Short test: BMW 228i Cabrio
The cure is very simple, although you usually have to wait for warmer days: good weather, good roads and a fun car. If at all possible, a convertible. In this regard, the new Series 2 convertible is a cure for winter well-being and a vaccine against boredom. The 2 Series Coupe and Convertible are, of course, completely different from the 2 Series Active Tourer, most importantly, of course, being rear wheel drive. This allows for a cleaner steering wheel feel than a front-wheel-drive car (otherwise the BMW's slightly oversized steering wheel gets in the way), driving position can be more fun, and a much wider smile. Sadly, the 228i in the back doesn't mean what it used to be anymore - it's now another version of the famous positive-charged 180-litre four-cylinder engine. In this version, it can produce a very healthy 245 kilowatts or 100 "horses", so a six-second acceleration to XNUMX kilometers per hour is certainly not surprising.
But it still remains the unmistakable four-cylinder BMW, which means it can sometimes produce mild anemic sensations at lower revs than itself. The solution is simple but expensive: it's called the M235i and has six cylinders. But in all honesty, with daily use of the above (other than the sound, which is not the sound of a six-cylinder engine) you won't notice. The engine is just loud, powerful enough, and the automatic transmission is streamlined, on the one hand when the driver wants a smooth cruise, and on the other hand, fast enough when choosing sports settings or manual gear shifting. Speaking of sportiness, 245 "horsepower" is certainly more than enough to lower the rear end of the 228i Cabria, but since the differential has no locking, it can all be less fun than it could be. The roof, of course, is canvas, as befits a real convertible.
There it can be opened and folded up to a speed of 50 kilometers per hour, and in some places the driver wants him to be a little faster. On the other hand, soundproofing is good, and most importantly, BMW's aerodynamics have improved significantly when it comes to wind in the hair. If you just lower the roof, but you have all the side windows raised and a windscreen installed (in this case, the rear bench, which is otherwise spacious enough to transport children, is useless), the wind in the cab is almost zero and the noise level is low enough to it was okay to talk (or listen to music) even at highway speeds. Lowering the side windows (first the rear, then the front) and folding the windshield gradually increases the amount of wind in the cockpit, up to the real thrust of the convertible, known since ancient times.
So the driving feel can be good not only because of the aerodynamics, but also because of the ergonomics. The steering wheel could be smaller, as mentioned, but it sits well, the switches are where you'd expect them, and the central controller's control system works well. Only the gauges remain a slight disappointment: they look old-fashioned, but in terms of accurately displaying the speed in the most commonly used areas (for example, city and suburban speeds), they are not transparent enough. In addition, they do not allow the speed to be displayed numerically, and all together this can be inconvenient in the context of the penalties of the Slovenian radar. Sports enthusiasts will be delighted with the M package, which, in addition to the exterior trim (which we can safely say is exemplary for a car in this class), also includes a sports chassis and sports seats. In everyday use, it turns out that the combination of M chassis and flat tires with stiffer sides means a little more vibration, which is transmitted from short sharp bumps to the passenger compartment, but on the other hand, the vibrations and tilt of the body are extremely precisely controllable, so rigid that in As a result, the wheels lose contact with the ground on bad roads.
For fans of a sports chassis, this is almost a complete compromise. Since this is a BMW, obviously the accessories list is neither short nor cheap. He raises the base price of such a convertible from 43 to 56 thousand, but we must admit that the final list of equipment is really complete: in addition to the M-package, there is also an automatic transmission, bi-xenon headlights with a gun. high beam, cruise control with brake function, speed limit recognition, heated front seats, navigation and more. What else do you really need (in fact, what, for example, navigation, maybe even about 60 “horses” under the hood, as much as the difference from the 220i, could even be abandoned, which would also lead to some reduction in consumption ), just good days and good roads. The car will take care of the wind in your hair.
text: Dusan Lukic
228i convertible (2015)
Basic data
| Sales: | BMW GROUP Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Base model price: | 34.250 € |
| Test model cost: | 56.296 € |
| Power: | 180kW (245 KM) |
| Acceleration (0-100 km / h): | 6,0 with |
| Maximum speed: | 250 km / h |
| Mixed flow ECE: | 6,6l / 100km |
Costs (per year)
Technical information
| engine: | 4-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line - petrol biturbo - displacement 1.997 cm3 - maximum power 180 kW (245 hp) at 5.000-6.500 rpm - maximum torque 350 Nm at 1.250-4.800 rpm. |
|---|---|
| Energy transfer: | the engine is driven by the rear wheels - 8-speed automatic transmission - front tires 225/45 R 17 W, rear tires 245/40 R 17 W (Bridgestone Potenza). |
| Capacity: | 250 km/h top speed - 0-100 km/h acceleration in 6,0 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 8,8/5,3/6,6 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 154 g/km. |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.630 kg - permissible gross weight 1.995 kg. |
| External dimensions: | length 4.432 mm - width 1.774 mm - height 1.413 mm - wheelbase 2.690 mm. |
| Inner dimensions: | fuel tank 52 l. |
| Box: | 280-335 liters |
Our measurements
| T = 16 ° C / p = 1.025 mbar / rel. vl. = 44% / odometer status: 1.637 km | |
| Acceleration 0-100km: | 6,2s |
|---|---|
| 402m from the city: | 14,5 years ( 156 km / h) |
| Flexibility 50-90km / h: | Measurement is not possible with this type of gearbox. S |
| Maximum speed: | 250km / h (VIII.) |
| test consumption: | 9,6 l / 100km |
| Fuel consumption according to the standard scheme: | 7,9 l / 100km |
| Braking distance at 100 km / h: | 35,5m |
| AM table: | 39m |
evaluation
The BMW 228i Cabrio is a great example of a nice compact convertible that also offers a rather sporty driving experience. If only it had a differential lock.
We praise and reproach
appearance
aerodynamics
Transmission
no differential lock
meters
no semi-automatic operation of the air conditioner
