640d or D3 Alpina

[Blue62]

I still have a few months before having to place an order, but I'm currently torn between a 640GC and the Alpina D3 Touring as the next 'family' motor. My needs are space for 2 teenage kids, golf stuff, bike and a fair bit of motorway driving.

The reason for the indecision is that a well specced 640 is coming in at a couple of grand under a similarly specced D3 once discount is applied (can only get £2k off the D3 but around £16k off the 640), both offer decent economy/ride/space, one is super quick and the other super stylish (IMHO) and I have one eye on depreciation. Thoughts and opinions gratefully received.

[Billyray911]

Both fantastic cars.There isn't a fat lot of space in the touring,especially with two teenagers,their kit,as well as your own.
I would probably be looking at a fast five series instead.
Nice choice to have and I really like the D3!
Edit...sorry,I've just re read and you're happy with the space in the D3.Thats where my money would go-with a pano sunroof of course.

Edited by Billyray911 on Wednesday 12th October 22:44

[numtumfutunch]

You must love diesels

A 340i wagon can be had for an easy 14k cheaper than either allowing for an orgy with the options list

[Burnham]

We have similar taste. I was torn between these two also.

While I love the look of the 640GC, and the interior is lovely... the rarity and practically of the D3 made it the final choice of the two for me. I actually think the D3 Touring is a really good looking car also. Its only subtlety different from the model on which its based, but its just enough to make it special IMO.

[Patrick Bateman]

Not driven a D3 but have driven an M3 and a 640d and the interior in the 6 series made the M3 look cheap and nasty by comparison. Not sure in what way the D3 differs in that regard.

[Blue62]

numtumfutunch said:

You must love diesels

A 340i wagon can be had for an easy 14k cheaper than either allowing for an orgy with the options list

I'm building a house in Devon, it's a 400 mile round trip from my base in the Midlands and I will probably be making 4 or 5 trips per month so diesel will make a lot of sense financially and for the type of driving I will be doing I'd prefer a powerful diesel over a petrol in any event. Thanks for the comments generally, I have some time to mull it over but have to say that the D3 is a hoot and that may sway it in the end.

[cerb4.5lee]

Both lovely motors and the 640 has a nice interior and is a great looking thing but not massively practical.

I think the D3 Tourer would get the nod for me because of its extra usability for tip runs/family duties...Plus they're massively rare too.

[Wills2]

Patrick Bateman said:

Not driven a D3 but have driven an M3 and a 640d and the interior in the 6 series made the M3 look cheap and nasty by comparison. Not sure in what way the D3 differs in that regard.

It doesn't in standard spec apart from blue dials and a plastic plaque, I specced a D4 up to M4 CP standard spec and you have to add 10k worth of BMW options taking it to 60k that's before you even think of adding any "Alpina" touches.

I agree on the difference between the cars as well 6/5 to 3/4 vast difference in terms of cabin quality.

[Blue62]

Burnham said:

We have similar taste. I was torn between these two also.

While I love the look of the 640GC, and the interior is lovely... the rarity and practically of the D3 made it the final choice of the two for me. I actually think the D3 Touring is a really good looking car also. Its only subtlety different from the model on which its based, but its just enough to make it special IMO.

The due date is getting nearer (though I've no doubt it doesn't feel like it for you), when the time comes I'd be very interested to know if the car lives up to your expectations and whether the LSD was worth it. Keep calm and wait patiently!

[Patrick Bateman]

Wills2 said:

It doesn't in standard spec apart from blue dials and a plastic plaque, I specced a D4 up to M4 CP standard spec and you have to add 10k worth of BMW options taking it to 60k that's before you even think of adding any "Alpina" touches.

I agree on the difference between the cars as well 6/5 to 3/4 vast difference in terms of cabin quality.

The car I drove had full leather and is definitely the nicest interior of any car I've been in.

[louiebaby]

Shame the 6 Series Gran Touring never came to anything...

http://www.bmwblog.com/2012/07/02/rumor-bmw-6-seri...

It's a trade off with the Alpina's rarity and subsequent reduced depreciation, and the 6 series having a better cabin, with a longer wheelbase giving better ride.

Personally, I'd buy a nearly new 6 Series, but I know that doesn't answer your question.

[Blue62]

louiebaby said:

Shame the 6 Series Gran Touring never came to anything...

http://www.bmwblog.com/2012/07/02/rumor-bmw-6-seri...

It's a trade off with the Alpina's rarity and subsequent reduced depreciation, and the 6 series having a better cabin, with a longer wheelbase giving better ride.

