BMW 323Ci Convertible (E46) was the model that introduced the open-top version of the fourth-generation 3 Series. By the time it arrived, the E46 Sedan had been on the market since 1998 and had already been joined by the Coupé and Touring. The four-seat Convertible followed in 2000, with the six-cylinder 323Ci becoming the first version offered.
The 323Ci Convertible combined the elegant and sporting shape of the E46 Coupé with a traditional fabric soft top and BMW’s 2.5-litre straight-six engine. The result was more of a refined open grand tourer than an extreme sports car – fast and driver-focused, yet comfortable and practical enough for everyday use.
The first E46 Convertible
Production of the BMW 323Ci Convertible began in December 1999, with the model reaching the German market in April 2000. BMW Group Classic identifies the 323Ci as the first version of the E46 Convertible.
Its career was exceptionally short. In the autumn of 2000, BMW introduced the new 325Ci Convertible with the latest M54 engine generation, replacing the 323Ci after only nine months of production.
Closely related to the Coupé, but with its own character
The E46 Convertible was developed around the sporting and elegant contours of the Coupé. According to BMW Group Classic, the Coupé and Convertible were essentially identical in body design up to the A-pillar, while the rear section and roof arrangement gave the open model its own distinct identity.
The fabric soft top was constructed to a particularly high standard and was well insulated. With the roof closed, the Convertible was intended to remain usable in poor weather, while lowering the top transformed it into a fully open four-seat BMW.
The low beltline and long bonnet retained the Coupé’s balanced proportions, while the fabric roof gave the Convertible a slightly more elegant and relaxed overall character.
The 2.5-litre M52TU straight-six
The BMW 323Ci Convertible was powered by the 2,494 cc M52TUB25 naturally aspirated straight-six engine. The same engine family was used in the earlier E46 323i and 323Ci models, with its technical origins extending back to the E36 generation.
Maximum output was 125 kW or 170 hp at 5,500 rpm. Peak torque was 245 Nm, with power delivered to the rear wheels. Both a five-speed manual gearbox and an automatic transmission were available.
Double VANOS
One of the key technical features of the M52TU was Double VANOS, which varied the timing of both the intake and exhaust camshafts. This improved torque delivery across the engine-speed range and contributed to particularly smooth and flexible performance.
This character suited the Convertible especially well. The 323Ci was not intended to offer maximum possible power, but rather to combine straight-six refinement, useful performance and the more relaxed grand-touring character of an open BMW.
225 km/h
BMW Group Classic lists a top speed of 225 km/h for the 323Ci Convertible. With the manual transmission, acceleration from 0–100 km/h took approximately 8.6 seconds.
These figures did not make the 323Ci the fastest member of the E46 family, but they provided more than adequate performance for a four-seat Convertible in 2000. The strength of the straight-six lay primarily in its smoothness and flexibility rather than peak output alone.
Only nine months in production
The short production period gives the 323Ci Convertible an interesting place in E46 history. According to BMW Group Classic, approximately 15,000 cars were produced despite the model remaining in production for only nine months.
VIN-range production statistics derived from BMW parts-catalogue data give a more specific total of 15,316 examples. This made the 323Ci Convertible a considerably lower-volume model than its successor, the 325Ci Convertible, of which more than 70,000 were produced.
The transition from M52 to M54
The 323Ci Convertible occupies a transitional position in the history of the E46. Its M52TU engine represented the final development stage of BMW’s 1990s six-cylinder engine family, while the body itself belonged to the new E46 generation.
In the autumn of 2000, the 323Ci was replaced by the new 325Ci Convertible. Displacement remained at 2,494 cc, but the M54B25 engine increased output to 192 hp. The 231 hp 330Ci Convertible also joined the range.
The 323Ci therefore represents a very specific and short period in E46 development – the first E46 Convertible, still powered by the M52TU before the arrival of the newer M54 engine generation.
A classic BMW Convertible
The 323Ci Convertible brought together the qualities traditionally associated with open BMW models: four-seat accommodation, a fabric soft top, a naturally aspirated straight-six engine, rear-wheel drive and a well-balanced chassis.
Today, its short production run adds to its interest. The 323Ci was not a special edition or homologation model, but it remained in the E46 Convertible range for only a single season and was the model with which the entire open-top E46 3 Series story began.
Model in the collection
The BMW 323Ci Convertible (E46) model in my collection was produced by Minichamps. The model represents a 2000 car and was released as a limited edition of 1,824 pieces.
Technical data
Production: 12/1999–08/2000
Body style: two-door four-seat Convertible
Production location: BMW Regensburg plant, Germany
Engine: M52TUB25 naturally aspirated straight-six petrol engine
Displacement: 2,494 cc
Power output: 125 kW / 170 hp at 5,500 rpm
Maximum torque: 245 Nm
Valve timing: Double VANOS
Transmission: 5-speed manual or automatic
Drive: rear-wheel drive
0–100 km/h: approximately 8.6 seconds with manual transmission
Top speed: 225 km/h
Original German price: DM 69,450
Production total: approximately 15,000 cars according to BMW Group Classic
Special feature: the first E46-generation 3 Series Convertible, produced for only nine months
Photo of the real car. Photo: Johannes Maximilian / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0