RE: Alpina D3 Touring: PH Carpool

RE: Alpina D3 Touring: PH Carpool

Monday 20th April 2015

Alpina D3 Touring: PH Carpool

Explaining the appeal of an Alpina is not the work of a moment for this PHer!



Name: Robin Bartholomew (Subzero)
Car: BMW Alpina D3 Touring manual 2007
Owned since: "August 2014. A birthday present to myself last year, purchased from the PH classifieds (naturally)."
Previously owned: "Alfa 155, Subaru Impreza, two VW Campervans, Mk1 Ford Escort van, BMW 330i, various hot (and not so hot) hatches, some very dull saloon cars and a sh*t box Sierra bought with three mates which I loved! I've also had an array of motorbikes and currently have a Suzuki GSX-R 750 K7."

Subtle Alpina add-ons are a big appeal
Subtle Alpina add-ons are a big appeal
Why I bought it:
"I am not a particularly wealthy chap and as such life more often than not gets in the way of certain dreams and aspirations, like a 10-car garage. So one car was needed to fit a whole number of requirements.

"I currently have a couple of work contracts, on multiple sites, which means I do a lot of miles. So the first couple of factors were economy and long-distance comfort. I can get 55mpg on a long run, but mid 40s is the norm. It's also a nice place to with the half leather seats and usual BMW interior quality.

"I've got a major house project on the go and trying to do as much of it as I can myself, so estate and tow bar came next. The tow bar is removable though so as not to spoil the looks.

"And finally, being a lifelong petrolhead and someone who has spent the entirety of their working career dedicated to the handling, speed and performance of some very fine cars, I was not about to sell my soul and get something that just chugged up and down the motorway and went to the tip on the weekends. It needed to be something I actually wanted to drive and show its heels down a B-road every now and then.

"I have been rather privileged and lucky to have driven, worked on, or had access to some great cars and I maintain that the front end on a BMWs 3 Series before the E90 generation is as good as anything. Particularly in E46 M3 guise on 18-inch wheels. With the E90 they got way too carried away with run-flat tyres and as such their suspension suffered as they tried to dial it back in. This car solves that.

"Alpina has modified all the right bits. Springs, anti-roll bars and dampers all changed and even on the 19-inch rims with rubber band tyres (tuned to be supplied without run flats from new) the ride and handling is fantastic. It turns and grips brilliantly, not too much roll and nowhere near as crashy as the wheels look - in fact it's extremely compliant, and mine is regularly tested as I live in a little village reached only by poorly maintained B-roads.

"Don't get me wrong, this is no sports car. It still weighs in excess of 1,600kg, but the 200+hp of grunt (thanks to a previous owner getting it mapped) and the large amount of diesel torque help things along nicely. It's a family sports diesel at the end of the day. It even has a little button to beef up the side bolsters in the front seats."

Fulfils the fun and frugal brief perfectly
Fulfils the fun and frugal brief perfectly
What I wish I'd known:
"I did a fair amount of research on these before I bought one. My budget didn't quite stretch to the later Bi-Turbo version unfortunately, but I'm not convinced they are different enough for the current difference in price to worry about day to day. Being based on the 320d M-Sport it has a nice and reliable base and as such there aren't too many horror stories floating about. This features the later spec M47 engine and doesn't appear to suffer from the swirl flap issues reported on the earlier BMW models due to a late life design change. I'll probably take a look at these at some point though for peace of mind.

"Probably the only thing I hadn't accounted for was if there is an issue with any of the Alpina specific parts then it's a minimum two-week lead time. I had a split in a flexi join of one of the intercooler hoses and, although it wasn't a show stopper, due to Christmas being in the way it took five weeks for a replacement to arrive. It wasn't cheap either, although the pipe was so elaborate you could certainly see where the money went."

Things I love:
"The individuality. There are only a few hundred of these around in the whole country and even fewer Tourings. It has a little plaque on the ceiling as a reminder. The way it looks too. It's nicely aggressive looking on those big wheels and tinted rear windows. Perhaps not as subtle as it could be (which is kind of the point), but it at least stands out from the thousands of M Sport estates out there.

"The way it corners and the way it revs, it's really quite un-diesel like in the way the engine spins up. Its mid-range torque is excellent and surprises a few people with its pace. I had to tow a caravan with it recently (a horrific experience, don't ever do it) for about 15 miles. It didn't perform terribly in a very unscientific 0-60 test..."

