Looking at 3 series BMW convertables

[Ole gits rule]

That sounds like a lot of trouble to me, think I’ll avoid BMW.

As SARS said the roof mechanism is the same on the E93 as the F33 so most issues would have been sorted.

Had the dreaded water in the rear panel, it can be done at home with a tiny bit of spannering, (Take a look You tube) or get the garage you buy it from to sort it, if buying privately my garage did mine for £60 and its a permeant fix, just get it done from day one as it can also affect the electric rear quarter window motors which fail and can stop the rood lowering as well as the amp.

Touch wood, my roof has been faultless and the transformer thing is a gimmick IMHO, I've used mine once as I never leave the car anywhere with the roof down, not even at home.

Just make sure you get one with the air collar / heated seats / wind deflector as the car can be driven in colder weather with the roof down.

The issue is, no one ever comes onto a forum to say my roof has been great - its always, i have had an issue how do I fix it, I bet there are plenty of cars out there with no issues.

[sars]

Thank you sars, not in a hurry, just as well as not a lot in this area at the moment. Quite like the Mercedes e class convertible but seems a bit large compared to the BMW.

So before the 435xd I had the E350D convertible, it was a lovely car, comfortable and a relaxed drive, the only downside was traction, to much torque and not enough grip. The 435xd didn't feel smaller at all and it was a lot more fun, I would definitely have the F33 BMW over the Mercedes

[Ole gits rule]

Thank you sars, not in a hurry, just as well as not a lot in this area at the moment. Quite like the Mercedes e class convertible but seems a bit large compared to the BMW.

So before the 435xd I had the E350D convertible, it was a lovely car, comfortable and a relaxed drive, the only downside was traction, to much torque and not enough grip. The 435xd didn't feel smaller at all and it was a lot more fun, I would definitely have the F33 BMW over the Mercedes

We have an e250 vert and you are right not much difference in size, in fact the new c class very is a little smaller than the 4 series from memory, I looked at an e class but remember you said it was like a boat so went for the M4.

Plus the older e class interior is not as nice as a F33 IMHO - just looks very dated, the new ones are much nicer, both ours are 15 plates and the 4 series looks much better and is a better place to sit

[Pondrew]

The E class is a size larger than the 3 or 4 series, though. They are not made to compete in the same market.

3 (or 4) are equivalent to a Merc C class and the Audi 4 (or 5).

E class is in the same market as the 5 series BM or 6 (and 7) Audrey.

If I was to buy another 4 seat vert, I think I would go Audrey A5.

However, me being me, I have started seriously looking at the latest generation RS6 estate. Fecking expensive; but a supercar estate, what's not to like?

[Ole gits rule]

The E class is a size larger than the 3 or 4 series, though. They are not made to compete in the same market.

3 (or 4) are equivalent to a Merc C class and the Audi 4 (or 5).

E class is in the same market as the 5 series BM or 6 (and 7) Audrey.

If I was to buy another 4 seat vert, I think I would go Audrey A5.

However, me being me, I have started seriously looking at the latest generation RS6 estate. Fecking expensive; but a supercar estate, what's not to like?

We are talking earlier e class & I think the earlier e class (2009 - 2016) Coupé and convertible models of the E-Class of the same generation are W204 C-Class based and known as the C207 and A207, so similar to the four series, they were called e class as they had e class technology on the c class chassis from memory.

L 4670 v 4700 W 2010 v 2020 H 1390 v 1400

The latest generation of e class are made on the e class chassis so definitely bigger and compete with the 5 series.

RS6 - You would be selling that in 2 weeks when you realise it does about 10mpg and cost £1200 for a service

[MikeyH]

Thank you all for your really good and sensible advice. Although I prefer a hardtop convertible 4 seater because it is less dingy with the roof up and let’s face, that’s how it will be used most of the time in the winter, I am put off by the trouble we have had with the wife’s Ford Focus CC roof. At the moment I am erring towards the Audi A5 convertible but as always I will change my mind often before I settle on one. When I was looking for a 2 seat roadster I started with mx5s through SLKs, 986 Boxters and Audi TT and ended up with an E85. I haven’t regretted buying it yet. I like the look of the BMW 4 series but they are more than I want to pay for a car, the Audi is more affordable for me. Once again thank you all again your advice as always is very welcome and appreciated

[Ole gits rule]

Thank you all for your really good and sensible advice. Although I prefer a hardtop convertible 4 seater because it is less dingy with the roof up and let’s face, that’s how it will be used most of the time in the winter, I am put off by the trouble we have had with the wife’s Ford Focus CC roof. At the moment I am erring towards the Audi A5 convertible but as always I will change my mind often before I settle on one. When I was looking for a 2 seat roadster I started with mx5s through SLKs, 986 Boxters and Audi TT and ended up with an E85. I haven’t regretted buying it yet. I like the look of the BMW 4 series but they are more than I want to pay for a car, the Audi is more affordable for me. Once again thank you all again your advice as always is very welcome and appreciated

The four is pretty reliable although I do like the A5 as well and did look at one before I bought the M4.

