Alpina B3 S | Spotted
BMW never made an E46 M3 saloon. Trust Alpina to come up with the next best thing
For every generation of M3, there has always been a model ‘missing’ from the line-up. The M3 Touring is the obvious standout, given it took Munich 36 years (and a tantalising E46-based prototype) to finally put one into production. Then there was the E92 pick-up, a (sort of) April Fool’s joke BMW turned into reality for its own ends - and then told everyone they couldn’t have it. And never would.
Thankfully, BMW isn’t nearly as precious about its flagship 3er these days as it used to be, with the current M3/M4 range comfortably the most diverse it’s ever been (short of a pick-up). My, how things have changed. Wind the clock back 20 years or so and you had just two models of the M3 to choose from: the coupe and the convertible. Of course, there were the odd special editions and a handful of prototypes (including the aforementioned wagon), but the E46 generation of M3 - the one many consider to be the best - was easily the most restricted. No Touring, no saloon.
So if you wanted a fast, exclusive 3 Series with four doors or more, your best bet was to go down the Alpina route. Which is by no means a bad thing, as this stunning and extremely rare Alpina B3 S proves. Granted, you didn’t get the marvellous S54, a big (if not the biggest) draw of the E46 M3, but you do still get an M-sourced engine up front, which is a rarity for Alpina. In the B3 S, it’s the S52 engine used in later US-spec E36 M3s, only bored out to 3.4 litres and spruced up with Alpina-grade cylinder heat, Mahle pistons and an uprated crankshaft. An output of 309hp is around 30hp shy of an M3’s, but it’s considerably punchier than the fastest non-M 3 Series of the era.
Chassis-wise, the B3 S gained the tuning arm’s in-house suspension paired with Eibach springs. This being an Alpina, the configuration is more catered towards drivers who spend most of their lives on the autobahn than at a circuit, though they’re typically very good fun to chuck about when required. Needless to say, that's always been the appeal of an Alpina over the equivalent M: its ability to restrain itself when you just need to get somewhere very quickly - and very comfortably.
Usually, you’d say the Alpina would be the more reserved of the two as well, but that’s largely down to how you spec it. This B3 S goes the whole hog with Alpina metallic blue paint with the firm’s signature deco pack, and it really does look the business, if not exactly subtle. The inside is equally as striking, with vibrant walnut (correct me if I’m wrong, wood experts of PH) trim over the extended grey leather interior. You’ll notice as well that this has the Switchtronic ‘box and not the optional six-speed manual, although I’ve always thought an Alpina is better suited to an auto anyway. Step away from the pitchforks.
Besides, if you want a proper manual BMW performance car, the M3 has that well and truly covered. And for the £28,995 asking price of this 41,500-mile B3 S, you could grab a very tidy E46 M3 for similar money. But it won’t have the rear doors, the incredibly plush interior, nor the set of Alpina stickers that serve as a reminder that you own something a little bit special. Rare, too. Official production numbers are hard to come by, but a bit of online digging suggests that around 20 B3 S saloons were built for UK buyers. Of course, if you fancy your Alpina in Touring form (and powered by diesel), there’s this E91 D3 Biturbo at nearly a third of the price…
SPECIFICATION | ALPINA B3 S (E46)
Engine: 3,346cc straight-six
Transmission: five-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 309@6,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 267@4,800rpm
MPG: 24
CO2: 283g/km
Year registered: 2004
Recorded mileage: 41,500
Price new: £54,720
Yours for: £28,995
It is a fantastic engine… surprisingly vocal. Like a remixed M3 with more bass, it dominates the experience. The general build seemed a notch above the 330ci I had before.
The suspension in typical Alpina fashion is beautifully set for actual roads.
The Achilles heel is the auto box, which blunted it. Lovely car for fast-ish driving/cruising but when you wanted a nice dollop of direct power in second from a low speed bend, you got torque converter slur and slip which I always found a bit frustrating.
