Cheap and Cheerful: 2007 Alpina D3

I know this segment is called ‘Cheap and Cheerful’, and there’s nothing neither cheap nor cheerful about maintaining an old Alpina (which is essentially a BMW), but hear me out for a second before jumping to conclusions.

While scrolling through the classifieds on our website, searching for interesting things to write about, I stumbled upon this. It’s a thirteen-year-old Alpina D3 with 180,000 miles on the clock, but before you call me a lunatic for even suggesting it, contemplate this: it’s a mere £3,450.

Given how extremely valuable Alpinas seem to be, especially the ones in good nick, this car is worth well over £4k if you were to part it out and sell the parts alone. What’s more, I don’t think the mileage is always indicative of whether a car is in good shape. This car is a perfect example of that. It’s had 2 previous owners, indicating it’s been well taken care of despite being used quite often.

The fact that it’s got such high mileage means it was mostly used on the motorways, so it’s never had to sit through traffic too much. Plus, it’s had a recent MOT, as well as a brand-new clutch and flywheel install. As per the advert, the bodywork is average, indicating it has a few cuts and bruises, but which decade-old car doesn’t?

I honestly believe this is one of the best cars currently advertised on our website, and the high miles don’t scare me off one bit.

Exterior
As mentioned, the body has a few scrapes and bumps, as evident on some of the photos, but it’s nothing too serious. The car seems to be in decent condition, as I can’t see any major red flags or signs pointing to potential issues.

The car doesn’t have any sunburns or discolourations on the bonnet or the roof, which is where they usually manifest themselves. The side skirt seems to be in good shape, as is the front bumper, which is always a good sign as it means the owner has been mindful of how low his car is.

I love the way this generation of Alpinas look. There’s something about the D3 that just makes it much more appealing than a regular ,BMW 3 Series to me. It might be the aggressive body kit which looks mega, or those bespoke Alpina wheels, but I reckon this lovely deep blue has something to do with it as well.

You can always tell an Alpina from a regular BMW, can’t you? I love how instantly recognizable they are, despite the fact that they’re based on some of the most mainstream and mass-produced cars in the world.

An Alpina should never be overstated or too flashy. This isn’t a Brabus or an ABT Audi. Alpinas are all about classy understatement with a healthy dose of aggression, which this D3 nails beautifully. Based on looks alone, I reckon this car is worth well over £8k, or at least that’s what everyone else will assume you paid for it.

Interior
Inside, Alpinas are practically identical to their BMW counterparts, minus a few features which help them stand out. This particular car has the blue instrument cluster (as all Alpinas do), different Alpina seats, and an Alpina emblem on its steering wheel.

The steering wheel is a regular 3-Series steering wheel and not the M-Sport one, but I find this one to be more manageable as it’s less chunky and wide. This is a manual car, so it gets a leather gear stick in the middle, and the pedals have been left untouched.

There’s not much more to say really. The Alpina D3 is just as comfortable and just as roomy as a regular 3-Series, with the exception of having slightly different seats. Based on the pictures, the cabin looks in remarkably good condition, despite the car’s age. The steering wheel has some scratching, but that’s to be expected.

On the whole, this car looks like it’s been taken care of all its life.

Engine and Performance
The D3 is based on a regular 320d, so it uses the same M47 four-cylinder turbocharged engine as the standard car. Because Alpina has tinkered with it though, it now develops 200 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque (420 Nm). On the road, the D3 feels adequately quick enough for any occasion. It’ll hit 62 mph in 7.4 seconds and top out at 147 mph.

What’s really impressive is the in-gear acceleration though. Because this is a manual car, you can shift down yourself, avoiding the hassle of having to deal with an older-style automatic gearbox. At around 2,000 rpm, the turbo starts to kick in heavily and you feel a lump of torque going through those rear wheels and into the tarmac.

Overtaking feels effortless, at any gear, at any speed. That’s the thing with quick diesels: they never sound impressive on paper, but they feel much more potent in the real world. Because it’s based on a 3-Series, the D3 has a sweet chassis too. It feels responsive and light on its feet, with steering that’s communicative and accurate.

You can feel that it’s rear-wheel-driven because you’re getting pushed along rather than pulled forwards. The suspension feels plush too, but body roll is controlled. The D3 was built with comfort in mind, but it’s definitely not afraid of a corner as well.

Model: Alpina D3
Year: 2007
Trim: Full-spec
Mileage: 180,000
Price: £3,450

Conclusion
As I said before, I think that around £3.5k is extremely reasonable for used BMW Alpina D3 cars for sale. Don’t let the high mileage put you off, because this is an excellent purchase. It looks like a car that’s been taken care of which will serve you for many years to come.

DesperateSeller.co.uk rating: 8 out of 10