2004 BMW Alpina B3S 3.4 (E46)

Property of a Gentleman

Based on the standard BMW 330i E46, the B3 S uses BMW's legendary straight-six, enlarged to 3,346cc and now generating a conservative 300bhp (compared to 228bhp in the standard 330i). Engines built by Alpina have a reputation for smoothness, gently purring at idle but a quick blip of the throttle gives the game away leaving you in no doubt that this is a performance machine. It uses a ZF 'Switchtronic' five-speed automatic gearbox with manual operation effected by buttons on the steering wheel (up and down).

All these tweaks add up to an incredibly quiet and relaxed environment yet, in the real world, the B3S is about as quick cross-country as anything else, with the exception of a well-driven, modern 911. According to the service book in the Alpina bookpack folio, car number #120, was supplied by the only UK concessionaires for the Alpina, the Sytner BMW Group, had a PDI service by Sytner Gerrards Cross on 5th March 2004, and was registered to the first of five former keepers on the 6th April 2004. A later Bill of Sale from 2009 confirms that the car was sold by Sytner BMW at 47,528 miles and paperwork on file notes a new gearbox was fitted under warranty on the 15th June 2009. Beautifully presented in gleaming Carbon Black over a black leather interior lifted by dramatically figured hardwood inserts, it benefits from a £2,000 ceramic coating, with minimal yearly mileage since.

The service book and later receipts evidence multiple main dealer and specialist maintenance over the years up until 2020, when our sister company Classic Car Auctions sold the car to a private collector who had it serviced on 22nd May 2020 at 84,376 miles. Although having covered a shade under 1,500 miles since, 85,862 at the time of cataloguing, the car will be presented to auction with a fresh service and its advisory-free MOT certificate which is valid until 26th June 2026. The history file is incredibly detailed and includes historic MOTs and maintenance receipts, largely from BMW and noted specialist AutoKraft of Solihull. There is even a bill on file for the private registration number, generously included in the sale, for £1,395 back in 2013. Patently cherished, the history shows the occasional refurbishment of an alloy wheel here, and upgrade to the SATNAV there, even the fitting of a Traffic Master tracker in 2013.

A well documented and smart entry into the world of modern classics, comfortable for the commute and rare enough for the show ground.