Discussion
Thinking of chopping the wifes 320d sport in for an Alpina D3, anybody had any previous experience with them, good or bad?. Thanks in advance, cheers Adrian. 
I had one as a courtesy car for a couple of days last year and loved it. Quite how Alpina can get the ride so right with 19s and BMW get it so wrong with 18s is beyond me, but the D3 is a stunning piece of kit for sure!
You'll probably find it a bit 'laggy' after the 320D but the extra poke makes it well worth it IMO.
I'd get one if they'd offer them on lease at sensible money!
Cheers
Chris
You'll probably find it a bit 'laggy' after the 320D but the extra poke makes it well worth it IMO.
I'd get one if they'd offer them on lease at sensible money!
Cheers
Chris
Edited by hughjayteens on Saturday 10th March 10:42
Edited by hughjayteens on Saturday 10th March 10:42
The 2.0 diesel is going up to 177bhp with lower emissions shortly - are the deals on the M-Sport for that, or the old version?
Despite disliking diesels, I'd have a D3 Touring. They look fab, they've got more power than the 320D and they're no more expensive than the M-Sport version. Bargain.
Despite disliking diesels, I'd have a D3 Touring. They look fab, they've got more power than the 320D and they're no more expensive than the M-Sport version. Bargain.
Have used a few 320ds recently - slow to romp but romp they will, eventually with immense composure at very respectable lickage.
D3 is a stunningly resolved visual concept but suspect the boy Bennno talks great sense: the 330d remains one of the most fabulous chariots of the last few years and sans limitiere allows the pilot to fly with the more mundane members of pork flavoured beetledom.
D3 is a stunningly resolved visual concept but suspect the boy Bennno talks great sense: the 330d remains one of the most fabulous chariots of the last few years and sans limitiere allows the pilot to fly with the more mundane members of pork flavoured beetledom.
SJobson said:
The 2.0 diesel is going up to 177bhp with lower emissions shortly - are the deals on the M-Sport for that, or the old version?
Despite disliking diesels, I'd have a D3 Touring. They look fab, they've got more power than the 320D and they're no more expensive than the M-Sport version. Bargain.
Despite disliking diesels, I'd have a D3 Touring. They look fab, they've got more power than the 320D and they're no more expensive than the M-Sport version. Bargain.
the same price if you ignore that you cant get a free set of mats with the D3 but can get 12% + £1250+ 6% apr finance on the 320m sport which would in fact make it over 4k cheaper. Enough to fund leather, prof nav, bluetooth, etc etc - or just take a 330d m sport for the same price on the deals
Bennno
bennno said:
SJobson said:
The 2.0 diesel is going up to 177bhp with lower emissions shortly - are the deals on the M-Sport for that, or the old version?
Despite disliking diesels, I'd have a D3 Touring. They look fab, they've got more power than the 320D and they're no more expensive than the M-Sport version. Bargain.
Despite disliking diesels, I'd have a D3 Touring. They look fab, they've got more power than the 320D and they're no more expensive than the M-Sport version. Bargain.
the same price if you ignore that you cant get a free set of mats with the D3 but can get 12% + £1250+ 6% apr finance on the 320m sport which would in fact make it over 4k cheaper. Enough to fund leather, prof nav, bluetooth, etc etc - or just take a 330d m sport for the same price on the deals
Bennno
bennno said:
dealer subtley suggested there were much better deals to be had on standard cars with a 330d m sport available for less than a d3 this month - also only 1 group that sell alpina so resale can be fraught.
bennno
bennno
Whilst I am an absolute Alpina convert .... Do you not think that your Dealers comments are down to the fact that he does not wish to lose a potential sale to a car that he cannot actually source.
As for resale being fraught ... that is absolute rubbish. The D3 will depreciate less in % terms than the 330d and if looked after properley Private Buyers will be clamouring to get their hands on it when you decide to change.
It makes my blood boil ... There is enormous ignorance/prejudice towards Alpina in the UK from some dealerships who do not deal in the brand. Before I bought mine I visited rival dealerships to look at the Z4 and was told at one that an Alpina Roadster S is just a Z4 with a bodykit, whilst at another they had never heard of the marque. Call me a cynic .. but I honestly believe that this is deliberate to put people off. Yet all are able to access the Alpina ordering system for parts and all are able to service them. On a positive note ... there are some dealerships out there that will/do provide excellent service to the Alpina owner ... Cotswold BMW and North Oxford to name just two.
At the end of the day it is down to personal preference ... take the two out for extended test-drives and then make your choice.
