Humble Pie
Humble Pie
I'm going to eat a big chunk of humble pie here as I openly admit to being a bit snobby about the E9X D3 not being a "proper" Alpina.
Freshly back from an 1800 mile trip around the UK in the D3 Biturbo Touring and how wrong I was.
What a truly capable car.
4 adults and faaaaaaar to much luggarge the wee 4 banger soot chucker coped more than admirably.
The autobox suits the car so much better than the manual does.
Averaged just shy of 50mpg for the whole trip and sitting on the motorways between 50 and 80 most of the time.
I've always had 6 pot cars and how refreshing it is to feel the lighter front end turn in and grip and the perfectly balance chassis follow suit.
My car has the benefit of HSD coilovers all round and M3 control arms on the front.
On the bendy twist country lanes of Devon and Cornwall it was just so much fun and it wasn't really that much slower than my E46 B3 annd the way it carries it's speed once rolling is great.
Looks like I'll hold onto it a bit longer than anticipated as the reason I got it was I needed another family wagon while my E46 was going to go for paint but now I can't find a bodyshop willing to take the B3 in until next summer !!!
If anyone kows of a decent paint shop in Scotland do let me know.
Meanwhile I'll enjoy my humble pie........
Freshly back from an 1800 mile trip around the UK in the D3 Biturbo Touring and how wrong I was.
What a truly capable car.
4 adults and faaaaaaar to much luggarge the wee 4 banger soot chucker coped more than admirably.
The autobox suits the car so much better than the manual does.
Averaged just shy of 50mpg for the whole trip and sitting on the motorways between 50 and 80 most of the time.
I've always had 6 pot cars and how refreshing it is to feel the lighter front end turn in and grip and the perfectly balance chassis follow suit.
My car has the benefit of HSD coilovers all round and M3 control arms on the front.
On the bendy twist country lanes of Devon and Cornwall it was just so much fun and it wasn't really that much slower than my E46 B3 annd the way it carries it's speed once rolling is great.
Looks like I'll hold onto it a bit longer than anticipated as the reason I got it was I needed another family wagon while my E46 was going to go for paint but now I can't find a bodyshop willing to take the B3 in until next summer !!!
If anyone kows of a decent paint shop in Scotland do let me know.
Meanwhile I'll enjoy my humble pie........
B3 3.3 Coupe #090
D3 2.0 Biturbo Touring #098
D3 2.0 Biturbo Touring #098
Re: Humble Pie
Agree with your thoughts about the lighter front end of 4 pot D3 . It’s something I do miss on my f32 D4.
Re: Humble Pie
Doesn’t t surprise me, look at the bhp, it is about what my old E28 M535i used to kick out and that felt quick!
D5 F11 Touring #107
B8 Touring #21 SOLD - but regretted
B8 Touring #21 SOLD - but regretted
Re: Humble Pie
I enjoyed my D3 BiTurbo, much the same as the 123d coupe I owned before, it was the timing chain issue that put me off keeping them, but I would love a D3 as a daily but vastly short of finances mainly due to the current global situation.
Not as ballistic as the current crop of probably the last fossil fuelled cars but the style of the E90/1/2/3 range fits me like a glove.
I’ll probably keep one right up to me hanging up my driving gloves if I can.
Not as ballistic as the current crop of probably the last fossil fuelled cars but the style of the E90/1/2/3 range fits me like a glove.
I’ll probably keep one right up to me hanging up my driving gloves if I can.
JohnW
2008 B3 BiTurbo Coupe #161
Previous: 2011 D3 BiTurbo Saloon #373, 2014 F30 320iX M Saloon, 2009 M3 DCT Coupe, 2008 B3 BiTurbo Coupe #074, 2009 E82 123d Coupe, 2006 E92 325i Coupe, 2002 E46 325iSE Coupe, 1998 E36 318iSE Saloon
2008 B3 BiTurbo Coupe #161
Previous: 2011 D3 BiTurbo Saloon #373, 2014 F30 320iX M Saloon, 2009 M3 DCT Coupe, 2008 B3 BiTurbo Coupe #074, 2009 E82 123d Coupe, 2006 E92 325i Coupe, 2002 E46 325iSE Coupe, 1998 E36 318iSE Saloon
Re: Humble Pie
Happy to hear you’re bonding with it Ali. They really are a great package.
