1993 BMW 3 Series Cabriolet (E36) Photos, engines & full specs

BMW customers knew that an open-top version would follow to replace the former E30 Convertible, but the automaker made them wait until 1993, two years after the launch of the E36 lineup.

The German automaker didn’t want to rush things. After the sedan’s market launch in 1991, it took another year to finish and release the coupe on which the convertible was based. As a result, the rag-top was ready to meet its customers in 1993, just in time for the summer. BMW tried to create a vehicle that would look just as good with the top down as with the roof closed. Furthermore, the car manufacturer understood that the rear seats of the previous 3 Series, the E30, couldn’t provide enough legroom due to the short wheelbase and the rag top’s storage compartment. However, the new platform could provide enough to make four people feel comfortable even on long travels, regardless of whether the canvas top was up or down.

At the front, the design team, supervised by Claus Luthe, took as many parts as possible from the coupe version. The rectangular headlights continued on their outer corners with the turn signal lamps, which looked like extensions, even though they were separate parts. In addition, the wrapped-around plastic bumper featured a deeper chin, where the automaker installed the main air intake that cooled the engine. It was a significant design change since the upper grille had that role in the previous generation.

From its profile, BMW insisted that the car should perform well even if it didn’t have any sort of B- or C-posts to strengthen the bodywork, like the E30 Convertible. As a result, the engineering team worked relentlessly to develop a sturdy frame for the windshield, supported by thick A-pillars, which, despite being very raked, wouldn’t bend during a rollover crash. The result was a low-slung look, with an ascending line that started from the headlights and went across the bodywork all the way to the short rear deck. Depending on the version, the car also sported a set of aerodynamic side skirts, which made the car look even lower to the ground. Along with the 1993 BMW 3 Series Convertible, the German automaker introduced the power-retractable roof. The process was eased by the use of a single latching point instead of two, like on the E30. Out back, the trunk’s lid, even though it looked like it was borrowed from its coupe sibling, had an integrated third braking lamp, which was unavailable on any other E36 3 Series. At the same time, the corner-mounted taillights looked similar to those installed on its two-door sibling. Finally, the rear body-colored plastic bumper had a black lower valance with a cut on one side for the tailpipe, single or twin, depending on the engine version.

Inside, the automaker installed a set of bucket seats at the front with high bolstered areas that kept their occupants in place during hard cornering situations, while in the back, the rear bench seat provided enough comfort for average-sized passengers. But still, since the seating position had to be moved forward to make room for the canvas roof’s storage compartment, legroom was smaller than the one offered by the coupe version. BMW introduced an industry-first innovation for convertibles. While the car had a plastic rear window, it was also defrosted via a designated ventilation system placed between the rear passengers. To ensure their peace of mind, the automaker also installed pop-up rollover protections that could be deployed in 3 tenths of a second if the car’s tilt angle exceeded 50 degrees.

Under its beautiful skin, the E36 Convertible concealed a sturdy chassis that made the car feel and drive very similar to the coupe. Unfortunately, these reinforcements increased the overall weight, leading to lower performance. However, that wasn’t necessarily a significant problem for those who wanted a premium convertible for cruising. BMW offered the car with a choice of gasoline engines ranging from 115 PS (114 hp) to 193 PS (190 hp). Customers could opt for a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission at the car's launch. Later, a five-speed auto became available across the range.