Hello from a Hopeful Future Owner

[nickaddison]

Hi all

I'm not currently an Alpina owner but with my current car's lease coming up at the end of the summer I'm on the lookout for a D3 Tourer over the coming months...

I owned a Z3 M Coupe for 10 years when I first went self-employed and as a little 2 seater estate that I could get all my kit in (I'm a cameraman and video editor, working coincidentally with BMW quite a lot) it was a great little car but then I needed something a bit more family-friendly and now also have a dog so ended up in an Octavia Estate

It's been a decent car but now I'm hankering after something with similar 'if you know you know' and fun factor as the M Coupe. Ideally I'll be looking for a 2016ish 3 litre bi-turbo if my budget of £15k or so allows, not sure if that's realistic at the moment as there are so few of those cars about...

The only thing that could make me choose a 335D Tourer of similar age is having X-Drive, which might reassure my partner a bit as the M Coupe was a right handful in the wet

[simon13]

you wont get an F31 D3 variant for 15k atm unless you have friends in the trade/main dealers

[Pad]

No sugar coating today then Si?

OP - a diesel engined touring Alp for less than 15k probably only leaves you with an E91 D3 with the 4 cyl engine, on the plus side you’ll have plenty of change as they should be under 10k. If you want 6 cyl then you will probably have to stick to a 335d or 535d

[nickaddison]

Hmm suspected £15k might be a bit ambitious - there's a red 2011 car on Autotrader at the moment at £10,495 but given the engine jump and rarity of the 3 litre I did expect a decent premium. Am I right thinking that there's only about 20 of them anyway?

I'll keep an eye out over the next couple of months but a 335 wouldn't be the end of the world for now

[Thom]

Hi Nick,

I believe there were 64 F31 D3 BiTurbo tourings (2013-2017) delivered to the UK.

The last one I saw for sale last year was around £25k though and that one had been previously accident damaged.

Hope that helps,

Thom

[churchie386]

Hi Nick, I am considering selling my F31 D3. Not sure of what I'll be asking when the time comes, but alas it will be more than £15K. When buying wouldn't be too focused on a specific year (you mentioned 2016), rather buy on condition and history.

[hap]

A very high bespoke spec car and looked after by Alpina aficionado BMR
Be a well sorted car which is known within the Alpina circle not sure price but I’d try and make up the extra if possible

[JohnW]

Have you considered an E9X B3? You’re drawn towards diesels, I’m guessing for economy? The B3 will give you more grunt, however the E91 Alpina owner is very exclusive club and elusive in both D3 and B3 versions.

[nickaddison]

Have you considered an E9X B3? You’re drawn towards diesels, I’m guessing for economy? The B3 will give you more grunt, however the E91 Alpina owner is very exclusive club and elusive in both D3 and B3 versions.

It was for economy but no I'm not actually too wedded to that and will have a look at B3 Tourings as well. I'm only doing about 12,000 miles a year so economy isn't the be all and end all, the M Coupe got me very familiar with the petrol station

[nickaddison]

Hi Nick, I am considering selling my F31 D3. Not sure of what I'll be asking when the time comes, but alas it will be more than £15K. When buying wouldn't be too focused on a specific year (you mentioned 2016), rather buy on condition and history.

Cheers - great sounding car

Not focussed on a specific year, 2016 was just my starting point - spot on advice though to concentrate on condition and history. Mileage doesn't bother me too much either, much more important to see that it's been looked after over those miles