What is your budget / spec requirements etc as four series can be got for 12k these days

[Huzee4]

I owned this 2013 320d cabriolet for 8 years, part ex’d last month for a granddaughter friendly X3.
It was a fabulous car had all the toys and a pleasure to drive.
No issues at all with the roof, but did feel a bit chilly on occasions with it folded down unlike my Zed. Rear seat passengers freeze most of the time and leg room is non existent.
On the day I was due to pick up the new car I was emptying the boot and in the plastic lidded storage bin situated in the floor which I hadn’t opened for possibly years I found about six inches of water.
I’d heard other 320 cab owners complaining of boot leakes and always thought I’d escaped as I’d always cleaned the rubbers and used gummi fledge. Dealership gave me £5,500 for it with 54k on the clock, it was back on the forecourt a week later for £9,995 and sold almost immediately.

[Ole gits rule]

Wow thats a nice looking motor for £5,500k, they are going for well over that surely with only 54k on the clock

The boot water could be form the rear quarter, this can normally be heard sloshing about when starting / stopping the car.

[enuff_zed]

My wife wants a hard top convertible as 3 quarter vis is better but yes I had wondered about the reliability of the roof.

My missus had a couple of 220d convertibles. Very nice cars and no issues with visibility that I recall.

[MikeyH]

Thank you all for your really good and sensible advice. Although I prefer a hardtop convertible 4 seater because it is less dingy with the roof up and let’s face, that’s how it will be used most of the time in the winter, I am put off by the trouble we have had with the wife’s Ford Focus CC roof. At the moment I am erring towards the Audi A5 convertible but as always I will change my mind often before I settle on one. When I was looking for a 2 seat roadster I started with mx5s through SLKs, 986 Boxters and Audi TT and ended up with an E85. I haven’t regretted buying it yet. I like the look of the BMW 4 series but they are more than I want to pay for a car, the Audi is more affordable for me. Once again thank you all again your advice as always is very welcome and appreciated

The four is pretty reliable although I do like the A5 as well and did look at one before I bought the M4.

What is your budget / spec requirements etc as four series can be got for 12k these days

We don't spend anything like that much on a car, never have. I wont be going past £8,000.00, will be cash don't like that HP malarkey, that is enough considering the wife will park it in sainsbury and lidl car parks Limits us to A5, series 3 and another focus CC. Not buying French crap again. Keeping to 70,000 miles or less, they are about but miles away. Just need to be patient and of course the wrong time of year. Wife doesn't want hard suspension, says 'If I want a crappy ride I'll go out in the Z4

[Ole gits rule]

Thank you all for your really good and sensible advice. Although I prefer a hardtop convertible 4 seater because it is less dingy with the roof up and let’s face, that’s how it will be used most of the time in the winter, I am put off by the trouble we have had with the wife’s Ford Focus CC roof. At the moment I am erring towards the Audi A5 convertible but as always I will change my mind often before I settle on one. When I was looking for a 2 seat roadster I started with mx5s through SLKs, 986 Boxters and Audi TT and ended up with an E85. I haven’t regretted buying it yet. I like the look of the BMW 4 series but they are more than I want to pay for a car, the Audi is more affordable for me. Once again thank you all again your advice as always is very welcome and appreciated

The four is pretty reliable although I do like the A5 as well and did look at one before I bought the M4.

What is your budget / spec requirements etc as four series can be got for 12k these days

We don't spend anything like that much on a car, never have. I wont be going past £8,000.00, will be cash don't like that HP malarkey, that is enough considering the wife will park it in sainsbury and lidl car parks Limits us to A5, series 3 and another focus CC. Not buying French crap again. Keeping to 70,000 miles or less, they are about but miles away. Just need to be patient and of course the wrong time of year. Wife doesn't want hard suspension, says 'If I want a crappy ride I'll go out in the Z4

Huzzee 4 series would have been cracker at £6k and 54k miles and not too far from your daughter in Newport.

The 5 is a lovely looking car but feels much bigger than the 4 series IMHO but the interiors are great.

£8k is a decent amount on a car - just got to to be patient and something will pop up somewhere.

[Pondrew]

What about a nice old Jag XK8 convertible (pre-2006)? Lovely comfortable ride, V8 engine and come with free rust!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... XN&fromsra

A few quid over budget but it's a 'green badge' S. Rare run-out model of the old XK. Not a million miles away and decent mileage. They don't all have bad rust, just most!

[MikeyH]

The four is pretty reliable although I do like the A5 as well and did look at one before I bought the M4.

What is your budget / spec requirements etc as four series can be got for 12k these days

We don't spend anything like that much on a car, never have. I wont be going past £8,000.00, will be cash don't like that HP malarkey, that is enough considering the wife will park it in sainsbury and lidl car parks Limits us to A5, series 3 and another focus CC. Not buying French crap again. Keeping to 70,000 miles or less, they are about but miles away. Just need to be patient and of course the wrong time of year. Wife doesn't want hard suspension, says 'If I want a crappy ride I'll go out in the Z4

Huzzee 4 series would have been cracker at £6k and 54k miles and not too far from your daughter in Newport.

The 5 is a lovely looking car but feels much bigger than the 4 series IMHO but the interiors are great.

£8k is a decent amount on a car - just got to to be patient and something will pop up somewhere.

Yes would have been, I have to be patient

[MikeyH]

What about a nice old Jag XK8 convertible (pre-2006)? Lovely comfortable ride, V8 engine and come with free rust!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... XN&fromsra

A few quid over budget but it's a 'green badge' S. Rare run-out model of the old XK. Not a million miles away and decent mileage. They don't all have bad rust, just most!

Hmm. Need a cloth cap, cravat and a pipe to drive one of those, looks good though