Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo
Discussion
One week and 800 miles in to ownership and I'm really happy.
I wasn't blown away by the comfort initially, I couldn't get the driving position quite right and suffered with a bit of backache. That was down to the PITA manual seat controls BMW fitted, what's wrong with a ratchet and/or a dial as used by VAG and Merc?
Specifically the seat height adjustment caused me some problems. The system of having a spring-loaded seat with fixed adjustment points and a release lever just doesn't work that well IMO. Luckily I'll be the only person driving the car 99% of the time so now the seat height is right for me it can stay as it is and I'm completely comfortable in the car.
The ride is generally good, especially at speed. It doesn't deal with bad road surfaces at low speeds too well, the ride gets quite harsh, but everything's relative. Given the wheels and tyres it's running on and by comparison with some other cars I've driven it's actually very good. For example, it's a much better ride than either a 120d or Leon FR which were both on 18" wheels.
Once up to speed the ride is actually quite cosseting, although things like slightly recessed drain covers or shallow potholes (like the typical motorway ones where the top inch of tarmac has come away) do send a bit of a thump through the car.
Performance is probably best described as effortless. The engine is incredibly smooth for a four pot diesel, I'd swear it had more than four cylinders if it wasn't for the usual chunter at idle. There is very little lag and it actually likes to rev, although there's little point in revving it out as you're not gaining any performance by doing so. It's certainly no rocketship with "only" 214bhp but it's more than quick enough for my needs and the in-gear grunt is plentiful even in 6th gear at 2000rpm.
I can imagine it would be very easy to end up doing licence losing speeds if you're not paying close attention to the speedometer. I'd also guess that the natural cruising speed of the car is much closer to three figures than the UK motorway speed limit. Pure guesswork and supposition, obviously
I've not had much of a chance to really explore the handling as it's been a very busy week and driving for pleasure hasn't really been on the menu. The few roundabouts and corners I've been able to properly chuck the car into do definitely show promise though, I've had a couple of big grins on my face over the week which bodes well for when I can get out for a proper run away from heavy traffic.
MPG looks to be settling down to high 40s on my commute which I'm more than happy with. I easily cracked 50mpg on a long motorway run at sensible speeds but where's the fun in that?
I'm really tempted to take it out on track to explore the handling properly, but having seen the price of the tyres I think that can wait until they're nearly worn out and I can then go out for a last hurrah before replacing them.
Having spent a week living with the car I personally think the looks are still *just* the right side of aggressive. Purposeful yes, but not too "in yer face". Many of my friends are telling me I'm deluded and it's an over the top gangsta pimp-mobile. I don't care, I like it just the way it is. The black wheels are staying.
Some new pics:
I wasn't blown away by the comfort initially, I couldn't get the driving position quite right and suffered with a bit of backache. That was down to the PITA manual seat controls BMW fitted, what's wrong with a ratchet and/or a dial as used by VAG and Merc?
Specifically the seat height adjustment caused me some problems. The system of having a spring-loaded seat with fixed adjustment points and a release lever just doesn't work that well IMO. Luckily I'll be the only person driving the car 99% of the time so now the seat height is right for me it can stay as it is and I'm completely comfortable in the car.
The ride is generally good, especially at speed. It doesn't deal with bad road surfaces at low speeds too well, the ride gets quite harsh, but everything's relative. Given the wheels and tyres it's running on and by comparison with some other cars I've driven it's actually very good. For example, it's a much better ride than either a 120d or Leon FR which were both on 18" wheels.
Once up to speed the ride is actually quite cosseting, although things like slightly recessed drain covers or shallow potholes (like the typical motorway ones where the top inch of tarmac has come away) do send a bit of a thump through the car.
Performance is probably best described as effortless. The engine is incredibly smooth for a four pot diesel, I'd swear it had more than four cylinders if it wasn't for the usual chunter at idle. There is very little lag and it actually likes to rev, although there's little point in revving it out as you're not gaining any performance by doing so. It's certainly no rocketship with "only" 214bhp but it's more than quick enough for my needs and the in-gear grunt is plentiful even in 6th gear at 2000rpm.
I can imagine it would be very easy to end up doing licence losing speeds if you're not paying close attention to the speedometer. I'd also guess that the natural cruising speed of the car is much closer to three figures than the UK motorway speed limit. Pure guesswork and supposition, obviously
I've not had much of a chance to really explore the handling as it's been a very busy week and driving for pleasure hasn't really been on the menu. The few roundabouts and corners I've been able to properly chuck the car into do definitely show promise though, I've had a couple of big grins on my face over the week which bodes well for when I can get out for a proper run away from heavy traffic.
MPG looks to be settling down to high 40s on my commute which I'm more than happy with. I easily cracked 50mpg on a long motorway run at sensible speeds but where's the fun in that?
I'm really tempted to take it out on track to explore the handling properly, but having seen the price of the tyres I think that can wait until they're nearly worn out and I can then go out for a last hurrah before replacing them.
Having spent a week living with the car I personally think the looks are still *just* the right side of aggressive. Purposeful yes, but not too "in yer face". Many of my friends are telling me I'm deluded and it's an over the top gangsta pimp-mobile. I don't care, I like it just the way it is. The black wheels are staying.
Some new pics:
Justin S said:
Looks much better in the flesh and the detailer has done a great job too ;-)
Who let you in here? And to think that until last weekend I thought the "Two bucket method" was a variant on a particularly nasty porn film.....
Anyway, I digress. I've actually got the original grills coming back to me from the previous owner so I'll see which I prefer. The wheels genuinely do look much better in real life than in my (rather dark) photos but you'll have to take my word for that. In any case I like them and that's what matters.
I can't deny a set of classics would be my ideal, but with a car this rare sometimes you compromise a bit to get a good example.
The lights are shift lights, you can configure the revs they cover and they flash when you're about to hit the limiter. I've actually found them quite useful when out for a hoon and they're set up so that they don't show anything until about 3000 rpm so they're not distracting when just pottering around.
The display shows coolant temp (but not oil temp because it's a diesel, which is a shame), a G-meter and a stopwatch for lap timing etc.
I've just collected a stone right through the central grille in the front spoiler, which is a bugger. Hopefully it's just the standard M-Sport grille as that's quite cheap. I bet it won't be cheap if it's Alpina-specific
The display shows coolant temp (but not oil temp because it's a diesel, which is a shame), a G-meter and a stopwatch for lap timing etc.
I've just collected a stone right through the central grille in the front spoiler, which is a bugger. Hopefully it's just the standard M-Sport grille as that's quite cheap. I bet it won't be cheap if it's Alpina-specific
charltjr said:
I've just collected a stone right through the central grille in the front spoiler, which is a bugger. Hopefully it's just the standard M-Sport grille as that's quite cheap. I bet it won't be cheap if it's Alpina-specific
It will be an SE grille, #51117198906http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190704722172
JakeT said:
Even climate is an option!
I really want to like the D3, and I can see that they made an interesting alternative to a 320D when new, but on the second hand market the residuals seem to be too high to make them make sense, when compared to BMW's larger engined 3 series.For me the lack of kit is a deal breaker, for some it wouldn't be of course, but it'd would pain me to buy a 3 series and not have leather, Nav, xenon, climate etc.
The trade off must be improved ride/handling balance?
Interesting cars though for sure, but I couldn't see past the 330d when I was in the market.
f1nn said:
I really want to like the D3, and I can see that they made an interesting alternative to a 320D when new, but on the second hand market the residuals seem to be too high to make them make sense, when compared to BMW's larger engined 3 series.
For me the lack of kit is a deal breaker, for some it wouldn't be of course, but it'd would pain me to buy a 3 series and not have leather, Nav, xenon, climate etc.
The trade off must be improved ride/handling balance?
Interesting cars though for sure, but I couldn't see past the 330d when I was in the market.
While I would be inclined to agree, I think some things like nav should be an option. Some actively don't want it in a car though. However this Generation D3 was something a lot different to former Alpinas. I think the lack of spec keeping the price low worked. The most popular model they've sold by far I'd be guessing... Shame the spec is worse than a 320d SE though...For me the lack of kit is a deal breaker, for some it wouldn't be of course, but it'd would pain me to buy a 3 series and not have leather, Nav, xenon, climate etc.
The trade off must be improved ride/handling balance?
Interesting cars though for sure, but I couldn't see past the 330d when I was in the market.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff