Item: Used BMW 3 Series Convertible 1994 - 2000
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

3 SERIES

Age is now taking its toll, but good examples are still great

Used BMW 3 Series Convertible 1994 - 2000

Mid-1990s cars are now temptingly inexpensive, but their age and probable condition makes them risky purchases. It's best to source the newest you can afford. Do that, get a good one, and day-to-day expenses should stay sensible.

Check that the hood is rip-free. Unless damaged, the soft-top should last 10 years, but a replacement costs over £1000. Servicing is fairly priced and intervals are variable, according to how you drive. Spares are reasonable and a well-serviced car should remain reliable even at six-figure mileages.

Insurance is several groups dearer than for the equivalent saloons, but on with other soft-tops. That means the 318i is group 14, the 323i is 16 and the 328i is 17.

Fuel economy is respectable: the 318i returns up to 35mpg overall, the 323i up to 31mpg and the 328i 30mpg.

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Age is now taking its toll, but good examples are still great


Less is more when it comes with this particular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> 3 Series Convertible. The entry-level 318i gives you most of what the car's about, and a sweet and willing 1.8-litre four-cylinder motor, while keeping running costs sensible. There's also a 323i with two extra cylinders and 170bhp to the 1.8's 115, and a 328i with a 193bhp 2.8. Both are great pieces of engineering, but it's hard to argue a case for them when the 1.8 does such a sound job and has much more palatable running costs.

Most first owners will have selected freely from the extras list, so see plenty before you buy, and choose one that's fully kitted out. Avoid any models without air-con or alloy wheels because they'll be tricky to resell for the full market price.

Watch out, too, for any brought in as personal imports and not to the same specification as UK-market cars because, again, they might be harder to resell.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

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What we're looking for:<ul><li>Wind-in-the-hair excitement</li> <li>Roof that’s quick and easy to raise and lower</li> <li>Comfortable seating for four adults</li> <li>Sufficient practicality for everyday use</li> <li>Little wind buffeting</li> <li>Quietness, whether the roof is up or down</li> <li>Minimal shaking and shimmying over bumps</li></ul>

Despite the British weather, UK car buyers are among the biggest enthusiasts for wind-in-your-hair motoring, so convertibles have always been surprisingly popular here. It’s best to be able to react to the fickle climate, though, so we’re after a roof that opens (and closes) slickly and quickly and good top-down cruising refinement.

There are precious few bespoke drop-tops these days, so your choice of models is generally limited to soft-top versions of existing models. Mini will sell you a drop-top version of its style-focused hatchback, if you’re after a bit of flair.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/sports/review/n17253">Audi A5 Cabriolet</a>, meanwhile, brings all of the benefits of the regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/hatchback/review/n170">A5</a> – refined engines and a beautifully finished interior. Alternatively, the much more expensive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/continental-gt/sports/review/n24424">Bentley Continental GT Convertible</a> is one of the most luxurious convertibles on sale.

Convertible

Check the hood keeps out the rain, that it raises and fastens correctly, and that the heated rear window operates. If the top is powered, check it runs smoothly in both directions. Inspect its fabric for rips and then do the same for the cabin, as minor repairs will prove expensive.

Check the front mats for damp because the seal at the base of the windscreen can leak. And, watch for rust eating into the rear wheelaches and the bottoms of the doors.

A full service history is a must and, if it's supported by a wad of invoices, so much the better. Manual gearboxes last well and need little attention, but automatic gearboxes need an overhaul at about eight years old, so ask if one has been done, if necessary.

If the car doesn't steer or grip well, new suspension bushes (fairly cheap to buy and fit) should transform its handling. It may also need new shocks, though.

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The BMW 3 Series convertible is a four-seater that drives pretty much as nicely as the acclaimed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">saloon</a> it's based on, suffering little from the shimmying and shaking that afflict other drop-tops.

The driving position is good and all major controls respond crisply. The steering is sharp and there's plenty of grip provided the the tyres are good.

The excellent hood keeps out rain and road noise, and you should be able to find one with electric operation, which was an option on most models. The manual hood is a nuisance to work, but there's less to go wrong.

Mechanically, the Convetible is the same as other 3 Series models, so spare parts are easy to obtain and there are plenty of specialist garages to fix it at fair prices. It'll last well and cover huge mileages if cared for.

The Convertible soldiered on for a couple of years after the 3 Series saloon it's based on was replaced in 1998, so the newest ones are registered in 2000, with an X-plate.

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Used BMW 3 Series Convertible 1994 - 2000 review

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Find out how much the BMW 3 Series 1994 - 2000 costs to run, covering expected MPG, servicing costs and insurance costs.

Mid-1990s cars are now temptingly inexpensive, but their age and probable condition makes them risky purchases. It's best to source the newest you can afford. Do that, get a good one, and day-to-day expenses should stay sensible.,Check that the hood is rip-free. Unless damaged, the soft-top should last 10 years, but a replacement costs over £1000. Servicing is fairly priced and intervals are variable, according to how you drive. Spares are reasonable and a well-serviced car should remain reliable even at six-figure mileages.,Insurance is several groups dearer than for the equivalent saloons, but on with other soft-tops. That means the 318i is group 14, the 323i is 16 and the 328i is 17.Fuel economy is respectable: the 318i returns up to 35mpg overall, the 323i up to 31mpg and the 328i 30mpg. 

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