RE: Alpina D3: Spotted

Wednesday 24th January 2018

Alpina D3: Spotted

Those 86,000 miles mean this 2014 D3 is better than half price - tempted?



Four years is quite a while in the automotive world. When the Alpina D3 first arrived we'd only just driven the latest M3; since then we've had a GTS, a CS and a Comp Pack as BMW tried to perfect its supersaloon, while Alpina - content with what it created first time around - has tinkered just a bit at facelift time. Well if it isn't broke...

There's no denying the D3 - any Alpina F30 3 Series come to think of it - is a special, special car. Chris Harris tried a petrol powered B3, skidded it around a bit and returned brimming with praise. When we drove the diesel the verdict was similar; "the D3 makes a compelling case for the ultimate do-it-all car." The simple fact is it can do so much, so much of the time. Performance isn't far behind an M3, without attracting the unwanted attention of an M car - to many it's simply a 3 Series on big wheels. And while it may not be as sharp to drive, the Alpina counters with sublime refinement, a sumptuous ride and arguably more entertainment at road speeds.


Drive one and you'll wonder why Alpinas are such rare cars. Then you'll remember that lots of people aspire to an M car more than an Alpina (or that a regular BMW will satisfy their needs just fine), that a BMW is easier to buy than an Alpina and, finally, that a lot of people spending more than £50k on a 'special' car want petrol.

Thank goodness there are people like the first owner of this Alpina D3 though, who could make the numbers work and bought their grey (with more grey inside) Touring in 2014. Apparently one of just 63 such people who have done similar, they then proceeded to drive it quite a lot. And then some more. And some more...

Which means in the first month of 2018 this car is for sale at £25,990 with 86,000 miles. Given the timeframe this must have been done on motorways (hopefully including German ones, where that 173mph top speed could be tested), and the condition reflects that. It looks as fresh inside and out as a car of half that mileage (although a look at the bolsters would make us absolutely sure), the wheels are remarkably unkerbed and those low-lying stickers have even survived a busy four years.


It's rare to find nearly new Alpinas for sale, with this the only 3 Series of its generation currently on PH - why would you change having consciously chosen something different? One can only assume the owner of this car changes every three years or so to keep their cross-continent express feeling fresh; a new B5 Touring, perhaps?

There's nothing to suggest this D3 doesn't have plenty of life left in it, though. After all, this was an expensively engineered car to start with which, you would assume, has accrued its miles in relatively steady fashion. Perhaps the more pertinent question is whether prospective buyers want to take the plunge on a diesel at the moment; a debate that will run and run, for sure, but for now at least it still offers excellent fuel economy and low road tax. For many scenarios it will continue to suit, though of course whether that will remain the case in future is unknown.

Even with the diesel doom and gloom hanging over it, this D3 seems like a heck of an opportunity. This must be the first time one of these cars has been available at this price, and the mileage is backed up with a full service history. It will continue to depreciate (but probably not as much as a 335d) and best budget for some fresh consumables soon (when don't you have to?), but a D3 promises to be an immensely rewarding way to ferry you, the family and whatever else you need around. Good luck!


SPECIFICATION - ALPINA D3

Engine: 2,993cc, 6-cyl twin-turbo diesel
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 350@4,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 516@1,500-3,000rpm
MPG: 53.3
CO2: 139g/km
First registered: 2014
Recorded mileage: 86,000 miles
Price new: £46,950
Yours for: £25,990

See the original advert here

 

 

Author
Discussion

Killer1

Original Poster:

42 posts

129 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Lovely.

Anyone, who isn't on the sell side of things, driven the new Alpina B5 (preferably Touring)? Any feedback?

Phil Dicky

7,162 posts

262 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Might have to have a look at that, only 6 miles from me, would make a lovely daily smile

mylesmcd

2,521 posts

218 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Torque (lb ft): 516@1,500-3,000rpm

oooofffffff!

unpc

2,831 posts

212 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
I had an E90 D3 and the 4 cylinder lump in it utterly ruined the car. I should imagine the 6 is a better bet but I'd rather have a B3.

Keith R

115 posts

234 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
£26k for a diesel that's done 86,000 miles?! I know it's an Alpina, but really?

BFleming

3,589 posts

142 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Keith R said:
£26k for a diesel that's done 86,000 miles?! I know it's an Alpina, but really?
As a fan of the (Alpina) brand, I have to agree. A 335d of the same vintage but with less miles & X-drive can be had for about £20k. Less BHP admittedly, but would you notice?

2 GKC

1,884 posts

104 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Keith R said:
£26k for a diesel that's done 86,000 miles?! I know it's an Alpina, but really?
Does seem an awful lot of money

Swampy1982

3,305 posts

110 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
2 GKC said:
Keith R said:
£26k for a diesel that's done 86,000 miles?! I know it's an Alpina, but really?
Does seem an awful lot of money
but when you tack on the slower depreciation curve, does it begin to add up more?

aaron_2000

5,407 posts

82 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Isn't that the same performance as the PH golden child, a remapped 335d?

WCZ

10,492 posts

193 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
BFleming said:
As a fan of the (Alpina) brand, I have to agree. A 335d of the same vintage but with less miles & X-drive can be had for about £20k. Less BHP admittedly, but would you notice?
the d3 remaps to 400bhp and is probably the best diesel ever made

Scottie - NW

1,284 posts

232 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Swampy1982 said:
but when you tack on the slower depreciation curve, does it begin to add up more?
Problem is it will soon pass 100k miles, and the resale value, Alpina or not, is not great for cars over that mileage, so the depreciation will not be as low as typical Alpina cars. (Yes I know the miles on it are part of the reason for the current price, just you could have a hard to shift car in a year or two)

Mr-B

3,765 posts

193 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
That's quite a nice looking thing in an understated-ish kind of way. pricey though. Those numbers, 350hp, 500lbs and 53mpg, Wow, pure witchcraft!

Agent XXX

1,248 posts

105 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
2 GKC said:
Does seem awful
Fixed.

£26k for a smokey old leggy 3 series? WTF?

adzpz

185 posts

167 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Agent XXX said:
£26k for a smokey old leggy 3 series? WTF?
Smokey - LOL, it's not 1985! Have you seen the price of used cars in 2018?

griffdude

1,819 posts

247 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Had mine for a few years now & I’m not selling it. Ever.

custardkid

2,514 posts

223 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
picked up an 535d @ 18mths old & 12k miles for the same price

(including panoramic roof, Msport+ and other options)

so sounds expensive

WCZ

10,492 posts

193 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
custardkid said:
picked up an 535d @ 18mths old & 12k miles for the same price

(including panoramic roof, Msport+ and other options)

so sounds expensive
alpinas hold their price much better

Agent XXX

1,248 posts

105 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
adzpz said:
Smokey - LOL, it's not 1985! Have you seen the price of used cars in 2018?
It's a dirty, smokey old diesel. Give it another couple of years and it will be killing babies and grannies everywhere it goes spewing out its vile filth.

British Beef

2,191 posts

164 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all

"Better than half price" in the title indicates less than half price, £26k vs £46k New is 56% retained value over 4 years With double average mileage - look like an utterly sh!te deal to me. I appreciate they hold their value but With that mileage, you have to be nuts to pay that.

Bills, even consumables will be expensive, and how many turbos does this thing have to go pop.



rudester

656 posts

151 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
It makes the D4 on Autotrader look very good value...