT!!!

[bachma]

Originally Posted by e93 jonesy

having the top down and the radio off and listening to that sweet motor and exhaust note sold it for me.

yes...

[MrPrena]

I initially wanted E90 4door, but I couldn't find any at the time i was in the market for a M3. I decide to buy E93, because it is easier to put my kid on a back seat than E92.

I know I said this more than 10x here, but I am glad that I did buy E93. My kid loves it.
My kids school friends all looks at her when she is inside the M3 Vert.