02-18-2021, 07:04 AM | #1 |
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Question for any 3 or 4 series convertible hardtop owners
Hi All-
I am seriously looking at 2017-2019 430iX convertible for the wife. The hardtop looks close to the same engineering / design as the 3 series hardtops. Question - while this looks like an amazingly engineering design accomplishment....does anyone have any issues with problems operating the hardtop over time? I noticed all new BMW convertibles (cira 2020-on) are all soft top design so I wonder if BMW made decision to move away from hard top due to design reasons? Thanks for any input here. |
02-18-2021, 10:17 AM | #2 |
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I've owned two of the hardtop convertibles, a 3 and a 4, and I've had no mechanical issues, ever. It works flawlessly, nice and quiet too. The reason BMW moved from the hardtop to a softtop is because of economics and profits. BMW gets tax breaks when their cars are under a certain weight and can achieve a certain fuel efficiency level, they've tackled this in different ways across the different series'. The hardtop was heavy, so by removing it the car hit the thresholds that BMW's financial department needed. It's a shame. The hardtop was the only reason I ever considered a convertible. I think the softtop looks hideous the 8 months of the year it's in the raised position, looks like an umbrella and ruins the lines of the car. I happen to think that with the top up and the windows down, the lack of a B pillar just makes the car look incredibly hot, reminiscent of a 60's muscle car. I bought the very last hardtop convertible off the assembly line this summer. Couldn't be happier. Last edited by toddwalton; 02-18-2021 at 10:23 AM.. |
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IcewaterPete2136.00 |
02-18-2021, 12:51 PM | #3 |
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Thanks for reply, could not agree with you more. I rather get a 2017/2018 4 series hardtop vs. 2017/2018 6 series soft top for reason you listed. Being in Indiana, the top will be up 7+ months of the year anyway.
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toddwalton1295.50 |
02-18-2021, 01:04 PM | #4 |
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No problems here
Thoroughly enjoying my 2020 430i xDrive. I had a Volvo 70 and hardtop Miata and the BMW bests them all. Don't forget to add SmartTOP to enhance the convertible experience. |
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02-18-2021, 01:43 PM | #5 |
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I have had 3 BMW convertibles, an e46 ZHP, an E93 and currently an F33. The two hardtops have been amazing.
No problems per se on either related to the top. The E93 I got 145k miles out of it and the F33 is at 54k currently. A few oil leak issues but nothing again related to the top. I was extremely disappointed to hear they were going back to a soft top. The noise reduction and the feeling of being in a solid roof vehicle give you quite a piece of mind when the top is up or in foul weather. |
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toddwalton1295.50 IcewaterPete2136.00 |
02-18-2021, 06:30 PM | #6 |
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My '18 4 series made it to 73k with no top issues before I traded it in.
I also had the SmartTop module installed and it gave me no issues. My puppy is mad at me. She misses the convertible. |
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02-18-2021, 10:56 PM | #7 |
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My top has stopped on me several times. Just recently I pulled off the highway to put the top up because of a possibility of rain. It took several minutes for the top to close. Glad the rain didn’t come. I’ve had it serviced 3 times. They haven’t been able to fix it. Always stops the same place in the process. Has a message about possibly overheating, even though it hasn’t moved in days. Eventually it works.
I had a VW EOS. Had to have it towed with the top not locked down. |
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02-18-2021, 10:59 PM | #8 | |
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02-18-2021, 11:06 PM | #9 | |
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02-19-2021, 08:32 AM | #10 |
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02-19-2021, 03:52 PM | #11 |
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Hang on, I have videos somewhere. It's an easily installed module that allows you to extend the range of the top up/down from your fob.
I had mine set to two clicks of unlock to lower windows, two clicks of lock to raise windows. Three clicks of unlock to drop the top and three clicks of lock to raise the top. It's easily installed, it took me about five minutes to uninstall it last month when I traded my car in (I have it listed in the classifieds). this is where it's installed this is how it works |
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02-19-2021, 08:19 PM | #12 | |
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02-19-2021, 11:09 PM | #13 | |
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02-19-2021, 11:15 PM | #14 |
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The top works like the comfort access. You have to be close. Don’t know why Bmw did that. But they did.
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02-20-2021, 12:12 AM | #15 | |
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I know some people are that way, but up here in the northeast the car is in top-up configuration 8 months of the year and a soft-top looks inelegant. I just happen to believe that with the hard-top up the F33 is the best looking 4 Series, I think it's got a better roofline than the F30, F32, and F36. It's a better looking coupe than the coupe. I enjoy my F33 with the top up and the windows down than I do with the top completely down. Maybe its just me. Either way, it's really great when top up or top down there is no compromise. Soft-top, definitely a compromise. |
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Llarry15783.50 |
02-22-2021, 08:50 AM | #16 |
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05-10-2021, 04:17 AM | #17 | |
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05-13-2021, 12:24 AM | #18 | |
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11-17-2022, 08:57 PM | #19 |
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Resurrecting an old thread here: How are the F33 4 series hardtop convertible tops doing? Still pretty reliable? I have to agree with the sentiments expressed above that the hardtop convertible has considerable advantages over the succeeding softtops. I am considering adding a convertible to the stable and am drawn to the hardtop convertible for looks primarily, although the security factor is good as well. As my signature indicates, I have a 473 horsepower M3 for performance and would potentially add a convertible not for high performance but for occasional use on nice days. (First world problem )
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11-18-2022, 12:08 PM | #20 |
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Based on what I have read, the main issue I commonly see and I have the same problem are the plastic roof trims breaking. The dealer will not provide lube when they quote you on repairs for these.
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11-18-2022, 07:52 PM | #21 | |
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11-18-2022, 08:21 PM | #22 |
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No, the F32/F33/F36 doesn't have an M440i only the G22 later model does. Although with the track handling package and the MPPSK the F32/etc is basically an M440i without the name. The B58 in the G22 has like 20 more HP than the F32/etc with the MPPSK.
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