20 Votes
Boost it!
Agent001 submitted on 1/12/2007 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 12:24:40 PM
26 user comments | Category: Spy News | Source: www.autospies.com
It's no secret, we REALLY like the new 3-Series convertible. You may have seen retactable roof convertibles before but you've never seen one with this cool feature. With the others the top can open the trunk if the roof is up or if it's fully down. But if you want access to something below the roof when it's folded in the trunk, that's a hassle. The new 3 allows you (from the remote key)to open the roof halfway and then open the decklid and get full access into the trunk. It's also a time savings of 11 seconds becuase the full operation takes 22 whereas this gives you access in 11 seconds. The new feature is called comfort access. The Spies will be testing the new convertible shortly and will have our full review up soon... Full Detroit Auto Show gallery (Click the link below) Detroit Auto Show Photo Gallery AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries This year's 2007 North American International Auto Show photo gallery is sponsored by Lexus.
FWD Torque Steer. Absolute proof the Devil exists. — Agent001 (View Profile)
FWD Torque Steer. Absolute proof the Devil exists.
— Agent001 (View Profile)
BMW will sell one million convertibles.— EL34 (View Profile)
BMW will sell one million convertibles.
— EL34 (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 12:33:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1
Actually, 3 series is pretty reliable (including the convertible model) and holds its value better than most any model in this class.My only complaint with my 330Ci is cosmetic: the doorliners came lose and had to be glued back on, twice (the second time with superglue), and my rear defroster when turned on eliminated the use of the AM radio, but that was replaced under warranty with a new rear window. Aside from that, the car was perfect.— quizz (View Profile)
Actually, 3 series is pretty reliable (including the convertible model) and holds its value better than most any model in this class.My only complaint with my 330Ci is cosmetic: the doorliners came lose and had to be glued back on, twice (the second time with superglue), and my rear defroster when turned on eliminated the use of the AM radio, but that was replaced under warranty with a new rear window. Aside from that, the car was perfect.
— quizz (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 1:17:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3
Gee whizz DavidThande sure is mad about this new BMW.— mr_farmer (View Profile)
Gee whizz DavidThande sure is mad about this new BMW.
— mr_farmer (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 1:19:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7
DavidThande, here where I live in Irvine, Orange County, Calif, a 1 bedroom & 1 bath condo goes for about $350,000 and when you want to do your laundry you walk outside and go to your common area and unlock the door to the laundry room, but in the carports you will find BMW comvertibles and M5.BTW, that 350k condo is the cheapest home in Irvine.Wanna buy or sell a house in OC, get in contact with me.— EL34 (View Profile)
DavidThande, here where I live in Irvine, Orange County, Calif, a 1 bedroom & 1 bath condo goes for about $350,000 and when you want to do your laundry you walk outside and go to your common area and unlock the door to the laundry room, but in the carports you will find BMW comvertibles and M5.BTW, that 350k condo is the cheapest home in Irvine.Wanna buy or sell a house in OC, get in contact with me.
Posted on 1/12/2007 1:24:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1
Still a chick car. Unless it's an M3, regular 3-series convertibles are just soooo girly. Maybe because all the girls in Newport Beach and Beverly Hills drives them, but still... it's like to be admitted into the club, girls have to dash around in their BMW convertibles.— quizz (View Profile)
Still a chick car. Unless it's an M3, regular 3-series convertibles are just soooo girly. Maybe because all the girls in Newport Beach and Beverly Hills drives them, but still... it's like to be admitted into the club, girls have to dash around in their BMW convertibles.
Posted on 1/12/2007 1:15:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3
I don't understand that chick car thing because you could say the same thing about pickups.— EL34 (View Profile)
I don't understand that chick car thing because you could say the same thing about pickups.
Posted on 1/12/2007 1:26:16 PM | | Votes: -1
No, I live in Beverly Hills, chick cars (aka trophy wives' cars) are Range Rovers and MB CLK Classes... men drive BMWs... — Autophile (View Profile)
No, I live in Beverly Hills, chick cars (aka trophy wives' cars) are Range Rovers and MB CLK Classes... men drive BMWs...
— Autophile (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 10:03:23 PM | | Votes: 2
I guess the biggest question is what are we to do with that gain of 11 seconds...— Loki123 (View Profile)
I guess the biggest question is what are we to do with that gain of 11 seconds...
— Loki123 (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 1:29:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1
We are in the age of speed, you can do many things in 11 seconds ;) — M53R (View Profile)
We are in the age of speed, you can do many things in 11 seconds ;)
— M53R (View Profile)
Posted on 1/14/2007 12:24:25 PM | | Votes: 1
Cool feature, but I'd still prefer the coupe over this.— answer (View Profile)
Cool feature, but I'd still prefer the coupe over this.
— answer (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 1:37:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2
Can someone please explain to me the benefits of a hard top convertible? I just don't get it. Aside from the wow factor for all your friends and neighbors it just doesn't seem to make much sense. It doesn't protect you any better in a roll over situation. It doesn't keep people from breaking into your car. (They all still have glass) If the top has enough insulation there shouldn't be any issue with climate or noise with a soft top car.They don't seem to do anything more than add weight and take up space. What is the point? — Neverfollow (View Profile)
Can someone please explain to me the benefits of a hard top convertible? I just don't get it. Aside from the wow factor for all your friends and neighbors it just doesn't seem to make much sense. It doesn't protect you any better in a roll over situation. It doesn't keep people from breaking into your car. (They all still have glass) If the top has enough insulation there shouldn't be any issue with climate or noise with a soft top car.They don't seem to do anything more than add weight and take up space. What is the point?
