Test drive BMW 3 series of E93 convertible since 2010 Cabriolet

Third caliber bullets

BMW 335i with a roof and without a roof are able to fly
Two ordinary working weeks can turn into a holiday in good weather and the presence of an excellent car, the time behind the wheel seems to be compressed, and a good mood comes regardless of the circumstances. And things somehow move themselves faster, and I don’t want to rest. Because the keys are lying in your pocket, and your head does not leave the seditious thought end everything as soon as possible, and on the road! Temptation, and nothing more. The coupe (first week) and a convertible with a stiff folding roof (second) are equally related to those cars that I want to drive not only if necessary, but just like that, for their own pleasure.
Starting a conversation about the new Bavarian compartment of the 3rd series, I simply must mention that we are talking about a whole series of products that are not very identical in running qualities. Suffice it to say that for the first time, versions of 325 and 330 (with a gasoline or diesel engine) can be equipped with a XDRive all -wheel drive system. What gives them obvious advantages, which AI will still have time to tell. But now we are talking about the most powerful modifications to the in-line 6-cylinder engine equipped with two turbines, one by three cylinders. And about the most honest in my personal estimated scale with a drive to the rear wheels, with a disconnected system of dynamic control of the DSC course stability, and with the optional Active Steering system of active steering. Such a car is able to offer more than it can be demanded. Yes, in addition, he looks damn good!
A special product
In oblivion, times have sunk when three-wrappers differed from sedans only by the number of doors. Already in the past of their generation (1999), compact two -door cars from Munich did not have a single common body, visible from the outside with four -door. Now the difference is especially obvious, so the compartment is perceived by an independent model, albeit built on the same platform as the sedan.
The front is aggressive, but not puffy; It blows from him energy, packed in impeccable forms. Original headlight headlights (bixenon in the database) burn at any time of the day. Almost perpendicular to the hood of the nostrils is swollen, they seem to draw the air before a swift throw, it seems that the car crouched and strained the muscles so that the ledge was indicated on the hood. Yes, this is a predator that will not miss the prey.
The compartment pleases the eye at any angle. And the feed will give special pleasure to those who did not like a kind of shape of the rear lamps of the sedan here these lanterns are stylistically verified and are very reminiscent of those that can be seen on the updated seven. Long horizontal stripes of red LEDs look very impressive. Of course, two-stage stop-signals are also provided.
For my taste, I want to notice the same way that the wrong lanterns of the sedan are not bad at all. Simply, as often happens with innovations from BMW, they slightly ahead of the time. Say, not every person is easy to imagine in statics that are quickly moving away and therefore acquiring an unusual, wrong shape of the lights. But I will not be too surprised if in five years I will see such solutions on new models created anywhere, even for many thousands of kilometers from Bavaria.
The convertibles devoid of medium -sized racks has its undoubted charm. Its appearance does not spoil his appearance and the raised line of the lid of the trunk, it looks equally good both with a folded and with a laid out roof. The trunk itself, by the way, is not at all so small as it would be possible to assume: with an open top it has a volume of 210 liters, with 350 raised. (335i compartment provides 430 liters for a luggage). Plus, the rear (whole) seat, designed for two people, can be folded, and in its middle it is easy to organize a 40-centimeter opening, for example, for skis.
In this rear seat, I especially liked the fact that it is full -fledged, that it is convenient in it, that is, in a compartment or convertible you feel no worse than in the sedan. This is a full -fledged four -seater car. I will not say that the process of sitting back in the presence of a roof gave me pleasure, but it is still not too difficult to do it. But in the road, nothing constrains you either in front or on the sides, and there is enough space above your head.
However, the coupe (and the convertible), this, of course, is a car for the driver. Well, good for two. Inside there is almost nothing unfamiliar in the sedan, and the sensation in the cabin, however, is completely different. It is as if in the cockpit of a real sports car you are sitting low, the edge of the door is almost on the shoulder, the metal is less than the glass. The body tightly covers the seat, under the hands of a chubby three-spoke steering wheel of a small diameter, however, I do not see the interior of the meaning in detail, since it is familiar from other models of the 3rd series. But some original decisions must be mentioned. For example, it was very pleasant for me when, having launched the engine and not having time to reach out the seat belt, I heard a light buzzing on the left, and the mechanical hand helpfully gave me a belt. And then she disappeared in the middle rack, as if she had not been. I have not seen this even in six. Very comfortably! I don’t remember this pearl-gray chrome, which are trimmed with door handles, the automatic transmission (test coupe and convertible were equipped with a 6-speed automatic), the lower steering wheel knitting needle, steering wheel petals, and which is used in deflectors and engine stop buttons. . Version 335i differs also also marked up to 280 km/h as a speedometer, and up to 8000 rpm with a tachometer, at the bottom of which the oil temperature indicator is located.