Roy Allan
F31 D3 Biturbo #066
D3 BT Coupe #164 (sold)
Suzuki SV 650s
F31 D3 Biturbo #066
D3 BT Coupe #164 (sold)
Suzuki SV 650s
Re: Humble Pie
Spot on comments about these fantastic cars. The balance of the 4-pot chassis is what makes it a far superior steer than the 6-pot engines in the same chassis. Alpina got the mix amazingly well balanced. And who needs ballistic? Quick in this day and age is sufficient for safe egress and overtake potential. And yes, I do have ballistic in the garage but my right foot has been balanced and lightened to ensure it never will provoke full potential of such machines.
Cheers,
Bobbly
Re: Humble Pie
How do these sound when compared to the equivalent 6 cylinder BMW diesel?
Whilst no diesel is ever going to sound amazing, the 6s have a nice sound of their own and are, in my experience, smooth and refined whereas my experience of the normal BMW 4s is that they sound very rattly. My neighbour's 2013 X3 sounds dreadful as it goes past for example and the noise it as real odds with her car.
Whilst no diesel is ever going to sound amazing, the 6s have a nice sound of their own and are, in my experience, smooth and refined whereas my experience of the normal BMW 4s is that they sound very rattly. My neighbour's 2013 X3 sounds dreadful as it goes past for example and the noise it as real odds with her car.
Currently:
1992 Alpina B2.5 #026, Lagoon Green with Parchment Cloth
Previously:
2013 BMW M135i 3dr, Mineral Grey with Red Leather
2001 Alpina B3 3.3 Coupe #170, Orient Blue with Grey Leather
2006 Z4MC, Silver Grey with Red Leather
2001 E46 330i Sport, Silver with Red Leather
1997 E36 323i SE Touring, Calypso Red with Grey Cloth
1992 Alpina B2.5 #026, Lagoon Green with Parchment Cloth
Previously:
2013 BMW M135i 3dr, Mineral Grey with Red Leather
2001 Alpina B3 3.3 Coupe #170, Orient Blue with Grey Leather
2006 Z4MC, Silver Grey with Red Leather
2001 E46 330i Sport, Silver with Red Leather
1997 E36 323i SE Touring, Calypso Red with Grey Cloth
Re: Humble Pie
My D3 Biturbo sounds alright, clearly it's no V8 and it does have the Diesel rattle on tick over, but once moving off it has a deep note and when pushing on isn't to offensive. It does have a nice exhaust with no back box so does help a little.James_G wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 4:57 pmHow do these sound when compared to the equivalent 6 cylinder BMW diesel?
Whilst no diesel is ever going to sound amazing, the 6s have a nice sound of their own and are, in my experience, smooth and refined whereas my experience of the normal BMW 4s is that they sound very rattly. My neighbour's 2013 X3 sounds dreadful as it goes past for example and the noise it as real odds with her car.
E90 D3 Biturbo 2009 No114
Black with Gold Decals
Piano black interior trim (looking for trim with Gold inlay, watch this space )
Upgraded Stereo system
Black with Gold Decals
Piano black interior trim (looking for trim with Gold inlay, watch this space )
Upgraded Stereo system
Re: Humble Pie
I went from a D3 BT to an F31 335d. If I recall the 335d had "engine sounds through the speakers" influencing the noise, and for me this combination sounded considerably better than the D3 BT.James_G wrote: ↑Mon Aug 02, 2021 4:57 pmHow do these sound when compared to the equivalent 6 cylinder BMW diesel?
Whilst no diesel is ever going to sound amazing, the 6s have a nice sound of their own and are, in my experience, smooth and refined whereas my experience of the normal BMW 4s is that they sound very rattly. My neighbour's 2013 X3 sounds dreadful as it goes past for example and the noise it as real odds with her car.
But for handling the D3 was much, much better than the 335d
Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription Pro. 2018.
Honda S2000. 2003. SOLD
F31 MSport+ 335D XDrive. 2014. SOLD
No. 097. D3BT Saloon 2010. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
No. 389. D3MT Saloon 2007. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
Honda S2000. 2003. SOLD
F31 MSport+ 335D XDrive. 2014. SOLD
No. 097. D3BT Saloon 2010. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
No. 389. D3MT Saloon 2007. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
Re: Humble Pie
Thanks for this - presumably the exhaust with no back box is an after market addition?