This seems fully priced, but I can’t remember the last time I saw a saloon and it is relatively low miles. Cheaper and rarer than a 45k mile M3… and this particular example looks really well kept by an enthusiast owner. When someone labels the washer fluid mix, this gives confidence its been looked after right.
I have a brochure at home somewhere...
Let’s start with the cost. It’s half the price of what they were new. Seems steep? They only made 20 of them!
You’ve got V6 Renaultsport Clios at 70k and they made a lot more than 20 of them.
Scarcity x perceived value to enthusiasts = price. I think this will take a while to sell, but it’s priced on the basis that someone out there loves Alpina and wants this one to “finish” their collection or whatever.
Not everything of this BMW era needs to be priced below £20k on the basis it’s more than 20 years old.
I have no shares in this car or dog in this fight, but I’m just sad to see that for a so called enthusiasts forum, there’s just not much enthusiasm for rare cars . Maybe we become the X5s and Q7s that we deserve.
I'm not a massive fan of the auto gearbox from this era either, and generally a higher revving NA engine suits a manual gearbox better for me.
Let’s start with the cost. It’s half the price of what they were new. Seems steep? They only made 20 of them!
You’ve got V6 Renaultsport Clios at 70k and they made a lot more than 20 of them.
Scarcity x perceived value to enthusiasts = price. I think this will take a while to sell, but it’s priced on the basis that someone out there loves Alpina and wants this one to “finish” their collection or whatever.
Not everything of this BMW era needs to be priced below £20k on the basis it’s more than 20 years old.
I have no shares in this car or dog in this fight, but I’m just sad to see that for a so called enthusiasts forum, there’s just not much enthusiasm for rare cars . Maybe we become the X5s and Q7s that we deserve.
This was the era when you could spec a car to your individual requirements - the later E90 diesel cars were a standard fixed spec - from memory on those you had to pay £1500 upgrade fee to add any option at all.
We weren’t offered a manual box in the UK, it was auto only - Taylor on the Autoalex YT channel has just done a manual swap on a B3.
But, I know its different and whatever but doesnt seem like an Alpina version of an M3 Saloon, more sort of an Alpina interpretation of a high spec 330i, sort of exec cruiser with its leather armchairs, wood trim and the auto box, its like an M3 GS, where GS = Gerald Spec.
Still, goes well for an older car, 100 mph in 11.8 isnt too shabby, 309 bhp doesnt sound much these days but its only like 1500 kilos. Weird in being a tuned version of the watered down version of the M3 they got in America.
Get that its rare, but almost 29 grand, that does buy you a fair bit of actual E46 M3, its an interesting curio and in lovely condition but just cant see 29 grands worth, not the same but thats F80/82 M3/M4 Comp money nowadays.
The thing is old cars look nice thru rose tinted specs but in reality they're just old and not as good as modern cars. This is basically a 3 series with a few well considered upgrades, but still a 2004 3 series. They rust. For that price, why not just buy a 3yr old 340i MSport.....
But, I know its different and whatever but doesnt seem like an Alpina version of an M3 Saloon, more sort of an Alpina interpretation of a high spec 330i, sort of exec cruiser with its leather armchairs, wood trim and the auto box, its like an M3 GS, where GS = Gerald Spec.
Still, goes well for an older car, 100 mph in 11.8 isnt too shabby, 309 bhp doesnt sound much these days but its only like 1500 kilos. Weird in being a tuned version of the watered down version of the M3 they got in America.
Get that its rare, but almost 29 grand, that does buy you a fair bit of actual E46 M3, its an interesting curio and in lovely condition but just cant see 29 grands worth, not the same but thats F80/82 M3/M4 Comp money nowadays.
By all accounts they dyno'd at more than the rated power.
And what in the name of Aliexpress is going on with that rear ashtray? Nasty!
Oh, it’s an Alpina Alpina Alpina Alpina.
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