RE: Alpina D3 | The Brave Pill
Discussion
QuadrifoglioVerde said:
We've not had enough 'here's mine' posts I feel. So here's mine. 2007 D3 in Montego blue. As has been said above, most are factory standard 'SE' spec. This one has Alpina leather (very soft, not the usual German stuff), heated seats, cruise, bluetooth. It also has anthracite bamboo trim in place of the nasty silver plastic, which is really rather lovely. Must have cost the first owner thousands.
It's used every day for my 30 mile commute. The brief was a small/medium size estate for less than £10k, less than 100k miles (this one's now on 92k), reliable, reasonably economical, and above all interesting.
Most people think it's just an old 3 series. But those who know, know. And I like that.
Yes, the 4-pot diesel is pretty agricultural by modern standards, yes the gearbox is a bit crap, yes the turbo lag rivals the worst of the 80s, yes I've just spent £1400 on a clutch, flywheel, front discs and service (but I'm still all-in for under £10k), yes a 330 would be faster and smoother but that really isn't the point. Those who know, know.
You are so right! It's used every day for my 30 mile commute. The brief was a small/medium size estate for less than £10k, less than 100k miles (this one's now on 92k), reliable, reasonably economical, and above all interesting.
Most people think it's just an old 3 series. But those who know, know. And I like that.
Yes, the 4-pot diesel is pretty agricultural by modern standards, yes the gearbox is a bit crap, yes the turbo lag rivals the worst of the 80s, yes I've just spent £1400 on a clutch, flywheel, front discs and service (but I'm still all-in for under £10k), yes a 330 would be faster and smoother but that really isn't the point. Those who know, know.
And yours is a stunning colour combination.
But my 123d had no lag and the gearbox was great, even if it only had half-leather trim!
And it had dual-zone climate, front and rear parking sensors, cruise and some other things that would probably have been on the Alpina option list.
I still wonder why BMW didn't fit the twin-turbo N47 to the 3 Series, unless it was due to a deal they had done with Alpina!
I ran a D3 Touring for three or four years. Having owned previously some nice Touring models, earlier generation stuff I felt I had a good reference point to compare.
Sure the four pot diesel sound wasn't the highlight, certainly at start up and trundling along although at 'full chat' there was a purposeful sound you could say. My previous BMW was a 330i Touring of the E46 era so a lovely straight six soundtrack and a nice relatively free revving engine so quite different characteristics to a four pot diesel.
That engine in the Alpina was breathed on by the Alpina engineers and as others have pointed out the BMW parts bin was raided including 330d intercooler, 335d injectors and I believe half the 330d turbo (inlet side perhaps) whilst the exhaust side was bespoke to the D3. Delivery was almost old skool with turbo lag with that big turbo and then really quite revvy I thought for a diesel, it did still deliver useable power higher up the rev range. I found the turbo delivery made for a more exciting drive with that delay then more of a wallop as it came on song.
However the real magic was the agility and handling finesse. Prior to the 330i Touring I owned an E34 M5 Touring left hooker. Anyone that has driven these M5's will know how light on their feet they feel. I likened the Alpina D3 to the M5 for that balance and real world B road pace. The set up on the D3 by the Alpina engineers really shows their pedigree as a racing team. The pace this car can carry with aplomb across twisty roads sets it apart and that is where that lighter four pot helps it shine.
Sure it would have been nice to have higher specced interior but if it's the driving that is your thing these cars are special. I guess now there could be some maintenance bills but that is true of any car this age and no doubt the Alpina forum can help steer you in the right direction. I recall an owner on the Alpina forum saying he really wouldn't like to put money on it of which of his two Alpina's would arrive first across a twisty B road, his Alpina roadster 3.4S or his D3 monoturbo.
Sure the four pot diesel sound wasn't the highlight, certainly at start up and trundling along although at 'full chat' there was a purposeful sound you could say. My previous BMW was a 330i Touring of the E46 era so a lovely straight six soundtrack and a nice relatively free revving engine so quite different characteristics to a four pot diesel.
That engine in the Alpina was breathed on by the Alpina engineers and as others have pointed out the BMW parts bin was raided including 330d intercooler, 335d injectors and I believe half the 330d turbo (inlet side perhaps) whilst the exhaust side was bespoke to the D3. Delivery was almost old skool with turbo lag with that big turbo and then really quite revvy I thought for a diesel, it did still deliver useable power higher up the rev range. I found the turbo delivery made for a more exciting drive with that delay then more of a wallop as it came on song.
However the real magic was the agility and handling finesse. Prior to the 330i Touring I owned an E34 M5 Touring left hooker. Anyone that has driven these M5's will know how light on their feet they feel. I likened the Alpina D3 to the M5 for that balance and real world B road pace. The set up on the D3 by the Alpina engineers really shows their pedigree as a racing team. The pace this car can carry with aplomb across twisty roads sets it apart and that is where that lighter four pot helps it shine.
Sure it would have been nice to have higher specced interior but if it's the driving that is your thing these cars are special. I guess now there could be some maintenance bills but that is true of any car this age and no doubt the Alpina forum can help steer you in the right direction. I recall an owner on the Alpina forum saying he really wouldn't like to put money on it of which of his two Alpina's would arrive first across a twisty B road, his Alpina roadster 3.4S or his D3 monoturbo.
Edited by Evoman on Thursday 22 October 11:34
Edited by Evoman on Thursday 22 October 11:35
QuadrifoglioVerde said:
We've not had enough 'here's mine' posts I feel. So here's mine. 2007 D3 in Montego blue. As has been said above, most are factory standard 'SE' spec. This one has Alpina leather (very soft, not the usual German stuff), heated seats, cruise, bluetooth. It also has anthracite bamboo trim in place of the nasty silver plastic, which is really rather lovely. Must have cost the first owner thousands.
It's used every day for my 30 mile commute. The brief was a small/medium size estate for less than £10k, less than 100k miles (this one's now on 92k), reliable, reasonably economical, and above all interesting.
Most people think it's just an old 3 series. But those who know, know. And I like that.
Yes, the 4-pot diesel is pretty agricultural by modern standards, yes the gearbox is a bit crap, yes the turbo lag rivals the worst of the 80s, yes I've just spent £1400 on a clutch, flywheel, front discs and service (but I'm still all-in for under £10k), yes a 330 would be faster and smoother but that really isn't the point. Those who know, know.
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