— Neverfollow (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 3:13:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0
How many convertible tops have you seen with 'easy access' holes which were repaired. It's a lot quieter cutting into a top than smashing a window.— PropellerHead (View Profile)
How many convertible tops have you seen with 'easy access' holes which were repaired. It's a lot quieter cutting into a top than smashing a window.
— PropellerHead (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 3:21:05 PM | | Votes: 1
I'm sure when Audi start making a folding hardtop "Neverfollow" will think that it is a good idea!— matt635 (View Profile)
I'm sure when Audi start making a folding hardtop "Neverfollow" will think that it is a good idea!
— matt635 (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 3:29:37 PM | | Votes: 3
matt, it's not a "when", it's an "if". Audi is being very adamant about keeping their soft-tops. The new TT Roadster has one of the quickest tops on the market (if not THE quickest- 12 seconds), and it saves a lot of weight. I don't see a huge appeal in hardtops; they take up so much space, and they don't look as good as ragtops when they're up. If you want to talk about copying, then you must admit, Mercedes was the pioneer here. BMW has blatantly stolen their idea- like plenty of other manufacturers. Interestingly, two of MB's convertibles have retractable hardtops, but the E92 competitor (CLK) does not.— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)
matt, it's not a "when", it's an "if". Audi is being very adamant about keeping their soft-tops. The new TT Roadster has one of the quickest tops on the market (if not THE quickest- 12 seconds), and it saves a lot of weight. I don't see a huge appeal in hardtops; they take up so much space, and they don't look as good as ragtops when they're up. If you want to talk about copying, then you must admit, Mercedes was the pioneer here. BMW has blatantly stolen their idea- like plenty of other manufacturers. Interestingly, two of MB's convertibles have retractable hardtops, but the E92 competitor (CLK) does not.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 4:20:26 PM | | Votes: 0
Okay, I've been known to miss things before but what is the differnce here? The VW EOS has a little covered section in the trunk that you can access even when the hard top is fully retracted. If you need more space you can lift up and lock the little cover so that you have more room (just don't put the top down and forget it).But as long as it's in that space, you can get to it with the top up or down.— jeffy210 (View Profile)
Okay, I've been known to miss things before but what is the differnce here? The VW EOS has a little covered section in the trunk that you can access even when the hard top is fully retracted. If you need more space you can lift up and lock the little cover so that you have more room (just don't put the top down and forget it).But as long as it's in that space, you can get to it with the top up or down.
— jeffy210 (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 3:21:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1
Here we go again with who copied who...Truth of the matter is, Ford released the first production convertible hardtop back in the 50's on their Skyline model. Next up was Mitsubishi in the early-mid 90's with their 3000GT model.It wasn't until Mercedes offered the 98' SLK with a retracting hardtop that it really took off...and the rest as we all know is history.— MunichRob (View Profile)
Here we go again with who copied who...Truth of the matter is, Ford released the first production convertible hardtop back in the 50's on their Skyline model. Next up was Mitsubishi in the early-mid 90's with their 3000GT model.It wasn't until Mercedes offered the 98' SLK with a retracting hardtop that it really took off...and the rest as we all know is history.
— MunichRob (View Profile)
Posted on 1/12/2007 5:04:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3
S4cabriofoxone- Audi does not have the quickest retractable hardtop roof. The fastest retracting hardtop roof is the Mazda MX-5 PRHT, at 11 seconds to raise or lower. Additionally, the roof takes away zero trunk space with the top is down. All coming from a company with no background in hardtop convertibles.— macrocaus (View Profile)
S4cabriofoxone- Audi does not have the quickest retractable hardtop roof. The fastest retracting hardtop roof is the Mazda MX-5 PRHT, at 11 seconds to raise or lower. Additionally, the roof takes away zero trunk space with the top is down. All coming from a company with no background in hardtop convertibles.
— macrocaus (View Profile)
Posted on 1/13/2007 2:05:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2
Okay, sorry. Do you think Mazda designed the top themselves? Wrong. Almost every manufacturer licenses the rights of another company (a hardtop or ragtop designer). The TT's top is only one second slower, by the way- and it's a slightly bigger vehicle than the MX-5.— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)
Okay, sorry. Do you think Mazda designed the top themselves? Wrong. Almost every manufacturer licenses the rights of another company (a hardtop or ragtop designer). The TT's top is only one second slower, by the way- and it's a slightly bigger vehicle than the MX-5.
Posted on 1/13/2007 3:27:30 PM | | Votes: 1
Retractable hardtops suck. Ragtops suck. The best roof is fixed steel covered in body colored canvas to mimic the convertible look. It looks even better with the spare tire bronzed and tacked on the back of the trunk with some chrome trim. Although you can opt for this look on many cars it is most appealing on Crown Victorias and 80's Cadillacs.— CBR2200 (View Profile)
Retractable hardtops suck. Ragtops suck. The best roof is fixed steel covered in body colored canvas to mimic the convertible look. It looks even better with the spare tire bronzed and tacked on the back of the trunk with some chrome trim. Although you can opt for this look on many cars it is most appealing on Crown Victorias and 80's Cadillacs.
— CBR2200 (View Profile)
Posted on 1/14/2007 10:05:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0
Are you being sarcastic?I honestly can't tell, but I hope so.— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)
Are you being sarcastic?I honestly can't tell, but I hope so.
Posted on 1/15/2007 12:58:07 AM | | Votes: 1
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