Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo
Discussion
Can't believe BMW took so long to put the twin-turbo 2 litre diesel in the 3 Series, unless there was a deal with Alpina..........
I had a 123d with fundamentally this engine for over 6 years, but now I don't do the mileage to justify a diseasal I have N/A straight-6 petrol loveliness and I just wish I hadn't wasted nearly a decade on cars using the black pump!
B3 for me please, but each to their own!
I had a 123d with fundamentally this engine for over 6 years, but now I don't do the mileage to justify a diseasal I have N/A straight-6 petrol loveliness and I just wish I hadn't wasted nearly a decade on cars using the black pump!
B3 for me please, but each to their own!
Thanks for all the comments. 
The spec is pretty sparse, it was set by Sytner who are the UK importers and my understanding is that there was a drive to keep costs down to bring new customers to the brand. They also wanted to keep the P11D costs sensible and get a (very) small presence in the company car market.
For me it's a case of it having everything I need and nothing I don't need, the lack of toys doesn't really bother me because it drives so well. You could spec whatever you wanted on these, but you'd be hit with a £1500 charge before the cost of any options so not many people did so. There was a "Lux pack" available and there are a few cars out there with that fitted - Nav, Xenons, etc.
As a dealer demo car this does have a couple of upgrades on it - the 19" wheels and Professional HU. It's got bluetooth, cruise, remote locking, auto-dim rear view mirror, all the usual 320d kit. The spec is perfectly fine for me, I've never really got the thing about having to have Nav and I'm not a fan of the iDrive system. I even prefer half leather to full leather, always have. I know, that makes me some sort of crazy deviant
If the headlights were rubbish that would wind me up and I'd always regret not having the Xenons, but they're actually very good so it's not a problem. I think the only thing I'd really like is climate control, but the manual AC is perfectly fine to be honest, I hardly ever need to adjust it more than a click or two on the temperature dial.
As for speed it's certainly not slow - it sits somewhere between the 325d and the 330d. I honestly don't know why BMW never put the 123d engine into the E90, I guess they decided the 6-pot 325d was more of a lure than a 4-pot at that price point. It really is a great engine though, I love the fact that it is actually willing to rev all the way round to the red line and doesn't sound like a bag of spanners when you do it either.
The spec is pretty sparse, it was set by Sytner who are the UK importers and my understanding is that there was a drive to keep costs down to bring new customers to the brand. They also wanted to keep the P11D costs sensible and get a (very) small presence in the company car market.
For me it's a case of it having everything I need and nothing I don't need, the lack of toys doesn't really bother me because it drives so well. You could spec whatever you wanted on these, but you'd be hit with a £1500 charge before the cost of any options so not many people did so. There was a "Lux pack" available and there are a few cars out there with that fitted - Nav, Xenons, etc.
As a dealer demo car this does have a couple of upgrades on it - the 19" wheels and Professional HU. It's got bluetooth, cruise, remote locking, auto-dim rear view mirror, all the usual 320d kit. The spec is perfectly fine for me, I've never really got the thing about having to have Nav and I'm not a fan of the iDrive system. I even prefer half leather to full leather, always have. I know, that makes me some sort of crazy deviant
If the headlights were rubbish that would wind me up and I'd always regret not having the Xenons, but they're actually very good so it's not a problem. I think the only thing I'd really like is climate control, but the manual AC is perfectly fine to be honest, I hardly ever need to adjust it more than a click or two on the temperature dial.
As for speed it's certainly not slow - it sits somewhere between the 325d and the 330d. I honestly don't know why BMW never put the 123d engine into the E90, I guess they decided the 6-pot 325d was more of a lure than a 4-pot at that price point. It really is a great engine though, I love the fact that it is actually willing to rev all the way round to the red line and doesn't sound like a bag of spanners when you do it either.
AFAIK they never did replace the BMW roundels with their own, certainly I know for sure that they've never done it in the last 25 years or so. Alpina say it's a symbol of the close relationship that the cars carry both brands - they're always "BMW Alpina" when they talk about the cars or the brand. Who knows how much of that is true and how much is a licensing deal
You can get the replacement roundels easily enough but they're fakes.
Edited to add: Just checked and confirmed from the Alpina Register FAQ - No Alpina ever left the factory with Alpina roundels fitted, they've always had the original BMW ones.
You can get the replacement roundels easily enough but they're fakes.
Edited to add: Just checked and confirmed from the Alpina Register FAQ - No Alpina ever left the factory with Alpina roundels fitted, they've always had the original BMW ones.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 8th April 16:18
charltjr said:
Edited to add: Just checked and confirmed from the Alpina Register FAQ - No Alpina ever left the factory with Alpina roundels fitted, they've always had the original BMW ones.
Oh well must be my memory playing up, just seem to remember seeing Alpinas in the 80s at Sytners with Alpina badges although I've just Googled pics of various 80s Alpinas and they all seem to be bearing BMW badges.Edited by charltjr on Wednesday 8th April 16:18
charltjr said:
Thanks for all the comments.
The spec is pretty sparse, it was set by Sytner who are the UK importers and my understanding is that there was a drive to keep costs down to bring new customers to the brand. They also wanted to keep the P11D costs sensible and get a (very) small presence in the company car market.
For me it's a case of it having everything I need and nothing I don't need, the lack of toys doesn't really bother me because it drives so well. You could spec whatever you wanted on these, but you'd be hit with a £1500 charge before the cost of any options so not many people did so. There was a "Lux pack" available and there are a few cars out there with that fitted - Nav, Xenons, etc.
As a dealer demo car this does have a couple of upgrades on it - the 19" wheels and Professional HU. It's got bluetooth, cruise, remote locking, auto-dim rear view mirror, all the usual 320d kit. The spec is perfectly fine for me, I've never really got the thing about having to have Nav and I'm not a fan of the iDrive system. I even prefer half leather to full leather, always have. I know, that makes me some sort of crazy deviant
If the headlights were rubbish that would wind me up and I'd always regret not having the Xenons, but they're actually very good so it's not a problem. I think the only thing I'd really like is climate control, but the manual AC is perfectly fine to be honest, I hardly ever need to adjust it more than a click or two on the temperature dial.
As for speed it's certainly not slow - it sits somewhere between the 325d and the 330d. I honestly don't know why BMW never put the 123d engine into the E90, I guess they decided the 6-pot 325d was more of a lure than a 4-pot at that price point. It really is a great engine though, I love the fact that it is actually willing to rev all the way round to the red line and doesn't sound like a bag of spanners when you do it either.
I've recently got a 320d and had the same thoughts regarding kit. I didnt want nav and actively sought a car without leather too. With regards to the climate you're not missing much, it's marginally better looking (imo) but I cant get the two bloody rings for dual control to link up and stay the same temprature so I have to turn one down or up then the other all the time. How often does anyone really have the passenger side 3 degrees warmer than drivers anyway?The spec is pretty sparse, it was set by Sytner who are the UK importers and my understanding is that there was a drive to keep costs down to bring new customers to the brand. They also wanted to keep the P11D costs sensible and get a (very) small presence in the company car market.
For me it's a case of it having everything I need and nothing I don't need, the lack of toys doesn't really bother me because it drives so well. You could spec whatever you wanted on these, but you'd be hit with a £1500 charge before the cost of any options so not many people did so. There was a "Lux pack" available and there are a few cars out there with that fitted - Nav, Xenons, etc.
As a dealer demo car this does have a couple of upgrades on it - the 19" wheels and Professional HU. It's got bluetooth, cruise, remote locking, auto-dim rear view mirror, all the usual 320d kit. The spec is perfectly fine for me, I've never really got the thing about having to have Nav and I'm not a fan of the iDrive system. I even prefer half leather to full leather, always have. I know, that makes me some sort of crazy deviant
If the headlights were rubbish that would wind me up and I'd always regret not having the Xenons, but they're actually very good so it's not a problem. I think the only thing I'd really like is climate control, but the manual AC is perfectly fine to be honest, I hardly ever need to adjust it more than a click or two on the temperature dial.
As for speed it's certainly not slow - it sits somewhere between the 325d and the 330d. I honestly don't know why BMW never put the 123d engine into the E90, I guess they decided the 6-pot 325d was more of a lure than a 4-pot at that price point. It really is a great engine though, I love the fact that it is actually willing to rev all the way round to the red line and doesn't sound like a bag of spanners when you do it either.
As long as I had cruise control, AUX input and sports seats I was happy. Given the choice I'd have taken xenons too but as you say the headlights are pretty good.
CaptainMorgan said:
. With regards to the climate you're not missing much, it's marginally better looking (imo) but I cant get the two bloody rings for dual control to link up and stay the same temprature so I have to turn one down or up then the other all the time. How often does anyone really have the passenger side 3 degrees warmer than drivers anyway?
They fixed that with the LCI - of which that car is one - with a button that links them.I've got the D3 MT and what attracted me to it was the lack of kit. I like manual cloth seats etc but I wouldn't have minded cruise. I love the handling balance and it's quick enough but after 18 months of ownership the thought of doing any more miles in a diesel is doing my head in. I can't help thinking how much better it would have been with 28i petrol 4 pot with about 280bhp from the Z4.
The D3 MT engine is very good indeed, but the BT engine definitely turns it up a notch. I had the chance to take it out on some roads which really suit it yesterday and had a proper play.
The key to having fun in it seems to be to forget you're driving a diesel and drive it like a petrol. Peak power is up close to peak revs and it really does like to rev out. Because it's got the 330d gearbox in there with the slightly longer ratios that makes 3rd and 4th gear absolutely perfect for fast A road driving, you just make sure you've got the room to make the overtake and go.
It's got a proper split personality. You can either do the usual diesel thing and just use the torque band or you can rev it out - either way it's hot-hatch quick but using the revs is a lot more fun. Yes it's still a four pot diesel no matter what you do, but if that's what you need this is quite some engine
I've not heard of any DPF issues on the D3 BT and my driving is high-ish mileage, so I don't anticipate any problems there. Other than pottering them around town all the time AFAIK the thing that usually causes DPF issues on the E90 is failed thermostats which stop the engine getting up to the full operating temperature. With the coolant temperature reading on the performance steering wheel I've got that covered.
The timing chain issues aren't really a worry for me either TBH. This will be one of the slightly revised engines which doesn't fix the problem entirely but does make it less likely. It's definitely an issue or BMW wouldn't have issued the PUMA guidelines for it, but there's no way I'm running an Alpina without a warranty on it so if the chain does get noisy I'll be sorted. Given the number of N47 engines out there happily running to stupid mileages without issue I can't get too excited about it.
Replaced the central front grille yesterday, what a complete pig of a job! I honestly wish I'd just taken the bumper off. You can do it without removing the bumper but it takes a lot of cajoling, wiggling, shoving and swearing. Thankfully I've got a set of plastic trim removal tools because without them I'd have been completely sunk. My hands are scratched to hell and back! Still, at least it's done.
I also put the silver kidneys back on the car yesterday and I definitely prefer them. The car looks less aggressive and imposing without the black ones fitted, but that suits me just fine. Personal preference at the end of the day, but here's a pic with the originals back in place.
The key to having fun in it seems to be to forget you're driving a diesel and drive it like a petrol. Peak power is up close to peak revs and it really does like to rev out. Because it's got the 330d gearbox in there with the slightly longer ratios that makes 3rd and 4th gear absolutely perfect for fast A road driving, you just make sure you've got the room to make the overtake and go.
It's got a proper split personality. You can either do the usual diesel thing and just use the torque band or you can rev it out - either way it's hot-hatch quick but using the revs is a lot more fun. Yes it's still a four pot diesel no matter what you do, but if that's what you need this is quite some engine
I've not heard of any DPF issues on the D3 BT and my driving is high-ish mileage, so I don't anticipate any problems there. Other than pottering them around town all the time AFAIK the thing that usually causes DPF issues on the E90 is failed thermostats which stop the engine getting up to the full operating temperature. With the coolant temperature reading on the performance steering wheel I've got that covered.
The timing chain issues aren't really a worry for me either TBH. This will be one of the slightly revised engines which doesn't fix the problem entirely but does make it less likely. It's definitely an issue or BMW wouldn't have issued the PUMA guidelines for it, but there's no way I'm running an Alpina without a warranty on it so if the chain does get noisy I'll be sorted. Given the number of N47 engines out there happily running to stupid mileages without issue I can't get too excited about it.
Replaced the central front grille yesterday, what a complete pig of a job! I honestly wish I'd just taken the bumper off. You can do it without removing the bumper but it takes a lot of cajoling, wiggling, shoving and swearing. Thankfully I've got a set of plastic trim removal tools because without them I'd have been completely sunk. My hands are scratched to hell and back! Still, at least it's done.
I also put the silver kidneys back on the car yesterday and I definitely prefer them. The car looks less aggressive and imposing without the black ones fitted, but that suits me just fine. Personal preference at the end of the day, but here's a pic with the originals back in place.
Update: Have had the car long enough now to get through the "ooooh, new, shiny, isn't it wonderful" phase and I'm still completely smitten with the thing.
Niggles?
I hate the way you get reverse gear, it's all too easy to get it when you want first.
The stereo gives a nice quality sound but runs out of steam at too low a volume. That will be an easy fix if it starts to really bother me - even at my advanced age I still like some bangin' choons occasionally
BMW's stupid indicator stalk design.
I did find the gearbox quite notchy but that seems to be getting better with use, I've added another 10% to the mileage on the car since I bought it so it's certainly getting used a lot more than it was by the previous owners.
I think it's the most complete car I've ever owned.
Niggles?
I hate the way you get reverse gear, it's all too easy to get it when you want first.
The stereo gives a nice quality sound but runs out of steam at too low a volume. That will be an easy fix if it starts to really bother me - even at my advanced age I still like some bangin' choons occasionally
BMW's stupid indicator stalk design.
I did find the gearbox quite notchy but that seems to be getting better with use, I've added another 10% to the mileage on the car since I bought it so it's certainly getting used a lot more than it was by the previous owners.
I think it's the most complete car I've ever owned.
BMWs base audio is horrendous, I'm currently putting up with it but you can retrofit the Alpine upgrade for around £400 which should be enough for most, and keeps it looking original.
I love the engine in these, the rest just isn't for me really. I'd love to drive one and it would definitely be better to drive than my 163 320D.
I love the engine in these, the rest just isn't for me really. I'd love to drive one and it would definitely be better to drive than my 163 320D.
I'll look into the Alpine kit, thanks for that.
It definitely needs a firm, positive move to get reverse initially, but the problem I have with it is once you've done that and have come out of reverse it's easy to go over into reverse again if you immediately try to select first. It's just a learning thing and I'm used to it now, but it still catches me out if I'm hurrying to park to catch a train for example.
It definitely needs a firm, positive move to get reverse initially, but the problem I have with it is once you've done that and have come out of reverse it's easy to go over into reverse again if you immediately try to select first. It's just a learning thing and I'm used to it now, but it still catches me out if I'm hurrying to park to catch a train for example.
Quick update: car has been faultless, it fits my current needs perfectly and can still put a smile on my face on a good road. Can't be bad
I've decided I will get the Alpine hi-fi upgrade at some point. I've found a supplier in Germany who sell it far cheaper than I can get it in the UK so I'll probably get it from them.
I've decided I will get the Alpine hi-fi upgrade at some point. I've found a supplier in Germany who sell it far cheaper than I can get it in the UK so I'll probably get it from them.
Sorted myself out a set of winter wheels. I reckon this staggered set of genuine Style 188's will do the job a treat. A bit scuffed but straight and true, I'm quite looking forward to seeing them on the car.
I've decided to get the dynamics refurbished in a lighter colour, either a light version of shadow chrome or silver. They look great when they're clean but once even slightly dirty they just vanish into the car and also I don't deal drugs on the side
I've decided to get the dynamics refurbished in a lighter colour, either a light version of shadow chrome or silver. They look great when they're clean but once even slightly dirty they just vanish into the car and also I don't deal drugs on the side
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