By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
BeFirsTrankBeFirsTrank
  • Home
  • Car Reviews
  • Auto Shows
  • Bike Reviews
  • Future
  • New Car
  • Used Car
  • Contact Us !
Reading: BMW Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo Touring (2016) review
Share
Aa
Aa
BeFirsTrankBeFirsTrank
  • Home
  • Car Reviews
  • Auto Shows
  • Bike Reviews
  • Future
  • New Car
  • Used Car
  • Contact Us !
Search
  • Home
  • Car Reviews
  • Auto Shows
  • Bike Reviews
  • Future
  • New Car
  • Used Car
  • Contact Us !
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Car Reviews

BMW Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo Touring (2016) review

srijita
Last updated: 2016/01/28 at 4:34 PM
By srijita 7 Min Read
Share
SHARE

The thinking man's 330d? We test Alpina D3 Touring

Contents
What do Alpina do to the 3-series Touring?Prices and specsThe Alpina design thangSo how does the Alpina D3 drive?Verdict

Alpina might be better known for its high-revving, high-dramapetrol sports saloons and coupes, but the D3 is the ultimate expression of a different kind of athleticism: one with the tracksuit bottoms of estatedom and the marathon-runners’ fuel of choice, diesel. Yes, it’s a derv-slurping 3-series Touringtweaked by Buchloe’s famous Beemer fettlers Alpina.

The D3 first appeared in 2005, when it was a mere 2.0-litre four-pot. As the Bi-Turbo name suggests, the 2016 edition is a rather more serious bit of kit – using BMW’s 3.0-litre straight six and a pair of turbochargers to deliver a heady 345bhp and muscular 516lb ft of torque.

Read on for our full BMW Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo Touring review.And click here to win a hardback book about Alpina’s first 50 years in business.

Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo is the fastest diesel you can buy

What do Alpina do to the 3-series Touring?

There are two parts to the Alpinafication of the cooking Three estate: it’s given a thorough engineering update under the skin and then a discreet bodykit, which can be boosted by two exclusive colours in addition to the regular Munich palette (Alpina blue and green metallics).

Design flourishes include a jutting Alpina-branded spoiler, whose optional retro ‘Deco-Set’ coachline stripes stretch along the flanks and across the doors; a rear spoiler incorporating a quartet of purposeful exhaust pipes; and, naturally, a choice of characteristic turbine-effect alloys, spanning from 19-21in in diameter depending on the size of your wallet and ego.

Inside, the cabin can be upgraded in a variety of fashions, according to taste and budget. The blue-faced dials are an Alpina giveaway, but the most tactile of features is the gorgeous (optional) Alcantara suede steering wheel that’s a pleasure to grip. Pick from a variety of woods, leathers and composites to trim the cabin.

Rear-wheel drive only, despite donor BMW having 4wd

Prices and specs

The price for all this BMW honing? A cool £49,950. Do the maths on that: a regular 2016 model year 330d Touring costs from £39,100 in the UK, the brawnier and more relevant 335d Touring £42,350.

Whether it’s worth the circa £8k step-up will be determined by three factors: your desire for the additional muscle (up 36bhp and 52lb ft over the already-fast 335d), the extra sharpness in handling from a tweaked chassis and how the Alpina makeover makes you feel.

Alpina unveils 50th birthday present: the B5.

Note 'Deco-Set' Alpina coachline stripes along bodywork

The Alpina design thang

It’s an undeniably cool thing, and in our eyes the estate bodystyle only adds to the kerbside appeal. There’s a whole Alpina secret code thing going on – it’s the cognoscenti’s choice of BMW and we love the family look from the purposeful yet subtle aero pack to the chef’s special, cucumber-slicing rims.

Step inside and it’s mostly stock 3-series, lifted by a smattering of Alpina touches such as the ruched leather door cards, a digital boost gauge inserted where the driver’s side air vent should be (don’t bother with this £650 option) and that sublime steering wheel. I’d opt out of the look-at-me stripes and our importer’s S17 NER number plate, but there’s no accounting for taste.

It’s comfy and – being based on the best-selling BMW – has impeccable ergonomics if a sober style, though the sunroof on our example robbed driver’s headroom. Fire up the six-cylinder engine and you’d be hard pushed to know you were in a family estate tuned to hit 170mph.

Usual 3-series qualities remain: not a huge car, but a decent boot

So how does the Alpina D3 drive?

The D3 passes the first-hundred-metres test with flying colours: there’s an oleaginous quality to the drivetrain that points to a well-polished set-up. It rides beautifully on our car’s 19-inch Michelins (Alpina ditch run-flats), with a real precision to the damping and the steering has just the right shade of beefy weight and well-judged accuracy.

Alpina has been in cahoots with ZF to tweak the eight-speed automatic transmission, too, and this is another ace card up the D3’s sleeve: leave it in Auto and you can slushily cruise around like a rep in his 316d, but Sport and Manual modes let you have a bit more fun, with zippier shifts and higher revs.

Just don’t rev it too much, since the straight six does have a tendency to betray its oily roots with a disappointingly rattly rev at higher rpm’s audible from the tasty-looking lightweight Akrapovic quad exhausts. The flipside is that the petrol-fuelled B3 your ears crave cannot hope to match the 37mpg fuel economy CAR averaged in a spirited week with the diesel D3.

All the more impressive when you remember this car can scuttle past 62mph in just 4.6 seconds. Think about that combination of skills for a moment and you can see why this compact estate car – with its 480 litres of luggage gobbling – has such a deep appeal. Shame there’s no 4wd offered at present though, especially at this slippery, slidey time of year.

Verdict

The BMW Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo Touring is a car of subtle nuance and delicacy. We often talk around these parts of the ultimate everyday transport – and I’d argue this particular 3-series estate stakes a greater claim to that title than most. It’s a sure-fire smash-hit for the discerning family enthusiast.

[“source-carmagazine”]

You Might Also Like

CES 2022 Day 1 highlights: Sony confirms PlayStation VR 2, Samsung’s $899 portable projector, and more

Read Car Reviews of the Week:

Honda City Hybrid review, test drive

Tata Curvv electric SUV concept unveiled

Don’t Miss the 10 Best Car Blogs on the Web

TAGGED: BMW Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo Touring (2016), review
srijita January 28, 2016
Share
Previous Article New Porsche 718 Boxster first-ride preview: 7 things we learned from winter testing
Next Article Lexus GS300h Executive Edition (2016) review

Calendar

April 2023
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
« Mar    

Latest Trending News

  • Strategies to Attract Qualified Truck Drivers and Retain Them Long-Term March 28, 2023
  • Rent a McLaren for Your Next Luxury Trip March 2, 2023
  • Qualities of Handicap Vehicles For Sale December 10, 2022
  • Characteristics of Electric Road Bikes October 13, 2022
  • The Advantages of Digital Marketing October 12, 2022
  • U.S. State CIOs Pursuing Faster Digital Transformation July 28, 2022
  • CES 2022 Day 1 highlights: Sony confirms PlayStation VR 2, Samsung’s $899 portable projector, and more July 25, 2022

© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

[mc4wp_form]
Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?