Personally, I'd buy a nearly new 6 Series, but I know that doesn't answer your question.

It does in one way and it's interesting to note your thoughts on depreciation, after factoring in the discount on a new 640 I don't think there'd be much in it tbh. I'm of the opinion that the 6 will be a nicer car to travel in for all concerned, look nicer on the drive and feel a bit more expensive, while the D3 will offer a bit more practicality (in Touring guise) and better performance, I guess it will boil down to what matters more to me at the moment.

[Wills2]

Patrick Bateman said:

Wills2 said:

It doesn't in standard spec apart from blue dials and a plastic plaque, I specced a D4 up to M4 CP standard spec and you have to add 10k worth of BMW options taking it to 60k that's before you even think of adding any "Alpina" touches.

I agree on the difference between the cars as well 6/5 to 3/4 vast difference in terms of cabin quality.

The car I drove had full leather and is definitely the nicest interior of any car I've been in.

It may well have had full leather either the BMW sourced merino at £3.5k or the full Alpina lavalina at 7k, either way it was a cost option, as standard they come with the same pleather as a reps 320d. (which was the point I was answering of course you can make them beautiful inside but that wasn't the question)

Alpina are lovely cars but there is a myth that persists that they come dripping in luxury as standard they don't, it costs extra.

Every time I get a new M car I look at Alpina but when I spec them up it just doesn't make sense to me, one day I'll probably bite the bullet.

Edited by Wills2 on Thursday 13th October 11:59

[Patrick Bateman]

Not sure if I was clear but I was meaning the 640d interior.

[K2RSH]

I'm in the same dilemma! 640D GC , 340i Touring or D3 Alpina. GC interior is top notch but not driven one yet, 340i can get 22% discount via Carwow which really makes it appealing as I can fully load it. But then all the reviews on the D3 touring all point to a real daily beast, my doing is motorway every few weeks to Herts from Sussex then nice B roads around sussex so a nice mix.

This car is for my daily we have a 4.4V8 X5 which is a total cruiser and love it but its a different kettle of fish all together when it comes to driving enjoyment and is suited to its family job with the kids and dogs etc...

Anyone had any experience with these 3?

[smashy]

I sadly not been in either. But I have never ever seen a bad review on the D3 with one well known reviewer steve sutcliffe saying its the best real world car out there.But I have seen plenty of people saying the 6 is too heavy not enjoyable to drive etc etc

Edited by smashy on Friday 29th December 15:51

[chandrew]

K2RSH said:

I'm in the same dilemma! 640D GC , 340i Touring or D3 Alpina. GC interior is top notch but not driven one yet, 340i can get 22% discount via Carwow which really makes it appealing as I can fully load it. But then all the reviews on the D3 touring all point to a real daily beast, my doing is motorway every few weeks to Herts from Sussex then nice B roads around sussex so a nice mix.

This car is for my daily we have a 4.4V8 X5 which is a total cruiser and love it but its a different kettle of fish all together when it comes to driving enjoyment and is suited to its family job with the kids and dogs etc...

Anyone had any experience with these 3?

I looked at all 3 (in their respective petrol versions) and added a 540 in to the mix. In the end we got a 340 Touring fully loaded, with the M-Performance kit as it came out a lot cheaper. The practical one would have been a 540. I really wanted the Alpina but even a reasonable spec one was 50% more than my 340.

To get the Alpina to a level above what you can with the 3 series you have to be ticking lots of the 'Lavalina' leather options which few 3 series cars have.

There were some cracking deals on dealer 6 series cars here in the summer. However for me it just wasn't practical enough.

Outside BMW-land I really liked the E43 AMG estate and Mercedes had some fantastic deals.

[K2RSH]

Chandrew - so how is your 440i touring and what options did you go for? Any you would recommend having and not?

[turboman786]

I have a 640dGC and love the car to bits ...

Totally family friendly , brilliant to drive, stunning interior (make sure you get nappa leather and comfort seats)

The extras make the car for me...adaptive lights/alacantara headlining/rear cam/side cams/head up display/ceramic controls/pan roof etc etc

Highly recommend and I've owned a LOT of M cars/amgs/GTR/cayenne/997/r8 v10 and the 640d is still a delight in this company.

[gareth h]

I changed my 640 GC for a 335d tourer, loved the engine / gearbox of the 640 and the interior, but it's huge, multi storey car parks were a nightmare.
I thought I could have an alpina on the cheap with a birds suspension package and a remap on the 335, in all honesty if I started again I would have an Alpina (which I assume it would be on non rft tyres, an extra cost if you bought the 640)