Edited by gimlet on Sunday 11th March 11:43
Edited by gimlet on Sunday 11th March 11:53
nope... the dealer i bought from had a D3 touring and a D3 saloon on display for immediate delivery but I was advised by a few people associated with the marque (off the record) that the standard models with discount were better value and for resale would be better as any bmw dealer would offer as opposed to being tied in to a chain.
Ignore % off rrp list for resale (as you dont need to pay rrp on the main models) and tell me which of these would lose the least in £'s over 36 months / 40k miles:
£27,500 New Alpina D3
or:
£23,274 New 320D M Sport
£25,700 New 325d M sport
£28,000 New 330d M Sport
I cannot believe a D3 would be worth £4226 more than a 320D sport used or £1800 more than a 325d sport or within £500 of a 330d m sport?
I think its a lovely looking car, but from my perspective the inability to add any options without paying a £2k supplement + options costs was prohibitive.
Just to add I did drive the D3 for a resonable distance and found it looks lovely but wasnt especially quick, in the end I worked out I could buy a 335i for £1200 more and that seemed the better deal.
Bennno
Ignore % off rrp list for resale (as you dont need to pay rrp on the main models) and tell me which of these would lose the least in £'s over 36 months / 40k miles:
£27,500 New Alpina D3
or:
£23,274 New 320D M Sport
£25,700 New 325d M sport
£28,000 New 330d M Sport
I cannot believe a D3 would be worth £4226 more than a 320D sport used or £1800 more than a 325d sport or within £500 of a 330d m sport?
I think its a lovely looking car, but from my perspective the inability to add any options without paying a £2k supplement + options costs was prohibitive.
Just to add I did drive the D3 for a resonable distance and found it looks lovely but wasnt especially quick, in the end I worked out I could buy a 335i for £1200 more and that seemed the better deal.
Bennno
Edited by bennno on Sunday 11th March 12:04
I've had my D3 for 5 months. With a baby on the way I needed something more child friendly than my Boxster S and after test drives in everything from a new Golf GTI (the dullest car I've ever driven) to a Volvo XC90, I finally opted for the D3.
Although not quite as quick as a 330D M Sport, it is far more exclusive. The three things that sold the car to me were the superb ride/handling, its purposeful looks and the overall value that the car offers.
The D3 isn't what I would call fast (it is after all a 2 litre, 4 cylinder TD) and the turbo lag is really tiresome, but 45mpg makes it more bearable!
I would recommend the car to anybody, but ultimately I need more power and can see myself swapping it for the new M3 within the next year. Difficult to predict residuals, but full order books and long lead times for the D3 saloon and touring must be a good sign.
Although not quite as quick as a 330D M Sport, it is far more exclusive. The three things that sold the car to me were the superb ride/handling, its purposeful looks and the overall value that the car offers.
The D3 isn't what I would call fast (it is after all a 2 litre, 4 cylinder TD) and the turbo lag is really tiresome, but 45mpg makes it more bearable!
I would recommend the car to anybody, but ultimately I need more power and can see myself swapping it for the new M3 within the next year. Difficult to predict residuals, but full order books and long lead times for the D3 saloon and touring must be a good sign.
On most levels for me the car ticks the boxes. Only today I was just admiring one in the local stealership. It must have been from recent production as rear pdc ad isofix had been added.
IMO though Sytners have missed a trick with the D3. There is obviously a market for this car but not being able to spec it like a standard car limits its desire. (Yet in Germany speccing a D3 is possible without penalty). I had long discussions with Sytner regarding its various merits, but leaving the exclusivity bit aside who wants to pay £27.5k for a 4 cylinder diesel when for about £28/29 you can get a 3.0l 6 cylinder, which gives much better performance?
IMO though Sytners have missed a trick with the D3. There is obviously a market for this car but not being able to spec it like a standard car limits its desire. (Yet in Germany speccing a D3 is possible without penalty). I had long discussions with Sytner regarding its various merits, but leaving the exclusivity bit aside who wants to pay £27.5k for a 4 cylinder diesel when for about £28/29 you can get a 3.0l 6 cylinder, which gives much better performance?
See the attached links:
[url]www.thealpinaregister.com/newsstory.php?reviewField=2784&type=9[/url]
[url]www.thealpinaregister.com/photos.php?alpinaid=61&carid=887&type=2&scope=2§ion=1&forsale=[/url]
[url]www.thealpinaregister.com/photos.php?alpinaid=117&carid=887&type=2&scope=2§ion=1&forsale=[/url]
[url]www.thealpinaregister.com/newsstory.php?reviewField=2784&type=9[/url]
[url]www.thealpinaregister.com/photos.php?alpinaid=61&carid=887&type=2&scope=2§ion=1&forsale=[/url]
[url]www.thealpinaregister.com/photos.php?alpinaid=117&carid=887&type=2&scope=2§ion=1&forsale=[/url]
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