2000 BMW 3 Series Cabriolet 330Ci 5MT RWD (231 HP)

Vehicle Overview

One year after the introduction of the 3 Series E46 Coupe, BMW released the drop-top version of this model and extended the lineup of its most successful nameplate to date.

After the release of the sedan and the station wagon versions, the most sought-after versions of the 3 Series, the German automaker continued the saga with the coupe and the convertible. While these were not the best-selling versions of the car, they represented BMW’s answer for those who wanted a vehicle more for the pleasure of driving rather than for their utility. However, there was one problem when creating a sports-oriented convertible. The car had to have a similar stiffness as the coupe from which it derived. BMW solved that with new reinforcements to the platform, but it did it even better than on the previous generation of the 3 Series convertible, the E36, which was considered stiff enough by customers. In fact, the automaker stated that it improved rigidity by 30% over that model, which was no small achievement by all means.

At the front, the vehicle penned by Erik Goplen carried over the same look as the E46 Coupe. Its headlights had a double curvature on their lower side and had the outer-mounted turn signals look like they were part of the entire assembly, even though they were not. Between them, integrated on the front side of the hood, BMW installed the famous kidney grille surrounded by a chromed trim and featuring slim vertical slats. At the same time, on the lower bumper, the car manufacturer placed a broad air intake that could integrate the available round fog lamps.

Ever since the first generation of the 3 Series Cabriolet, the E30, BMW has tried to create a sleek look for its convertibles. To achieve that, strong A-pillars were created to protect the occupants in the event of a rollover crash. For the E46 version, the automaker also installed pop-up roll bars behind the rear seats. These could deploy in 0.003 seconds if the vehicle was tilted on any side by 50 degrees. Other than that, there were no pillars besides those that sustained the windshield. In the back, the short and flat deck also sported an integrated third braking light. This system was carried over from the previous Cabriolet. As a novelty for the model, the car could be covered or uncovered remotely via the same buttons that locked or unlocked the car respectively.

Inside, the driver-oriented dashboard was typical for the E46 3 Series. The automaker placed the audio system at the top of the center console, followed by the HVAC buttons below. As standard, the 2000 BMW 3 Series Convertible came with a cassette player, while a CD changer was available. Furthermore, BMW also installed a navigation system, albeit without a big screen that could show a map. While that system wasn’t the best available, it could still lead the drivers to their desired destinations. In the back, the automaker had to push the bench seat slightly forward to make room for the retractable multi-layered canvas top. Surprisingly, the trunk was good enough since the ragtop and its mechanism didn’t take a big chunk of it.

Under the hood, the automaker installed a choice of gasoline engines ranging between 143 PS (141 hp) and a healthy three-liter inline-six powerplant that produced 231 PS (228 hp). All versions sent their power to the rear wheels only via a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic.