[dxb335d]

servotronic?

[Geoffo]

congrats..looks the biz...

[AlanQS]

Carl, servotronic is the system which adjusts the level of electric power steering assistance - steering gets lighter at lower speeds and vice versa and is a definite nice to have and has just been made an option at £170 under the BMW specification trimming discussed elsewhere on the forums.

It doesn't apply to 335s because they have hydraulic power steering.

[henwoodl]

Originally Posted by AlanQS

Well, given that he - and all Alpina owners are stung for climate control, if you spec up a 320d m-sport to the OP's specification you arrive at about £38k, list.

Now let's see what you get for the extra £2k...

A twin turbo 2.0 litre diesel, not a single one, with uprated pistons and a few other mechanical changes. How much would that cost you to uprate - VISA won't help so it must be priceless.

A better suspension system than the standard BMW choices and NO run-flats.

19" wheels which are pretty special whether they are your personal taste or not, instead of the un-interesting 18" wheels (you can't get 19" as standard on the m-sport saloon.)

A better body kit than the m-sport offers - no dull grey plastic diffusers.

It's an Alpina! - a real one. Therefore there are Alpina "markers" inside and outside the car.

I haven't included the cost of servotronic or partial electric seats. If the OP has them then the m-sport becomes more expensive still.

Would I have a "similar" spec m-sport or this Alpina when the difference in price is a few thou? The m-sport wouldn't get a look in.

I don't doubt the value of the D3 versus the 320d M Sport one little bit!

But my point was that you could have the same style/comfort and an extra 150bhp (!) from a B3 for similar money.

Obviously there is the question of fuel prices - I average 26mpg, so I guess a D3 would return almost double that?

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by AlanQS

Carl, servotronic is the system which adjusts the level of electric power steering assistance - steering gets lighter at lower speeds and vice versa and is a definite nice to have and has just been made an option at £170 under the BMW specification trimming discussed elsewhere on the forums.

It doesn't apply to 335s because they have hydraulic power steering.

Cheers Al.

[AlanQS]

Fair enough. Changing the tack, it's funny how most of us associate extra cost with engine size. This is a historical thing going back years where the bigger the engine, the better equipped the cars were. Therefore, if you wanted all the comfort, convenience, and equipment, you also had to buy a large engine as well.

For years, I've decried the fact that you can't (mostly) get a quality car with a modest engine but BMW do, at least semi address this issue with their cars.

When you can stick going on £20,000 of options on a car, the actual difference in cost of the drive train is a fraction of the possible options list. What is the difference between a 335d and a D3? The engine has an extra 2 cylinders so a larger casting, extra components, larger drive components but the point is that the actual cost difference is probably about £2,000.

To justify the extra cost of the larger engines, BMW supply some of the options for smaller engined cars, as standard - like sports seats, electric with memory, metallic paint, lowered suspension, larger wheels and so on but all the expensive items are options to all the cars and speccing a substantial Individual car leaves only about £3k difference between a 320d and a 335i for example - a 6% differential in price.

We all exhibit this trait to some extent - bigger engined car = better car but it is only in performance - the difference being unusable if you wish to remain reasonably legal.

My car looks identical to Carl's for example (apart from body colour obviously) and only the extra exhaust at the back gives the game away. There's no sign inside that it is faster/better/more desirable either.


Before I ramble away totally, there is no real reason why a smaller engined car should be significantly cheaper than a larger engined one and the other point made that, for the money spent on the small engined car, you could have bought an older but faster car which contains the assumption that anyone in their right mind would not consider that a fast car was enough, but that a very fast car had to be obtained.

[MIKEYBMW1]

Ref the Navara special offer direct from Nissan had to wait 2 months for it but absolute bargain they are now back upto £23k

Has everything that my beema has inc heated electric leather seats, electric windows all round, electric sunroof, dual climate/air con bluetooth ,cruise, privacy glass and loads more , I have to say that I am really pleased with it and just ordered some 22" rims to pimp it up a bit already got the roll bars front and rear and the Armadillo roll and lock cover.

[Steve A]

Originally Posted by Steve A

http://www.thealpinaregister.com/pho...urbo/saloon/31

this is his car 40k!!!!!! nutball of the highest order.

i love alpinas. just spent last saturday with the guys on a wet handling day but 40k for a 20l diesel is too much no matter what the comparison.

its a great car but you can get a 58 plate b5s for 43k one sold last week and they are 75k new.

but each too there are and congrats it is a very nice car after all.

[harpalb]

Love this post for two reasons, one the discussion of cost and the other of personal taste.

