New Member - D3 Advice
New Member - D3 Advice
Hello.
I'm a new member to the forum and thinking about buying a D3. Would like to get some advice from those on here?
I've had an VW R32 Mk5 for nearly 2 years and love the car. Good blend of torque, noise and reasonable feel but since buying it my work circumstances have changed and the daily commute is now 60 miles round trip, rather then a short journey to the station. Needless to say the Golf loves a petrol station.
So with this in mind I need to get something more economical but something that is still going to be a joy to drive and keep me involved and smiling. This landed me with a BMW diesel but has since made me re-think about a D3.
I wanted to get your opinions on whether to go for a slightly older single turbo'd D3 or the Bi Turbo option which would mean financing? And how this might compare against my other shortlist of 335d, 330d, 335d, 123d coupe?
I did think about a D3 first of but then became concerned with the D3 equipment levels. I can live without leather, but xenons (great for my journey on the 50% A & B roads I cover) would be hard to lose. I was also looking for a car with an aux port and Bluetooth as standard which the others often have.
Also would be interested to hear if you have a D3 and have re-mapped and/or added a diff. Advantages / Drawbacks?
Planning on making the call to Synter in Sunningdale (most local for me) this week to sort test driving.
Cheers.
Tokes
I'm a new member to the forum and thinking about buying a D3. Would like to get some advice from those on here?
I've had an VW R32 Mk5 for nearly 2 years and love the car. Good blend of torque, noise and reasonable feel but since buying it my work circumstances have changed and the daily commute is now 60 miles round trip, rather then a short journey to the station. Needless to say the Golf loves a petrol station.
So with this in mind I need to get something more economical but something that is still going to be a joy to drive and keep me involved and smiling. This landed me with a BMW diesel but has since made me re-think about a D3.
I wanted to get your opinions on whether to go for a slightly older single turbo'd D3 or the Bi Turbo option which would mean financing? And how this might compare against my other shortlist of 335d, 330d, 335d, 123d coupe?
I did think about a D3 first of but then became concerned with the D3 equipment levels. I can live without leather, but xenons (great for my journey on the 50% A & B roads I cover) would be hard to lose. I was also looking for a car with an aux port and Bluetooth as standard which the others often have.
Also would be interested to hear if you have a D3 and have re-mapped and/or added a diff. Advantages / Drawbacks?
Planning on making the call to Synter in Sunningdale (most local for me) this week to sort test driving.
Cheers.
Tokes
Tokes,hello & welcome.I suppose it depends on your budget.I can only give you my opinion on the MT D3 as i own # 211 & so far so good.Yes they are low on frills but,i think a proper sports saloon .
There are a few on PH,that forum members have for sale ( may be worth a look ).I would suggest go for the MT & upgrade to your own spec.
Good look & keep us posted
Biffa D3 #211
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There are a few on PH,that forum members have for sale ( may be worth a look ).I would suggest go for the MT & upgrade to your own spec.
Good look & keep us posted
Biffa D3 #211
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D3 Advice
I have owned a D3 MT #284 since 2008 and think it is a fantastic car.
Before buying the D3 I was originally looking at a Golf GTi/R32 and if the sales guy in my local dealer hadn't been a complete *beep*, I would probably have bought the R32. Due to being treated poorly by the dealer I focused my attention back to the D3 and ended buying #284. Whilst I still love the R32, I have absolutely no regrets about buying the D3. Given I now drive a B3 BiTurbo on a daily basis, you would think that I would find the D3 dull/boring in comparison, but when I drive it I still find myself thinking 'what a great car'...
With regards to the 335d, a work colleague of mine has a remapped 335d and it is rapid! I've had the pleasure of doing a lap of the ring in it and we did 9:05 with traffic. So in short the 335d is a faster car, especially when remapped. But don't forget it is not as efficient and I would suggest the D3 handles better.
I haven't really been in the other cars so can't comment. With regards to the D3 BiTurbo, whilst I haven't drive one, I feel it fixes the two very minor faults I would pick with the D3 which is the lack of automatic gearbox and the turbo lag (easily worked round when used to it). I seriously considered buying one but didn't due to the missing climate control (I felt this was ridiculous for a £30k car), less engine fettling (I felt I was being charged more for less 'Alpina stuff') and a poor deal being offered by the dealer. This coupled with my business milage reducing, I decided to stump up the cash and get a B3 BiTurbo.
