Alpina B3 Touring
Discussion
Only just getting round to catching up on stuff and thought I should start a thread on this....
I've wanted one of these for years. Slightly obsessive checking AT, watching reviews again and again and again, speccing one up. The rare occasions I saw one of these in the metal, it sent me a bit giddy.
I ve had a couple of tourings in the past, the 340d that this replaced made more sense financially, but this was always the one that stuck in the back of my mind. I toyed with an M3T but I wasn't sure I could live with the unwanted attention..the whole understated performance estate thing just appeals to me.
Oddly a few of these have come up for sale in recent months, I missed a peach last Summer and in the meantime others came and went but didn't have the toys I wanted. The 340d was very well specced and I didn't want to give up the laser lights and driving assistant pro pack, to name but a few.
I went to see view it last week, trying to stay sensible but the minute I saw it in person that was basically over. It looked even better in person.
Driving it home just confirmed why I ve wanted one for so long. The ride is beautifully judged, you'd never know it was 20's. It s properly quick, piles on speed in an effortless way. Taking over the duties of the 340d, swallowing miles comfortably, carry everything I need, and still feel special every time I get in it.
Colour wise, it's not the Blue/Green which typically gets chosen when these are specced up. I gather its one of two in this colour in the UK
I suspect this one might be a keeper.....
Alpina B3 Touring - Oxide Grey II
I've wanted one of these for years. Slightly obsessive checking AT, watching reviews again and again and again, speccing one up. The rare occasions I saw one of these in the metal, it sent me a bit giddy.
I ve had a couple of tourings in the past, the 340d that this replaced made more sense financially, but this was always the one that stuck in the back of my mind. I toyed with an M3T but I wasn't sure I could live with the unwanted attention..the whole understated performance estate thing just appeals to me.
Oddly a few of these have come up for sale in recent months, I missed a peach last Summer and in the meantime others came and went but didn't have the toys I wanted. The 340d was very well specced and I didn't want to give up the laser lights and driving assistant pro pack, to name but a few.
I went to see view it last week, trying to stay sensible but the minute I saw it in person that was basically over. It looked even better in person.
Driving it home just confirmed why I ve wanted one for so long. The ride is beautifully judged, you'd never know it was 20's. It s properly quick, piles on speed in an effortless way. Taking over the duties of the 340d, swallowing miles comfortably, carry everything I need, and still feel special every time I get in it.
Colour wise, it's not the Blue/Green which typically gets chosen when these are specced up. I gather its one of two in this colour in the UK
I suspect this one might be a keeper.....
Alpina B3 Touring - Oxide Grey II
Edited by reefer110 on Wednesday 1st April 21:17
Thanks for all the positive comments!
Just into a month of ownership now, it's a fantastic car
Biggest difference from the 340d it replaced… it takes a few extra seconds for the turbos to spool. The old car had so much low-down grunt you really notice the delay—but when they do come in, it’s absolutely ballistic.
For day-to-day driving I’ve started using Sport Individual with the engine set to ‘Sport’—it gets rid of that slight delay you get in Comfort.... for motorway trips I'm happy to leave it in comfort+
The only thing I really miss from the old car is the Laser lights. The B3’s adaptive LEDs are decent, but they’re not a patch on the lasers—especially with how they could ‘bend’ around other vehicles. Certainly miss it as I do a decent chunk of driving at night... handy for picking out potholes...
Speaking of which—before I end up destroying the classic 20s while waiting for Northants CC to finally fix the roads—I’ve gone and picked up a set of 19” Dynamics. It's a shame as the 20's really make the car but I guess I'll maybe be able to use them for 1/4 of the year
Just into a month of ownership now, it's a fantastic car
Biggest difference from the 340d it replaced… it takes a few extra seconds for the turbos to spool. The old car had so much low-down grunt you really notice the delay—but when they do come in, it’s absolutely ballistic.
For day-to-day driving I’ve started using Sport Individual with the engine set to ‘Sport’—it gets rid of that slight delay you get in Comfort.... for motorway trips I'm happy to leave it in comfort+
The only thing I really miss from the old car is the Laser lights. The B3’s adaptive LEDs are decent, but they’re not a patch on the lasers—especially with how they could ‘bend’ around other vehicles. Certainly miss it as I do a decent chunk of driving at night... handy for picking out potholes...
Speaking of which—before I end up destroying the classic 20s while waiting for Northants CC to finally fix the roads—I’ve gone and picked up a set of 19” Dynamics. It's a shame as the 20's really make the car but I guess I'll maybe be able to use them for 1/4 of the year
reefer110 said:
Thanks for all the positive comments!
Just into a month of ownership now, it's a fantastic car
Biggest difference from the 340d it replaced it takes a few extra seconds for the turbos to spool. The old car had so much low-down grunt you really notice the delay but when they do come in, it s absolutely ballistic.
For day-to-day driving I ve started using Sport Individual with the engine set to Sport it gets rid of that slight delay you get in Comfort.... for motorway trips I'm happy to leave it in comfort+
The only thing I really miss from the old car is the Laser lights. The B3 s adaptive LEDs are decent, but they re not a patch on the lasers especially with how they could bend around other vehicles. Certainly miss it as I do a decent chunk of driving at night... handy for picking out potholes...
Speaking of which before I end up destroying the classic 20s while waiting for Northants CC to finally fix the roads I ve gone and picked up a set of 19 Dynamics. It's a shame as the 20's really make the car but I guess I'll maybe be able to use them for 1/4 of the year
I've never seen those wheels before and I think they look superb; very different, very Alpina still and they look fantastic in silver Just into a month of ownership now, it's a fantastic car
Biggest difference from the 340d it replaced it takes a few extra seconds for the turbos to spool. The old car had so much low-down grunt you really notice the delay but when they do come in, it s absolutely ballistic.
For day-to-day driving I ve started using Sport Individual with the engine set to Sport it gets rid of that slight delay you get in Comfort.... for motorway trips I'm happy to leave it in comfort+
The only thing I really miss from the old car is the Laser lights. The B3 s adaptive LEDs are decent, but they re not a patch on the lasers especially with how they could bend around other vehicles. Certainly miss it as I do a decent chunk of driving at night... handy for picking out potholes...
Speaking of which before I end up destroying the classic 20s while waiting for Northants CC to finally fix the roads I ve gone and picked up a set of 19 Dynamics. It's a shame as the 20's really make the car but I guess I'll maybe be able to use them for 1/4 of the year
danb79 said:
I've never seen those wheels before and I think they look superb; very different, very Alpina still and they look fantastic in silver
Yep, they don't appear to be the wheel of choice in Alpina circles but they are growing on me... my partner says it's looking a bit Grandad spec now 
Yeah, the Alpina B5 I had was owned by them at one point. They are 5 mins from me. I am yet to actually buy anything from him but only hear good things and he has some lovely stuff pass through. Always seem to be reasonably priced too.
Perfect colour combo Roma in stock at the moment.
Perfect colour combo Roma in stock at the moment.
reefer110 said:
danb79 said:
I've never seen those wheels before and I think they look superb; very different, very Alpina still and they look fantastic in silver
Yep, they don't appear to be the wheel of choice in Alpina circles but they are growing on me... my partner says it's looking a bit Grandad spec now And I'd rather have Granddad and comfort-spec than youthful ASBO break-your-back spec personally
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff