Alpina B3.3 would be my perfect car....

richard300 · Post by **richard300** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 6:04 pm

..... If only i had more time in the UK i reckon a (pre facelift) Alpina B3.3 would be my perfect car.

I will explain why...

I have an Alpina B10 3.2 Touring and until 2 days ago i had an E46 330i Sport 'steptronic'.

And i found myself (having taken the deposit on the 330i) questioning my decision.....

Objectively the E46 was just as fast (or felt just as fast) in everyday situations, it was better equipped, newer, had less mileage, was cheaper, had my favorable automatic transmission and was a practical, functional, very well proportioned car....

However, non of that mattered as subjectively the Alpina just felt more special....

I don't have enough time in the UK to sell the B10 and look for a B3.3 sport-tronic, but if i did, then i just know it would be the 'perfect car' i envy all you B3.3 owners!!!

Pad · Post by **Pad** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 6:18 pm

Not quite perfect... what you need is a prefacelift B3S

richard300 · Post by **richard300** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 7:06 pm

Pad wrote:Not quite perfect... what you need is a prefacelift B3S

Ah, they made them pre-facelift? - In that case you are are absolutely right, a B3s would pip the B3.3 in the 'perfect car' stakes.

.... I just cant get on with the front end of the facelift E46.

rc944 · Post by **rc944** » Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:23 pm

you need a facelift b3s - no vested interest of course

ali · Post by **ali** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:04 am

I understand your thinking.
I ran my 330i sport Touring alongside my B3 3.3 Touring for a year
It took me that long to choose between them. The 330i had a manual box too.
Eventually the B3 won me over and the 330i was sold.
It really is the perfect all round car for me

MickB3 · Post by **MickB3** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 9:58 am

Yeah I would go B3s as well, that way you can spend your time worrying about the head gasket

asp · Post by **asp** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 2:59 pm

It's been pretty perfect for me, especially as a touring. I waited a few years for the timing and right car to come up but it was worth it.

I'm also in the same camp with regards pre-facelift/facelift looks on the saloon and touring, I like the coupe and convertible facelifts though. It's good we all prefer different things, funny how it's usually the ones we've bought

drewjak · Post by **drewjak** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 8:35 pm

ali-bumble wrote:I understand your thinking.
I ran my 330i sport Touring alongside my B3 3.3 Touring for a year
It took me that long to choose between them. The 330i had a manual box too.
Eventually the B3 won me over and the 330i was sold.
It really is the perfect all round car for me

Out of interest how much performance difference is there between the 330 and the B3, was it quite noticeable ?

ali · Post by **ali** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:00 pm

drewjak wrote:
Out of interest how much performance difference is there between the 330 and the B3, was it quite noticeable ?

Plenty

The Alpina has so much pace but with grace too. its quicker than the 330i but passengers don't notice.
Doing 100mph in the Alpina (where circumstances permit) feels like 80mph in the 330i.
The 330i always had to work the gearbox and ring its neck to get the most out of it.
The Alpina does it in such effortless fashion
Running 19" Dynamics on the Alpina and had 18" MV1's on the 330i and the Alpina ride is so much better, more compliant
Ultimately I would still prefer to have a manual box in the B3 if it were my only car, Having fitted the M3 SMG paddleshift wheel makes for better shifting IMVHO works better on twist B and A roads than the buttons do but still not as good as a proper manual box. I could get the back end out exactly when I wanted to with the 330i but so much harder to do with the Alpina
That was the real reason I kept them both together for so long as it took me a year to convince myself that I could live with the switchtronic.
The performance difference had me smitten on the initial test drive!!!!

simon13 · Post by **simon13** » Wed Nov 20, 2013 11:32 pm

As much as i love the switch tronic and its a great system i'm a manual man at heart

The best thing i ever did was convert my e36 B3 to 6 speed manual. Its a grunty old thing My wife likes the auto too much on the e46 B3s we have that its staying as is for now as i've just bought a new torque converter for it. If i got a 3.3 cheap with a mechanical problem say like a auto gearbox fault i'd be tempted!

I've always been told the 3.3 wasn't that much of a step up from a 330? certainly my old 328 e36 with the famous M50 inlet manifold and alpina exhuast system would out drag an 330! just.

The B3s would be a weapon as a manual, the 0-60 times are leagues apart as they are on the e36 versions. The LHD markets had the choice of manual it baffles me why some nob made the auto only call.

ali · Post by **ali** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 12:14 am

In my old E30 I had the M52 b2.8 with M50 manifold and BBTB.
It was good for about 230 bhp, same as the 330i output but it was a much lighter car.
E36 a good chunk lighter than the E46 so not much of a surprise it could outdrag the 330i
S50B32 going in my E30 Tourer so that will be how I get my manual fix but it's going to take a while

jonny320is · Post by **jonny320is** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 3:19 pm

simon13 wrote:The B3s would be a weapon as a manual, the 0-60 times are leagues apart as they are on the e36 versions. The LHD markets had the choice of manual it baffles me why some nob made the auto only call.

I concur, If the autobox ever fails on my car I am sorely tempted to swap out for the 6 speed manual with the M3 Diff. That would make it the perfect car for me.
The switchtronic is good for what it is but I miss the interaction and the crispness of the throttle response a manual gives you.