2016 BMW M240i Convertible new car review

Australians are buying luxury cars in record numbers these days, and there are several reasons for it.

Luxury cars are now more affordable than ever thanks to smaller, cheaper models and the relatively strong and stable economy gives buyers confidence to splash out on a premium set of wheels.

Another factor is the sheer volume of choice. There are so many luxury cars in modern times you can find something to suit your own tastes; and the BMW M240i Convertible is a prime example.

The 2-Series is a compact machine, while strictly speaking it is a four-seater in reality it is only practical as a two-seater. In this guise, the M Sport fettled M240i configuration elevates the 2-Series from a stylish soft-top to a serious performance machine.

But do these elements come together to form a compelling car?

What do you get?

The M240i Convertible sits at the top of the 2-Series drop-top range and is priced from $83,900 (plus on-road costs).

For that money you get 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-Xenon headlights, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, sports seats, leather-wrapped M Sport steering wheel, Bluetooth and a 12-speaker, 360-watt Harmon/Kardon sound system that includes DAB+ digital radio.

It also comes with BMW's full suite of ConnectedDrive features that include automated emergency service notification in the event of an accident and live traffic updates for the navigation.

Safety-wise there are four airbags and a rollover protection system plus forward collision warning, lane departure warning and pedestrian warning. Front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard too.

What's inside?

The evolution from the 1-Series name to the 2-Series brought a bolder style to the range.

The M240i feels suitably modern and premium inside, with good quality materials and high-class fit and finish.

The styling stays true to BMW's standard design, so there isn't much to differentiate it from its larger convertible cousins, the 4-Series and 6-Series; it's just a bit smaller inside.

Space is good up front with decent head- and shoulder-room for the front occupants, but the rear seats are a tight squeeze. Small children can be accommodated, but at the expense of comfort for adults. If you plan on carrying four people on a regular basis the 2-Series will be too small, but as a two-seater it is a nice size.

The roof can be stowed or raised at speeds up to 40km/h but the mechanism is a bit slow.

With the soft top in place the cabin is well insulated, giving the cabin a quiet and refined ambience. Stow the roof and raise the windows and the wind protection is good, with only minimal buffeting.

Under the bonnet

Without question this is the star of the show. The 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine is a gem; continuing BMW's legacy of impressive inline sixes.

In this guise it is tuned to produce 250kW of power and 500Nm of torque, a generous amount of performance that endows the M240i with impressive manners. The performance is delivered in a linear fashion, meaning the car builds speed with the effortlessness you expect from a premium car.

Push down hard on the accelerator and there is a real punch from the engine, the kind of kick you would expect from a compact performance car.

The eight-speed automatic transmission backs up the engine, providing access to the best of the six-pot with a minimum of fuss. The shifts are slick, and while they may not be as fast as a dual-clutch transmission they don't feel far off and the whole powertrain is far smoother at low speed.

In combination the M240i uses 7.4-litres per 100km, which is a commendable return for such a potent car.

On the road

The M240i handles the road in much the same way as its bigger Beemer siblings - which is both a blessing and a curse.

Befitting such a sporty convertible, with such a great engine, the chassis is very responsive. The steering is sharp, progressive and well weighted. On a smooth piece of road the M240i doesn't feel like a convertible, it feels solid like its coupe equivalent.

There's plenty of road-holding too, with the tyres providing more than adequate grip to allow you to press on and have some open-air fun.

But once the road surfaces degenerates, so to do the M240i's manners. In typical BMW fashion the adaptive M Sport suspension is too firm for most Australian roads and gets rattled (literally) by repeated bumps. Even in the softest 'Comfort' setting the suspension feels too tight, around the city there were times the body felt like it was shaking over uneven surfaces, lacking the rigidity you expect from a luxury convertible.

Verdict

The BMW M240i Convertible may be a niche luxury offering, but it is a good car.

The engine is the real star, producing excellent performance and still returning good fuel economy. Unfortunately the stiff suspension spoils the comfort at times, but there's no denying the M240i is a sporty and dynamic convertible.

But some of its sins can be forgiven because at $84k it makes a strong value argument against its rivals.

So if you want to combine open-air motoring with sporty thrills then the M240i Convertible makes a compelling case.

2016 BMW M240i Convertible pricing and specifications

Price: From $83,900 plus on-road costs

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 250kW

Torque: 500Nm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Fuel use: 7.4L/100km

The Competitors

Audi S3 Cabriolet

Price: From $72,000 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 206kW at 5300-6200rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 1800-5200rpm

Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch transmission, AWD

Fuel use: 7.1L/100km

Our score: 7/10

Mercedes-AMG SLC 43

Price: From $134,615 plus on-road costs

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol

Power: 270kW at 5500-6000rpm

Torque: 520Nm at 2000-4200rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Fuel use: 7.9L/100km

Our score: 6/10

Ford Mustang GT Convertible

Price: From $66,205 plus on-road costs

Engine: 5.0-litre V8 petrol

Power: 306kW

Torque: 530Nm

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, RWD

Fuel use: 13.1L/100km

Our score: 7/10

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