So what does a G29 do that the new 4 series convertible can't do?

[Anonymous]

Apart from the grill, the lines seem better..with more choice of powertrains it looks an option for convertible motoring?

 

[sp3ctre]

I'd say it's about how it feels to drive... but a roadster is always going to feel different to a car with rear seats. I went from the Z4 to an S5 converible and while it was a great car it felt a lot different to drive, partly due to being sat closer to the front wheels than the rear wheels. Sure the 4-series is capable, but it's just a different car...

 

[enuff_zed]

Gives you a good excuse not to get landed with the grandkids :wink:

 

[Argyll Andy]

Gives you a good excuse not to get landed with the grandkids :wink:

Or anyone, one of Kathleen’s main criteria for our fun car, two seaters only :wink:

 

[Ian J]

It was a decision that I pondered and eventually plumped for the G29 which is probably more fun but less practical

 

[Scubaregs]

Four seater convertibles always look a bit meh imo. G29 looks far better.

 

[Argyll Andy]

Peter, just built one on the configurator with the same, or as similar as possible, to my G29.

First thing I noticed is 40i only available in Xdrive and also almost £20k dearer

IMO the G29 is also a nicer looking car

 

[Anonymous]

All noted..so for those without children / grand children AND willing to pay for 4 wheel drive what don't you get?

I know I've been a critic of the G29 from a style viewpoint, and I guess like many, I probably would have been a vocal critic of the E89 when it came out but...

I've caught myself 3 times now saying how nice that G29 is..only to find in each case its a new 4 series drophead..

Nobody's going to poo poo their own love child...

The lines apart from the snoz seem just neater without /less the faux detailing..

Its for me an academic point as I'm not willing to pay that level of cash for a car (or more accurately my wife won't let me..)

 

[enuff_zed]

Jeez, £20k more just so you have a car that looks like a Mig15?

 

[Argyll Andy]

I've caught myself 3 times now saying how nice that G29 is..only to find in each case its a new 4 series drophead

Peter, when I search for images the first 3 that came up were white side on ones and at first glance I thought it was a G29 too

 

[Anonymous]

Well I like the 3/4 flank view...maybe more of a gentlemen's smoking carriage..

 

[tomscott]

One of the biggest disappointments with the E89 for me when I drove it was that if felt like a 3 series compared to the E86 M which felt like nothing BMW made. One of the big issues is how much the roof weighs and how it being on top alters the centre of gravity so to me just didn't feel like an agile sports car or even related to the E85/6.

The G29 has turned the corner in that respect the fabric roof makes it the opposite so its more a hark back to the E85, at 1505kg its only 55kg more than the Z4MR at 1,450 kg and similar power. What it lacks is an LSD.

The G29 M40i VS the G23 440 Xdrive

G29 M40i

0-60 4.5s
340hp 500nm

Weight not loaded in kg
1,505

Weight Max in kg
1,740

Length/Width/Height
4,324 / 1,864 / 1,304

G23 440i Xdrive

0-60 4.9s
374hp 500nm

Weight not loaded in kg
1,965

Weight Max in kg
2,390

Length/Width/Height
4,770 / 1,852 / 1,394

Significant differences like 500kg.... a 2 tonne convertible aint going to be much fun in the twisties... Given it more power to make up for the weight which will probably make it understeer more especially being Xdrive. Sure it will fill a purpose but id rather have the Z.

 

[buzyg]

Gives you a good excuse not to get landed with the grandkids :wink:

Yup basically the difference is it tells the rest of the world that you need two rear seats. Nothing wrong with that, but why have something you don't need. Unless your a 911 driver. In which case it tells the rest of the world you can't afford a GT3. :wink:

I guess the 4 seater is heavier and less rigid etc too, but most people are never going to notice the difference driving to Tesco.

 

[Smartbear]

I wonder how much the e89 roof weighs in comparison to the e86 roof? It is constructed of aluminium after all, what’s the e86 roof made from? :?
Rob

 

[tomscott]

All noted..so for those without children / grand children AND willing to pay for 4 wheel drive what don't you get?

I know I've been a critic of the G29 from a style viewpoint, and I guess like many, I probably would have been a vocal critic of the E89 when it came out but...

I've caught myself 3 times now saying how nice that G29 is..only to find in each case its a new 4 series drophead..

Nobody's going to poo poo their own love child...

The lines apart from the snoz seem just neater without /less the faux detailing..

Its for me an academic point as I'm not willing to pay that level of cash for a car (or more accurately my wife won't let me..)

This is my solution but replace the kids for 2 cockapoos! Not to everyones taste as again convertible version of a coupe but I think the 996 4S is one of the best looking cars that came out of Porsche... I know im in the minority but I grew up with the 996 and the Z4M as poster cars.

Porsche 996 Carrera 4 S Convertible, Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 996 Carrera 4 S Convertible, Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 991, 996 Carrera 4S, Yorkshire Porsche Festival, Lotherton Hall, Leeds by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 996 Carrera 4 S Convertible, Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria by Tom Scott, on Flickr



Seats are great and big enough for my god child and the dogs... with the sports exhaust it sounds awesome too, the Z4 doesn't come close but the Z4M is a better drivers car but the burble down country roads is addictive in the 4S. This was 20.5k 4 years ago with 75k on it, worth a few more £ now tho. Had all the major stuff done.