Convertible mode
This is the name of the fourth additional operating mode of the climate control system, designed specifically for a three-top three-top three-top. You can choose it using the IDRive system. Electronics takes into account the temperature overboard, the intensity of solar radiation, the speed of movement, and properly regulates the supply of cool or warm air. I must say that the system copes well with its task, riding the driver from the need to adjust the climatic installation on the way. It is worth raising the roof, as it returns to the regime, which was established before folding the hard top, and vice versa.
Another KNOW-HAW optional leather upholstery capable of reflecting infrared rays and thanks to this not too much to heat up. Not superfluous property on a hot sunny day, and not only for convertibles.
Finally, a couple of words about a steel three -section roof. By pressing and holding the key on the central console or the button on the remote control (option), the hard top can be packaged in the trunk in 23 seconds. It spreads for a second faster. No additional manipulations are required from the driver. When the roof is above the head, no external noise penetrates into the salon. The electro -hydraulic mechanism of the roof drive, by the way, as well as the beams required for the convertible in the bottom made it harder than 200 kg.
Flame heart
But the main highlight of the BMW 335i and the coupe and convertible is, of course, a 306-horsepower gasoline engine with two turbochargers and a high-precision fuel injection system. It is his power, his 400 Newton-meters of torque, which are available in the range from 1300 to 5000 rpm, turn the car into a bullet with a trunk and give an unforgettable impressions. I will leave, however, emotions for later. The motor is unique, it deserves at least a short separate story.
I, a longtime fan of the cocky Bavarian engines, perhaps this power unit, perhaps, even discouraged BMW and turbocharged?! This combination seemed to be a mere absurdity for almost twenty years! Yes, I remember the turbocharged version of the 745i ends of the seventies, but since then, Munich masters have bet on atmospheric motors, and coped with the task, we must give them their due, simply brilliant. As a driver, I'm with them at the same time. Therefore, for example, that I do not like turboyam and an extra whistle, but I prefer a quick response to the accelerator pedal at any time and confident the roar of air breaking out of large cylinders. Take at least the same in-line 3-liter six, which issues 272 hp. Almost a standard, excellent engine in all respects. Was it worth doing almost the same? I traveled out to the elaboration, and it was worth it! And what exactly did you do?
First of all, the engineers achieved a more accurate dosing of the fuel mixture, its uniform distribution in the chamber, almost complete combustion and even a certain cooling effect, which allowed to ensure a high degree of compression. And at the same time, fuel saving, by the way. This has been achieved due to the location of the piezoform and the spark plugs in the center of the camera, between the valves. The valves are also not simple, but the latest generation, ceramic. Then the Small Hitachi turbocharger was attached to every three cylinders. And as a result, several hares were caught at once: they achieved an inconceivable for a 3.0-liter torque of torque almost from idle revolutions, increased power in demand by the consumer, and at the same time fit into the Procrustean Road of the Ecological Norms of Euro-4. Yes, the title of the best engine of 2007 is quite deserved. But what does all these technical wisdom give the consumer?
What is this drive? A game!
The excitement left me only at those moments when I, abruptly dropping the gas, rested on the tail of the traffic jam. Then it seemed that this was not the motor hissing, pulling the excess of compressed air, and adrenaline steam comes out of the ears. Any trip on this compartment (about the convertible below), especially outside the city, on the protected paths, reminded me of an extremely exciting and sharp game. You can play with traction playfully, setting any pace of movement and instantly changing it. The accelerator pedal responds to touch, like a passionate woman to the expected affection; A little stronger and the car no longer rides, but flies along the asphalt. I let go of the reins tightly hold the wheel and proportion the temperament with your capabilities! No failures, turbo, not a second for thought. The complete impression is that under the hood, an atmospheric engine of the volume of a liter of four. Unless in his velvety enthusiastic roar, not quite common for BMW, but not spoiling the general impression of the sound of a note, are barely noticeably woven.
