BMW 330Ci and 325Ci convertibles debut with new powertrains
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
|
BORREGO SPRINGS, Calif. -- The back route to Borrego Springs, a green oasis set in the vast brown wilderness of California's bleak Anza Borrego Desert, comes out of Earthquake Valley on a sand-swept strip of worn pavement before zigzagging over Yaqui Pass.
It's a severe route cut through the desolate Valencito Mountains, mixing tight curves and whoop-de-do pavement heaves with pancake flats for speed tests.
Just the ticket to flex muscles on a new 330Ci convertible from Germany's BMW.
This slinky ragtop -- equipped with a classic rear-wheel drive system and powerful new engine, plus big 17-inch performance tires and a pliable independent suspension system with lightweight aluminum components -- whips through so many curves in an awesome exhibition of its road-hugging manners.
The car's weight is distributed over front and rear wheels almost equally (49/51 percent for front/rear), meaning the 330Ci becomes quite predicable when engaged in aggressive maneuvers such as charging through the curves.
Its poised posture is also aided by big disc brakes linked to anti-lock and traction devices as well as a stability mechanism. These sophisticated electronic controls check speed or lateral wiggle in a smooth linear progression without undue nose dive, while the crisp rack and pinion steering mechanism responds instantaneously to keep the prow pointed around the next sweeper.
And there's so much peddle power to play.
Big-time torque, churning through a beefy new aluminum-block engine, injects tenacious but controlled force on rear wheels as the driver manipulates a short manual shift lever in a run to high speed on the flats.
With the drop-top down and a hot sun streaking into the leather-lined cockpit, a dry wind whips ears as an aural indication of the vehicle's illicit clip.
It can rip from zero to 60 mph in less than seven seconds and peg the speedometer with a top speed, limited electronically, at 128 mph.
The new in-line six engine, displacing 3.0 liters, stocks dual overhead cams and BMW's infinitely variable valve timing system.
Output reaches to 225 horsepower at 5900 rpm, with torque up to 214 lb-ft at 3500 rpm.
This plant replaces the previous 2.8-liter six in all top 3-Series Bimmers for 2001 and, since BMW employs an alphanumeric name for cars that roughly relates to the displacement of an engine, the model nomenclature for the 2001 convertible becomes 330Ci.
Another new convertible in the 3-Series compact class goes by the designation of 325Ci.
Its straight-six contains the same equipment as the 3.0-liter plant but measures to 2.5 liters and produces 184 horsepower at 6000 rpm with torque to 175 lb-ft at 3500 rpm.
A Getrag Type B five-speed manual transmission keyed to a self-adjusting clutch is standard for the 325Ci, while the heavy-duty ZF Type C manual five drops into the 330Ci.
Both cars offer optionally a ZF automatic articulated through five forward gears. It has a sport mode for elevated shift points plus controls that can determine an individual's driving style before harmonizing with it. Also, BMW's Steptronic mode creates clutch-less shifts.
The racy new BMW convertibles spin off two coupe designs that emerged as 2000 models, which in turn grew out of the fifth evolution for sedans from 1999.
These convertible Bimmers carry all of the extensive safety systems found on the coupes, plus rollover protection due to safety bars concealed in backseat headrests. The steel bars will deploy in a fraction of a second if on-board sensors detect tipping of the vehicle.
The folding convertible top provides motorized power movement for the 330Ci, although it's optional on the 325Ci.
Simply touch a console toggle switch to activate the mechanism, then watch out. All four side windows drop as the leading edge of the lid flips back, then a trunk flap rises and the lid quickly folds and slips into front recesses of the trunk.
Passive standard safety gear includes frontal and side-impact air bags for front seat riders plus three-point safety belts with automatic locking retractors for the four seat positions and adjustable shoulder straps for front buckets anchored in outboard seatbacks.
Active safety devices, either standard or optional, use cutting-edge vehicle controls.
Electronic brake proportioning automatically modulates brake pressure front to rear to prevent wheels from slipping; cornering brake control maintains stability when turning by regulating brake pressure selectively per wheel; park distance control adds sensors and a signal that sounds when the rear bumper gets too close to an object in the rearward path; rain-sensing wipers activate automatically when infrared sensors detect rain drops on windshield, and a navigation system with satellite link can plot the car's earthly position and display it on the map of an in-dash video screen.
A standard assist is BMW's computerized Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) mechanism that can correct potentially dangerous car movements when wheels slip laterally. This automatic stability control system channels brake pressure to an individual wheel and blocks outward slippage of the rear-drive wheels to keep the chassis aimed in the intended direction.
The larger footprint of 3-Series coupes with an elongated wheelbase and wider track carries over to the new convertibles and forges a larger passenger compartment with more space for legs and shoulders.
The instrument panel shows electronic analog gauges, plus an adjacent four-function computer.
Front bucket seats have eight-way power controls standard and ten-way power controls in optional packages.
Other standards for the 330Ci extend to an automatic climate system, power windows with one-touch up and down functions, leather seat upholstery and an audio system with cassette deck and ten speakers, while options range from a dashboard CD deck to Harmon Kardon audio.
Extra gear clusters in packages. The sport pack applies firm calibrations to suspension components and 17-inch speed-rated performance tires plus sport bucket seats, while the premium package installs the rain-sensing wipers, Myrtle wood trim and four-way lumbar controls in front seats.
Pricing for the BMW convertibles starts at $35,560 for 325Ci and $42,970 for 330i, with sport/premium packages pegged at $2,900/$600 on 325Ci and $800/$800 for 328Ci.
|
| 2001 BMW 330CI VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Compact 2+2 convertible
|
| Model Options: |
Compact 2+2 convertible
|
| Wheelbase: |
107.3 inches
|
| Overall Length: |
176.7 inches
|
| Engine Size: |
DOHC 2.5-L I6
DOHC 3.0-L I6
|
| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/5 Steptronic
|
| Drive: |
Rear
|
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS/AST/DSC
|
| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
|
| Gas Mileage: |
2.5-L M/5: 19/27 mpg
2.5-L A/5: 19/26 mpg
3.0-L M/5: 20/28 mpg
3.0-L A/5: 18/25 mpg
|
| MSRP Price: |
$ 35,560 to $ 49,495 |
|
|
|
The Big Lot! is dedicated to privacy, security, and service. Read our Privacy Policy.