In-depth reviews

Alpina D3 saloon

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30 Jul 2013

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Carbuyer Rating

3.3 out of 5

Owners Rating

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Pros

Great mix of performance and fuel economy
Rarer than a normal 3 Series
Can be serviced at any BMW dealer

Cons

Similar price to a 330d
Having to explain what an Alpina is
Road noise from big wheels and tyres

The Alpina D3 saloon is an intriguing prospect. German firm Alpina takes a standard BMW 3 Series, adds a tuned version of the 2.0-litre twin-turbodiesel engine from the 123d hatchback, changes the suspension and bodywork and creates a performance saloon that offers rapid acceleration, but with fuel economy of more than 50mpg. The updates are subtle, though, so only people who are in the know will recognise this souped-up 3 Series for what it really is - one of the best performance diesels you can buy.

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Richard Ingram

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.