Alpina v M Touring
Discussion
Had a few BMW now, couple of E30 325 sport back in the day and since 2000 a couple of 330d, been great commuting cars and still running 2014 one now with 165k.
Now commuting is less and WFH most of the week thinking and looking for a new car before “dooms day”, have to replace a Mini Cooper S bought in 2020 (electrical issues) and thinking of replacing with a BMW touring.
Looking at an Alpina or M but would have to wait a bit on M for prices to drop (obviously not sure when that would be).
Would be a keeper with no plan on selling, really tempted by this :
https://www.sytner.co.uk/vehicle-details/39d7ad0d-...
I prefer the more understated look of the Alpina (would look at removing the Alpina stipe along the side) but also like the new M3 (apart from that front, but I won’t be looking at it
)
Any opinions on the Alpina v M, residuals (hopefully) won’t be a concern as no plan on selling,
Now commuting is less and WFH most of the week thinking and looking for a new car before “dooms day”, have to replace a Mini Cooper S bought in 2020 (electrical issues) and thinking of replacing with a BMW touring.
Looking at an Alpina or M but would have to wait a bit on M for prices to drop (obviously not sure when that would be).
Would be a keeper with no plan on selling, really tempted by this :
https://www.sytner.co.uk/vehicle-details/39d7ad0d-...
I prefer the more understated look of the Alpina (would look at removing the Alpina stipe along the side) but also like the new M3 (apart from that front, but I won’t be looking at it
) Any opinions on the Alpina v M, residuals (hopefully) won’t be a concern as no plan on selling,
A colleague bought an M4 and handed it back after 6 months as his back couldn't stand it. I still have the Alpina D4 I bought at the same time and it is awesome, I will not be replacing it while BP are still putting dinosaurs in a blender. It is comfortable and assured, will eat miles with ease and when you're "on private land" it will shift like the proverbial hot mess on a shovel. I had a 6 series V8 before it and I don't even miss the engine note.
Clarkson's comparison review is pretty fair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChECnq9P6jc
The only downside is that OEM spares are 8 week delivery, and I would get tyre insurance. If you do buy it, know I will be slightly jealous and speak to A Plan in Thatcham for insurance.
Clarkson's comparison review is pretty fair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChECnq9P6jc
The only downside is that OEM spares are 8 week delivery, and I would get tyre insurance. If you do buy it, know I will be slightly jealous and speak to A Plan in Thatcham for insurance.
Collectingbrass said:
A colleague bought an M4 and handed it back after 6 months as his back couldn't stand it. I still have the Alpina D4 I bought at the same time and it is awesome, I will not be replacing it while BP are still putting dinosaurs in a blender. It is comfortable and assured, will eat miles with ease and when you're "on private land" it will shift like the proverbial hot mess on a shovel. I had a 6 series V8 before it and I don't even miss the engine note.
Clarkson's comparison review is pretty fair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChECnq9P6jc
The only downside is that OEM spares are 8 week delivery, and I would get tyre insurance. If you do buy it, know I will be slightly jealous and speak to A Plan in Thatcham for insurance.
Thanks, called Monday but had been reserved on Sunday.Clarkson's comparison review is pretty fair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChECnq9P6jc
The only downside is that OEM spares are 8 week delivery, and I would get tyre insurance. If you do buy it, know I will be slightly jealous and speak to A Plan in Thatcham for insurance.
Will wait and see if anything comes up, there is white one but not same as good spec the other one and same price.
Sorry for being late to this.
I have a B5 Touring but I think the overall theme would be similar in a B3.
There is a decent difference between the Alpina cars and the M cars these days. Alpina tunes their engines for low-down torque whereas my experience of M cars is that the real enjoyment is taking them right through the rev ranges.
The suspension on an Alpina is much more geared to comfort, but don't let that make you think they're not capable of crossing ground at a very rapid rate.
I suspect I'm pretty typical of an Alpina owner. On long motorway cruises it's in comfort plus, it's quiet and will cover long distances in a more relaxed manner than any other BMW I've experienced. On the local mountain passes it's in Adaptive. I can't remember when it was last in any of the Sports suspension modes. I also never put the gearbox into manual mode - it gets it right all the time so there is little point.
Ownership-wise it's mostly been smooth sailing, however I punctured over the border in Italy and the car was off the road for a bit. Pirelli don't sell the Alpina tyres in Italy so I ended up buying one at the Swiss importer and taking it to the BMW dealer in Italy where the car had been taken to. You have to remember it's a very low volume specialist car, albeit one made with BMW-level quality.
Most of the folks that I know with Alpinas also have something fast and mid-engined for the times when they want to go out for a blast (I don't). Hence they're not buying their touring to tick that box.
