When I purchased my B3, I was driving an Estate (Touring) company car, but soon after I left that position. IIRC just after the purchasing of my B3 but before I left that company a B3 3.2 Touring came up for sale. If I never purchased my B3 and knew that I was going to leave that company, I think there would have been a good chance that I purchased the Touring, but the interior colour didn’t appeal to me. I think Sport Tourings are hot especially in ALPINA form.968cs wrote:Yes, I am looking for an LHD.
The size of an e36 should be OK, I am always after less weight. Although as I read in other threads, there is not much difference dynamically between the B10 and B3. If the reliability and other things are the same, I could live with the e39 chassis.
The most practical would probably be the Touring of either model, but I am not sure about the looks of the e36 touring.
Until now, I have stayed clear of automatic cars and I don't know too much about switch tronic, but I would say I still prefer the manuals. But being an auto wouldn't be a deal-breaker.
I have seen a couple of D10s on mobile for attractive prices, but pretty high mileage. I have never had a diesel (I am not a big fan of them), either and I don't know if around 130 000 miles isn't too much in a D10, even if it's been properly looked after?
So otherwise, I wouldn't buy a diesel or an auto, but if it's an Alpina, I am ready for compromises .
Since purchasing my B10, I have been trying to think of how I can place into words the differences between the two. There are subtle ones. The B10 is quicker but the B3 feels quicker. At the moment (because my view may change), the B3 has the edge over the sportiness. I think that is because of the shorter wheelbase and with the Switch-Tronic. The Switch-Tronic box is so forgiving, unlike a manual as it hasn’t got the advantages of the kick-down or the F1 buttons IMO.
Unsure if it is because it has a manual box or the extra power of the B10. The B10 engine feels more relax but the B3 is tight. I’m not saying that it is either a good or bad thing that one feels tight or light.
The actual differences are difficult to place into words because they are subtle but there is a differnce.
My B3 has 111k miles and my B10 is approaching 147k miles and both engines feel like they just came out of the factory. Diesels can cope with even higher mileage than a petrol but IIRC early D10’s BT has a fault but most or all had this replaced, I think it was the turbo.
Also someone I know that owns a B3 3.0 but he is not a member (only started to know him because we spotted each other a couple of time and he doesn’t live that far from me). We both spotted each other yesterday and was chatting about LPG. I therefore was talking about Rich’s Prins VSI kit