E46 M3 - Coupe vs Convertible

E46 M3 - Coupe vs Convertible

Author
Discussion

junglie

Original Poster:

1,911 posts

216 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
I am still interested in an E46 M3 after many years of admiring them.

If I do get one it will be the manual with 18" alloys for the better ride (?).

The purest option is the coupe but is the convertible really any more compromised? I would use it as a once a week car and not a driving god so not worried about shaving off a few tenths etc!

Up to speed on sub frame issues and the other weaker areas.

Thanks

E30M3SE

8,465 posts

195 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
Drive both and see for yourself, but imo the difference is night and day, I've yet to drive a convertible thats derived from a coupe/hard top where this isn't the case. Yes, 18's will give you a better ride, but imo the 19's look better especially CSL 19's.

ortontom

581 posts

260 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
having had both - coupe every time. Convert a little too wobbly through bends for my liking....sounds good with the roof off but......coupe with a sunroof more or less is the better option

Nedzilla

2,439 posts

173 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
If you want an 'M3' buy the coupe.If you want a fast,good looking capable convertible car......you wont go far wrong with an M3 convertible.

Thats the best way of looking at it IMO.They are different cars for different purposes.

Jaldi

1,195 posts

234 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
junglie said:
If I do get one it will be the manual with 18" alloys for the better ride (?).
Good choice, on both points.

junglie said:
The purest option is the coupe but is the convertible really any more compromised? I would use it as a once a week car and not a driving god so not worried about shaving off a few tenths etc!
Why would you want the heavier worse handling version? I really don't understand why people buy convertibles. What's good about not having a roof?

junglie

Original Poster:

1,911 posts

216 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
I sort of agree. I have had a number of convertibles because I think they provide a greater element of excitement in the good weather. However, all of them were designed as convertibles from the outset, and only come in convertible form, so they drove well.

I guess the M3 convertible gives you the best of both worlds, albeit with a degree of compromise, rather than having 2 cars.

CooperS

4,500 posts

218 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
Jaldi said:
junglie said:
If I do get one it will be the manual with 18" alloys for the better ride (?).
Good choice, on both points.

junglie said:
The purest option is the coupe but is the convertible really any more compromised? I would use it as a once a week car and not a driving god so not worried about shaving off a few tenths etc!
Why would you want the heavier worse handling version? I really don't understand why people buy convertibles. What's good about not having a roof?
Hard to explain but there's something envigorating about driving with the roof down on a warm summers evening or cold crisp morning.

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Saturday 16th March 2013
quotequote all
I prefer coupes but a convertible puts you in touch with the surroundings in a way a coupe never can, I loved driving my SL on a warm summers evening.



Edited by Wills2 on Friday 16th August 20:42

Stingercut

217 posts

166 months

Sunday 17th March 2013
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Convertible every time. They sound fantastic roof down and as has been said, after a hard day there is not much better than dropping the hood and cruising or a little hoon in the country.

I use a hardtop in winter and combined with the cooler winter air it feels as quick as without in summer.

Best advice though is to drive both. Oh, you are right, manual and 18s give the most handling fun but 19 CSLs look nice if summer ever comes smile

Mr Wolf

252 posts

136 months

Sunday 17th March 2013
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Nothing against a convertible car but I really don't think an M car should be a convertible.

The whole' Motorsport ethos of the highly tuned engine and sublime chassis is completely pissed upon by cutting off the roof, reducing stiffness and increasing weight.

All imho of course smile

ortontom

581 posts

260 months

Sunday 17th March 2013
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if your heart is set on a convertible a 330ci is probably the better option, drives and sounds superb.....

BUG4LIFE

2,007 posts

217 months

Monday 18th March 2013
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Mr Wolf said:
Nothing against a convertible car but I really don't think an M car should be a convertible.

The whole' Motorsport ethos of the highly tuned engine and sublime chassis is completely pissed upon by cutting off the roof, reducing stiffness and increasing weight.

All imho of course smile
I do kind of buy into this opinion too...but for everyday driving, where you can't push the car as much as you'd want, having the cab would be fun smile

I don't really understand the 'buy a 330' thing [as fine as that car is] - when you want an M, you want an M. The 330 doesn't have that engine!

I'd have the same issue as you though OP.

Herbs

4,912 posts

228 months

Monday 18th March 2013
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M3 Coupe or Z4MR if you want convertible IMO smile

Cristiano

2 posts

132 months

Monday 18th March 2013
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Unless your going to take the car to a track, a convertible is fine. Would recommend the 19s though, really suits the car.

cerb4.5lee

30,182 posts

179 months

Monday 18th March 2013
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Herbs said:
M3 Coupe or Z4MR if you want convertible IMO smile
I agree with this too thumbup I swapped my Z4MR for a M3 Coupe smile

ortontom

581 posts

260 months

Monday 18th March 2013
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the 330 suits a convertible drive, low torq and easy use. If your not going to drive it like an m car then dont buy one...i always found of the 3 years of driving the E46 conv. mid corner hit a bump it would just wobble, wing mirror move, steering wheel moves...made me slow down. The coupe now is far better at getting more out of it....plus its a cs so the brakes dont fade after 10 mins of use...lol

torqueofthedevil

2,068 posts

176 months

Thursday 15th August 2013
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Just found a perfect m3, amazing spec with a fantastic private plate included......but it's a convertible! The sound would be a bonus and nice for a few months in summer (got an mx5 - so I like convertibles) but its just wrong to get a convertible m3 isn't it?!?!?

Shotaro

96 posts

127 months

Friday 16th August 2013
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Depends really, are you going to going to the track with it and often going for a drive down the B roads, which you would probably prefer the stability of the coupe for, or for a daily driver, where you would like to put the top down and take it easy which may suit the convertible more?

M3DEV

1,438 posts

194 months

Saturday 24th August 2013
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torqueofthedevil said:
Just found a perfect m3, amazing spec with a fantastic private plate included......but it's a convertible! The sound would be a bonus and nice for a few months in summer (got an mx5 - so I like convertibles) but its just wrong to get a convertible m3 isn't it?!?!?
The one at a specialist sportscar dealer in Nottinghamshire?
If it is it's a stunner!
The E46 M3 vert is a wonderful car, it may not have the absolute handling of the Coupe but top down with that awesome soundtrack, makes up for any loss in rigidity IMO!

161BMW

1,697 posts

164 months

Saturday 24th August 2013
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This is a question to those that owned E46 M3 Coupe and E46 M3 Convertible. Is the noise in Convertible much louder than Coupe ????

When both in standard or stock form.