Calling all cabriolet owners - what's worst about it?

[Sonatine]

The appeal of the soft top is not lost on me, but what is not so good?

In fact, what is the worst thing about the convertibles?

I want to do my homework and walk in to any potential purchase with my eyes open. So, feel free to share your experiences good or bad.

You know the score....
How are the rear seats for passengers?
What about roof repairs/maintenance/replacement
Is it a cold, draughty experience with it up?

Any feedback appreciated.

Cheers
Phil

[pacerpete]

The worst thing about E30 convertibles is the owners !

[jslot]

Worst thing is having to get the wife help me remove and install hard top.

Second worst is the chassis flex.

Third worst is the room it takes in the garage to store the hard top.

Fourth is the cloudy rear screen of the soft top.

It is quite windy with the roof off but the heaters help.

I think a decent roof should last a while.

Silicon grease helps to keep the rubber seals fresh.

Rear seats would not really be suitable for full size people.

Hope this helps.

[daimlerman]

Chassis flex is the main issue,an E30 with a roof almost 'talks' to you whilst cornering on it's limits.

Hood down and a wind deflector in place make a cabbie a very pleasant long distance high speed tourer,cruise with ease at 85mph on Euro motorways.

Use the rear seat hood down above 35mph and your rear seat passengers are liable to dis-appear over the boot lid,a little like J Bond's ejector seat...

I only have the hood up on mine when I get caught out in rain,or when touring for security overnight.

[aivaras325]

For me its noise and interior moisture.Like when your front windscreen is frosted,so it is in THE INSIDE! Could be just my car with many leak places (I suspect horsue among others).Flex, yeah in motorways going fast (70+) on uneven road kinda scary, but then again who races cabrios... I think to fix flexing you go both rear and front strut braces, slightly stiffer suspension bits,maybe some lowering and hardtop.So after hardop even noises shouldnt be much of the problem.Dunno I like my cab

[Sonatine]

Just what I was looking for fellas.

I wouldn't know chassis twist if it.... Well, twisted me in the face. This would not be for driving on the limit, just for going out on the odd sunny day here in the People's Republic of Aberdeenshire, maybe driving to West coast on holiday, or taking to car shows if it's a good example. So for these more genteel drives the chassis twist would be not be so much of an issue or result in me landing oops upside your head?

JSLOT - is your wife part of the issue how often do you put the hard top on? Is it an awkward process?

Is it the leg room that is the issue in the back? Can't really see me taking adults, just the kids who are wee. Can it take car seats?

[bosers]

The thing with cabbies is. . . They're only suitable for puddle jumpers. I think that's the only requirement to have one; To be a 'Puddle Jumper'

[Sonatine]

I like the photos Daimlerman, thanks for posting. Have you had complaints form passengers or is it a given on any brand of rag top that the folks in the back won't enjoy it as much?

Presumably the space in the back is even worse with the hood up?

[Sonatine]

Aivaras, are you talking about the noise with the roof up? I'm not looking to modify, just use it the way it is, but appreciate the suggestion.

I had wondered about leaks and moisture ingress. Really can't be hooped with that.

[aivaras325]

You can get 3 people in back fine, even rather fatty ones,assuming trip is short. I dont get rear passengers a lot, what my passenger blame it for, ''Why its so low''See,my main seats are set to lowest(stock suspension).

Another thing, i have 320auto,bad bad bad... Now I have e36 328auto as mdaily = same/similar fuel consumption,power OMG, get engine swap.

EDIT, car seats for kids - my friends have child,at tat time their seat wouldnt fit. but maybe you need specific e30 version?

[h7fal]

Small kids and car seats or boosters in the back are fine.

Wind deflector makes a massive difference with roof down but can't use back seats at the same time. Hardtop is great in the winter but is a beast to store.

[Sonatine]

Approx 500 miles north of you. But for one week I'll be in Ruislip Manor on Sat visiting the Outlaws

[aivaras325]

If you worrie on wind, rise windows. All windows rised help 2 front seaters a LOT. I canT even guess how good wind deflector is.

EDIT CANT

[bab-91]

Use the rear seat hood down above 35mph and your rear seat passengers are liable to dis-appear over the boot lid,

[Sonatine]

Is the auto 325i slower than the manual? I was looking for the performance figures but couldn't see anything definitive.

Is it a heavy thing this magic hard top?

[Sonatine]

Use the rear seat hood down above 35mph and your rear seat passengers are liable to dis-appear over the boot lid,

I liked that too lol

[jslot]

Hard top is very easy to install or take off if you either have another person to help, or a hoist. The thing is massive so its cumbersome. They are hard to come by and not cheap.