The brightness of the dynamic picture does not at all obscure a new 6-speed machine. It seems that the automatic transmission is constantly in standby mode, and I willingly believe German engineers who claim to reduce her response time by 40%. Particular praise for them for reducing the reaction time not only to the supply, but also to discharge gas, the box understands perfectly well when to go down not one, but to two or three gears. In addition, at any time you can activate the manual speed change mode using any of the two steering wheel switches. Say, before turning, at the same time turning off the DSC. What is this for? A different reader may ask. And in order to slow down, at the same time moving to the second, turn the steering wheel, and then it should properly tap the right pedal of the feed inevitably slides out of the turn. And you are already without special losses in the dynamics and without unnecessary turns of the steering wheel, only just straightening the steering wheel on the desired trajectory. Still, I love the rear -wheel drive!
However, a few words must be said about the steering, however, it is necessary to say separately. That's a strange thing: when the Active Steering (AS) system only appeared and installed, I remember, at first on the top five, I did not actively like it. But AS improved, and for compartment (and convertible) it is now proposed as an option. And this, you see, is a completely different matter, and I am ready to think about its advantages. The advantage of the system is essentially one thing: 1.8 turn of the steering wheel from the stop to the stop in those moments when necessary. For example, in a city where such an algorithm is obviously convenient. In its new version, AS, according to my sensations, has become more transparent. But with active drive, her presence still haunted me, that is, I did not allow myself especially risky maneuvers, not being one hundred percent confident that the wheels would turn exactly at the right corner. In general, I personally prefer an ordinary steering, I have to work more with three turns, but the confidence is absolute. Active Steering, in my opinion, is good for a calm, not prone to risk to drivers. But then why do they need 335i? ..
The settings of suspensions, to which I did not have the slightest complaints, also contribute to the active ride. The compartment has more rigid springs and shock absorbers, the clearance is reduced by 15 mm. This is a truly strong car. You feel the presence of special pipes in medium racks, even if you do not suspect their existence of the body in the borders of the turns of the turns, as if it was cast from a whole piece of metal.
Alas, I can’t say the same thing about a convertible without a roof, the frame still plays, like almost all cars with an open top. At the same time, I have no doubt that the designers strengthened the body as they could, and, quite likely, achieved the best indicators in the classroom. But still I must say that he felt his flexibility with the spinal cord. On the other hand, is such a fee for pleasure to fly with a breeze in the open air? Of course, not great. In the end, a convertible was created not for rally, but for pleasure of a different kind. And the drive in it is enough with excess, believe me.
Of course, both the compartment and the convertible with the most powerful engine in the gamut, are extremely grabbing the brake system. It seems to be equipped with all systems conceivable to date, and allows you to achieve effective slowdown in raw weather, and even when the discs are red -hot.
In conclusion, as usual, about prices: BMW 335 Coupe will cost at least 52,000 euros, BMW 335 Cabrio in 59,400.
Brief technical characteristics BMW 335 Coupe
Engine volume, cubic meter. See 2979
The number of valves per cylinder 4
Power, l. With. at about./min. 306/5800
Max. Torque, NM at about./Min. 400/1300 5000
Acceleration to 100 km/h, p. 5.5 (5.7)
Maximum speed, km/h 250
The average fuel consumption l./100 km. 9.5
The volume of the fuel tank, l. 63
Car mass, kg. 1600 (1615)
Dimensions, mm. 4580x1782x1375
In brackets are given data for the version with automatic transmission
Brief technical characteristics BMW 335 Cabrio
Engine volume, cubic meter. See 2979
The number of valves per cylinder 4
Power, l. With. at about./min. 306/5800
Max. Torque, NM at about./Min. 400/1300 5000
Acceleration to 100 km/h, p. 5.8 (6.0)
Maximum speed, km/h 250
The average fuel consumption l./100 km. 9.9
The volume of the fuel tank, l. 63
Car mass, kg. 1810 (1825)
Dimensions, mm. 4580x1782x1384
Oleg Osipov
Photo BMW

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia"