Alpina D3

[Blue62]

Mrs Blue's SQ5 is coming up for a change in 6 months time, so I've started browsing and thought about the Alpina Touring, Sytner are happy to let me have one for a day which suggests they've a lot of confidence in the car. Be interested to hear the thoughts of any owners out there and if there's any chance of doing a deal, seems discount is next to nothing even on a stock car (of which there are a few).

[Blue62]

Thanks, didn't know about the warranty, maybe something I can haggle over, I've been offered around £1k discount, insane when compared to a 335d but there's just something about them. I will report back after the extended drive, might even put it on, erm, youtube, erm.

[Blue62]

Burnham said:

Have a look at this one also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq2vbS3KoEw

I recently ordered a D3 for delivery in December, off the back of a visit to Goodwood to speak with the guys from Nottingham, and then a test drive. Take them up on the offer of a drive, its lovely!

Edited by Burnham on Wednesday 17th August 23:40

Thanks for that, but I think I have viewed pretty much everything on Youtube about the D3 by now. I have a lot of respect for Sutcliffe and on that basis I am sold on the car before I've even stepped into one!

This started out because my wife's SQ5 will be replaced next year and I've been thinking about what to get her, but the more I learn about this car the more I am tempted to go for one myself and put her in something else, which gives me a little more time (never a good thing). I'd be interested to know if you went for the LSD, I wouldn't be tracking this car so wondering if I'd really get £2k's worth of benefit in normal use. The spec I have been playing with gets me to £58k (including diff), a lot of money when there's negligible discount but I think it's probably worth it, especially as the residuals look strong (man maths).

Be interested to know your spec.

[Blue62]

Burnham said:

Likewise, everything I saw and read pointed towards the car being a great all rounder. I had less than 2 hours in the car on the test drive, but that was enough for me to make a decision. Plenty fast enough and the ride is fantastic (even compared to my RangeRover Sport). I only have one car (apart from the wife's S3), and needed something that ticked all the boxes. If BMW made an M3 Touring then that could have been a consideration, but even then I like the idea of the exclusivity of the Alpina.

It is a lot of money when you take into account the discounts available on a standard 335d/340i, but its a different car - and the rarity of them means depreciation wont be as severe as on the donor car....so yeah, man maths for sure.

I reckon LSD is a must-have with a car like this, and I think its a shame its not included in the re-build by Alpina as standard. I wont be tracking mine either, but it was the first box I ticked!

The spec is as follows:

Limited slip differential
20" ALPINA CLASSIC
Deco-Set silver, frontspoiler only
Metallic Mineral Grey (with Black Radiator Grill as per the pre-facelift cars...I'm not keen on the latest silver version)
Dakota leather Saddle Brown with Brown highlight (including lower half of Dashboard)
Steering wheel in Alcantara, bespoke +2mm (Wwith Blue Stitching, and gearchange via Aluminium BMW paddles, not Alpina Buttons)
Adaptive LED Headlights
ALPINA piano black interior trim
Comfort Access
Folding/Dimming Exterior mirrors
Matt Aluminium Exterior trim and Roof rails
Head-up Display (and Speed limit Display)
Anthracite Headlining
High-beam Assistant
Harman/Kardon Speakers
Lumbar support for driver and front passenger
BMW Professional Media Package
Panorama glass roof
Park Distance Control (PDC), front and rear & Reversing Assist camera
Sun protection glass

Roll on December!

That's a tasty spec and very similar to what I have in mind, though I like the blind spot monitoring in my current car, it's one of those things you get used to and I would probably have it again. I like Tansanite and would probably mix it with beige dakota/piano black trim, I'd also de-badge with no side stripes but maybe leave the Alpina wording on the front lip.

Did you consider the 4WD?

20 wheels
LDS
Pan roof
Media Pro
HUD
Driving Assistant
Lavalina wheel with leather panel
Reverse camera
Lumbar
Folding mirrors
Sun protection glass
Aluminium trim

I have a car for the day next week, they have no diff cars for me to try and I'm still torn about the need to have it on a car I won't be throwing sideways, but then I guess I can always wait to see what you think come Xmas!

[Blue62]

I dropped you a response Burnham, hope you got it. Can't disagree with your reasoning on any of your points and thanks for the suggestion on HUD, I am getting carried away a bit, but I can't believe that the car will be anything but stunning based on what I have read and watched. I will post my impressions, thanks again.

[Blue62]

I agree, I think the latest D3 is holding up better than most Alpina's, I'm not sure the B3 is a valid comparator.

[Blue62]

There is always a danger of man maths taking over the argument here, but I see the depreciation argument with the D3 as a fairly simple one.

It doesn't really have an equivalent in the BMW range and by all accounts is considered as the best real world car to come out of Alpina for a while. I honestly think it stands apart and for those of us who want subtly wrapped, fast, family everyday motoring without spending endless hours filling up, it's a compelling proposition. It may be niche, but its qualities combined with a degree of exclusivity make it a fair bet for me that prices won't tumble too badly and the word seems to be getting out there, when I enquired there were only 4 stock Tourings in the UK.

I'm saying all of this before I have driven one, so my view could change (though I find it hard to question Sutcliffe's judgement on cars), but I think it's a bit of a one off and Alpina have pulled a rabbit out of the hat with the D3. I run an RS4 B8 and an SQ5, we are replacing both next year and this car seems to combine the qualities of both, that's some going.

[Blue62]

JNW1 said:

I get what you're saying and am certainly not out to knock Alpinas! However, you could get the suspension on a 335d fettled by Birds or ACS - and get it remapped to produce at least the same power and torque - for rather less than a cost of a D3; of course the modified 335d won't be worth as much in 5 or 6 years time but then it won't have cost anything like as much in the first place! Don't get me wrong, I could easily be tempted towards an Alpina and I understand completely why you're considering one; however, I can also see the argument that says once you take discounts into account they look a tad expensive compared to the stock cars on which they're based....

I absolutely agree on the discount front and it may be the one aspect of buying an Alpina that I won't/can't stomach, will have to wait and see.

[Blue62]

i finally got to drive a D3 the other day, very impressed with how the car goes, it is properly quick with no drama and it handles and stops very well, the steering was ok but I expected more, not sure why. Overall it is a terrific ownership prospect, with a breadth of abilities that make it difficult to know quite what can rival it, but there were a couple of let downs. It lacks drama/presence and the interior was pretty uninspiring, the car I drove had black dakota leather and it felt a bit low rent for a £50k + car.

I can see that merino and a few other expensive options would lift it, but then you're heading towards £60k (the discount offered is negligible) and that requires bigger cahonas. I am tempted, but there is a very big real world gap to a 335d, A4 etc, by my maths (once you've dialled in desirable extra's and discounts) almost £20k. Great car though.