The fact is that I didnt want a car that everyone else has, so will cost me no matter what. Put all the costs of aftermarket options such as bodykit, wheels, suspension and the bmw performance steering wheel would mean spending £ks to bring up to Alpina standard.

For 37k you can get a very good M3, or in my opinion the better the choice, the B3. Running costs are much higher, day to day. I cant justify the expense in petrol day to day, i'm not talking about petrol v diesel debate on running costs, but what is going out of my pocket per week. I run a ML420 CDI, D3 Biturbo and a C220 CDI. Having another car I cant afford to run simple as. Now if I needed a family car the B5 or M5 would have it, but I dont....this is my car to and from work and long motorway cruises. Not a barge on these twisty tight yorkshire roads.

If I was spending cash then I need shooting.

Its on a pcp, costing me the same as my existing D3 monoturbo. I dont even pay the full amount myself due to personal circumstances. So money here isnt an issue. Its about seeing something that I like and use everyday and I bought it. If I was on a strict budget, second hand 335i would do the job, remap and BBS wheels would be nice.

Actually a 911 would be better!!!

Real world I can only use 60% of the cars ability, so why have all the power of an M when cant use it.

Navara? Bargain mate

Pics? Car is filthy already, need a nice dry day to clean and take pics in these here hills of last of the summer wine country

Sat nav? Bloody brilliant system, has its flaws and the HDD is awesome. Cant get my usb stick to work though! Will have full write up and pics as soon as I can.

Harp

[harpalb]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

HEHE, congrats mate, glad you finally picked her up, I know you were very excited, i was very excited for you

Thanks Carlos!!

[roofer]

you can get a 58 plate b5s for 43k one sold last week and they are 75k new.

Where's that then?

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by harpalb

Love this post for two reasons, one the discussion of cost and the other of personal taste.

The fact is that I didnt want a car that everyone else has, so will cost me no matter what. Put all the costs of aftermarket options such as bodykit, wheels, suspension and the bmw performance steering wheel would mean spending £ks to bring up to Alpina standard.

For 37k you can get a very good M3, or in my opinion the better the choice, the B3. Running costs are much higher, day to day. I cant justify the expense in petrol day to day, i'm not talking about petrol v diesel debate on running costs, but what is going out of my pocket per week. I run a ML420 CDI, D3 Biturbo and a C220 CDI. Having another car I cant afford to run simple as. Now if I needed a family car the B5 or M5 would have it, but I dont....this is my car to and from work and long motorway cruises. Not a barge on these twisty tight yorkshire roads.

If I was spending cash then I need shooting.

Its on a pcp, costing me the same as my existing D3 monoturbo. I dont even pay the full amount myself due to personal circumstances. So money here isnt an issue. Its about seeing something that I like and use everyday and I bought it. If I was on a strict budget, second hand 335i would do the job, remap and BBS wheels would be nice.

Actually a 911 would be better!!!

Real world I can only use 60% of the cars ability, so why have all the power of an M when cant use it.

Navara? Bargain mate

Pics? Car is filthy already, need a nice dry day to clean and take pics in these here hills of last of the summer wine country

Sat nav? Bloody brilliant system, has its flaws and the HDD is awesome. Cant get my usb stick to work though! Will have full write up and pics as soon as I can.

Harp

That's what I like........a good honest post, no messing about, say it how it is.

[harpalb]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

That's what I like........a good honest post, no messing about, say it how it is.

Straight talking yorkshire folk!! LOL

[AlanQS]

Why not come along to the northern meet in April? See RockIt's sticky to sign up.

[Steve A]

Originally Posted by harpalb

Love this post for two reasons, one the discussion of cost and the other of personal taste.

The fact is that I didnt want a car that everyone else has, so will cost me no matter what. Put all the costs of aftermarket options such as bodykit, wheels, suspension and the bmw performance steering wheel would mean spending £ks to bring up to Alpina standard.

For 37k you can get a very good M3, or in my opinion the better the choice, the B3. Running costs are much higher, day to day. I cant justify the expense in petrol day to day, i'm not talking about petrol v diesel debate on running costs, but what is going out of my pocket per week. I run a ML420 CDI, D3 Biturbo and a C220 CDI. Having another car I cant afford to run simple as. Now if I needed a family car the B5 or M5 would have it, but I dont....this is my car to and from work and long motorway cruises. Not a barge on these twisty tight yorkshire roads.

If I was spending cash then I need shooting.

Its on a pcp, costing me the same as my existing D3 monoturbo. I dont even pay the full amount myself due to personal circumstances. So money here isnt an issue. Its about seeing something that I like and use everyday and I bought it. If I was on a strict budget, second hand 335i would do the job, remap and BBS wheels would be nice.

