ALPINA B3 3,0(e-36)

This is the succesor to the B6 2,8. The reason why Alpina replaced the B6 so quickly was BMW M3. The M3, which went on sale in 1993, was both more powerful and over 7000 D-mark cheaper than the B6 2,8. So Alpina introduced this car, the B3 3,0, which was more powerful than the B6 and they offered it at a very competetive price, almost 10000 D-mark cheaper than the M3. Between April 1993 and December 1995 a total of 741 B3s were built.

Engine/Gearbox

The biggest difference between this engine and the B6´s engine is the displacement. Alpina have increased the displacement from 2,8 litre to 3,0 litre. That makes the B3 produce 250 bhp instead of 240. The torque has increased to 320 Nm, as much as the M3. The most interesting thing in the B3 is the optional Switch-Tronic gearbox. It is a 5-speed automatic gearbox but if you want you can change gear manually with buttons on the steering-wheel.

Suspension/Brakes/Wheels

The B6 2,8 already had a really good chassie so Alpina has just done some fine-adjustments on the B3 to make the car ride better. The brakes are unchanged with ventilated discs at front and solid at rear and the wheels are the same.

Interior/Exterior

The changes inside the car are the same as in the B6, except a new steering-wheel. The exterior is unchanged.

Performance

A manual B3 could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 6,4 seconds and could reach a top speed of 264 km/h. The Switch-Tronic version was a little slower but still fast. According to Auto Motor und Sport it could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7,1 seconds, 0-160 km/h in 15,9 and 0-200 km/h in 26. The top speed was 258 km/h.

Pictures