BMW 335I SE Convertible:The latest BMW convertible is a luxury well worth enjoying, writes Michael McAleerMotoring editor
In hindsight, it was a little optimistic. We were caught in the moment, won over by the images filling the front pages of two leaders, once arch-enemies, now sharing jokes and office.
Surely, we thought, if Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness could get along, then a new openness and free spirit may prevail on this fair isle. Yet driving through Sion Mills in a new southern registered 3-Series convertible with the roof down was perhaps a bit too daring, even with the new-found friendships at Stormont.
It did allow us, however, to be within earshot of some of the more colourful opinions of local schoolchildren and their views on the recent economic boom in the Republic and Dublin-registered BMWs in particular.
There is some hope for the future to be taken from their comments: they were nearly identical to the ones we overheard as we drove through Dundalk that same evening. Perhaps the two sides have never been that different all along. They certainly share the same opinion of convertible owners.
After three weeks driving various new convertibles you get the impression that their owners have a certain "glass half full" mentality about them. How else can you explain someone paying extra on the off-chance that it won't rain for a few hours?
Logic would suggest a convertible car in Ireland would challenge the most ardent climatologist's belief in global warming. And yet dealers tell us convertible sales are going strong. We are becoming a more optimistic nation.
Despite this, there remains an element of begrudgery among some of the general public towards those who like to drive with the roof down. And it seems to come to the fore when the badge up front spells BMW. Thankfully, the owners of such cars are never exactly shy conservative types.
Regardless of the welcome we received in some quarters, this car marks an historic turn for the BMW brand. True, there have been three earlier convertible versions in this class before, but this is the first time the Bavarians have opted for folding metal to cover the occupants.
While it has become something of a norm in recent years, BMW had been wary of the extra weight that accompanies this format, fearing it would impact on its proud driving heritage. Thankfully, potential owners have nothing to fear on that count.
It's modelled on the coupé version and with roof up, there's little in the way of difference, save for the fold lines in the metal and the weaker sweep of BMW's famous Hofmeister kink on the c-pillar. And when mated to the twin-turbo 3-litre in the 335i - which last week won the international engine of the year title - it packs an almighty punch.
The award is well deserved, for this engine succeeds in not only reawakening BMW's interest in turbocharging - something they left behind in the 1980s - but it also manages to reduce the weight load on the front axle.
To come up with such high performance figures, BMW had two choices: either develop a six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that matched the sort of output it gets from the M3, or squeeze its V8 into this relatively small body.
The downside of the first would clearly be cost, the downside of the latter would be weight. The extra load of a V8 up front could well have turned this rear-wheel drive into some form of spinning top, rotating around the front nose while going nowhere fast.
Putting out 301bhp is no small feat and doing so without the slightest turbo lag is an engineering achievement. It's also matched up with a hypnotic meaty growl.
In terms of handling, we noted little or no difference between the coupé and convertible, and though the steering felt quite heavy on the test car, that was largely down to the wide low profile tyres rather than any mechanical issues.
These tyres also compromised some of the comfort levels, and while they look great on the car, they're best avoided if you venture anywhere other than pristine new motorway tarmac.
So you have all the accolades of the 3-Series coupé here, but with the added bonus of a folding metal roof, offering the allure of open-top motoring.
Given the 200kg of extra load it has to carry in the rear, this could be something of a handicap in the smaller-engined versions on offer, but in the 335i, there's little noticeable effect on performance. Aficionados will be able to note that the car in this guise becomes less potent in straight line run-offs, but the average motorist will not notice any difference and will instead be won over by the flexibility of the roof.
It's a well-crafted feat to fold and flip the metal cover into the boot in less than 22 seconds and it does so without much of the drama and whines of several competitors.
Nevertheless, it adds another €7,850 to the price tag and that's a serious addition to the coupé price.
Buyers should consider the convertible as an optional extra to the coupé. In that way they need to assess the coupé's list of optional extras and when they have finished their shopping list, then and only then should they consider whether they will get full use of the car in open-topped format.
Take this 335i for example. Once you get over the fact you are paying €75,000-plus for a 3-Series, you then have to work your way through the options list. This is not simply a collection of luxury treats; not unless you classify floor mats - at €145 - as a luxury extra.
Add in Sat-Nav at €2,505 and a few luxuries like heated front seats at €515 and you are now talking about a car that's tipping over the €80,000 mark.
Potential owners need to ask themselves if they're actually confident enough to pop down the roof enough times to warrant the extra spend over the coupé version.
Even in the glorious spring sunshine of recent weeks, we couldn't help noticing the number of convertible drivers with their roofs up. On one trip up the M1 to Belfast we counted six modern-day convertibles, all with their fancy folding roofs in place. This was on a day when Ireland's great and good were bearing all to the sun gods.
Perhaps they were feeling a chill, or maybe they abide by the motherly advice about never casting a clout until May is out.
Whatever the reason, you do have to consider whether you'd be one of this group who only pop the roof when you're in the driveway or it's touching 35 degrees.
If so, then would the €7,850 be better spent on other added extras?
If you are confident enough to put up with the odd jibe along the way, then this 3-Series convertible cannot be ignored. It's more potent than many of its rivals and with BMW opting for folding metal, it's time to accept that canvas roofs are quickly becoming a thing of the past.
ENGINE:Award-winning 2,979cc twin turbo-charged petrol engine putting out 301bhp @ 5,800rpm and 400Nm of torque @ 5,000rpm
SPECIFICATION:Driver and passenger front and side airbags; ABS with Brake Froce Display; corner brake control; DSC stability control; Radio/CD; rain sensor and auto lights; auto air con; multi-functioning steering wheel; dynamic cruise control; electric front seats; front foglights; xenon headlamps; parking sensors (rear).
Optional extras include:Sat-Nav - €2,505; floor mats - €145; Active cruise control - €1,215.
L/100KM (MPG)
Urban: 14.9 (18.9)
Extra-urban: 7.0 (40)
Combined: 9.9 (28.5)
CO2 emissions:238g/km
Annual Road tax: €1,109
Price:€78,050 for auto SE
(€60,000 to €79,590)