£50k alpina B3 or M3 and why

£50k alpina B3 or M3 and why

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Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Sunday 29th March 2015
quotequote all
the jun14 metallic B3 bi turbo coupe at styler nottingham

or a £50k M3

which would your money head to and why?

snowley

183 posts

125 months

Monday 30th March 2015
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I would personally go M3 as I'm not too sure on the styling of the Alpina and there seems to be some excellent deals at the moment on the M3's.

Agoogy

7,274 posts

247 months

Monday 30th March 2015
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B3 for me, because I'd never get to drive it at 10/10ths to feel much performance difference and the Aplina will be rarer and hopefully hold it's value more.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Monday 30th March 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the input so far

As with all these things, I will need to drive both back to back if possible - sure Sytner can sort that.

I too think the Alpina might do a bit better on residuals than an M3... not that it won't lose a lot, but that it might lose a bit less

My expectation is that the Alpina is going to be better for normal and spirited driving on 'normal' roads, but that the M3 would be better the closer to the top of the performance things got....

Any other input welcome and, if I get any further towards a decision, I will update

shibby!

921 posts

197 months

Monday 30th March 2015
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M3.... Just because.

But i did see autocar did a test on a typical back road and found the alpina to be faster and more composed.

4941cc

25,867 posts

205 months

Monday 30th March 2015
quotequote all
shibby! said:
But i did see autocar did a test on a typical back road and found the alpina to be faster and more composed.
That was with the D3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoRAeL8qgSM


JNW1

7,710 posts

193 months

Monday 30th March 2015
quotequote all
I think your plan of back to back test drives is absolutely the way to go! Being honest neither car is what you'd call an investment (being realistic both will just lose a packet over two or three years) so I think it's a case of deciding which you prefer and then you pays your money and takes your choice. Nice dilemma to have, will be very interested to hear your views on the merits of each after the test drives!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Monday 30th March 2015
quotequote all
the alpina was the press car...

am I wrong to be put off (just a little) by that

shibby!

921 posts

197 months

Monday 30th March 2015
quotequote all
4941cc said:
shibby! said:
But i did see autocar did a test on a typical back road and found the alpina to be faster and more composed.
That was with the D3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoRAeL8qgSM
Good spot!

Makes it a little more surprising now!

MarkwG

4,811 posts

188 months

Monday 30th March 2015
quotequote all
JPJPJP said:
the alpina was the press car...

am I wrong to be put off (just a little) by that
It wouldn't put me off: if the journo's can't break it, doubt you will. By press, they mean it's had the S17NER number on it: lots will, that plate goes on whichever car is ordered for demo next. It'll be a decent spec & colour combo, rather than some of the more exotic customer choices, so if it's properly warranted, not an issue.

Edited by MarkwG on Monday 30th March 20:55

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Monday 30th March 2015
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I would be tempted by the Alpina IF it had the full Lavalina leather, but most don't (actually I haven't seen one B3/4 for sale with it) so they just look like a standard 3 series inside, crappy dakota leather, standard sports seats which aren't great and sharing the interior with a 25k 316d sport would grate if I'd spent 50k.

So on balance the M3 would be my choice it has much better seats, nappa leather as standard, great chassis, lots of power, wider body and track etc....



Edited by Wills2 on Tuesday 31st March 21:57

Zyp

14,673 posts

188 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
quotequote all
As Wills2 says above....

Unless an Alpina has had a fortune spent on it in options, the interior is the same as a bog standard 3 series.
At least with an m3 you get unique seats and nicer trim.

(I'm a fan of Alpina, and an ex owner)

Agoogy

7,274 posts

247 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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Never knew that.... I'm wavering now...a little

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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You're looking at an additional 7-8k for a full interior treatment.

JNW1

7,710 posts

193 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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Looking at some of the posts on other threads it sounds like you could get a brand new M4 for low £50k's which does seem to make over £50k for a used B4 look a touch expensive. However, I still think driving the two back to back is the only way to decide; if you're going to keep a car for two or three years the initial purchase price is soon forgotten and it's what it's like to drive day to day that's important. Interior ambience and comfort of the seats are obviously an important part of that equation but so too is composure over give and take UK roads and maybe the B4 would hold sway in that department? Could be talking rubbish though as sadly I haven't driven either of them!

ZX10R NIN

27,490 posts

124 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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JPJPJP said:
the jun14 metallic B3 bi turbo coupe at styler nottingham

or a £50k M3

which would your money head to and why?
I've said before I think the B3/4 is the pick of the bunch IMO after buying a D3 for the OH having had an M3 & not got on with it I believe the Petrol Alpina is the pick of the Three. The ride on the D3 is better than the M3 the interior feels more special than the M3 long term the Alpina will depreciate less.

Also the Alpina is a lot rarer they only make around 2000 cars a year, the M3 did look more aggressive we had an overlap of Four weeks before the M3 was sold.

Go for a test drive

Watch this review of the B4 by Harris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=740gShZJF1M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XBZeCGOQVw

D3 vs M3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoRAeL8qgSM

So in my totally biased opinion get the Alpina

Zyp

14,673 posts

188 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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Why does the interior feel more special than a cooking 3 series?

Apart from blue dials (one thing I disliked on mine) and a bit of coloured stitching on the steering wheel?

kith

562 posts

244 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
You're looking at an additional 7-8k for a full interior treatment.
Although for only £810 or so there's an option on the B3 configurator to have the dashboard top leather covered thereby lifting it above the 3-series norm.

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
kith said:
Although for only £810 or so there's an option on the B3 configurator to have the dashboard top leather covered thereby lifting it above the 3-series norm.
Same option available on a boggo 3 series for the same money, like I said the interior is pure 3 series apart from blue dials and some stitching on the steering wheel.

It's an utter myth that they have a better interior, unless you spend big money on it.

I like them they are good cars and I was tempted to get a B3/4 but the cost of making in an real Alpina inside is expensive and some people try perpetuate the myth that it comes as standard.





Edited by Wills2 on Wednesday 1st April 19:07

Zyp

14,673 posts

188 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
kith said:
Wills2 said:
You're looking at an additional 7-8k for a full interior treatment.
Although for only £810 or so there's an option on the B3 configurator to have the dashboard top leather covered thereby lifting it above the 3-series norm.
You can have that on a normal 3 series.

If you want a *real* Alpina interior, the Lavalina is a small fortune.
If I was buying one again, I wouldn't buy one without Lavalina - it's what makes an Alpina imo.