With the novel done on my Mercedes S600 sale it’s time to get back to blogging about cars. And as much as I wanted to get one unicorn on the page (honestly it’ll be the ONLY post for September – pitiful blogger!) I stumbled on a couple similar cars that may be of interest, so without further delay here’s three BMW convertibles just in time for fall motoring.
This hot red coupe is a 2012 BMW M3 with the venerable V-8. It’s a hard top convertible with a dual-clutch transmission. BMW made the M3 with a V-8 from 2007-2013 – models before and after were all six cylinders. The M3 coupe pulls low-to-mid four second 0-60 mph sprints, but the hard top convertible’s several hundred pound additional weight unfortunately puts this M3 at five seconds flat. More later on why that’s okay with me.
The M3 interior is nondescript and yet comfortable and purposeful as with all BMW 3-series. Cupholders are crappy extensions from the dash and guarantee spillage on the transmission tunnel and passenger door. Seats have the usual Pop Tart holder seam between the legs.
There are three reasons to advocate the E9X series BMW M3. The biggest is the motor above. It’s a naturally aspirated 4.0 liter V-8 rated at 414 horsepower @ 8300rpm! The second is the hardtop convertible. Drop the top and you can hear that raucous engine wail. Top up it’s a fairly civilized coupe – just a few shakes and rattles over bumps although not bad at all. The third is – I own the one below and absolutely love it. Can’t say enough good things.
I have amateurish phone videos of me trying to wind out the gears in my M3. The YouTube video below is not me – it’s too well done. It captures the raw thrust and racket of the V-8. Makes me giggle.
This pretty red M3 sold new for maybe $65,000 a decade ago and is now here in Norcross, Georgia for $34,998. It’s a bit high in mileage – I paid $7,000 more for my 2013 and it had only 34,000 miles. If I wasn’t a procrastinator I would have shared yesterday a 2012 M3 for $32,998 with I think 37,000 miles. That would have been a steal except it sold today. I can share with you that I’ve put 5,000 miles on my M3 in five months as a daily driver and two road trips and it has not been back to CarMax for a single major repair. I bought MaxCare, though, and I’ll do my best to break it….in.
Stock # 22081850 VIN # WBSDX9C50CE784737
Not everyone wants or needs a beefy V-8 in a 3-series BMW, and yet maybe a vanilla 328 or 335 doesn’t race the pulse enough. I’ve always been intrigued with these in between sports coupe/convertibles – the “is” models. The BMW 335is comes with a turbocharged inline six cylinder rated at 320hp – 20 more than the standard 335. Wiki also tells me “Other changes compared to the 335i include stiffer engine mounts, a higher-flow exhaust system, an upgraded cooling system, a different steering wheel, sport seats and “335is” badging on dash and in the instrument cluster.[50][51] Exterior differences are larger air openings in the front bumper, a rear bumper that incorporates a diffuser-style piece, black kidney grills, and 18-inch or 19-inch “Style 313″ wheels.” Only 4,500 335is models were made for the North American market. A bit of a unicorn.
The interior is identical to the M3.
The BMW 335is relies on an up to seven second overboost to the 3.0 liter inline six and the additional horsepower to propel the car to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds – more for the hardtop convertible. Performance is actually on par with the M3. The 335is sold new for perhaps $50,000, and this pretty car is both low mileage and relatively low price. It’s currently in Canoga Park, California here.
Stock #Â 22999355Â Â VIN #Â WBADX1C54DJ128751
Below is another, cheaper 335is – a 2012 model that’s equally gorgeous and a little cheaper at $25,998. Higher mileage. Interior is a little brighter in the pre-coffee stained brown color.
This 2012 BMW 335is is “Coming Soon” here in Irving, Texas. Stay tuned for some more “is” cars next week!
Stock # 23267798 VIN # WBADX1C56CE570762
