1997 BMW Alpina B3 3.2

When buying a classic car, it is sometimes as much about the seller as the car. So, before we tell you about the lovely 1997 B3 3.2 coupe we have for sale, a few words about the car’s current owner.

Acquired some four years ago, our seller is something of a BMW E36 expert, being lucky enough to own a M3 GT of the same era, which he has raced extensively.

The Alpina has been our seller’s daily driver and as such it has been properly maintained to the very highest of standards. Fastidious, we think would be a fair description and all will be revealed later on in this listing.

The car itself must be one of the best of its type remaining, with not only the oily bits being properly cared for, but also the bodywork, as witnessed by the extensive bills over the last few years.

For anyone who has yet to drive an E36 era BMW, you don’t know what you are missing. And with Alpina’s expertise, the B3 still has the power to thrill and excite. Our car is an automatic, or Switchtronic as it is known, and it is every bit as thrilling as the manual, with push buttons on the steering wheel there for the keen driver to take control when required.

So, a car old enough to be considered to be a classic, yet modern enough to drive every day, in all weathers, just as our seller has ably demonstrated during his period of ownership.

So, why is the car up for sale? Well, our seller is getting older, has a building project in the pipeline and does have other interesting cars at his disposal.

Smart, yet understated. That would seem to sum up the B3 rather nicely. The discerning will spot the Alpina addenda, such as the deep front spoiler and of course those lovely multispoke wheels. At the rear, the badges do rather give the game away though…

The blue paintwork is in tip top order, our seller having spent well over £7,000 with a local bodywork specialist over the years, dealing with even the smallest imperfection. Most of the car has been resprayed and it would appear that the work has been done to a high standard.

If we must be critical, there are some stone chips on the front spoiler and it is hard to hide the age of some of the external black trim, which has faded in places.

Those smart Alpina wheels, refurbished by our seller in 2018, do boast an odd mark here and there, with signs of very light kerbing to one wheel. Each wheel is clad in a Michelin Pilot 4 Sport tyre with plenty of tread. As we always like to point out, matching premium rubber is always a sign of careful and considered classic car ownership.

We should also mention that the car’s windscreen was replaced last month.

Black leather adorns the interior, and the front seats in particular are very adjustable and extremely comfortable. For a car that will soon enter its 25th year, the seats have stood the test of time rather well. There is some creasing to the driver’s seat and a little wear to the offside bolster, from the seatbelt rubbing. There is room aplenty in the rear for two to travel in some comfort.

In keeping with the car’s premium status, the front seats are heated, and should you require a little fresh air, then the sunroof will oblige. Alternatively, the climate-controlled air conditioning will do the job.

The gearbox is a straightforward affair to use, squeeze the trigger and slide the lever fore or aft. There are sport and economy modes depending on your mood and let’s not forget the steering wheel mounted buttons for when you are pressing on and want to exercise ultimate control.

Carpets have been protected with mats, though these might benefit from a quick steam clean.

The B3’s boot is a decent size and houses a comprehensive toolkit and first aid kit. Under the boot floor there is a spare, with a fitted Pirelli tyre.

So, can we fault the interior? Apart from the wear to the driver’s seat, we do note the steering wheel does show its age and there is a tiny piece of plastic missing from the dashboard adjacent to the radio. Not bad, eh?

We always include plenty of photographs of a car’s underside for your delectation and this is most definitely the case here. We can tell you that amongst the bodywork repairs carried out by our seller, work has been done to the sills.

In addition, we can see invoices for underseal being applied in 2018 and again in 2020. Our seller clearly wanted to take care to preserve the car’s excellent condition, driven as it has been all year round. Pause a while and examine the photographs carefully and we think you will be impressed.

Raising the bonnet reveals that powerful, yet smooth engine in all its glory. It will come as no surprise, we are sure, that the engine bay itself is in fine condition. The signs of careful maintenance are easy to see, and we can spot no trace of anything untoward.

The engine still pulls strongly, the gearbox changing sweetly. This is a car that can be a relaxed cruiser one minute, yet a fine sporting coupe the next.

In our picture gallery you will find a raft of paperwork for the B3. Main dealer invoices mix with those from independent specialists and should give reassurance, confirming as they do that this car has been properly maintained during its lifetime.

Highlights from our seller’s ownership include:

• New track rod ends

• New brake pipes and renewal of brake fluid

• Air conditioning regas and fitment of new condensor

• A new front coil spring

• New windscreen

• Wheel refurbishment

• Extensive bodywork repairs

• New ABS sensor

• Regular servicing

This year has seen an oil and filter change and the fitment of a new Yuasa battery in August.

This Alpina B3 3.2 Coupe is a rare beast and to find one in such fine condition is a great delight. Our knowledgeable seller picked a good car and has lavished it with care and attention during his ownership.

Of more importance, he has driven it extensively and has relished every mile. He has been impressed by the smooth automatic gearbox, reporting that a quick prod of the accelerator at motorway speeds, see the box quickly drop 2 gears and the car then hunker down and head for the horizon.

So, fine cruiser, cool coupe, scintillating sports car – a jack of all trades and a master of them all.

If you fancy taking care of this lovely car for the next chapter in its exciting life, we estimate it will sell for between £10,000 and £15,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’