The thinking man's M3...

[AbeFroman]

Annoyed that you keep losing your M3 among all the others at car meets?
Frustrated at boy racers in M sport 320ds beating you off the lights with all that torque?
Getting aggro from the family for lost fillings with all the potholes around these days?
Miffed that all those S65 and S85 spun bearings mean that your M warranty is twice the price it used to be?

Well, have I got the car for you... the Alpina B3.



Imagine that silky smooth ride, the bark of a tuned straight six with forged crank and akrapovic quad exhaust, the firm feel of a slim lavalina leather trimmed alpina steering wheel, hitting 190mph on the way to the nurburgring / your long private driveway, having the letters B-I-T-U-R-B-O on the bootlid, and of course your better half asking why men keep smiling and nodding at you.

Been an absolute pleasure to own mine, the only LCI F30 B3 in the UK. I can see why Alpina owners end up owning several as the years go by. I wonder how it will manage the transition to full BMW ownership and electrification.

Edited by AbeFroman on Sunday 5th November 15:55

[E63eeeeee...]

How long have you owned it?

[AbeFroman]

Three years. Been fantastic. They're so robust compared to my old M6 GC and CSL.

[cerb4.5lee]

Your write up made me smile thanks!

[PlywoodPascal]

Why is your garage full of tvs?
Nice car
Naughty advert

[E63eeeeee...]

PlywoodPascal said:

Why is your garage full of tvs?

And did you go on in?

[AbeFroman]

PlywoodPascal said:

Why is your garage full of tvs?
Nice car
Naughty advert

I read that as 'full of TVRs'. A cerbera would be a nice practical replacement, right?

[AbeFroman]

cerb4.5lee said:

Your write up made me smile thanks!

Thanks! Tongue in cheek of course, lots of love for M brand too. e93 m3 on the shopping list when kiddos are old enough to climb in the back themselves. Car's currently for sale in PH classifieds.

Edited by AbeFroman on Monday 6th November 08:00

[InitialDave]

I occasionally see someone on my commute in an Alpina of some flavour, I like the look of it, seems a bit more subtle than an M car.

Wasn't so keen on the pinstripes they had ion the older ones, I worked with someone who had one and they always seemed a bit of a fussy excess detail.

[rassi]

Clever way of advertising your car

[Mirinjawbro]

rassi said:

Clever way of advertising your car

cant be. you've caught him

[AbeFroman]

Mirinjawbro said:

cant be. you've caught him

well hopefully it stands as an insightful exit review. Kind of amazes me how few they actually sell. I think they were only about 10-15% more expensive than a 340i when new.

[AbeFroman]

sunnyb13 said:

Ah the 340i, the poor man’s m3

I'm still sad the numbers don't match the engine size :-/

[AbeFroman]

sunnyb13 said:

Ah the 340i, the poor man’s m3

Nice comparison of all three on current generation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j49ldhANVqQ

[DonRustone]

AbeFroman said:

Nice comparison of all three on current generation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j49ldhANVqQ

I watched that and was keen on the Alpina over the M3 Touring...until I looked on Autotrader and the five new cars on there are all around £96k!

Also, according to the sales person at Sytner they can't order the cars to spec now and instead just get sent them at random from the factory to sell. Anyone know if this is actually the case?

[JMBMWM5]

DonRustone said:

I watched that and was keen on the Alpina over the M3 Touring...until I looked on Autotrader and the five new cars on there are all around £96k!

Also, according to the sales person at Sytner they can't order the cars to spec now and instead just get sent them at random from the factory to sell. Anyone know if this is actually the case?

Very likely they just aint selling, way over priced.

[rawenghey]

sunnyb13 said:

Ah the 340i, the poor man’s m3

Not really. It's nowhere close enough to the M3 to be even considered a "poor man's version". It's just the fastest non-M model in the 3 range.

[AbeFroman]

Show us on the teddy where the 340i hurt you

[survivalist]

rawenghey said:

sunnyb13 said:

Ah the 340i, the poor man’s m3

Not really. It's nowhere close enough to the M3 to be even considered a "poor man's version". It's just the fastest non-M model in the 3 range.

Ingesting perspective. If argue that they have got closer with every generation.

E30 - E90 the engines were a huge differentiator. The F and G series are still different, but both M and non-M are turbo sixes and are closer in character than the s50 in the E36 and the 328i straight six. Same for the s54 and he 330i and the 335i N54/55 and the S65 in the E90 M3 were even further apart.

[rawenghey]

AbeFroman said:

Show us on the teddy where the 340i hurt you

Odd reply. I used to own an F32 440i. Quick car and excellent engine, but it is exactly what I said it is - the most powerful non-M car in the lineup. Nowhere near powerful or special enough to be considered a poor man's M car. Honestly, I regretted not just buying the F82 M4 first as last.

Edited by rawenghey on Monday 18th December 14:57