Back in time with the new BMW 430i convertible
The exterior of the BMW 430i.
The interior of the BMW 430i.
The exterior of the BMW 430i.
The exterior of the BMW 430i.
The exterior of the BMW 430i.
The exterior of the BMW 430i.
The exterior of the BMW 430i.
Convertibles are few and far between in the auto industry these days as most families are opting for a family hauler. Those can include exceptionally large panoramic sunroofs that do indeed give that open air look and feel when driving one. However, there is nothing like having an honest to goodness convertible two door, taking us from the everyday humdrum of driving to a place we really had not been since high school.
Each night during our time with the new BMW 430i, around about 8:30, we would hop in the car, back out of the garage, put the top down — which, by the way, was super cool the way it would fold into the trunk automatically — and head out for at least an hour drive as the summer sun set in the western sky.
Our test week in June was unseasonably warm this year, making it more than perfect convertible weather, certainly not too cold. The designers had also included additional neck warmers in the front seats ($500) for those days in the fall when putting the top down may just be a little chilly.
For us, it was magical driving around Springville and making other short drives each night, kind of like what we used to call “crusing” back when we were in high school, where everyone headed to Spanish Fork to drive up and down Main Street at a very slow pace, making U-turns at each end and heading back the other way.
Back then, it seemed that all the guys had a competition to have the best-looking car roaming back and forth on the street, and if you had a convertible it was an even bigger personal bonus to show off your car!
We felt pretty much the same way we did back all those years ago, as folks would honk and wave to us from their yards, again being taken with the uniqueness of a convertible “cruising” by in the neighborhood. So for a week at least, we were taken back in time.
The best news is that since that time in the ’80s when big engines and large carburetors were all the rage and mostly how vehicles were measured back then, the new BMW has loads of power and tons of technology inside that made it a pleasure to drive each day.
This all new 430i grew by 5.2 inches in length and 1 inch in girth as the designers have given it an even more coupe-like look in our opinion. The usual kidney-shaped grill now extends all the way down to the front bumper cover and is integrated to provide adequate airflow for all the engine cooling needs.
The head lamps are narrower and taper toward the grill, giving a now very clean and minimalist look up front. The daytime running lamps are unmistakably BMW and are accented with a three-blade design for each of the turn signal indicators.
The 430 is powered by a four-cylinder engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger, which produced a very well-rounded 255 horsepower and 295 foot-pounds of torque. If that is not enough for your driving pleasure, of course, there is also a 440 that comes complete with a six-cylinder power plant with the same turbocharger and makes 382 horsepower.
In our week of driving nirvana, we never felt that we would have needed more power, unless, of course, we had actually gone back to the early ’80s, where it would have a made a huge difference to have the extra power, at least when it came to bragging rights.
Our test ride did include a couple of extra additions from the “M” department of BMW, kind of like the extras that James Bond would be given by M. Included were the Dynamic Handling package ($2,450) that gave us M Sport brakes and an M Sport differential.
The M Sport package ($3,800) added variable-sport steering. This allowed the convertible to adapt to different steering “modes,” if you will, whether turning at a high rate of speed of just making a sharp turn into a parking space.
Inside, of course, the BMW was loaded with all kinds of technology and driving helps. A completely digital dashboard and infotainment system now surrounds the driver in a BMW. We love the new system and how it performs; it was one of the easiest to use in the luxury segment.
With the now included BMW personal assistant, all it took was the words “Hey, BMW” and our assistant was there to help with whatever our question or need may be. This made setting the climate, getting a navigation waypoint or just adjusting the radio simple and easy to do.
The heads-up display that was included with the premium package ($2,300) is definitely one of the best out there. It would even include XM stations and what was currently playing on them when we would try and change the radio, so we never had to take our eyes off of the road.
About the only thing we missed was having adaptive cruise control included with the 430i. It did have blind sport monitoring and front and rear parking assist that really came in handy in tight parking spots. The convertible is also equipped with roll bar system that will activate if the vehicle gets to a point that a rollover is inevitable
Twin pyrotechnic charges will go off in a millisecond of time, ejecting a roll bar for both driver and passenger as the vehicle attempts to make a cage for the occupants to keep them safe if this were to ever happen.
It was unfortunate that our time with the BMW 430i convertible lasted only a week, as we definitely enjoyed every minute out in the convertible — and all the attention that it brought to us.
Base price: $53,100
Destination charge: $995
Price as driven: $67,220
