BMW B3 Alpina 3.3

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THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED.

How do you make ‘the ultimate driving machine’ even better? Simple, you hand it over to Alpina.

One of Germany’s top tuning houses, Alpina was founded in 1965 and works so closely with BMW that their precision upgrades are now integrated into BMW’s own production lines, which means the cars can be bought and serviced at BMW dealerships and have the same warranties.

Compared to BMW’s in-house M Division, Alpina vehicles place more emphasis on luxury, higher torque, and more sophisticated automatic transmission. Higher quality materials are used inside along with extra sound proofing, a more aerodynamic bodykit, tuned suspension, 20-spoke alloy wheels, custom exhausts and patented Alpina Blue paintwork.

Based on the standard BMW 330i E46, the Alpina B3 uses BMW's legendary straight-six, but with some internal trickery including lightened pistons, a revised crankshaft and friction-optimised valve gear – one of the world's best engines sweetened still further. The engine purrs at idle yet the needle will slide silkily up to 7,200rpm delivering 285bhp and 267lb/ft in the smoothest manner (compared to 228bhp and 221lb/ft for the standard 330i). Blip the throttle at idle and the exhaust will rasp at you giving a cheeky hint of its alter-ego.

It uses a ZF Switchtronic five-speed automatic gearbox with some special Bosch wizardry to smooth and quicken the changes with manual operation available via buttons behind the steering wheel. All these tweaks add up to an incredibly quiet and relaxed environment and you'll find yourself cruising at highly illegal speeds very easily, 0-60 coming up in just 6.2 seconds with a 165mph top speed on tap where allowed. All this and 25mpg economy too.

This 2002 Alpina B3 has covered some 120,000 miles and comes with a comprehensive service history being last serviced around 2,000 miles ago. Finished in Alpina Blue with a beige hide interior, it has all the usual Alpina features plus built-in sat nav, a premium Hardon Kardon sound system and a brass Alpina build plaque.

MOTd until December and with 6 months' tax, it comes with all its handbooks in the original green leather Alpina wallet plus a good file of bills to show regular maintenance. In the current ownership for two years and with four previous keepers, it has been regularly commuting between London and the Midlands of late and is said to drive beautifully. Very expensive when new and a really well-developed ‘gentleman’s M3’, this bespoke sporting saloon is just the kind of car that any driving enthusiast would love to have in their garage.