Nice reminder of the exclusivity
Nice reminder of the exclusivity
Things I hate:
"Its individuality, particularly the name. And not because it's stupid, but because it's one of those cars that is not well known, which means you have to explain what it is all the time. And that just makes it uncool.

"It has a lack of toys. No cruise control, no electric seats, no iPod connector. Because of the way Alpina specced these cars with BMW, the basic build spec was, well, basic and it cost a fortune to add options as Alpina put a hefty mark-up on them. So these only came in four colours and are generally found with a basic no frills specification, which is fine, but I spend a lot of time in it. Cruise is probably the main one I'd like to add, for those long motorway journeys.

"It doesn't have a limited-slip diff. Again not really an issue every day, but it would be nice. The turbo lag can be a problem too. At first it caught me out a couple of times at junctions but keep the revs up and it's just fine."

Costs:
"Costs are pretty reasonable all round on this. I've been a little bit unlucky in that I've had to do a few major jobs on the car in just the short time I've had it. It's just ticked over 100K miles and I am continuing to add to that. So far I've had to do the clutch and flywheel, discs and pads all round, the alternator and a few niggly items here and there. I've changed the oil twice too. But as almost all of these parts are standard BMW it's not too horrific. They're also non-brand specific issues. All cars need brake discs at some point. I've done most of the jobs myself, but there are plenty of BMW specialists out there offering help, advice and better value than the main dealer. James at Crackley Garage in Kenilworth comes highly recommended.

"Fuel economy as I've already mentioned is very good, especially compared to the petrol 330 I previously owned. I easily get 500-600 miles on a tank. Insurance is normal I'd say for a 33 year old's everyday car as well at under £500. I haven't had to change the tyres yet though. That won't be a happy day with those 265 cross section rears, until they're fitted and scrubbed in that is!"

Robin's cars are normally modified - not this one!
Robin's cars are normally modified - not this one!
Where I've been:
"The local tip mainly! And B&Q. Most of the country's race tracks have had a visit, not to drive round them unfortunately, just for work.

"Both my partner and I have families are spread out along the south coast so it's already done the back and forth there, including a 500-mile Xmas round trip. With 70 miles a day commuting too it's easy to see how the miles have racked up!

"I'm sure there will be some proper road trips at some point. Unfortunately for now my spare time involves working on the house, but this would make a great Euro hauler."

What next?
"Most of my cars last between six and 12 months, normally because I get bored or life dictates a change. I can't envisage becoming bored of this as a daily drive for a while yet, mainly because I don't have time. I plan to keep it for a good couple of years and I'm also not sure what I would even choose to replace it with. Probably a newer version of the same car. It really does a lot of things very well.

"I almost always change or modify something on my cars too. Something which I have become less and less convinced of as a good idea as I become a more experienced engineer and understand more of the design process and how a car has come to be a certain way. Track toys I will always play with, but the daily drive needs to just work and do what it was designed to do. That and I get carried away and spend way too much time and money doing it for the return! This is too good to start with to bother worrying about."

 


Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!

Author
Discussion

tank3rs

Original Poster:

5 posts

115 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Good write up!

Making me think about a d3 more and more now, Looks like a good comprise for people with high mileage.

Que typical comments about the black stuff and mpg wink

Devil2575

13,400 posts

187 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
I've looked at these but they command a reasonable premium over a 320d and as you say they are almost always base spec.

It's an interesting car though and i'd like to have a go in one.

Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
No cruise control? Ouch.

Itsallicanafford

2,759 posts

158 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
seriously looked at one but went for a 335D...to this day i regret it as i eventually got rid of the 335D as it was too fast and the ride was pretty shocking, in retrospect the Alpina would have been a perfect compromise

subzero

79 posts

197 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Devil2575 said:
I've looked at these but they command a reasonable premium over a 320d and as you say they are almost always base spec.

It's an interesting car though and i'd like to have a go in one.
I did think that myself, but there's an extension of the same discussion.

When new the D3 was priced right between the 320D and 330D and the performance (engine wise only) is right in the middle also.

Now (or at least when I bought this one) the D3 is roughly the same price as an equivalent 330D.

The important thing is that if things keep going that way, when I come to sell mine in a couple of years, hopefully (One can hope), it will (should, fingers crossed) be worth more than both of them.

