garcon magnifique Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 At first sight in the underground carpark, the black Alpina D3 looks much like any other E90 3 series. A familiar sight, and one of the better resolved post-Bangle designs. However, to those in the know the ‘Classic’ Alpina 19” alloys, the subtle but effective bodywork changes and Alpina badging (including a purposeful looking ‘ALPINA’ on the front splitter) give just enough indication that this is no ordinary 320d repmobile. Climbing into the cabin, the first impression is of classic BMW design – simplicity, understated quality, ergonomic focus. To keep the price attractive, Alpina have resisted the temptation to raid the options brochure – no ‘individual’ leather colours, and (thankfully in this case I think) no acreage of wood. Instead, there is just enough to distinguish the D3 from a ‘cooking’ 3 series. Alpina trimmed part-leather sports seats, beautiful blue Alpina dials with red needles, lovely hand-stitched leather steering wheel, Alpina badges on wheel and gearlever and the little plaque that makes each car numerically unique. Equipment is adequate, which is no bad thing given that specifying any factory options makes the car a ‘special order’, incurring an additional two grand charge. No sunroof, no sat nav, and only a single CD player (though it does have the now obligatory MP3 auxiliary point), but the ‘BMW Business’ stereo gives a decent sound, and automatic climate is standard as are the usual array of electrics. Starting up there’s no getting away from the truth that this is a 4 pot diesel, though there are noisier units out there and the Alpina twin chrome tailpipe exhaust seems to help by rounding off the harshness of the ‘clatter’. The seat and steering wheel adjust in infinite directions, making it possible (eventually) to find the perfect driving position, sitting snugly (for me!) in the well supported sports seats. The controls have an encouraging, positive feel, and with first gear selected pulling away is drama free even for my normally unemployed clutch leg. On the road, it becomes clear first is more or less redundant once you’re moving, and as you go through the box it’s soon apparent that changing early and riding the wonderfully flat torque curve (302 lb/ft all the way from two to three and a half thousand revs) is the most effective method for smooth, flowing progress. It may have been the tightness of the fairly new demonstrator, but the D3 doesn’t feel like a 200bhp car if pushed higher up the rev range, and anything much over the power peak of 4000 revs extracts little more than a harsher noise. The good news is that there’s no need to explore those higher revs. The available low down ‘shove’ from all that torque, coupled with a little more experience in selecting the right gear to stay in ‘the band’, promises devastating overtaking ability and A/B road progress to embarrass more than a few petrol powered rivals. And all this in a car that can return mid 40s mpg on the mixed cycle (and a very worthy 32.4 mpg on our stop-start-squirt city test run). The test route gave little opportunity to truly investigate the D3’s handling characteristics, though a couple of empty roundabouts allowed an indication of the prodigious grip available from the huge 265 section rear tyres. Given those 19” wheels, the ride from the Alpina tweaked suspension is a revelation. Firm enough to hint at genuine rear drive handling ability, yet supple enough not to be crashy and uncomfortable on our all too common poor road surfaces. M Sport suspension designers take note. Looking at the available offerings around the D3’s £26,995 asking price, you can find cars that improve on some of what the D3 does – whether it be more power, more refinement, or more equipment – but the thing that impresses most of all (apart from guaranteed exclusivity with an order book of only 100 a year, and maybe the fuel bills) is the synchronicity of the overall package. Put simply, it works. The only thing to spoil an otherwise unblemished picture is the fact it sounds like a taxi when you fire it up in the morning. But given what it can do, how it looks, how it makes you feel and what it costs, surely we can forgive it that…? http://www.alpina-automobiles.com/pdf/ALPINA_D3_couk.pdf (needs Adobe Acrobat/reader) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Excellently written review Garcon. So...when does it arrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 If I keep my head, March. Possibly. But there are 3 available this year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Good review. Will be interested to see how you go if you get it. I didn't go for the diesel because I just couldn't get on with the rattle. I had the 2.5TDI from the A4 before that which sounded great, same for the straight 6 diesel BMW. But the 4 cylinder ... Mmmm I'd miss little things from the spec list that as you say would really drive up the cost if you went for it. No idea what I'm going to get next time but the D3 will be on the list will be intersted what you think of it if you get it, for me my head would be ruling my heart.. Thats fine if I had a second heart car though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Extremely well written, garcon. Follow your heart and enjoy . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
encee Posted September 1, 2006 Report Share Posted September 1, 2006 Cracking review, garcon. Have you had chance to try out the 330d M-Sport, or have you crossed it off your list ? I know you fancied something a bit special, as in the Alpina, but I was just wondering. Anyway, good luck with your choice mate; the Alpina certainly looks the business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Decision by no means made just yet. I will definitely be driving a 330d at some point, along with a couple of other alternatives. (Suggestions welcome!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Excellent write up mate. The one thing I will say is you really need to drive an M-Sport with non run-flats on, it absolutely transforms the comfort and the handling, the run flats make the car not only very crashy but also a bit skitty to the point where it almost makes it dangerous going round corners at speed on anything but a perfect surface, there just isn't any bite in the tyres. The factory order aspect with the D3 is very annoying, I would want Nav Professional and full leather, this would add £5k to the price making it slightly more expensive than a 3 month old 330d M-sport with nav, leather, auto and bluetooth, or about the same as a year old 535d. I think you have to buy it basic or with a huge spec to loose that £2k, or hide it at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Very tempting car that! Whats the lead time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Fair point on the run flats. Just seems bizarre that you need to change the standard offering rubber to make the ride bearable! If I do go for it, it will be as is - as you say, adding a decent level of kit takes up to 330d money. Lead time - partly depends how quickly I make a decision. There's 3 UK cars available late this year, otherwise it's February (in which case I'd wait for 07 plate). I should wait... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin275 Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Right then, ‘Run Flat Tyres’, a pet subject of mine! The ride on run flats can be far better than “bearable”.... I’ve only driven 3 cars with RFT’s, but it’s enough for me to question what’s to blame for poor ride in some BMW’s. I think it’s down to a couple of things, the make of tyre, age of the tyre (I’m sure the technology will be improving) and the way the car has been set up to work with this type of tyre. I’ve driven a 120D SE on 17” wheels, but with standard suspension and 2 different 130i M Sports. I stepped out of my wifes 2003 Megane Privilege into the 120D and then tried the first 130 straight after the 120. The 120 didn’t really ride any worse than the Megane, which had 16” wheels so you’d expect there to be a difference anyway. It was slightly harsher over some bumps, but that was more than offset by the improved body control. I was expecting the 130 to feel much harder and more uncomfortable, but it wasn’t that much different to the 120. It felt a bit firmer, but again you’d expect that and if it didn’t feel any different to a 120D SE, then I would have been disappointed. I’ve taken a few people out in the 130 and when asked, they have all been very complementary about the ride. A friend of mine has an E46 325ti Sport (17” wheels) and when I asked him what he thought, he said that he hadn’t noticed the ride at all! He said it was better than his car and a massively better than his dads A3 2.0T S Line Sportback. It rides and handles much better than the 2 x A3’s and 2 x A4’s that I’ve driven in the last 6 months and in most circumstances, is just as good as my Passat (17” wheels, sports suspension). We have Goodyear NCT’s on our car and when the time comes to change them, I’ll be putting exactly the same tyres on again. My advice would be to try the car you want for yourself and make your own mind up. You shouldn’t write something off because someone else has a problem with their own car on the same sort of tyres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 I agree that the run flats still ride better than all the Audis, better than my A6, A3, Cab and the A4's, but Audis ride is appalling, how they manage to make the car wallow and crash at the same time amazes me, and Audi themselves are now testing their cars on UK roads to try and amend this as it is a serious concern of theirs. However, try one of the new BMWs with non run flats on and it is sublime, it isn't until you have made the swap and pushed the car to its limits do you realise just how much better they are on handling and the way it soaks up are crappy roads is noticeable straight away. Just read the hundreds of threads on the various BMW forums at how amazed people are who have swapped, and they all end "........my only regret is not doing it sooner." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin275 Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 My main concerns are the fact that you'd need to get a jack (no jacking points on the 1 series iirc) as well all the other stuff and surely the suspension is set up to work with the stiffer sidewalls. Unless you find the ride a real problem, then you are better off sticking with the RFT's imho. If switching to normal tyres gives such a massive improvement, then ours would ride like a Rolls! I doubt it would be that much better, because it's still got low profile tyres and firm suspension at the end of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 No offence here Martin as I am trying to think of a way of putting this without sounding rude, but you are giving advice based on what you think the differece would be, where as I am saying from experience. Search back through my posts on here and bmwland and I said exactly the same as you, it wasn't until I went in a 130i that I realised how dramtic the change made. If you get a chance to have a go in one with proper tyres it is well worth trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin275 Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 No offence taken and if I get a chance to go in one with normal tyres then I will. Maybe it will be a huge step forward, maybe it won’t, but as I’m happy with the ride on the current tyres, then it really isn't an issue. My (obviously badly made) point was that different people have different views as to what is and isn’t acceptable. Therefore any prospective purchasers should try the car themselves and not write it off just because they’ve heard the RFT’s make the ride “unbearable”. Maybe it will be amazing on standard tyres, but contrary to popular opinion, some BMW’s do ride very when fitted with big wheels, sports suspension and Run Flats. Was the 130 you tried on standard tyres then? If so, have you driven one on RFT’s, or are you comparing it to a 5 series? I’m not trying to be clever, I’m genuinely interested Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] ...but contrary to popular opinion, some BMW’s do ride very when fitted with big wheels, sports suspension and Run Flats. [/ QUOTE ] Just not as well as Alpinas. Apparently. I think ( ) the D3 I drove had runflats - the sales guy wasn't sure, but it had the runflat kit in the boot instead of a spare... The ride was perfectly acceptable. The sales guy said he's currently running a 320d M Sport and that it is quite alot harsher. Which led me to think that in the 3 series at least it has more to do with suspension set up than the RFTs. From what I've read, the RFT's do most certainly have a detrimental effect in the M Sport 5 series, though I suspect this may have been that M Sport division originally tuned the suspension for normal tyres and haven't got round to sorting it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin275 Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 If it had a kit in the boot (foam, compressor etc), then it will have been on normal tyres. Run Flat Tyres don't need anything because you just keep on going at a reduced speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted September 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Ah... that makes more sense. I was sure the evo article had said they were standard tyres (and better for it). Sales bloke obviously didn't know his stuff! (Have to say he was excellent otherwise. And not at all pushy.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin275 Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Sales bloke didn't know his stuff....no surprise there! I've not met many who do know everything about their products, I even struggled with VW UK when I had a spec query just before I ordered the Passat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Was the 130 you tried on standard tyres then? If so, have you driven one on RFT’s, or are you comparing it to a 5 series? I’m not trying to be clever, I’m genuinely interested [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, my mate went from an E46 M3 Cab to the130i and was very surprised that the ride was not as smooth. After reading the glowing reports for other owners that had swapped he decided to have a go with some Pirellis and was amazed at the difference. It was driving his back to back with a 120d SE that made me swap mine over on the 5 series. He has a compressor and gunk in the the back of his, not sure what he would do about a jack, but do you need one if you go the gunk route? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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