Interesting, thanks Mike. As I recall the F3x 335d models ran SE spec springs and dampers even in MSport guise due to them being 4wd, which might explain some of the handling delta. I heard a number of people went down the ACS springs route to correct this, so presumably the drivetrain can handle the drop so I'm not sure why BMW did what they did.
FWIW where I live there is very little opportunity to exploit any handling benefits, whereas engine sound is there all the time so it's risen up my list of desirable attributes.
Currently:
1992 Alpina B2.5 #026, Lagoon Green with Parchment Cloth
Previously:
2013 BMW M135i 3dr, Mineral Grey with Red Leather
2001 Alpina B3 3.3 Coupe #170, Orient Blue with Grey Leather
2006 Z4MC, Silver Grey with Red Leather
2001 E46 330i Sport, Silver with Red Leather
1997 E36 323i SE Touring, Calypso Red with Grey Cloth
1992 Alpina B2.5 #026, Lagoon Green with Parchment Cloth
Previously:
2013 BMW M135i 3dr, Mineral Grey with Red Leather
2001 Alpina B3 3.3 Coupe #170, Orient Blue with Grey Leather
2006 Z4MC, Silver Grey with Red Leather
2001 E46 330i Sport, Silver with Red Leather
1997 E36 323i SE Touring, Calypso Red with Grey Cloth
Re: Humble Pie
I fitted the ACS Springs - nice improvement.James_G wrote: ↑Tue Aug 03, 2021 3:58 pm
Interesting, thanks Mike. As I recall the F3x 335d models ran SE spec springs and dampers even in MSport guise due to them being 4wd, which might explain some of the handling delta. I heard a number of people went down the ACS springs route to correct this, so presumably the drivetrain can handle the drop so I'm not sure why BMW did what they did.
FWIW where I live there is very little opportunity to exploit any handling benefits, whereas engine sound is there all the time so it's risen up my list of desirable attributes.
By the way, the 335d was very rapid, but I then had it remapped also! To about 350BHP and something like 680 torque if I recall - tremendous acceleration dry or wet! And with the "engine noise" and it's willingness to rev, it was a pleasure to push on too.
Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription Pro. 2018.
Honda S2000. 2003. SOLD
F31 MSport+ 335D XDrive. 2014. SOLD
No. 097. D3BT Saloon 2010. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
No. 389. D3MT Saloon 2007. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
Honda S2000. 2003. SOLD
F31 MSport+ 335D XDrive. 2014. SOLD
No. 097. D3BT Saloon 2010. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
No. 389. D3MT Saloon 2007. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
Re: Humble Pie
My previous steed with winter wheel set up - pre-ACS Springs so huge wheel arch gaps...
Sorry - touch of nostalgia there!
Sorry - touch of nostalgia there!
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Volvo XC90 T6 Inscription Pro. 2018.
Honda S2000. 2003. SOLD
F31 MSport+ 335D XDrive. 2014. SOLD
No. 097. D3BT Saloon 2010. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
No. 389. D3MT Saloon 2007. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
Honda S2000. 2003. SOLD
F31 MSport+ 335D XDrive. 2014. SOLD
No. 097. D3BT Saloon 2010. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
No. 389. D3MT Saloon 2007. Manual. Black Sapphire. SOLD
Re: Humble Pie
That’s the “standard” D3 exhaust
JohnW
2008 B3 BiTurbo Coupe #161
Previous: 2011 D3 BiTurbo Saloon #373, 2014 F30 320iX M Saloon, 2009 M3 DCT Coupe, 2008 B3 BiTurbo Coupe #074, 2009 E82 123d Coupe, 2006 E92 325i Coupe, 2002 E46 325iSE Coupe, 1998 E36 318iSE Saloon
2008 B3 BiTurbo Coupe #161
Previous: 2011 D3 BiTurbo Saloon #373, 2014 F30 320iX M Saloon, 2009 M3 DCT Coupe, 2008 B3 BiTurbo Coupe #074, 2009 E82 123d Coupe, 2006 E92 325i Coupe, 2002 E46 325iSE Coupe, 1998 E36 318iSE Saloon