RE: Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo: Driven
Discussion
foxhounduk said:
And on the motorway, want to overtake me? Don't even bother. I can be crusing at 70mph and a slight squeeze of the throttle and anything but a Brabus is annihilated. I'll be in front of you, 100 yards ahead.
So what you're saying is that if you're "cruising" at 70mph, and i happen to be "cruising" at say 85mph, then i can't overtake you?(btw, i also drive a 335d. it's really not that fast, although mine is completely std and staying that way.......)
foxhounduk said:
I have an e92 335d coupe with a stage 2.
380bhp and 521 lb/ft torque. Thats over 800Nm of torque.
Devestatingly fast. So so fast.
I have had many fast cars but nothing quite like this. The article said it well. You literally have no idea how you cover so much ground. Slight tap of the pedal and you're at 70mph and the road is finished.
And on the motorway, want to overtake me? Don't even bother. I can be crusing at 70mph and a slight squeeze of the throttle and anything but a Brabus is annihilated. I'll be in front of you, 100 yards ahead.
You're either having a laugh or you are the world's worst individual/car enthusiast380bhp and 521 lb/ft torque. Thats over 800Nm of torque.
Devestatingly fast. So so fast.
I have had many fast cars but nothing quite like this. The article said it well. You literally have no idea how you cover so much ground. Slight tap of the pedal and you're at 70mph and the road is finished.
And on the motorway, want to overtake me? Don't even bother. I can be crusing at 70mph and a slight squeeze of the throttle and anything but a Brabus is annihilated. I'll be in front of you, 100 yards ahead.
simundo777 said:
British Beef said:
How much for a 3 series with a diesel engine???
Peformance and economy are very impressive, but for that price they really should be.
Personally I think this makes the new M3 look like a bargain, and a 2 year old V8 M3 look like an absolute steal.
This doesnt float my boat in the slightest.
And a well specced Golf GTD is £34k with a measly 4 pot. For new cars there no such thing as a bargain anymore!Peformance and economy are very impressive, but for that price they really should be.
Personally I think this makes the new M3 look like a bargain, and a 2 year old V8 M3 look like an absolute steal.
This doesnt float my boat in the slightest.
1985 called and wants me to come home.... ;-)
simundo777 said:
foxhounduk said:
I have an e92 335d coupe with a stage 2.
380bhp and 521 lb/ft torque. Thats over 800Nm of torque.
Devestatingly fast. So so fast.
I have had many fast cars but nothing quite like this. The article said it well. You literally have no idea how you cover so much ground. Slight tap of the pedal and you're at 70mph and the road is finished.
And on the motorway, want to overtake me? Don't even bother. I can be crusing at 70mph and a slight squeeze of the throttle and anything but a Brabus is annihilated. I'll be in front of you, 100 yards ahead.
Oh god, what have you started? Put your flame suit on!380bhp and 521 lb/ft torque. Thats over 800Nm of torque.
Devestatingly fast. So so fast.
I have had many fast cars but nothing quite like this. The article said it well. You literally have no idea how you cover so much ground. Slight tap of the pedal and you're at 70mph and the road is finished.
And on the motorway, want to overtake me? Don't even bother. I can be crusing at 70mph and a slight squeeze of the throttle and anything but a Brabus is annihilated. I'll be in front of you, 100 yards ahead.
TX.
foxhounduk said:
I have an e92 335d coupe with a stage 2.
380bhp and 521 lb/ft torque. Thats over 800Nm of torque.
And on the motorway, want to overtake me? Don't even bother. I can be crusing at 70mph and a slight squeeze of the throttle and anything but a Brabus is annihilated. I'll be in front of you, 100 yards ahead.
Oh dear oh dear...380bhp and 521 lb/ft torque. Thats over 800Nm of torque.
And on the motorway, want to overtake me? Don't even bother. I can be crusing at 70mph and a slight squeeze of the throttle and anything but a Brabus is annihilated. I'll be in front of you, 100 yards ahead.
Leins said:
Laugh all you want, doesn't change the fact that Alpina is a German car manufacturing company separate from BMW, as opposed to "just" a tuning firm
Soooo a company that tweaks suspension, engine and styling of an existing car is not a tuning company? All those years I had it wrong...Why does every Alpina thread bring out those who know sweet FA about them?
It's a lovely 3 series for the more discerning, non-conformist sales rep.
Alpina's are integrated into the BMW production line, therefore TUV recognise them as a manufacturer not a tuning company.
Thems the facts, like it or not.
