The cars meet 1997 side-impact standards and have standard anti-lock brakes (ABS). A recommended optional safety feature for the convertibles is the automatic Rollover Protection System. When the system senses that the car is about to flip over, roll bars pop up from behind the rear seats, supplementing the protection from the reinforced windshield frame.
Another convertible point: One of the factors that allows the 318i a base price of $31,520 rather than the 325i's $40,070 is that it has a manual top. It's a one-person job requiring only a few minutes' work, but it must be done from outside the car, thus eliminating the spontaneous top-down driving offered by the 325i's power top. Both models have a slick, automatic self-sealing system to improve quietness. As you open the door, the frameless door windows lower slightly; close the door and they raise automatically, positioning themselves tightly in the seals. Next Page