Lots of convertible questions

[MrBMW78]

I am also considering buying a convertable 325i E30. I have a 4door 316i and am thinking of trading it for a cab.
The thing is the cab will be my main car...all year round!

Ppl say the roofs are expensive...how expensive!?


If used in the winter months are they really that bad?

Being a heavier model, Can anyone tell me what the average mpg on a 325i cab is (london driving, no thrashing it around!...well not all the time anyway!)

[orangecurry]

1) expensive roof - you mean a new soft-top? Very expensive from BMW, otherwise prob best to budget 500 for worst-case scenario (new front seal, new actual fabric, new springy-things that make sure the hood folds properly, professional fitting, sundries...)
Hard-top is circa 800

2) are they really that bad in winter? No of course not - it's a BMW! You can't scrape the rear window, and the special blower takes ages to clear it, but who looks out the back anyway?!
(disclaimer - this was an irresponsible and crass comment made by an idiot)

You can get a special cover for the rear window that clips-on overnight in the frost, and you just remove it in the mornings - I just never remember to use mine, and I have a hardtop anyway.

Too cold? The heater does a very good job, but I do tend to find that above 60mph, all of the warm air being pumped-out by the heater escapes the vehicle (top-down of course)

3) I only get 25mpg but that's a short journey of 12 miles on country lanes with lots of accelerating and stopping.

Your only downside is that if the hood is frozen or wet, you can't really put the top down, but you certainly can't take the top-down on a tin-top, so it's all good news

[MrBMW78]

lmao...
Well i do look from the back, but the frost is not really that big a deal, cld always use side mirrors reversing as the vans do...naa mean!



So over all the cab is worth having!
Nice 1

[DazzyA]

Just bought a 325i cab 3 weeks ago, shes in a bit of a mess, but will never change her, makes me smile every day, corners like on rails.
Just a note on the below link, I thought the 2.5's were pushing around 170bhp?

[oneblueleg]

Had a new manual roof fitted this year Ԛ£495, he came to me.
Front rubber seal is Ԛ£80ish... the fitting would be more with new straps and seals, depends what you need.
There wa a bloke on here that said you can get them cheaper... you need to dig around.

Love mine... buy one

[DaveD]

Bought a burgundy one including the seal(OEM),,top quality forԚ£375.delivered .only trouble is that I have to fit itԚ¬but its not brain surgery and i found step by step instructions

[Zayyan]

dude,

you can fit three women in it, and that should be enough!!

Enough women? Never!

to answer zayans ? the roof stops moving if you move

Cheers Dave - any idea if it's something reprogrammable that controls it? I can't see the harm in the roof continuing to open/close if you're going 5 or 10mph.

I have a few more questions:

What's the wind noise like on the motorway (80mph) with the hood up? Is it ridiculous or comparible to a tin top? I think I'll be racking up a lot of motorway miles in it unfortunately

With the cloth hood does it take a lot longer to warm up inside or does the hood manage to keep the heat in?

Are the standard rear speakers decent? And is it possible to upgrade them? Looks like a lot of trim needs taking apart

[mrLEE30]

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 6:59 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

mrLEE30 wrote:
dude,

you can fit three women in it, and that should be enough!!

Enough women? Never!

good point!!

noise on motorway is as you would expect worse then a tin top, but that said if the roof is of good quality and fitted and adjusted correctly then it is not too bad really, you can hold a conversation with the three women in the car quite easliy.

rear speakers are fit only for throwing at chavs.

front are standard sony(and crap IMO)

got a set of pioneer 3 way in the rears (10cm i think) and its not too bad, JBL's up front and sub in da boot

as for heat thing no idea, but in summer here (45-50degrees) i drive with roof up and a/c on with no probs, not as cool as my sport but confrotable, cant see if the reverse would be any different!

now go buy one!

mrlee

[orangecurry]

to answer zayans ? the roof stops moving if you move

Cheers Dave - any idea if it's something reprogrammable that controls it? I can't see the harm in the roof continuing to open/close if you're going 5 or 10mph.

if the 'control' for this is the same as the later Z3, you have to have your foot on the brake for the roof to move, so probably uses the same circuit as the brake lights?

[Zayyan]

to answer zayans ? the roof stops moving if you move

Cheers Dave - any idea if it's something reprogrammable that controls it? I can't see the harm in the roof continuing to open/close if you're going 5 or 10mph.

if the 'control' for this is the same as the later Z3, you have to have your foot on the brake for the roof to move, so probably uses the same circuit as the brake lights?

Good news...

What's not good news is that they won't insure me on a 318i Lux convertible as it's in a different insurance group

Do you get anything on the Lux cabs other than the following?
6-button OBC
Body-coloured bumpers
"Sports" steering wheel
14" BBS
Dechrome
Front fogs
Bigger fuel tank

I think to refuse to quote me because the car includes the contents of the above list is ridiculous

And before anyone suggests trying another company, only 2 would actually give me a quote, and one has put the price up (for exactly the same quote) by Ԛ£1,100 in the last 2 weeks so I only have one option as to who to insure with

So Now all I've got to choose from is the "Design" convertibles which are in quite honestly ridiculous colours, or the standard, poverty spec bumper jobbies.

Argh

(And breathe....)

[Zayyan]

Thanks for all the help guys:

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ic&t=23240