2011 BMW 3 Series Convertible (E93) Photos, engines & full specs

BMW waited another year after the introduction of the refreshed sedan and station wagon versions of the 3 Series before launching their updated convertible sibling, along with the coupe.

Creating a convertible with a retractable hard top wasn’t easy for the German automaker, especially if it wanted to pass as an appealing coupe. Furthermore, customers were obsessed with the vehicle’s structural rigidity, which meant that the car had to be significantly reinforced to provide a similar stiffness to the one provided by the fixed-roof version of the car. But BMW did it, even though it had to make it heavier. With the LCI, or Life Cycle Impulse as the automaker liked to name its facelifted models, the E93 gained more in the styling department, the technology package, and most importantly, under the hood. It shared many of its underpinnings with the rest of the 3 Series range, allowing customers to enjoy their fuel-efficient convertibles for over 1,000 km (620 miles) on a single tank, depending on the version.

Creating the same front fascia for the coupe as for the convertible was one of the ways automakers found to lower production costs, and the E93 was no exception. It featured the same clear lens headlights, available bi-xenon lights, and integrated LED turn signal lamps on the sides. Their swept-back design wasn’t changed compared to the non-facelifted version, but the kidney grille between them was new. Not only that it was flatter and wider, but it also sported a chromed rim. Furthermore, it featured chromed or black vertical slats, depending on the grade. Lower, on the bumper, the 2009 BMW 3 Series Convertible came with a redesigned apron featuring a broad opening adorned by two satin-silver slats mounted on the sides, flanking the lower air intake.

From its profile, the E93 kept its original shape, with its retractable hard top that looked like a regular greenhouse when covered. The automaker didn’t seem to put too much effort into restyling the car’s profile other than offering it new options for the light alloy wheels. At the back, on the other hand, it replaced the L-shaped taillights with ones that featured LEDs for the two light stripes of the turn signals lamps. In addition, the automaker introduced smaller reversing lights. Lower, the bumper featured one or two exhaust tips placed either on one or both sides, depending on the engine version.

Inside, the automaker introduced a fresh iDrive infotainment system, which was available as an option. It featured a list-style menu instead of the grid style as before. It boasted an 8.8-inch high-quality display installed in a separate cluster atop the center stack. The instrument panel had the same classic BMW styling, with large dials for the speedometer and the tachometer, which integrated the fuel level and the oil temperature, respectively. Thanks to the long wheelbase, there was enough room for the rear-seated passengers, even though the seat bench was moved forward to accommodate the storage space for the retractable hard top.

Under the hood, the automaker installed new, Euro 5-compatible engines that could be easily upgraded to the Euro 6 emission standards due to come into force in late 2014. In addition, the base model gained a few ponies, while the newly introduced 335is version came with 334 PS (321 hp). Unlike the rest of the range, the convertible wasn’t available with the all-wheel drive xDrive system.