Alpina only got its mitts on a BMW M model once in its 60-year history. Back in 1987, it managed to wrangle 62 E30 M3 chassis from Munich, ripping out their race-derived four-pot engines and shoehorning a 3.5-litre straight-six in its place. The B6 3.5 S (one’s for sale right here) may be the reason why BMW never handed Buchloe an M chassis again, given it had more power, a heck of a lot more torque and kept most of the good bits from the suspension. And with Alpina now owned outright by BMW, you'd assume there's naff all chance of the tuning firm getting a crack at another M car.
Nevertheless, it’s come mighty close to stepping on BMW M’s toes over the years. Even the 325i-based B3 2.7 was kicking out more power than E30 M3, while the V8-powered B5 S and B6 S comfortably outperformed the V10-engined M5 and M6 respectively. Even the diesels got a little too close to comfort at times, with monstrous torque figures often making them quicker off the line than the equivalent M. Then, in 2012, it came out with the B3 GT3, which was essentially Alpina’s take on the M3 GTS.
Even with its motorsport heritage, an Alpina track special does feel a little… odd. And, admittedly, it doesn’t quite have the same stature as the E92 M3 without its flared wheel arches. Like the standard B3, the GT3 uses the 335i as its base, retaining the same narrow body design and N54 motor (more on that in a bit). But while it doesn’t have the M3’s broad shoulders, it’s got notably sharper edges. Not only is there a carbon wing plonked on the boot lid - which may be small by track-focused M3 builds, but is positively towering by Alpina standards - there’s also carbon canards at the front, a splitter and a diffuser with cutouts for the two massive exhaust outlets. It may not have been a genuine M car, but it sure had the drama of one.
As for the engine, Alpina stuck with the 335i’s twin-turbo straight-six, albeit packing all the upgrades from the B3 S such as lighter pistons, a new oil cooler, upgraded turbos and tweaks to the engine management. For the GT3, a freer-flowing Akrapovic titanium exhaust came bundled in, bringing the total output up to 408hp while saving 11kg in the process. Granted, that means the GT3 is still down 12hp on the standard M3 and 36hp on the equally winged GTS, but those turbos helped deliver 398lb ft of torque - over 100lb ft more than the M car.
It didn’t stop there, either. At the back is a Drexler limited-slip differential, and those multi-spoke wheels are 25 per cent lighter than the company’s iconic rims. Perhaps the most flabbergasting change of all is the fitment of fully-adjustable coilovers to each corner, with 12 settings for compression and 18 for rebound. Now, to be fair, regular Alpinas do let you muck about with the damping, but it’s usually done by the press of a button and will only make your cushy ride slightly less plush. On the GT3, you’ll need to get on your hands and knees to fettle with the damping, and it certainly won’t be what you call ‘cosseting’.
The B3 GT3 is an exceptionally rare thing, and even more so in Alpine White like this one. Just 99 were built to commemorate the firm’s successes with its B6 GT3 racer, and only four of these came in white. And because it’s an Alpina, you still get air con, cruise control and a radio. So it’s got all the things you’d want in a track special (bar a manual), but with all the bits that make it useable, just as an Alpina should be. At £64,995 it’s a good deal more than the equivalent M3, though a steal compared to a GTS. Alternatively, if you’d rather your 3er with a couple more cylinders and less wing, this rather lovely M3 is coming up for auction soon…
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