Alpina B3 Touring Review: The Secret BMW M3 Touring

OM3RTA · 01-29-2021, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stein_325i

Beautiful and Classy! Alpina Green and Multi-Spoke Rims are always a good combo.

Damn straight they are!

535i MSport · 01-29-2021, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexwood

If you want a shouty questionably ugly M3 tourer then wait, if you want a class understated BMW tourer this is quality.

Very partial to a good tourer / wagon - myself and this Alpina has a nice grill 👍🏼😀

Totally agree. You can't beat a wagon with over 500 horses.

stein_325i · 01-29-2021, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 535i MSport

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexwood

If you want a shouty questionably ugly M3 tourer then wait, if you want a class understated BMW tourer this is quality.

Very partial to a good tourer / wagon - myself and this Alpina has a nice grill 👍🏼😀

Totally agree. You can't beat a wagon with over 500 horses.

literally would pick one up tomorrow if we had the option in the US! Such a beauty

irshad · 01-30-2021, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimjamz

Rory's reviews are getting better each time. Great video and very tempting.

its true. his review are getting better.
chris harris, rorys, matt watson and steve stutcliffe for me are the best. i like reviews with emotions

Rasco · 01-30-2021, 02:55 AM

Check out Jayemm on YouTube he's great, honest and a bit underrated imho. Also we must include Henry catchpole and the chaps at carfection for any list of car jerno's they make amazing content.

I think Rory is improving this one and the cayman GTS we're marked improvements as was his i30n fastback video.

It's a shame that Alpina get such little attention when such a song and dance is made of every product released by the M division in-spite of how niche and un-sporty it might be, like the X4M and yet things like this b3 that have been out some time get so little coverage from YouTubers and motoring journalists. I'm reliably informed that Sytner Group are difficult to work with and part of the problem. This is a shame as they are the sole UK distributor.

youngsandwich · 01-30-2021, 04:57 AM

Has anyone ever looked at buying wheels from them? I have a G21 m340 on order and have always loved those 20 spokes. I guess I'll have to go through a local dealer, just curious if anyone ever got a price (I'm guessing $$$)

EDIT: answered my own question mins later, they are 4000chf (~$4500) for just the wheels, another 100 ea for the center caps (wtf)

Rasco · 01-30-2021, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngsandwich

Has anyone ever looked at buying wheels from them? I have a G21 m340 on order and have always loved those 20 spokes. I guess I'll have to go through a local dealer, just curious if anyone ever got a price (I'm guessing $$$)

EDIT: answered my own question mins later, they are 4000chf (~$4500) for just the wheels, another 100 ea for the center caps (wtf)

You can get decent reps from CM wheels, they do very good quality replica Alpina wheels, look for reviews on the forum they come well recommended.

caramba84 · 01-30-2021, 10:01 AM

Beautiful this B3 Alpina. I would have expected the review to contain some comparison, or at least a reference, to the M340i Touring which is an obvious alternative - but perhaps there are other reviews around.

JoeyBananaz18 · 01-30-2021, 11:35 AM

This is literally the best balance of a bmw a dad could ask for. Would give anything for something even remotely close to this was available in NA

_E90S65_ · 01-30-2021, 12:02 PM

A real "station weapon," as some would say.

Just wish there was more sidewall on those tires.

It's a sports wagon, not a DONK.

OM3RTA · 01-30-2021, 12:04 PM

[QUOTE=Rasco;27176854 Also we must include Henry catchpole and the chaps at carfection for any list of car jerno's they make amazing content.
[/QUOTE]

Agreed. And as an EVO reader BITD I also like Harry's Garage and shoutout to Mark Nichol on Vanarama too.

Luminor513 · 01-30-2021, 06:41 PM

Nice to see a proper front end on a 3 series. Again this is just my humble opinion, not to offend anyone who loves the styling of the G80. Its just refreshing every time i see a BMW front end that make sense.

ADEe92 · 01-31-2021, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XsltAnalyst

I can't blame them if they're not bringing them here since they won't sell enough of them in US to recoup their costs

Alpina are selling them in Australia, and the market is tiny vs the US?

If I had the cash, I'd be all over one

Unfortunately they're $143k down here - just slightly cheaper than the G80.

Teutonic · 01-31-2021, 10:09 PM

Well put and a lesson to BMW:

“Alpina design is not controversial but attractive and discreet”.
That’s the definition of my cars and what I want: a beautiful, elegant and discreet design, not obnoxious design with kitschy wings and crap...
That’s whyI just bought an M340 Performance Edition instead of the new M.
Screw your new design BMW!

positiveions · 01-31-2021, 10:22 PM

Another phenomenal car that won’t see our shores.

XsltAnalyst · 02-03-2021, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADEe92

Alpina are selling them in Australia, and the market is tiny vs the US?

If I had the cash, I'd be all over one

Unfortunately they're $143k down here - just slightly cheaper than the G80.

yeah the high performance wagon market is tiny here, so it's probably not worth it for Alpina to federalize it for selling in the states. SUVs where the action is. I wouldn't be surprised if BMW sells a pickup truck
soon.

wow G80 is at least 50% more expensive in Australia after conversion to USD (110K usd )

OM3RTA · 02-04-2021, 12:08 PM

To add to the talk of market for this. In 5 years of the previous D3 touring Alpina sold 790 in the UK which was near double the saloons sales.