Whiters

364 posts

238 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Nice write up. Enjoy reading about the challenges of finding an interesting daily, and how it fits into people's lives. I looked at these last time round. I can definitely see one of these on the driveway in the not too distant future. This and the E90 320si (which I think are saloon only) are interesting alternatives in the range.

jimi

521 posts

262 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
I had an Alpina B3 3.0 many years ago which was ace. Modern needs had me looking at one of these in the classifieds recently so it was good to read your writeup.


Digitalize

2,850 posts

134 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Don't get Alpina's any more really. They stick a lip on to an SE bumper, the same wheels on every model, and cost more.

Would rather an M-Sport, which as said will most likely be a better spec. I didn't even know it was possible to get one without Cruise Control.

Dellage

190 posts

201 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Good write up and nice car, I do like the look of these. I have a regular E90 320d myself with a remap and a bit of tidying around the engine to get it back to good form and agree with your comment on the way the engine revs, is revvy for a diesel.

Re the swirl flap comment and the rumours of these not suffering from problems, I would strongly suggest you check them when you can. I did mine and had also read that the design had changed and these don't suffer etc etc. Mine is a 56 plate, so an early E90, and still had the old style metal swirl flaps exactly the same design as the E46 ones, three of which had play/were loose. I was at 132k miles at that point though. No difference in how the car runs with them removed and bungs in place.


Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
A great write up and a great car - but those alloys are dreadful, every Alpina seems to have th same affliction, truly terrible.

burty39

354 posts

200 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Digitalize said:
Don't get Alpina's any more really. They stick a lip on to an SE bumper, the same wheels on every model, and cost more.

Would rather an M-Sport, which as said will most likely be a better spec. I didn't even know it was possible to get one without Cruise Control.
Clearly you don't get Alpinas wink

Digitalize

2,850 posts

134 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
burty39 said:
Clearly you don't get Alpinas wink
I get some, but I don't get these, or a lot of their modern ones to be honest. Engine and Suspension tweaks, great. Styling etc, no thank you.

Birzzles

31 posts

146 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
I thought the point of the D3 was that it had the twin turbo of the 123d, if it is just a basic 320d then i should think it has all the possible problems with one of those. Reluctor rings (which i had to replace on mine) turbos, clutches, and cam chain breaking which cost 1500 to replace if caught in time. On the last point i would not buy any high mileage 320d unless it had had an oil change every 10k at least. This is what i have done with mine since new, and engine sounds fine at 121k, but who knows...

Always fancied the B3 over an M3 however.

JMF894

5,478 posts

154 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Good write up. I can relate to all of your 'issues'. Man after my own heart........

Jimbo

Digitalize

2,850 posts

134 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Birzzles said:
I thought the point of the D3 was that it had the twin turbo of the 123d, if it is just a basic 320d then i should think it has all the possible problems with one of those. Reluctor rings (which i had to replace on mine) turbos, clutches, and cam chain breaking which cost 1500 to replace if caught in time. On the last point i would not buy any high mileage 320d unless it had had an oil change every 10k at least. This is what i have done with mine since new, and engine sounds fine at 121k, but who knows...

Always fancied the B3 over an M3 however.
Reluctor ring isn't seen as a massively common thing really.
Turbo's are a bit of a myth due to the large amount of them sold.
Clutches?
Cam Chain is only on the later N47 engines.

My 320D is the 163bhp M47N2 engine, on 183k at the moment. I'm servicing it every 10k now but I imagine before hand it wasn't.

Twin Turbo D3 is a bit special I will agree.

Maldini35

2,913 posts

187 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Lovely car.
Not sure why anybody buys BMW's for the road when Alpinas are so much nicer.
Must own one someday.

Ashok

598 posts

258 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
I had an Alpina D3 Saloon very similar to this car and drove it 117,000 miles! It was an absolute gem of a car - reliable and economical, yet always gave me the feeling that I was driving something rather special. Highly recommended.

garypotter

1,483 posts

149 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
my advice is to have the turbo looked at before buying as I know 2 owners who have had issues!! one was a low miler 1 owner car the other was average miles for year, but something different. For me a 330d would be my choice.

JMF894

5,478 posts

154 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Reading this again I thought they were 200bhp standard rather than with a remap?

Jimbo

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
They are 200hp stock, although apparently they remap nicely to circa 240bhp.

To the poster who said this isn't a proper Alpina because it's just cosmetic tweaks you're far from correct. Different turbo, different injectors, different suspension, different intercooler, different exhaust, different radiator. Enough changes for you? smile

OP that's a very nice car, I like the E91 a lot. I'd get rid of those fake Alpina roundels if it was mine though!