Equipment wise the D3 has the essentials but as you have identified it isn't brimming with kit. It does have an aux port and Bluetooth is easily fitted (I have a Parrot system hidden in the ash tray). The D3 BiTurbo Lux helps address this, but unfortunately was only released after I bought the B3
In the past I did enquire about the idea of a remap on the D3, but I didn't find anywhere that offered anything other than a 'piggy back' module. To be honest I don't think there is much scope to squeeze much more. Furthermore I believe the engine already outputs more torque than the gearbox is rated for... I believe the D3 BiTurbo has the 335 gearbox and responds much better to a remap.
Lastly I am going to shamelessly plug the fact that I am selling a D3 MT, so if you end up considering a D3 MT give me a shout.
Good Luck in your quest...
Before buying the D3 I was originally looking at a Golf GTi/R32 and if the sales guy in my local dealer hadn't been a complete *beep*, I would probably have bought the R32. Due to being treated poorly by the dealer I focused my attention back to the D3 and ended buying #284. Whilst I still love the R32, I have absolutely no regrets about buying the D3. Given I now drive a B3 BiTurbo on a daily basis, you would think that I would find the D3 dull/boring in comparison, but when I drive it I still find myself thinking 'what a great car'...
With regards to the 335d, a work colleague of mine has a remapped 335d and it is rapid! I've had the pleasure of doing a lap of the ring in it and we did 9:05 with traffic. So in short the 335d is a faster car, especially when remapped. But don't forget it is not as efficient and I would suggest the D3 handles better.
I haven't really been in the other cars so can't comment. With regards to the D3 BiTurbo, whilst I haven't drive one, I feel it fixes the two very minor faults I would pick with the D3 which is the lack of automatic gearbox and the turbo lag (easily worked round when used to it). I seriously considered buying one but didn't due to the missing climate control (I felt this was ridiculous for a £30k car), less engine fettling (I felt I was being charged more for less 'Alpina stuff') and a poor deal being offered by the dealer. This coupled with my business milage reducing, I decided to stump up the cash and get a B3 BiTurbo.
Equipment wise the D3 has the essentials but as you have identified it isn't brimming with kit. It does have an aux port and Bluetooth is easily fitted (I have a Parrot system hidden in the ash tray). The D3 BiTurbo Lux helps address this, but unfortunately was only released after I bought the B3
In the past I did enquire about the idea of a remap on the D3, but I didn't find anywhere that offered anything other than a 'piggy back' module. To be honest I don't think there is much scope to squeeze much more. Furthermore I believe the engine already outputs more torque than the gearbox is rated for... I believe the D3 BiTurbo has the 335 gearbox and responds much better to a remap.
Lastly I am going to shamelessly plug the fact that I am selling a D3 MT, so if you end up considering a D3 MT give me a shout.
Good Luck in your quest...
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- ALPINA
- Posts: 7229
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 11:33 pm
- Location: Pembrokeshire
D3BT. No question. Better ride than Msports by a country mile and to answer the point above by Aiders, absolutely no turbo lag. Revs higher than the D3 and other BMW diesels too. Yes, the manual gearbox is from a 330D, so more capable than the D3 unit. It's rapid too if you want to be; economical with a half-heavy right foot. We don't muck about, and we're in mid-40's mpg, mixed driving (manual box). Latest spec D3BT's (2010 build) have climate, not manual a/c. All D3BT's have rear park sensors, cruise and professional stereo with aux in too and bluetooth; and coupe has xenons if that's important to you. Half leather seats are top-notch, too.
On the 123d coupe, I'm not saying too much as there are happy owners on here . We've had a number of 1 series cars as loans and to test drive and feel it's not built like 'other' BMW's We have friends who've owned them; liked the drive, disliked the lack of 'quality'...they're mostly in 3's now. And it's dear.
BMW finance is too expensive, whichever option they offer you. We financed part of ours with a (cheaper) fixed rate bank loan.
