Alpina E46 thing?

[pentoman]

A silver T-reg E46 saloon came up behind me very fast yesterday on the winding roads of Gloucestershire, with an almost aftermarket-looking front bumper which reminded me of a chav's bumper - extended so it goes further down to the ground - and some big Alpina wheels. I was late for an appointment and when the road cleared I took off ahead but soon noticed him chasing after me, as we were ascending a local twisty steep hill at speed. I was pushing pretty hard but got the feeling he was more than keeping up which rather surprised me. I was in a cossie Merc which means some 200bhp and ~1300+kg, so am thinking this can't have been any 328i which would be rather heavier and less powerful. And not a 330i as it's too old...

I would assume it's some sort of Alpina, but it didn't have the Alpina text written on the front bumper which I thought they all did? Were standard E46s available with optional Alpina type front bumpers and huge Alpina wheels? To be honest at first I thought it was a standard E46 with some rather questionable aftermarkety modifications....

Edited by pentoman on Saturday 10th March 13:31

[Dino D]

Another car kept up with you and you are perplexed??
I guess I would be too if I had 200bhp in a 1300kg car.....that is just an unbeatable combo, especially with a driving god behind the wheel!

Sorry to be sarcastic mate but why is such a suprise that another car (that according to you looks like a chavmobile) can keep up with you when latest hot superminis can do that?

You have a great car and I am sure you a great driver but maybe you should stop believing that no other car or driver can pass you unless they have some major mods to their car.....

[pentoman]

Yeah thanks I'll bear that in mind.

My point is more that in a flat out blat up a hill I got a feeling this car had a lot of power

Edited by pentoman on Saturday 10th March 18:23

[aeroresh]

Not alot but just more than you!

i think the B3 3.3 is rated at around 290 BHP.

However Im finding it odd why someone in a 2.3 or 2.5-16V merc 190 can call an Alpina spoiler chavvy!...have you not looked at your own car recently?

[blackspider]

I passed an e46 M3 today in my '81 Trev.Sweet!
It got its first drive in 10 years today,bit of a shake down ready for some track days.

[Dunk76]

did it look like this?



Alpina script isn't painted/decalled as visible unless specified with coachstripes.

And having owned two Merc Cossies, an E36 328i, and a B3, I can safely say that whilst a 328i wouldn't keep up, an Alpina B3 would demolish a 190E.