The chassis flex for me is just annoying, I drive on bumpy twisty roads and you can feel it juddering and twisting if you're pushing it. It's not a safety concern. You would have to be very unlucky to roll the car over.

Size wise the back seats would be perfect for kids but I think some of the large type of child seats would not fit.

If you go to look to buy one get a hose sprayed all over the roof to check for leaks

[jslot]

Hard top isn't heavy, just big, and with an awkward centre of gravity.

[jslot]

Lots of info on the wiki to prepare for looking at buying if you havent seen it already

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ing_an_E30

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Rust

[Sonatine]

Is an automatic roof worth having? Saw a guy with one the other day and it conked out just before the end.

[Strugs]

You need a 325.
You don't need a hardtop.
You do want a manual.
They go well enough, but if you want a car to drive it on it's door handles then buy a tin-top.
It does wobble a bit, but not excessively (see above point!) and a front strut-brace would improve that no end.
You want a manual roof.
They can leak, but window adjustments can minimise/stop this. Garage recommended.
Rear windows often go 'milky'. Window can be replaced, but for a few hundred more you could get a whole new roof.
Rear seats are for two. Adults do fit (tight with the roof up).
Kids seats fit just fine as long the base of the seat is not to big (mine are in boosters now which fit perfectly).
There's a reason they're more valuable than coupes/more doors/tourings.
They are cool as..



You're 40 miles/1 hr from me whilst you're in Ruislip. PM me if you want, and have time, to have a nose around mine..

[jimf]

Where in Aberdeenshire are you, I'm in Elgin. You are welcome to come for a spin in mine to see what you think. When I get it back on the road, which will be soon. I don't notice much chassis flex and only get a bit of scuttle shake on a bumpy road. I have standard 15" wheels which make a big difference to comfort. The only downside to having a convertible is the cost of a roof if the rear window cracks or splits. It's happened to me twice now and it's sewn in so it's less labour intensive to just replace the roof than have the window replaced.

[stew72]

I've has a lot of convertible cars and the main point I'd agree with above is chassis flex, all convertibles of the E30 era will have it to one degree or another, mainly noticeable as scuttle shake.

As for hard tops and wind deflectors....

...well if you have a garage or don't live in the bronx don't bother with a hard top. A good soft top and good seals will keep the water out and strategically placed towels when parked will cover any annoying drips. A hard top is more secure but isn't going to stop a determined thief taking your car, so a better strategy with the soft top may be leaving the car unlocked with absolutely nothing of value left inside to tempt any scum in.

Wind deflectors are pointless imho. Firstly you can't use the rear seats with them fitted and secondly if you don't like a bit of disturbance to your barnet why on earth did you buy a convertible?

Other bad thing for me - Rear leg room on an E30 is also limited if the driver is tall. I had to have my seat right back and even my kids complained, I had sports seats, I don't know if comfort seats are any better.

[jslot]

strategically placed towels will cover any annoying drips.

[daimlerman]

Is an automatic roof worth having? Saw a guy with one the other day and it conked out just before the end.

When a power roof works,it is a thing of beauty and always makes me smile.
But E30 was BMW's first effort at a power roof,E36 is so much better!

My roof is a manual,takes but seconds to stow/erect and even 'er indoors can manage it.By comparison,the hood on the Morgan I owned in the 80's took about twenty minutes to erect!

Only two reel type seatbelts in the rear,so check carefully before buying that your kiddy seats will fit....I have carried two adults in the rear for short distances top down,but would not consider a trip above a couple of miles practical.
Top up,four adults is perfectly practical,leg room in the rear is similar to a saloon.
Cabbie makes a near-perfect long distance tourer for a couple,wind deflector and both front windows up allows decent cruising speed and covers up those bits and pieces that inevitably end up being chucked on the rear seat whilst touring.

[minesapint]

All the above ........+ leather interior is a must, otherwise the seats end up the same colour as your hair after a good run....black!
Again don't think anyone should consider a cab unless you have a good dry garage.
Cheers

[aimlessrock]

I have had a cabby now for 5 plus years but only use her a summer car. The 325i is the one everyone wants but the 320i is a good alternative, its not as fast but when set up properly the drive is very smooth and just a joy to drive on a B road with the top down.

The flex is quite noticeable but a good struct brace has improved the handling on mine.

[minesapint]

I have had a cabby now for 5 plus years but only use her a summer car. The 325i is the one everyone wants but the 320i is a good alternative, its not as fast but when set up properly the drive is very smooth and just a joy to drive on a B road with the top down.

The flex is quite noticeable but a good struct brace has improved the handling on mine.

Mine only dry summer car too.
Been looking at front struts & there seem to be plenty which are for cosmetic reasons only. Which did you go for?
Cheers