Alpina's E46 B3 didn't use a BMW 3-series engine block at all — it was built on the cast-iron block from the older US-spec E36 M3, because neither contemporary BMW block would work.
Lead trim: B3 3.3 Allrad (E4/8) · up to 300 hp
BMW Alpina B31999–2006
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a BMW Alpina B3 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactAlpina's E46 B3 didn't use a BMW 3-series engine block at all — it was built on the cast-iron block from the older US-spec E36 M3, because neither contemporary BMW block would work.
Alpina B3 models built on the BMW E46 328i, 330i and 330ix between 1999 and 2006. The Alpina previous-models table lists 3 variants for this donor, with outputs from 280 PS to 305 PS and the production years shown on each trim.
Collectors Spotted in the BMW Alpina B3 Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the BMW Alpina B3 yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
3 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B3 3.3 (E4/4) | 1999–2002 | Inline-6 | 276 hp | 247 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| B3 3.3 Allrad (E4/8) | 2001–2005 | Inline-6 | 276 hp | 247 lb-ft | — | AWD | — | — |
| B3 S (E5/1) | 2002–2006 | Inline-6 | 300 hp | 267 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
For its final model year, the B3 Biturbo got more muscle: the 2010 B3S bumped power up 39 hp to 394 hp and torque to 540 Nm, shaving a tenth off the 0-100 km/h time.
Alpina's E46 B3 didn't use a BMW 3-series engine block at all — it was built on the cast-iron block from the older US-spec E36 M3, because neither contemporary BMW block would work.
Alpina couldn't use BMW's newest engine for the E36 B3 — the 328i's block wasn't tough enough for their power hike, so they reached for the older, stronger cast-iron M50 instead.
This hopped-up 325i is rarer than it looks: Alpina hand-built just 257 of them in total, across every body style, out of a small workshop in Buchloe.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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