The BMW 330Cd Convertible came as a surprise to customers when it was introduced in 2004. A convertible powered by a diesel engine was rather unusual in the grand scheme of things and this concept had never existed at BMW before. The diesel engine (M57TÜ) was taken over from the BMW 330d Sedan. The 3.0 litre displacement enabled the power plant to achieve an impressive maximum output of 204 hp and develop a torque of 410 Nm. The convertible accelerated from a standing start to 100 km/h in just 7.8 seconds. In spite of these statistics, purchasers responded reluctantly to this experiment - only some 1,700 units were produced. The BMW 330Cd Convertible remained an (exclusive) exotic model within the best-selling BMW model series.