Alternative Facts
There are those who believe in BMW’s M cars. Any BMW with a real M badge on it would always trigger thoughts of mind-blowing performance; excellent handling and sublime exhaust notes. Then there are the virtues of mind-blowing performance, excellent handling and sublime exhaust notes… But all a little more understated. The Alpina B3 Touring represents one of two 3-series cars here, the other being the sedan variant, which presents a very attractive alternative. The not-so–loud styling, not that the M3 is that loud at all, makes this car ideal for those who love BMW’s superb handling 3-series platforms, but still would want to slip under the radar just a little. The B3 does it its own way, with the partially built ‘Beemers’ being brought into the Alpina factory for further fettling of the already superbly built straight-six and additional tweaks to the rest of the car, as Clifford Chow finds out more, being given butt time in the Touring model.
The straight 6, 2,979cc engine is mated to twin turbocharges, and provides extremely linear acceleration. At 1,000rpm, there is already about 300Nm+ of torque available at 1,000rpm, meaning that the B3 could shove off at the lights extremely easily. Maximum torque of 600Nm, which incidentally is higher than the M3’s 550Nm is available at 3,000rpm, while a constant minimum of 550Nm is available on tap from 2,200-5,200rpm. Together with the ZF 9 speed with SWITCH TRONIC does a fine job in gear changes, delivers power to the rear wheels.
Century sprint timings for the B3 Touring is 4.4 seconds (the sedan does shave a 0.1 off this figure) but wait, isn’t just 0.3 seconds more than the M3? Why yes!
Our test car did not come equipped with a limited slip and the optional X-drive system, meaning that you had to treat the car with respect. Taking my turns through some slippery multi-storey carparks had the rear end coming around a little, ensuring that my hands were busy applying a little opposite steer just to straighten the car up. On tight highway turns, the 550Nm at 2,200rpm makes itself know too, with the rear wanting to step out of its line. Any push on the throttle sets the car into oversteer, while correcting it would mean just reducing directional steer a little, to straighten up the B3’s turning line. Accelerator feel is extremely accurate, and in a very short time, you will know how much juice you are giving the engine as you gas it.
While all this power and torque might be over the top, the B3 does perform very as a daily driver. The four drive modes, and additional customisable one, ensure that the suspension can be set for a comfortable drive. In Sport+, dampening is minimised. The thin tyres also do not help with ride comfort, but the B3 becomes extremely poised around the bends, just as long as you do not overpower the car.
Straight line acceleration pushes the B3 with a slight rightward sideslip, similar to all straight-6 3 and 4 series BMWs, and is very manageable with some minor adjusting.
While the M3 would be a car that comes across as a little more hard-core, the Alpina carries itself as a unique everyday family car. Additionally, given its understated uniqueness, it does make those who know their cars take a second look.
With a price tag of $375,800 for the Touring model, and $370,800 for the sedan. Where the Alpina absolutely makes more sense than an M3 ($388,800), would be in the OMV, due to the nature of manufacture, the OMV of $92,000 ($90,000 for the sedan) is actually much higher than the M3’s $71,590. Meaning that the paper value on the Alpina, would make it a more valuable car to drive in the long term.
*All prices are quoted as at 31 January 2017
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