89 325I Convertible handling - BMW Forum

Mooseimage · 10-03-2008, 10:51 AM

Hi everyone, new to the forum here. I'm looking into buying a 87 325I Convertible, which will be my first RWD N/A engine car. I'm coming from a 94 Volvo 850 Turbo (FWD and Turbo), and then a 01 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro (AWD and Turbo). Sold the volvo, and had an accident in the Audi, which is why i'm looking at the BMW.

My question comes to how the car handles. I know I can add suspension upgrades and all, but my concern is in regards to it being a covertible. Straight up, how is the handling of the car being convertible compared to being hardtop? This will pretty much make or break the deal cause I'm a believer that convertibles can't handle as well as their hardtop counterparts. Thanks in advance.

denyo77 · 10-03-2008, 11:56 AM

and you're right with that. The e30 vert doesn't handle as good as an e30 hardtop. In fact no convertible will be as rigid as the complimentary hardtop car.
Because of the missing roof the chassis is more prone to twisting. If you plan to take the car to a race strip or something like that, I wouldn't recommend a 4-seat convertible.

But for everyday driving, an e30 vert with anti-sway bars and dome struts and all that stuff should be okay, even at quick speeds.

Mooseimage · 10-03-2008, 12:16 PM

All right cool. I'm a very spirited driver, I tend to push my cars to the limit on rare occasions. I'll stay away from the covertibles, will make my life easier.

denyo77 · 10-04-2008, 09:19 AM

in that case maybe a 328i e36 or an e36 M3 might suit you better
how much do you want to spend?

Mooseimage · 10-04-2008, 04:20 PM

I'm looking to spend $2000 tops. Just need a car to get me around 'till I fix my Audi. Once I finish the repairs, I'll then turn the car into a rally car, or my modding weekend driver when I go canyon driving and on twisting roads.

yammahamma · 10-05-2008, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denyo77

and you're right with that. The e30 vert doesn't handle as good as an e30 hardtop. In fact no convertible will be as rigid as the complimentary hardtop car.
Because of the missing roof the chassis is more prone to twisting. If you plan to take the car to a race strip or something like that, I wouldn't recommend a 4-seat convertible.

But for everyday driving, an e30 vert with anti-sway bars and dome struts and all that stuff should be okay, even at quick speeds.

I've heard that, in general, verts are a tad heavier than hardtops too...you'd think it'd be the other way with the missing top and all but, I guess they have to re-inforce the body to make up for the rigidity lost by not having the hard top.

I even remember reading in the factory manual that the verts top speed (stock) is a few mph slower than the hard tops....

just fyi

ps. I love my vert though.

denyo77 · 10-05-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooseimage

I'm looking to spend $2000 tops. Just need a car to get me around 'till I fix my Audi. Once I finish the repairs, I'll then turn the car into a rally car, or my modding weekend driver when I go canyon driving and on twisting roads.

well I guess you wouldn't hve gotten a vert for that price either. Verts are usually about twice as expensive as the hardtop e30s.
Get yourself a 325i or a 325e. The e doesn't have as much hp as the i, but it's got more potential