01-30-2021, 02:55 AM	#27
Rasco Private First Class 63 Rep 128 Posts Drives: F36 440i GC Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: South east Uk iTrader: (0)	Check out Jayemm on YouTube he's great, honest and a bit underrated imho. Also we must include Henry catchpole and the chaps at carfection for any list of car jerno's they make amazing content. I think Rory is improving this one and the cayman GTS we're marked improvements as was his i30n fastback video. It's a shame that Alpina get such little attention when such a song and dance is made of every product released by the M division in-spite of how niche and un-sporty it might be, like the X4M and yet things like this b3 that have been out some time get so little coverage from YouTubers and motoring journalists. I'm reliably informed that Sytner Group are difficult to work with and part of the problem. This is a shame as they are the sole UK distributor. __________________ 440i GC - Previous cars, I30n Performance, MKV GTi, E46 325i Touring, E46 320d Touring, E91 M Sport Plus Edition,
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2021, 04:57 AM	#28
youngsandwich Private 70 Rep 54 Posts Drives: G21 M340i xDrive Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	Has anyone ever looked at buying wheels from them? I have a G21 m340 on order and have always loved those 20 spokes. I guess I'll have to go through a local dealer, just curious if anyone ever got a price (I'm guessing $$$) EDIT: answered my own question mins later, they are 4000chf (~$4500) for just the wheels, another 100 ea for the center caps (wtf)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2021, 10:01 AM	#30
caramba84 Registered 2 Rep 3 Posts Drives: M340i xdrive Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	Beautiful this B3 Alpina. I would have expected the review to contain some comparison, or at least a reference, to the M340i Touring which is an obvious alternative - but perhaps there are other reviews around.
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01-30-2021, 11:35 AM	#31
JoeyBananaz18 Brigadier General 398 Rep 4,084 Posts Drives: metrocard Join Date: May 2009 Location: Whitestone, NY iTrader: (3)	This is literally the best balance of a bmw a dad could ask for. Would give anything for something even remotely close to this was available in NA __________________ 7/18/09- I pick up my baby- 2009 E92 335i Xdrive, Space Gray over Coral Red. Premium Pkg, Cold Weather Pkg, M-Sport Pkg, 193Ms, Gloss Black grills, Custom Gloss Black Mirrors, Performance shift and E-brake boot, M3 spoiler, Euro fog switch, gloss black interior tim, Coco-Mats (red/black), H&R coilovers, 19'' Alufelgen SF-71s......
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01-30-2021, 12:02 PM	#32
_E90S65_ Captain 736 Rep 674 Posts Drives: 2021 M340i Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Pluto iTrader: (0)	A real "station weapon," as some would say. Just wish there was more sidewall on those tires. It's a sports wagon, not a DONK.
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01-30-2021, 12:04 PM	#33
OM3RTA Major 391 Rep 1,039 Posts Drives: 330i M Sport, Audi A3 2.0 TDI Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	[QUOTE=Rasco;27176854 Also we must include Henry catchpole and the chaps at carfection for any list of car jerno's they make amazing content. [/QUOTE] Agreed. And as an EVO reader BITD I also like Harry's Garage and shoutout to Mark Nichol on Vanarama too.
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01-30-2021, 06:41 PM	#34
Luminor513 Major 1243 Rep 1,492 Posts Drives: 2020 G07 x40i BSM/Blk Merino Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	Nice to see a proper front end on a 3 series. Again this is just my humble opinion, not to offend anyone who loves the styling of the G80. Its just refreshing every time i see a BMW front end that make sense. __________________ 2020 G07 x40i BSM/Blk Merino 2022 Audi E-tron S Mythos Blk/Blk Valcona
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01-31-2021, 10:09 PM	#36
Teutonic Colonel 2709 Rep 2,350 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Well put and a lesson to BMW: “Alpina design is not controversial but attractive and discreet”. That’s the definition of my cars and what I want: a beautiful, elegant and discreet design, not obnoxious design with kitschy wings and crap... That’s whyI just bought an M340 Performance Edition instead of the new M. Screw your new design BMW!
	Appreciate 1 mathys202.50 Quote

01-31-2021, 10:22 PM	#37
positiveions Lieutenant General 961 Rep 11,722 Posts Drives: 19 Tacoma, 16 Golf wagon Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upland, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2019 Toyota Tacoma [0.00] 2016 VW Golf Sports ... [0.00] 1998 BMW M3 [0.00] 1990 BMW 325is [0.00]	Another phenomenal car that won’t see our shores.
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02-04-2021, 12:08 PM	#39
OM3RTA Major 391 Rep 1,039 Posts Drives: 330i M Sport, Audi A3 2.0 TDI Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	To add to the talk of market for this. In 5 years of the previous D3 touring Alpina sold 790 in the UK which was near double the saloons sales.
	Appreciate 0 Quote