One to Buy: Montreal Blue Met. 1996 Alpina B3 3.2 Coupe
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In April 1996 Alpina released the second iteration of their popular E36-based B3 which most notably now featured an engine taken out from 2997cc to 3152cc. Alpina fitted lightweight Mahle pistons, an uprated cylinder head with modified combustion chambers, re-mapped the engine management and hiked the compression ratio to 10.5:1.
Peak output was 265bhp at 5800rpm and 243lb-ft at 4400rpm.
Alpina offered the choice of a Getrag six-speed manual or five-speed Switchtronic gearbox – most customers went for the latter which enabled either fully automatic or manual shifts via steering wheel-mounted buttons.
342 examples of the B3 3.2 were built between 1996 and ‘99. For much of this time it was offered alongside Alpina’s spectacular V8-engined E36: the B8 4.6.
Currently on offer at the L’Art de l’Automobile’s showroom in Paris is one of the most handsomely configured B3s to hit the market in recent times: number 006.
Fitted with the super desirable manual gearbox, it is finished in Montreal Blue Metallic with a Alpina’s trademark decal kit in contrasting gold. The car also comes with a full complement of Alpina spoilers plus those famous 17-inch Radsatz wheels. Inside is a gorgeous dark grey Alpina fabric upholstery with green and blue stripes and Alpina fine wood inserts.
A domestic market example that was serviced at the Alpina factory in Buchloe for the first few years of its life, 006 has today covered a little over 127,000km and looks to represent good value for what is an increasingly sought after 90s tuner car.
