Talk to me: E46 Alpina B3 coupe

[wolfy1988]

Hi guys

I'm looking at a Alpina B3 sportronic coupe tonight.

It's a 2002 with just over 100k miles, may have had a hard life but been lavished for the past year with lots of money and time spent putting it right.

What are they like? Quickest car I've owned has been a 95 aero.

What should I look out for? An Alpina has always been a dream if mine!

Any advice or opinions are much appreciated

[anonymous-user]

Pretty much all the usual E46 issues apply.

The Alpina specific bits can be expensive - in particular shocks are a small fortune from Alpina.

The gearbox should be smooth and shift quickly - if you've ever driven a normal tiptronic E46 the Alpina should shift noticeably quicker.

See if the car is known here:
http://thealpinaregister.com/forums/

It's a really helpful place and well used to newbie questions. There aren't many Alpinas for sale at any one time so you may well find it's already being discussed there.

[anonymous-user]

I had one. It was a good car but not really suited to the UK IMO. They are comfortable cruisers really and as the top speed limiter is removed clearly designed for the Autobahn (as I found out when I took it to Germany). If you want something that's more on the 'sports' side of things then spend a bit more and go for an E46 M3 (which I think is a much better car). Probably going to get slated for this but exclusivity aside (which is a nice plus point of having an Alpina), I'd take a manual 330ci Sport over one.

[anonymous-user]

b3s coupe owner here. yes go try it but be open minded. its not an intuitive and single purpose a package as the m3 but for some strange reason it all works when put together...

make your own mind up whether you think its sporty / edgy / hard enough for you because when your in it you might find that it captures you in a way that a boggo coupe or an m3 cant

keep us posted and drop me a pm if you have specific issues.. im also on the alpineregister

note that in addition to the normal e46 issues the torque converters and cylinder head gaskets are known weakspots

also, if suspension work has been done and the parts are not alpina then at best your buying less than 100% of an alpina.... its the engine and suspension that makes them with the added plus of a swanky interior

[wolfy1988]

RC1 said:

b3s coupe owner here. yes go try it but be open minded. its not an intuitive and single purpose a package as the m3 but for some strange reason it all works when put together...

make your own mind up whether you think its sporty / edgy / hard enough for you because when your in it you might find that it captures you in a way that a boggo coupe or an m3 cant

keep us posted and drop me a pm if you have specific issues.. im also on the alpineregister

note that in addition to the normal e46 issues the torque converters and cylinder head gaskets are known weakspots

also, if suspension work has been done and the parts are not alpina then at best your buying less than 100% of an alpina.... its the engine and suspension that makes them with the added plus of a swanky interior

Thanks guys for the responses so far

I am definitely not after a sports car and as much as I like M3's etc I do prefer softer cars that can be squirted every now and again, my fiancée would be driving it most of the time anyway.

According to the seller he has already replaced a lot including shocks and head gasket, he has replaced so much in fact wondering why he is selling now.

I have the number of it, it's on the register but not much info to be found. Meeting the chap tonight, if the car checks out and he passes the attitude test then I should be the proud owner

[bmthnick1981]

Lovely engine on these, I had a B3 3.3 saloon a while back.

Usual E46 points to look at but also check condition of shocks and exhaust as are Alpina specific items so could be expensive to replace.

Also I will echo the comments above about the gearbox, should feel nice and quick, noticeably different to other steptronic E46's I have owned.