Actually a 911 would be better!!!

Real world I can only use 60% of the cars ability, so why have all the power of an M when cant use it.

Navara? Bargain mate

Pics? Car is filthy already, need a nice dry day to clean and take pics in these here hills of last of the summer wine country

Sat nav? Bloody brilliant system, has its flaws and the HDD is awesome. Cant get my usb stick to work though! Will have full write up and pics as soon as I can.

Harp

fair play Harp, exclusive and cheap Where can i get one

Originally Posted by roofer

Where's that then?

sytner sold it, i nearly bought it, but hesitated too long and someone else did the deal, i was well pissed off i missed it.

[henwoodl]

Originally Posted by harpalb

Love this post for two reasons, one the discussion of cost and the other of personal taste.

The fact is that I didnt want a car that everyone else has, so will cost me no matter what. Put all the costs of aftermarket options such as bodykit, wheels, suspension and the bmw performance steering wheel would mean spending £ks to bring up to Alpina standard.

For 37k you can get a very good M3, or in my opinion the better the choice, the B3. Running costs are much higher, day to day. I cant justify the expense in petrol day to day, i'm not talking about petrol v diesel debate on running costs, but what is going out of my pocket per week. I run a ML420 CDI, D3 Biturbo and a C220 CDI. Having another car I cant afford to run simple as. Now if I needed a family car the B5 or M5 would have it, but I dont....this is my car to and from work and long motorway cruises. Not a barge on these twisty tight yorkshire roads.

If I was spending cash then I need shooting.

Its on a pcp, costing me the same as my existing D3 monoturbo. I dont even pay the full amount myself due to personal circumstances. So money here isnt an issue. Its about seeing something that I like and use everyday and I bought it. If I was on a strict budget, second hand 335i would do the job, remap and BBS wheels would be nice.

Actually a 911 would be better!!!

Real world I can only use 60% of the cars ability, so why have all the power of an M when cant use it.

Navara? Bargain mate

Pics? Car is filthy already, need a nice dry day to clean and take pics in these here hills of last of the summer wine country

Sat nav? Bloody brilliant system, has its flaws and the HDD is awesome. Cant get my usb stick to work though! Will have full write up and pics as soon as I can.

Harp

Good argument Harp, sounds like you've got a stunning car without having to worry about the initial outlay

Looking forward to some pics...

I disagree with your point about getting only 60% use out of an M car though - I'd say I get 100% of the ability out of my B3. I'm talking about 0-70mph, and lots of 30mph-60mph or 40mph-60mph (in 2 secs!) overtaking. Driving a winding country road at speed, safely and within speed limits, is still pure joy. The engine note, gearbox, handling, acceleration... all fantastic. And I'm sure yours will provide you with the same thrill.

However you're right when referring to pure speed - even at Santa Pod I only used about 60% of the top speed, and I'm too much of a wuss to mess with much more than that!! I have visions of a tyre blow out and rally style barrel rolls....

[squeezebm]

Originally Posted by harpalb

Love this post for two reasons, one the discussion of cost and the other of personal taste.

The fact is that I didnt want a car that everyone else has, so will cost me no matter what. Put all the costs of aftermarket options such as bodykit, wheels, suspension and the bmw performance steering wheel would mean spending £ks to bring up to Alpina standard.

For 37k you can get a very good M3, or in my opinion the better the choice, the B3. Running costs are much higher, day to day. I cant justify the expense in petrol day to day, i'm not talking about petrol v diesel debate on running costs, but what is going out of my pocket per week. I run a ML420 CDI, D3 Biturbo and a C220 CDI. Having another car I cant afford to run simple as. Now if I needed a family car the B5 or M5 would have it, but I dont....this is my car to and from work and long motorway cruises. Not a barge on these twisty tight yorkshire roads.

If I was spending cash then I need shooting.

Its on a pcp, costing me the same as my existing D3 monoturbo. I dont even pay the full amount myself due to personal circumstances. So money here isnt an issue. Its about seeing something that I like and use everyday and I bought it. If I was on a strict budget, second hand 335i would do the job, remap and BBS wheels would be nice.

Actually a 911 would be better!!!

Real world I can only use 60% of the cars ability, so why have all the power of an M when cant use it.

Navara? Bargain mate

Pics? Car is filthy already, need a nice dry day to clean and take pics in these here hills of last of the summer wine country

Sat nav? Bloody brilliant system, has its flaws and the HDD is awesome. Cant get my usb stick to work though! Will have full write up and pics as soon as I can.

Harp

Now shut up you Knob eds

[scotgc]

Lovely looking car bit it goes !