Bmw M3 Cabriolet Homepage

Question: Bmw m3 cabriolet vs bmw m3 coupe?

(Posted by: lilgangstaparty on 2009-06-15 20:06:43)

Which one weighs less the coupe or the convertible? and which performs better aerodynamically? if they were both going at their top speed and one was a coupe and the other had its top back which one would take the lead, or if the convertible had its top up which would take the lead!?

Posted by: M333 on 2009-06-15, 20:37:04

The coupe weighs less by far (440 lbs, 200 Kg). Aerodynamically should be the same (with the top up), but everything else goes to the coupe since it has less weight to carry around.

Posted by: Questions on 2009-06-16, 04:11:33

Coupé is generally has a lighter gross weight than the cabriolet versions, so physically the Coupé M3 would be slighter faster than the cabriolet versions using the same engine capacity. If both M3 Coupé and the cabriolet are pursuing at the top speeds, then i would say that Coupé is faster.

Posted by: sista_from_anotha_mista on 2009-06-16, 10:39:05

Coupe's are always heavier than convertibles because convertibles need the extra body weight for stability and to house things for the top, but it wouldn't necessarily effect performance, especially since convertibles tend to be more $ than coupes are. BMW would never sell any M3 convertibles if the coupe performed better. If the top was down the coupe would be faster because the top creates lots of drag, but if the top was up they would be equally matched

Posted by: tludwig40 on 2009-06-16, 14:09:24

The coupe is significantly lighter than the convertible due to the additional structural reinforcement the convertible required by the lack of a fixed roof. The coupe also has slightly better aerodynamics than the convertible, even with the top up, because of the way that the convertible top doesn't flow as well into the trunk lid area. The coupe will be noticeably faster than the convertible in a straight line. The coupe will be a few tenths of a second faster to 60 mph and about half a second faster in the 1/ 4 mile. The coupe will also perform better in turns and over rough roads due to improved structural rigidity.