I will be keeping mine until the day it's no longer economical to run. For daily duties I drive a 2005 Mini Cooper S so the Alpina is kept for longer trips, typically with the family.
I have a B5 Touring but I think the overall theme would be similar in a B3.
There is a decent difference between the Alpina cars and the M cars these days. Alpina tunes their engines for low-down torque whereas my experience of M cars is that the real enjoyment is taking them right through the rev ranges.
The suspension on an Alpina is much more geared to comfort, but don't let that make you think they're not capable of crossing ground at a very rapid rate.
I suspect I'm pretty typical of an Alpina owner. On long motorway cruises it's in comfort plus, it's quiet and will cover long distances in a more relaxed manner than any other BMW I've experienced. On the local mountain passes it's in Adaptive. I can't remember when it was last in any of the Sports suspension modes. I also never put the gearbox into manual mode - it gets it right all the time so there is little point.
Ownership-wise it's mostly been smooth sailing, however I punctured over the border in Italy and the car was off the road for a bit. Pirelli don't sell the Alpina tyres in Italy so I ended up buying one at the Swiss importer and taking it to the BMW dealer in Italy where the car had been taken to. You have to remember it's a very low volume specialist car, albeit one made with BMW-level quality.
Most of the folks that I know with Alpinas also have something fast and mid-engined for the times when they want to go out for a blast (I don't). Hence they're not buying their touring to tick that box.
I will be keeping mine until the day it's no longer economical to run. For daily duties I drive a 2005 Mini Cooper S so the Alpina is kept for longer trips, typically with the family.
chandrew said:
Sorry for being late to this.
I have a B5 Touring but I think the overall theme would be similar in a B3.
There is a decent difference between the Alpina cars and the M cars these days. Alpina tunes their engines for low-down torque whereas my experience of M cars is that the real enjoyment is taking them right through the rev ranges.
The suspension on an Alpina is much more geared to comfort, but don't let that make you think they're not capable of crossing ground at a very rapid rate.
I suspect I'm pretty typical of an Alpina owner. On long motorway cruises it's in comfort plus, it's quiet and will cover long distances in a more relaxed manner than any other BMW I've experienced. On the local mountain passes it's in Adaptive. I can't remember when it was last in any of the Sports suspension modes. I also never put the gearbox into manual mode - it gets it right all the time so there is little point.
Ownership-wise it's mostly been smooth sailing, however I punctured over the border in Italy and the car was off the road for a bit. Pirelli don't sell the Alpina tyres in Italy so I ended up buying one at the Swiss importer and taking it to the BMW dealer in Italy where the car had been taken to. You have to remember it's a very low volume specialist car, albeit one made with BMW-level quality.
Most of the folks that I know with Alpinas also have something fast and mid-engined for the times when they want to go out for a blast (I don't). Hence they're not buying their touring to tick that box.
I will be keeping mine until the day it's no longer economical to run. For daily duties I drive a 2005 Mini Cooper S so the Alpina is kept for longer trips, typically with the family.
Thanks for the write up, I have a B5 Touring but I think the overall theme would be similar in a B3.
There is a decent difference between the Alpina cars and the M cars these days. Alpina tunes their engines for low-down torque whereas my experience of M cars is that the real enjoyment is taking them right through the rev ranges.
The suspension on an Alpina is much more geared to comfort, but don't let that make you think they're not capable of crossing ground at a very rapid rate.
I suspect I'm pretty typical of an Alpina owner. On long motorway cruises it's in comfort plus, it's quiet and will cover long distances in a more relaxed manner than any other BMW I've experienced. On the local mountain passes it's in Adaptive. I can't remember when it was last in any of the Sports suspension modes. I also never put the gearbox into manual mode - it gets it right all the time so there is little point.
Ownership-wise it's mostly been smooth sailing, however I punctured over the border in Italy and the car was off the road for a bit. Pirelli don't sell the Alpina tyres in Italy so I ended up buying one at the Swiss importer and taking it to the BMW dealer in Italy where the car had been taken to. You have to remember it's a very low volume specialist car, albeit one made with BMW-level quality.
Most of the folks that I know with Alpinas also have something fast and mid-engined for the times when they want to go out for a blast (I don't). Hence they're not buying their touring to tick that box.
I will be keeping mine until the day it's no longer economical to run. For daily duties I drive a 2005 Mini Cooper S so the Alpina is kept for longer trips, typically with the family.
Sounds as though as a last before we are pushed into new EV this is a good option, now looking at saloon v touring
The wife’s car is a 2003 Cooper S, had since new and only 60k on it but have an issue with keeping charge, no garage has found the issue so have a battery cut off fitted and small “jump” pack in the car.
Great little cars…….
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