First Drive
BMW 335i SE convertible
Test date 17 January 2007
Price as tested £38,035
What's new?
Fourth generation of the 3-series convertible gets a folding hard-top for the first time, which means added comfort and security to go with the style.
What's it like to drive?
Even BMW admits that this isn't as much of a driver's car as normal for them. What it is is a beautifully engineered open cruiser, with a softer ride and a more laid-back attitude than the coupe.
The chassis is impressively rigid and the three-piece roof folds away in 22sec to create a genuinely pleasant open-air experience. Roof down there's the odd little tremor through the helm, and the extra 200kg it carries (compared with the coupe) is noticeable even with the storming twin-turbo six up front, but no other affordable four-seat convertible comes close to matching this for all-round ability and usability.
Should I buy one?
The coupe is a sharper, more rewarding car to drive, but anyone in the market for an open four-seater can't go past this. It's got the style AND the talent.
Allan Muir
First drive data
How much?
- Price as tested £38,035
- Price as tested £37,895
How fast?
- 0-62 mph 5.8 sec
- Max speed 155 mph
How big?
How thirsty?
- Combined 28.5 mpg
- CO2 emissions 238 g/km
Engine
- Layout 6 , 2979 cc
- Max power 302 bhp at 5800 rpm
- Max torque 295 lb ft at 1300 rpm
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