It's a lovely 3 series for the more discerning, non-conformist sales rep.
Alpina's are integrated into the BMW production line, therefore TUV recognise them as a manufacturer not a tuning company.
Thems the facts, like it or not.
Edited by Zyp on Wednesday 14th May 18:54
Bladedancer said:
Leins said:
Laugh all you want, doesn't change the fact that Alpina is a German car manufacturing company separate from BMW, as opposed to "just" a tuning firm
Soooo a company that tweaks suspension, engine and styling of an existing car is not a tuning company? All those years I had it wrong...It really is hard work on here sometimes!
Leins said:
Once again, this is not my opinion, but surprisingly an actual fact! Don't believe it, sneer at it, try make me look a bit silly on here if you want, but it's still the case. If you don't agree, then write to the German TUV and give them your thoughts, as I've heard they're particularly easy to influence
It really is hard work on here sometimes!
German TUV can recognise them as whatever they want. They can classify them as robot chicken if they want.It really is hard work on here sometimes!
It still won't change the fact Alpina tunes BMW for s living and does not make their own cars.
Rest is just semantics, politics and bookkeeping.
But they don't just 'tune' BMW's - as I said above, Alpina parts that have been developed and made by Alpina are integrated onto the BMW production line using BMW's as donor cars.
A tuning company would take a fully built car, take off bits and pieces and replace with their own (like Techart do with Porsche and Kahn do with other makes)
All Alpina's have their own ViN/engine numbers alongside the BMW one - only the Alpina VIN has any bearing on the identity of that car.
But as said earlier, it's hard on PH sometimes.
A tuning company would take a fully built car, take off bits and pieces and replace with their own (like Techart do with Porsche and Kahn do with other makes)
All Alpina's have their own ViN/engine numbers alongside the BMW one - only the Alpina VIN has any bearing on the identity of that car.
But as said earlier, it's hard on PH sometimes.
"We'll come to exactly what the ludicrous torque feels like shortly, but there are some very other important numbers to consider with D3. BMW may have reverted to a single turbo for 35d cars but Alpina still prefers a twin-turbo arrangement; the intercooler is 20 per cent larger than a 35d and breathing tweaks reduce induction air pressure by 30 per cent."
Come on PH it isn't hard to get things right these days....
The normal 335d engine has two turbos....
Come on PH it isn't hard to get things right these days....
The normal 335d engine has two turbos....
Kawasicki said:
Matt Bird said:
Kawasicki said:
Back in 2013 PH reviewed the B3 and said this
"In Comfort mode the steering is spookily light. Around the straight-ahead position there's often a sense that the steering column has been disconnected entirely from the wheels. The Sport modes address this with added weight, but never do you have total faith in the steering and nor is there any degree of feedback.
Muddied waters
On a twisting, narrow road that can become an issue because you find yourself unable to place the car with total accuracy. Allied to a chassis that, even in one of the Sport modes, feels a little blunt you do find yourself having to second guess your steering inputs and correct your lines. The B3 soon feels uncomfortable being hustled down a demanding stretch of blacktop for there isn't the precision and iron-fisted body control to make such a thing enjoyable."
So I would question your opening line in this review.
Is the steering in the D3 better?
Hello,"In Comfort mode the steering is spookily light. Around the straight-ahead position there's often a sense that the steering column has been disconnected entirely from the wheels. The Sport modes address this with added weight, but never do you have total faith in the steering and nor is there any degree of feedback.
Muddied waters
On a twisting, narrow road that can become an issue because you find yourself unable to place the car with total accuracy. Allied to a chassis that, even in one of the Sport modes, feels a little blunt you do find yourself having to second guess your steering inputs and correct your lines. The B3 soon feels uncomfortable being hustled down a demanding stretch of blacktop for there isn't the precision and iron-fisted body control to make such a thing enjoyable."
So I would question your opening line in this review.
Is the steering in the D3 better?
I didn't write the review for the D3 but did drive that car. Having spent time in our 4 Series recently I think the fact the D3 felt so much better resolved than that car was the overriding impression.
The steering isn't feelsome in either car but, for me, the weighting was OK in the D3. On the roads I drove the D3 on the lack of precision didn't manifest itself; maybe I wasn't pushing hard enough! As mentioned it lacks the outright focus of an M car but that seems befitting of its role.
We'll have a chat with Alpina and see if there are any fundamental differences between the two cars and investigate the kerbweights/distribution too.
Matt
As for the steering, I would argue it's to do with personal experience. There aren't any fundamental differences between the two cars.
Matt
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