Alpina D3 or 330d?
Discussion
Hi All,
I am looking to replace my daily driver in the next few months and need something larger than my current Scirocco.
I do around 25K miles per year and currently favour a 330d or Alpina D3 as a reasonalble mix between perfomance and cost.
The question is which should I go for?
I would imagine the 330d would be much easier to find and priced keenly due to supply numbers
Alpina D3 more difficult to source.
I beleive they have similar performance and mpg etc
Not sure about depreciation?
All you thoughts would be welcome, particularly if you have run both!
(PS looking to get second hand to help reduce the sting of depreciation)
I am looking to replace my daily driver in the next few months and need something larger than my current Scirocco.
I do around 25K miles per year and currently favour a 330d or Alpina D3 as a reasonalble mix between perfomance and cost.
The question is which should I go for?
I would imagine the 330d would be much easier to find and priced keenly due to supply numbers
Alpina D3 more difficult to source.
I beleive they have similar performance and mpg etc
Not sure about depreciation?
All you thoughts would be welcome, particularly if you have run both!
(PS looking to get second hand to help reduce the sting of depreciation)
The D3 will be a manual, manuals and dervs don't mix. I took a Biturbo D3 out for a drive when they first came out, 2 miles up the road i lost interest and took it back. The rev range/ratio combo bored the life out of me, and i am a big Alpina fan.
I came from a 335d to a 330d (both auto) and the combo of auto/derv is good. There are few cars that will handle as well as an Alpina, but i want more, the D3 hasn't got it.
I came from a 335d to a 330d (both auto) and the combo of auto/derv is good. There are few cars that will handle as well as an Alpina, but i want more, the D3 hasn't got it.
It depends which D3 you are looking to get as there is there are two distinct versions. The newer one has the same engine as the 123d tweaked to have a little more power, and the older is a lightly tweaked *20d engine.
You also cannot get any options on the D3 without paying a huge amount new, so a better specced 330d will be easier to find.
They did a race a couple of years ago between a D3 bi turbo and a 330i and the D3 was faster due to less weight under the nose:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhIKPTKOaTY
You also cannot get any options on the D3 without paying a huge amount new, so a better specced 330d will be easier to find.
They did a race a couple of years ago between a D3 bi turbo and a 330i and the D3 was faster due to less weight under the nose:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhIKPTKOaTY
The D3 is about the best four pot diesel you can buy, comes with non runflats and gets raves reviews BUT it will always be a four pot diesel.
I'd go 330d - they actually sound quite good when pushed hard.
Auto box doesn't take away the shove of a pokey derv at all - the BM autos are very good. You can get manual 330ds but they are very rare and harder to sell on.
I'd go 330d - they actually sound quite good when pushed hard.
Auto box doesn't take away the shove of a pokey derv at all - the BM autos are very good. You can get manual 330ds but they are very rare and harder to sell on.
If you search BMW General then you might find a thread which asked a similar question about a year ago.
As others have said you want to go for either the latest D3 (the one with the engine out of 123d) or an LC2 330d.
When we were looking for a BMW 2 years ago we had the same dilemma, but what swung it for us was performance and cost (we were looking at brand new as it was a company purchase). For less money we could get 330d m sport than the D3 (you can get a discount on a BMW but you couldn't get one on a Alpina). So we have a 330d m sport manual and have been very happy with it, we get 43mpg (we both have heavy right feet).
The 330d isn't Autocar's no1 Compact exec for nothing and has been for sometime now. Plus I think you'll find both cars are as rare as each other.
HTH
As others have said you want to go for either the latest D3 (the one with the engine out of 123d) or an LC2 330d.
When we were looking for a BMW 2 years ago we had the same dilemma, but what swung it for us was performance and cost (we were looking at brand new as it was a company purchase). For less money we could get 330d m sport than the D3 (you can get a discount on a BMW but you couldn't get one on a Alpina). So we have a 330d m sport manual and have been very happy with it, we get 43mpg (we both have heavy right feet).
The 330d isn't Autocar's no1 Compact exec for nothing and has been for sometime now. Plus I think you'll find both cars are as rare as each other.
HTH
Can't say I found manual a problem in my mono-turbo D3.
Alpina's tweaks give it a much broader rev range than a normal 320D.
It revs much, much better at the top end especially.
I have a normal 320D now, and it feels really breathless at the top end in comparison.
I do have to change gear much more often in this one compared with the D3.
The only hassle I had with my D3 was the wheels (classic 19 inchers).
They're pretty easily damaged over potholes.
Dynamic 19 inchers would maybe be stronger.
I had some clutch judder too, but that's endemic to all E90 320Ds.
It really was a cracking car, the D3.
I never gave a stuff that Alpina purists looked down their nose at it.
Alpina's tweaks give it a much broader rev range than a normal 320D.
It revs much, much better at the top end especially.
I have a normal 320D now, and it feels really breathless at the top end in comparison.
I do have to change gear much more often in this one compared with the D3.
The only hassle I had with my D3 was the wheels (classic 19 inchers).
They're pretty easily damaged over potholes.
Dynamic 19 inchers would maybe be stronger.
I had some clutch judder too, but that's endemic to all E90 320Ds.
It really was a cracking car, the D3.
I never gave a stuff that Alpina purists looked down their nose at it.
Magnus Barelegs said:
Can't say I found manual a problem in my mono-turbo D3.
Alpina's tweaks give it a much broader rev range than a normal 320D.
It revs much, much better at the top end especially.
I have a normal 320D now, and it feels really breathless at the top end in comparison.
I do have to change gear much more often in this one compared with the D3.
The only hassle I had with my D3 was the wheels (classic 19 inchers).
They're pretty easily damaged over potholes.
Dynamic 19 inchers would maybe be stronger.
I had some clutch judder too, but that's endemic to all E90 320Ds.
It really was a cracking car, the D3.
I never gave a stuff that Alpina purists looked down their nose at it.
Yes, I have had a D3 mono turbo since new and it has just clocked up 66,000. Your comment about the wheels is true - I am always so careful with kerbs etc but have still managed to put some dings in them from potholes. One of the fronts now has a bit of a flatspot on it from a pothole that I hit just before Christmas. Could be expensive when the time comes to replace the tyre..Alpina's tweaks give it a much broader rev range than a normal 320D.
It revs much, much better at the top end especially.
I have a normal 320D now, and it feels really breathless at the top end in comparison.
I do have to change gear much more often in this one compared with the D3.
The only hassle I had with my D3 was the wheels (classic 19 inchers).
They're pretty easily damaged over potholes.
Dynamic 19 inchers would maybe be stronger.
I had some clutch judder too, but that's endemic to all E90 320Ds.
It really was a cracking car, the D3.
I never gave a stuff that Alpina purists looked down their nose at it.
Overall, I would agree with most of the comments above - in my opinion the D3 looks better, handles better and still has adequate performance. It does sound a bit like a transit though at tick over and certainly isn't as quick as a 330d in a drag race!
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