Press Release
The Retractable Hardtop: Greater Comfort, Solidity and Value.
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Roof opening fully automatically within 22 seconds.
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Unique control and luggage compartment concept.
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Full roof lining, optimised all-round visibility.
Elegant design, thrilling dynamics and supreme driving comfort ??????????????????????????????????????? these are the features that make the new BMW 3 Series Convertible so unique. The new, retractable hardtop serves ideally to highlight and further support these features, offering a standard of comfort, solidity and value quite unique in this segment.
When closed, the roof forms part of the silhouette so typical of the BMW 3 Series Convertible. After being opened, in turn, the three roof elements come to rest so conveniently in the luggage compartment that the car retains its characteristic, low-slung line all the way to the rear end of this open four-seater.
The serene silence offered by the extra-strong lightweight steel construction also ideal for high and very high speeds is simply incomparable, helping to give the new BMW 3 Series Convertible a top position in terms of driving comfort. And the process of switching over to open-air motoring with nothing but the sky above is completed within seconds, the three-piece hardtop opening fully automatically under electrohydraulic power within just 22 seconds and taking only 23 seconds to come out of the luggage compartment and close again.
The exclusivity and premium quality of the hardtop is symbolised inside the car by the stylish roof lining. Outside, highly attractive roof trim bars in body colour accentuate this impression even further, discreetly covering the three joints in the roof.
The finely swinging roofline is also a genuine eye-catcher in the new BMW 3 Series Convertible, and the AM/FM aerials are integrated in the rear window of the retractable hardtop, their function being taken over when the roof is open by on-demand aerials in the rear side panels.
First-class control comfort.
The opening and closing mechanism of the new hardtop also combines maximum comfort with uncompromising function. The three roof elements lift up fully automatically in a flowing motion, swivelling to the rear and coming to rest in compact arrangement, one above the other in the rear compartment. To take up the roof elements, the rear lid in the Convertible acting also as the luggage compartment lid moves up smoothly to the rear. Then, once the roof has opened ??????????????????????????????????????? or closed ??????????????????????????????????????? completely and the hardtop has been fastened in position, the lid on the luggage compartment once again opens the normal way.
The entire process of opening and closing the roof is driven by a central hydraulic unit integrated in a multi-function pan in the floor of the luggage compartment.
The switch for opening and closing the roof is housed in the centre console, with the further option to conveniently open the roof and windows by remote control from the key to the car. All the driver has to do in this case is keep the roof opening switch or, respectively, the remote control button pressed down during the entire opening process. He can naturally interrupt the process of opening the roof at any time simply by letting go of the button, then pressing the button on the remote control or in the centre console again to continue the process of closing the roof.
Remote control with Comfort Access.
Enhanced remote control complete with a Comfort Access function is available as an option, serving to also close the roof from a distance. To avoid inadvertent activation of this closing function, the signal to close the roof is transmitted only over a distance of not more than four metres or 13 feet.
The Comfort Access function also serves to conveniently load and unload the luggage compartment with the roof open. To facilitate access to the storage area in this case, the open hardtop is moved to an interim position by means of the Comfort Access function, allowing easier removal of large and bulky objects such as a golf bag.
Making optimum use of the space available.
The BMW 3 Series Convertible offers outstanding qualities also as a grand tourer, with the roof and luggage compartments separated from one another by a variable cover. As long as the roof is closed, the flexible storage concept provided in this way enables the driver to use also the roof compartment for his luggage and anything else he wishes to take along. For in this case the variable cover moves up electrically when required to enlarge the storage space available to a volume of no less than 350 litres or 12.3 cubic feet. This function for controlling the position of the cover is activated by a switch on the centre console of the car.
As soon as the cover has been lowered once again, the process of converting the new BMW 3 Series Convertible into an open car can start.
The luggage compartment lid comprises a Soft-Close function gently and automatically pulling down the lid after loading and unloading. And even with the roof open, ample capacity of 210 litres or 7.4 cubic feet still remains within the luggage compartment.
Hardtop with enhanced all-round visibility.
With its large windows and full lining inside, the closed roof offers optimum all-round visibility combined with a bright and exclusive ambience. Compared with the previous model, the rear side windows alone are 30 per cent larger than before, with visibility to the rear enlarged by an even more significant 38 per cent.
Perfect in every kind of weather.
Even poor or rapidly changing weather need not spoil your driving pleasure in the new BMW 3 Series Convertible, since the roof not only closes and opens quickly and conveniently, but also ensures a smooth flow of rainwater away from the car taken into account in developing the roof kinematics. In the interest of optimum water management, a water flow system has been integrated in the construction of the roof, serving to collect residual drops of water in small pans at the side while the roof is moving, any water accumulating in this way then being able to evaporate afterwards.
Again, this allows the driver and his passengers to enjoy the thrill of open-air motoring at any time, preventing even the slightest moisture from entering the interior or luggage compartment.