Really rare combo in lapis blue with matching interior tunnel. They are all grey silver or black.

Also means when the time comes and have kids that I don't have to get rid of it.

 

[Scubaregs]

For comparison.

 

[Anonymous]

All noted..so for those without children / grand children AND willing to pay for 4 wheel drive what don't you get?

I know I've been a critic of the G29 from a style viewpoint, and I guess like many, I probably would have been a vocal critic of the E89 when it came out but...

I've caught myself 3 times now saying how nice that G29 is..only to find in each case its a new 4 series drophead..

Nobody's going to poo poo their own love child...

The lines apart from the snoz seem just neater without /less the faux detailing..

Its for me an academic point as I'm not willing to pay that level of cash for a car (or more accurately my wife won't let me..)

This is my solution but replace the kids for 2 cockapoos! Not to everyones taste as again convertible version of a coupe but I think the 996 4S is one of the best looking cars that came out of Porsche... I know im in the minority but I grew up with the 996 and the Z4M as poster cars.

Porsche 996 Carrera 4 S Convertible, Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 996 Carrera 4 S Convertible, Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 991, 996 Carrera 4S, Yorkshire Porsche Festival, Lotherton Hall, Leeds by Tom Scott, on Flickr

Porsche 996 Carrera 4 S Convertible, Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria by Tom Scott, on Flickr

TSP_0829.jpg

Seats are great and big enough for my god child and the dogs... with the sports exhaust it sounds awesome too, the Z4 doesn't come close but the Z4M is a better drivers car but the burble down country roads is addictive in the 4S. This was 20.5k 4 years ago with 75k on it, worth a few more £ now tho. Had all the major stuff done.

Really rare combo in lapis blue with matching interior tunnel. They are all grey silver or black.

Also means when the time comes and have kids that I don't have to get rid of it.

Very nice option as dog carriers go..I thought we were decadent hanging on to the Volvo XC 70 for our two dogs..

Much as I pretend to dislike anything Porsche (save Beetles)..the cabriolet 4S is very pretty with its top down..

 

[Anonymous]

One of the biggest disappointments with the E89 for me when I drove it was that if felt like a 3 series compared to the E86 M which felt like nothing BMW made. One of the big issues is how much the roof weighs and how it being on top alters the centre of gravity so to me just didn't feel like an agile sports car or even related to the E85/6.

The G29 has turned the corner in that respect the fabric roof makes it the opposite so its more a hark back to the E85, at 1505kg its only 55kg more than the Z4MR at 1,450 kg and similar power. What it lacks is an LSD.

The G29 M40i VS the G23 440 Xdrive

G29 M40i

0-60 4.5s
340hp 500nm

Weight not loaded in kg
1,505

Weight Max in kg
1,740

Length/Width/Height
4,324 / 1,864 / 1,304

G23 440i Xdrive

0-60 4.9s
374hp 500nm

Weight not loaded in kg
1,965

Weight Max in kg
2,390

Length/Width/Height
4,770 / 1,852 / 1,394

Significant differences like 500kg.... a 2 tonne convertible aint going to be much fun in the twisties... Given it more power to make up for the weight which will probably make it understeer more especially being Xdrive. Sure it will fill a purpose but id rather have the Z.

I don't disagree with the general sentiments reference absolute and relative position of weight..I just think the new 4 series cab looks prettier from most angles than the G29....maybe its like the old saturday night dance..you see a girl and you think maybe not..then you see her sister and think well relatively speaking then ok

Reference weights and details..

The G29 M40i has a full LSD electronically operated..the other G29s as stock don't..

Weights published by BMW go up and down like a fiddlers elbow..

According to BMW USA technical documentation (all in lbs) the E89 30i was 3,287 and G29 M40i 3,457. (same technical traing guide)

A related brochure stated the 30i 3,329 and a 35i 3505(m) and a 35is 3,549

So according to those values there's not much in it..

Given that the G29 is much bigger in all dimensions than the E89 so its somewhere between either 150 ish lbs heavier than a 30i or 80 lbs lighter than a 35is..with more alloy/plastic/later design that accords..

I did read a couple of reviews that stated that the E89 handled noticeabley better than with roof stowed as weight was moved down and rearwards.

Most cars, porksters accepted could benefit from more weight rearwards IMHO..

 

[Silverstar]

I have to agree about the looks. The new 4 series convertible looks better from most angles than the G29. I saw a green one in the dealers around here same like the one in the pics Pbondar posted here and it looked great. But from a driving point a view I would much rather prefer a 2 seater to a 4.

 

[Argyll Andy]

[ref]Pbondar[/ref],

The G29 M40i has a full LSD electronically operated

I was going to post this but see you beat me to it.

We’ll see if we can change your mind re the G29 when you get the chance to study mine in detail up close