Car comparison

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E46) 330CivsBMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328i

Compare specs, acceleration, fuel consumption, dimensions, practicality, and estimated running costs side by side.

New comparison

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E46)

330Ci

231 hp2979 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedCabriolet / convertible2000-2003

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36)

328i

193 hp2793 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedCoupe1995-1999

Comparison overview

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328i

Quickest 0-100 km/h
7.3 s
Lightest
1,395 kg
3,075 lb
Lowest city consumption
13.5 L/100 km
17.4 mpg US
20.9 mpg UK
Lowest highway consumption
6.7 L/100 km
35.1 mpg US
42.2 mpg UK
Largest trunk
405 L
Best overall score
53/100
Best practicality score
56/100

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E46) 330Ci

Fastest top speed
250 km/h
155 mph Unrestricted
240 km/h
149 mph Restricted
Most powerful
231 hp
172 kW
Highest torque
300 Nm
221 lb-ft
Best power-to-weight
140 hp/t
105 kW/t
7.1 kg/hp
Best performance score
53/100
Best economy score
79/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci	BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i
Power	231hp172kW	193hp144kW
Torque	300Nm221lb-ft	280Nm207lb-ft
Curb weight	1,645kg3,627lb	1,395kg3,075lb
Gross weight	1,680kg3,704lb	1,780kg3,924lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 250 km/h155 mph Restricted 240 km/h149 mph Calculated	236 km/h 147 mph
To 99% top speed	103.4s99% target: 248 km/h / 154 mph Calculated	88.7s99% target: 234 km/h / 145 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	7.5s	7.3s
0-200 km/h	29.5s Calculated	30.9s Calculated
0-60 mph	7.1s Calculated	6.9s Calculated
Fuel consumption	10.2L/100 km23.1mpg US27.7mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption city	14.9L/100 km15.8mpg US19.0mpg UK	13.5L/100 km17.4mpg US20.9mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	7.5L/100 km31.4mpg US37.7mpg UK	6.7L/100 km35.1mpg US42.2mpg UK
Quarter mile	15.4s Calculated	15.2s Calculated
Power-to-weight	140hp/t105kW/t64hp/1000 lb Calculated	138hp/t103kW/t63hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	182Nm/t122lb-ft/ton Calculated	201Nm/t134lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	618km384mi Calculated	-
Displacement	2,979cc182cu in	2,793cc170cu in
Length	4,488mm177in	4,433mm175in
Width	1,757mm69in	1,710mm67in
Height	1,370mm54in	1,366mm54in
Wheelbase	2,725mm107in	2,700mm106in
Front track	1,471mm58in	1,408mm55in
Rear track	1,483mm58in	1,421mm56in
Ground clearance	-	110mm4in
Trunk volume	260L	405L
Max trunk volume	300L	-
Doors	2	2
Seats	4	5
Fuel tank	63L	62L
CO2 emissions	244g/km	-

Performance charts

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

Dyno simulation

Estimated stock-style power and torque curves by engine speed.

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E46) 330CiBMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328iPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci	5,900 rpm	3,500 rpm	6,150 rpm
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	5,300 rpm	3,950 rpm	5,550 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci	BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	7.1 s	6.9 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	7.5 s	7.3 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	29.5 s	30.9 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 250 km/h155 mph Restricted 240 km/h149 mph Likely limited	236 km/h 147 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.5 s	2.5 s
330 ft 101 m	6.7 s	6.6 s
1/8 mile 201 m	10.1 s	10.0 s
1000 ft 305 m	13.0 s	12.8 s
1/4 mile 402 m	15.4 s	15.2 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	152 km/h 94 mph	152 km/h 94 mph

Power comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power. Higher is better · hp / kW

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci	231 hp 172 kW
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	193 hp 144 kW

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E46) 330Ci has 38 hp more than BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328i.

The biggest power difference is between BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328i and BMW 3 Series Convertible (E46) 330Ci: 38 hp (28 kW).

Torque comparison

Bar comparison chart for Torque. Higher is better · Nm / lb-ft

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci	300 Nm 221 lb-ft
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	280 Nm 207 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Curb weight. Lower is better · kg / lb

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci	1,645 kg 3,627 lb
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	1,395 kg 3,075 lb

Top speed without limiter comparison

Bar comparison chart for Top speed without limiter. Higher is better · km/h / mph

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci	Unrestricted 250 km/h155 mph Restricted 240 km/h149 mph
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	236 km/h 147 mph

0-100 km/h comparison

Bar comparison chart for 0-100 km/h. Lower is better · seconds

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci	7.5 s
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	7.3 s

Although BMW 3 Series Convertible (E46) 330Ci has more power, BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328i is quicker from 0-100 km/h.

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328i and BMW 3 Series Convertible (E46) 330Ci: 0.2 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power-to-weight. Higher is better · hp/t / kW/t

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci	140 hp/t 105 kW/t 7.1 kg/hp
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	138 hp/t 103 kW/t 7.2 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci	231 hp 172 kW	7.5 s	Unrestricted 250 km/h155 mph Restricted 240 km/h149 mph
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	193 hp 144 kW	7.3 s	236 km/h 147 mph

Most attractive quadrant

Scatter chart with performance score on the X axis and practicality score on the Y axis.

Vehicle

Performance score

Practicality score

BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci

Power	231 hp 172 kW
0-100 km/h	7.5 s
Top speed Unrestricted 250 km/h155 mph Restricted 240 km/h149 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 4 seats
Trunk	260 L 9.2 cu ft
Length	4,488 mm 176.7 in
Height	1,370 mm 53.9 in

BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i

Power	193 hp 144 kW
0-100 km/h	7.3 s
Top speed 236 km/h 147 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 5 seats
Trunk	405 L 14.3 cu ft
Length	4,433 mm 174.5 in
Height	1,366 mm 53.8 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW3 Series Convertible (E46)330Ci

BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i

Power

231 hp

172 kW

193 hp

144 kW

Torque

300 Nm

221 lb-ft

280 Nm

207 lb-ft

Acceleration

7.5 s

7.3 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

250 km/h155 mph

Restricted

240 km/h149 mph

236 km/h

147 mph

Lightness

1,645 kg

3,627 lb

1,395 kg

3,075 lb

Fuel consumption

10.2 L/100 km

23.1 mpg US

27.7 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	2 doors 4 seats
Trunk	260 L 9.2 cu ft
Length	4,488 mm 176.7 in
Height	1,370 mm 53.9 in

Doors/seats	2 doors 5 seats
Trunk	405 L 14.3 cu ft
Length	4,433 mm 174.5 in
Height	1,366 mm 53.8 in

Range score

618 km

384 mi

CO2 score

244 g/km

Trunk score

260 L

9.2 cu ft

405 L

14.3 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

140 hp/t

105 kW/t

7.1 kg/hp

138 hp/t

103 kW/t

7.2 kg/hp

Overall

Fixed score

Fuel cost and annual usage

Estimate running costs from combined consumption, your annual distance, and the fuel price in your local currency.

Average annual distanceDistance unitFuel price in your local currencyPrice unit

Enter the fuel price in your local currency, for example €/L, $/gal, £/L or any other local currency.

LC = Local Currency

Fuel cost and annual usage
Vehicle	BMW 3 Series Convertible (E46) 330Ci
Consumption	10.2 L/100 km23.1 mpg US27.7 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	17.85 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	28.73 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,530 L404 US gal337 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,678 LC/year