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What is it?

This is the alfresco version of the M3, this time with a folding metal roof in place of the previous model’s fabric one.

The roof folds in 22 seconds, and performs the reverse manoeuvre in the same time. Its structure and mechanism burdens the M3 with a not insignificant 230kg, which adds half a second to its 0-60mph time, although you can shave 0.2 from that by ordering the £2590 M-DCT, double-clutch seven speed transmission.

Operating the roof is a si...Read the full article

Lovely Motor. Surely the best Cabrio on the market at any price! Especially with the new hard top which despite guys like Porsche triple-lining their cloth roofs just aren't up to the job of 100mph+ cruising without sacrificing both noise and refinement.

Not sure outside of South Africa or South of France the white paint job looks any good, certainly probably never for a bloke! I've a friend with a white M3 with black carbonfibre roof and told him as diplomatically as possible his wife would look better in it.

Am I alone in thinking that these 'hard top' folding roofs do not look right with the roof up ?. This is a lovely car with the roof down but with the roof up has too many lines and joins and looks unbalanced. I think the previous generation 3 series convertible and paticularly M3 with the soft top looked a lot better roof up and down. Considering at least 90% of the time these cars will have the roof up I think it is more sensible, better looking and cheaper just to buy the coupe.

I like. 

I can't afford.

I go dreaming about winning the lottery.

I wake up, return to reality and curse at everything for the unfairness of it all.

I am very fortunate . I have ordered an M3 Cariolet for delivery in the next few weeks. I have test driven the 997 cab,Maserati,Jag XK,etc..I wanted an auto convertible. The Porsche was my favourite but had to be ignored as the rear seats are too small and my teenage children couldn't fit.The M3 has so many bases covered as a daily car, plus it will give you a great drive when the chance arrives.In this economic crunch cars like the Porsche  et al are too flash. The BMW is great for those who know and to anyone else it is just another BMW.

What surprised me when I ordered was that I was offered a car to my spec with delivery within 8-10 weeks.Maybe the rumours of 1 year waiting lists are untrue.

I am really looking forward to driving this car for the Summer.

Interesting issues raised regarding the DCT. BMW have had the last 4 years to copy, erm, i mean follow VW's supposedly perfect DSG yet they have still not got it right. Although on second thoughts; VW do not fit DSG in anything anywhere near this powerful. Maybe there is a physical limit on the power a Double Clutch Gearbox can be expected to handle?

Shame for BMW as the M5 also gets seriously marked down for its automated gearbox too. Not exactly what you would expect of a BMW. Never mind an M badged one!

Quattro369:

Although on second thoughts; VW do not fit DSG in anything anywhere near this powerful. Maybe there is a physical limit on the power a Double Clutch Gearbox can be expected to handle?

Quattro, I would have thought from your moniker that you would be an aficionado of Audi. Audi last month announced their new 7-speed S Tronic(DSG) gearbox that's rated to 550Nm(~400lb ft) and 9000rpm. It''ll make its debut end of the year in new Q5 - goes into 4WD Quattro, longitudinal engine installation first. Would seem that BMW have been outdone - again? - by VW/Audi:

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2008/112_0803_audi_s_tronic_seven_speed_transmission

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/audi-siebengang-s-tronic_602419.html

barney1:

Am I alone in thinking that these 'hard top' folding roofs do not look right with the roof up ?. 

No, you're not.  The SLK (R170) and SL a fine examples, but these are full on roadsters.  I think though what BMW have achieved here is a cabriolet, with hard-top that is actually better looking, roof up than the coupe cousin, which is rare, as I think most cabs look pretty naff roof up (soft or hard, fnarr) including my own Z4.

I think the M3 cabriolet does not lend itself to white colour though.  It's far too busy a design to suffer anything light.  Black is the way to go.  I could well be tempted in a couple of years.

Quattro369:

BMW have had the last 4 years to copy, erm, i mean follow VW's supposedly perfect DSG yet they have still not got it right.

Thing is, the DSG doesn't exactly make for an exciting drive.  If anything from my experience with it it makes for a decidedly dull drive in either full auto or flappy paddle.

I think it looks great in red, white or blue, roof up or down. Seems to cover all bases. In my car testing days I drove the old M3 SMG at Rockingham for a few laps on bahalf of a leasing company, around about the time the 1 Series was launched. I thought it was great, the oft-mentioned jerkiness didn't bother me at all, so I reckong the new box would be right up my street. That said, I didn't like the DSG in the Golf GTI at the time and I recently tried basically the same setup in a Leon FR petrol and still didn't really like it that much, not because of performance but because it seemed a bit sluggish on the upchange at low speeds.

Quattro369:

Although on second thoughts; VW do not fit DSG in anything anywhere near this powerful. Maybe there is a physical limit on the power a Double Clutch Gearbox can be expected to handle?

Doesn't the Bugatti Veyron have a 7-speed Dual Clutch Gearbox of sorts?

But from what I hear some M5 customers are eager to find out how the car would fair with a less jerky automated manual like this DCT with it's slightly lazier approach to speed.

The Colonel:

Thing is, the DSG doesn't exactly make for an exciting drive.  If anything from my experience with it it makes for a decidedly dull drive in either full auto or flappy paddle.

Wholeheartedly agree with this statement. It is technically fantastic but in all honesty i wouldn't want it anywhere near a ferrari or other similar vehicles; its just too damn boring!

F1 cars use autos, if not DSGs, and they're quite exciting...