Yeah, we're probably biased 'cos we bought one. We tried a lot of the BMW-based competition. The D3BT blew them away. We looked at VW's (not the R32...the Golf GTD and Scirocco 2.0TSi) and didn't rate the handling...particularly the Scirocco which was simply appalling. And the dealers we spoke to were very off-hand and consequently lost any chance of a sale. We literally left the VW dealer in Newport after our 3rd different Golf GTD test drive, went across the road to Sytner, and the next day went back and bought the D3BT after we test drove it. It was marginally dearer than the loaded GTD we were looking at...and so much better it was ridiculous!
On the 123d coupe, I'm not saying too much as there are happy owners on here . We've had a number of 1 series cars as loans and to test drive and feel it's not built like 'other' BMW's We have friends who've owned them; liked the drive, disliked the lack of 'quality'...they're mostly in 3's now. And it's dear.
BMW finance is too expensive, whichever option they offer you. We financed part of ours with a (cheaper) fixed rate bank loan.
Yeah, we're probably biased 'cos we bought one. We tried a lot of the BMW-based competition. The D3BT blew them away. We looked at VW's (not the R32...the Golf GTD and Scirocco 2.0TSi) and didn't rate the handling...particularly the Scirocco which was simply appalling. And the dealers we spoke to were very off-hand and consequently lost any chance of a sale. We literally left the VW dealer in Newport after our 3rd different Golf GTD test drive, went across the road to Sytner, and the next day went back and bought the D3BT after we test drove it. It was marginally dearer than the loaded GTD we were looking at...and so much better it was ridiculous!
Current:
23MY Porsche Macan GTS in Papaya
23MY Cupra Born V3 77kW in Aurora
Previously loved:
ALPINA: E91 B3SBiturbo #127, E92 B3SBiturbo #285, E90 D3Biturbo #097, E85 Roadster S #168 & variety of 'beige' 4 and 6-cyl BMW lumps.
PORSCHE: Macan S, Cayman 981 S, Cayman 981 GTS
23MY Porsche Macan GTS in Papaya
23MY Cupra Born V3 77kW in Aurora
Previously loved:
ALPINA: E91 B3SBiturbo #127, E92 B3SBiturbo #285, E90 D3Biturbo #097, E85 Roadster S #168 & variety of 'beige' 4 and 6-cyl BMW lumps.
PORSCHE: Macan S, Cayman 981 S, Cayman 981 GTS
I swapped my Audi 2.0t fsi about 2 months ago for a D3 MT #509 with 9k miles and I love it much better car and it handles right (which for me is the most important) does 40+ mpg (sometimes).
It has half leather, climate and aux point which for me is plenty. I am sure there are faster diesels out there but I have not found one that handles better and what's the point of more powers if if does not handle right.
Cannot comment on the D3 BT but I assume it's an improvement but you will be paying for that.
For me there where other reasons for picking the D3 but anyway I looked at it the car made sense. Everyone will think why but I tow a lot and the D3 gave the practicality of the diesel for towing and the fun of alpina (before you ask no not a caravan).
Go for it you will not regret it I haven't.
It has half leather, climate and aux point which for me is plenty. I am sure there are faster diesels out there but I have not found one that handles better and what's the point of more powers if if does not handle right.
Cannot comment on the D3 BT but I assume it's an improvement but you will be paying for that.
For me there where other reasons for picking the D3 but anyway I looked at it the car made sense. Everyone will think why but I tow a lot and the D3 gave the practicality of the diesel for towing and the fun of alpina (before you ask no not a caravan).
Go for it you will not regret it I haven't.
D3 #509
I have had a couple of BMWs previously (120d M Sport and 535D M Sport) and the stand out Alpina feature is the steering feel when driving. I put this down to the combination of wheels and tyres that Alpina fit. I played around alot with the tyres of my previous BM's but never got near the level of detail your fingers receive when driving.
I find my D3BT Alpina is sensitive to alignment/tracking changes and is worth having this checked annually or so.
My car is one of the few that has been mapped and the gains are small.
Good luck in your Alpina search Tokes
I find my D3BT Alpina is sensitive to alignment/tracking changes and is worth having this checked annually or so.
My car is one of the few that has been mapped and the gains are small.
Good luck in your Alpina search Tokes
61 Octavia vRS Estate 170PS 6MT in Candy White
Thanks all for the replies. Lots of good info that I needed.
So now I've got some thinking to do. Excuse ignorance, but I guessing that MT D3 refers to Mk1 single turbo? Or is this both versions but with manual transmission?
