Biturbo or not

[Spaaa]

For context, I'm pretty new to the Alpina (and even BMW) scene. I have a Subaru Impreza, and just given back a company car which i'm looking to replace.

I've been trying to find a reasonably interesting diesel car (the last one i had a few years ago was a Audi TT Tdi) and I think I've decided that the Alpina D3 is the one for me. There doesn't seem to be a massive number of options which fits my criteria (biturbo, saloon, FSH, £10k budget (give or take), not white, sub 100k mileage), and I'm trying to work out what criteria to drop. I've got a list of other nice to haves (full leather, manual gearbox, chain replaced), but being fussy doesn't seem to suit what's available.

There's this one quite local to me (Reading): https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... on=at_cars , but it's not biturbo, it's starship mileage, and well FSH isn't forthright.

This one looks ok (although its an automatic tourer), but the dealer seems to be really optimistic with the price for the mileage. https://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/2010-bmw- ... 1457230444

How would everyone rate the biturbo against the standard D3?

Couple of other thoughts;
Is the market particularly slow at the moment, or is this typical?
Are Alpina D3's appreciating at this point or is it a slow depreciation?

[Spaaa]

Not the best response to my questions.... but i did get a helpful DM from someone.

Bought a D3 BiTurbo at the weekend. Ticks almost every piece of criteria i had. It is due the transmission service (60k) - so that will be a pill to swallow at the garage, but I'm hoping when they check it over it doesn't have much else wrong.

[JohnW]

Sounds like a very good choice. Have you any photos?

Alpina recommends 10W60 grade oil for these, and it’s not cheap. Perhaps to protect the timing chain? Even though BMW switched theirs to 5W30 later in production. The newer or replacement chains had the added oil journals that in theory kept the chains and tensioners oiled up better.

I had both the 123d and D3 Biturbo with the same engine and zero issues from either engine, so perhaps the risks are over exaggerated. The only failing I had was alternator on the D3 Biturbo. The 123d was even mapped to around 250bhp and was fantastic around town and both were great tourers too. But it’s only a few that have suffered chain/tensioner wear early if you look at the statistics.

If the D3 Biturbo was a keeper I’d plan at least an annual oil change and a complete timing chain kit swap at around 80k-100k, but only as a precaution.

[Spaaa]

Sounds like a very good choice. Have you any photos?

If the D3 Biturbo was a keeper I’d plan at least an annual oil change and a complete timing chain kit swap at around 80k-100k, but only as a precaution.

It'll get a proper wash at the weekend, i'll get some photos done then.

The car's definitely a keeper, it did the gearbox service and it'll continue getting the oil changes and the chain at 100k.