Alpina’s early history saw it shifting around, looking for an identity. Its first business was making typewriters, and later it attempted to enter the textile industry. The company hit paydirt in 1962 when it built a Weber carburetor to boost the performance of BMW’s 1500. The automotive press swooned, and BMW soon anointed the company with its highest accolade by offering a full factory warranty on cars modified with Alpina’s products. In the ensuing decades, Alpina graduated to altering cars sent to it by BMW, and in 1983, the company gained recognition as an automaker in its own right. BMW purchased Alpina in March of 2022, but the smaller company retains its factory and separate operations. Improved financial support might enable Alpina to expand its repertoire to include classic automobiles. In the meantime, it has a wide variety of performance-enhanced BMWs already on the ground, starting with the 2002. Here on craigslist is a 1995 Alpina B3 sedan, based on BMW’s E36 three-series. The seller is a dealer in Kirkland, Washington, and the price is $26,995. Curvette found this rare vehicle for us – thanks!
In 1995, Alpina would have been altering the 325i to produce its B3 3.0. The engine is BMW’s 3.0-liter M50 cast-iron six-cylinder, modified with lightweight pistons and a higher compression ratio to pump out 250 hp. This car is fitted with the desirable five-speed manual. Gauges should include the full suite of three-series instruments as well as Alpina-specific digital indicators for oil temperature and pressure. No slouch, the B3 sedan can reach sixty from a standstill in just over six seconds. This example shows slightly fewer than 48k miles on the odometer.
The well-bolstered seats are upholstered in cloth, and the steering wheel is a Momo item, graced with Alpina’s center badge. That badge depicts a carburetor on its left, and a crankshaft on its right – a physical portrayal of the company’s historical roots as a manufacturer of performance parts. A plaque on the dashboard shows that this is car number 257, and speaking of the dashboard, it’s hard to miss the massive E36 air vent. While the interior seems to be in decent condition, it could benefit from a thorough cleaning.
The listing is not forthcoming regarding the car’s maintenance or ownership history. I suspect long-term storage was involved at some point, because the distinctive 20-spoke alloy wheels are lightly corroded. Overall, this Alpina could use a little love in the realm of its cosmetics. Since Alpinas are hand-built, none of the models is common, but neither their relative rarity nor the performance enhancements have put these cars out of reach price-wise. This tidy B3 3.2 cabriolet sold for less than $25k in May, and other sales likewise hug that mid-$20k region. What do you think, is this Alpina priced right?
The Alpina treatment is a fantastic addition to any model of BMW.
Good write up
Thanks! Appreciate the compliment.
This Car is from an era when BMW was hitting on all cylinders both stylistically and performance wise. The Alpina models are icing on the cake. The dealer selling this car needs to retrain his detailing crew but it looks like a nice example if you can buy it for $25k or less. Great write up Michelle.
I largely disagree with that styling statement. The good days of bmw styling had been in the days of e-9 to e21. Where some would even argue that it was years earlier. with the bmw 507
1602, 2002
I know the M3 quite well. But not familiar with a B3. In my BMW history being personally connected to the brand from 1976 to 1999. I believe that the styling went down hill in about 2005. In my opinion the rest of the car(s) went down hill (reliability and over technical) in just about the same time. I was a BMW service manager in 1999 and had a “field trip” of high school automotive students come in. In my discussion with them, I warned that they needed electronic/computer skills.. When asked why, I pointed to an early 750i in the shop and explained that the car had 12 different computers. Just to run the drive train it required 4. (One for left side of engine, one for right side of engine, one to make both sides talk to each other and one for the transmission.