Aiders, I'll drop you a PM o where I'm at buying wise. BTW. Did I see you Eversley way this morning in the D3!? It was a 56 plate, black. Too weird for 2 in the Reading area surely.
What I really keen on Dubbers comment about steering feel. It's the one area I sometimes feel a little disappointed with the 32.
Last one, Insurance wise I've read a bit on this forum about trackers required. What's the general opinion about ease of getting insurance.
Thanks again for the welcome.
Tokes.
So now I've got some thinking to do. Excuse ignorance, but I guessing that MT D3 refers to Mk1 single turbo? Or is this both versions but with manual transmission?
Aiders, I'll drop you a PM o where I'm at buying wise. BTW. Did I see you Eversley way this morning in the D3!? It was a 56 plate, black. Too weird for 2 in the Reading area surely.
What I really keen on Dubbers comment about steering feel. It's the one area I sometimes feel a little disappointed with the 32.
Last one, Insurance wise I've read a bit on this forum about trackers required. What's the general opinion about ease of getting insurance.
Thanks again for the welcome.
Tokes.
-
- ALPINA
- Posts: 7229
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 11:33 pm
- Location: Pembrokeshire
D3MT - single turbo, non current version. Pre-LCI.Tokes wrote:So now I've got some thinking to do. Excuse ignorance, but I guessing that MT D3 refers to Mk1 single turbo? Or is this both versions but with manual transmission?
Last one, Insurance wise I've read a bit on this forum about trackers required. What's the general opinion about ease of getting insurance.
Insurance availability and tracker requirements vary. BMW insurance (direct line) flatly demands one, as do many others. Other insurers offer no discount nor demand one (we're with Axa - they don't demand or discount). It may also depend where you live and intend keeping it.
Current:
23MY Porsche Macan GTS in Papaya
23MY Cupra Born V3 77kW in Aurora
Previously loved:
ALPINA: E91 B3SBiturbo #127, E92 B3SBiturbo #285, E90 D3Biturbo #097, E85 Roadster S #168 & variety of 'beige' 4 and 6-cyl BMW lumps.
PORSCHE: Macan S, Cayman 981 S, Cayman 981 GTS
23MY Porsche Macan GTS in Papaya
23MY Cupra Born V3 77kW in Aurora
Previously loved:
ALPINA: E91 B3SBiturbo #127, E92 B3SBiturbo #285, E90 D3Biturbo #097, E85 Roadster S #168 & variety of 'beige' 4 and 6-cyl BMW lumps.
PORSCHE: Macan S, Cayman 981 S, Cayman 981 GTS
Well the other chaps have covered most things....
I've had 3 previous E90/92's before my current D3 BT, and without question it is the best handling of them all. My last 320d coupe went very well with its remap, but the Alpina is soooo much more special.
In fact that's the one thing that hasn't been covered.....any other BMW is just that, "another BMW". An Alpina is a big step up in "feel good" factor, particularly if you are an enthusiast.
You wouldn't believe the amount of positive feedback you get from other people.....a BIG difference to your average Beemer!!!
I've had 3 previous E90/92's before my current D3 BT, and without question it is the best handling of them all. My last 320d coupe went very well with its remap, but the Alpina is soooo much more special.
In fact that's the one thing that hasn't been covered.....any other BMW is just that, "another BMW". An Alpina is a big step up in "feel good" factor, particularly if you are an enthusiast.
You wouldn't believe the amount of positive feedback you get from other people.....a BIG difference to your average Beemer!!!
Current
Merc C250CDi Sport Plus Est
Previous
- D3 BT Saloon #216
- E92 320d MSport
- E92 330i MSport (courtesy of BMW UK)
- E92 320i MSport
- E90 320d SE
Merc C250CDi Sport Plus Est
Previous
- D3 BT Saloon #216
- E92 320d MSport
- E92 330i MSport (courtesy of BMW UK)
- E92 320i MSport
- E90 320d SE
Quite possibly. I would have been driving from Reading to Frimley this morning and would probably have passed near Eversley around 08:00-08:15ish... Small worldTokes wrote:Aiders, I'll drop you a PM o where I'm at buying wise. BTW. Did I see you Eversley way this morning in the D3!? It was a 56 plate, black. Too weird for 2 in the Reading area surely.Tokes.