One for the BMW Techs - Alpina D3

Post Thu Jun 06, 2013 4:13 pm

Going to view a Alpina D3 touring at the weekend.

2007 (57) plate, black, 75K on the clock, just had a service and has full dealer history and I am told its in A1 condition. Not seen any pictures yet as it arrives at the dealer tomorrow.

Car is advertised at £10,495, and going on the less powerfull equivalent 320d MSport tourings going for the same money it looks to be a decent enough deal.

Has anyone had any experience with these at all. Any problems to look for other than the obvious chinese tyres and ropey bodywork.

Post Thu Jun 06, 2013 4:14 pm

Strangely enoughn its cheaper to insure than our Megane as well.

Post Thu Jun 06, 2013 4:58 pm

My mate in Stirling has one of these. He's not had any bother with it except it burst tyres quite regularly. They are low profile run flats and don't do well with impacts on potholes etc. 19”a IIRC.
It pulls like a train though.

Most are poorly spec'd but a good car in my opinion.

The valve inside the centre of the wheel is a cool trick though.

Post Thu Jun 06, 2013 5:11 pm

they were fixed spec by sytners when new to get the price down. There was a £2000 sur charge if you wanted to order extra kit ontop of the extra options price!

They came new on normal tyres alpina like M don't use run flat sh ! te

Post Thu Jun 06, 2013 5:15 pm

Thanks chaps, the only thing I can find people complaining about is the wheels being a little fragile. Dealer couldn't tell me if its a bi turbo or not but should know on Saturday. Fingers crossed its a good one.

Post Thu Jun 06, 2013 5:46 pm

One of the lads on the ABZ forum has one, and its a beautiful example. Again he said the run flats are shite but other than that he loves it. And I can see why, very jealous of it indeed.

Post Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:05 pm

It's definetly up there as one of the better looking estate type cars. I have to give in and get something more practice than a 3 door hot hatch as getting the bairn in and out the back in a kiddie seat is a royal pain in the hole.

Post Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:09 pm

it will be single turbo the facelift cars are twin turbos. defo a more reliable engine in the earlier car. The later ones seem to be having timing chain troubles, not alpina but in general.

They never came with run flats!!! alpina are in bed with Michelin so they all come new with pilot sport tyres usually designed for that car alone

Post Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:25 pm

If it's on Pilots, that will explain the tyre's destruction!

Post Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:55 pm

Thanks Simon, I trust your judgement on anything alpina seeing as you almost have one of each

Post Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:37 am

Went to see the D3 on saturday but its not the one

The only reason for not going for it was the wheels. It was running the alpina wheels that are on the newer models. I am not sure of the name but the 19" ones that look a bit like a 5 spoke'd wheel.

The alpina classics that were originally on the car were gone, and after asking for a price on a set so I could replace them the deal was over as it made the car pretty expensive compared to others for sale in the UK.

So it looks like i'll need to travel much further a field to get the one I want. A bit disappointed as otherwise it was a belter of a car.

Post Mon Jun 10, 2013 4:55 pm

the wheels are dynamics and it was no cost to have them over classics fitted

theres enough about so I wouldn't worry

Post Wed Jun 12, 2013 3:58 pm

Thanks Simon.

Been reading through alot of the posts on the alpina register forum, and so far other than a tale of woe regarding the DPF at approximately 90K it looks like they are pretty reliable.

We're off to cornwall at the begging of July so have planted the seed with the wife about going to view a couple of D3 tourings for sale on the way back. So time will tell.

Currently I can't find any others for sale in scotland and the best part of 600 mile round trip to view the ones available at the moment does not really fill me with any joy.