If Dyson became byword for vacuum cleaners then BMW's E30 M3 became it for being possibly the best handling road-production BMW, if the journalists are to be believed. What it lacks in trouser length with its small engine numbers it more than made up for with a scintillating chassis.
However, there has been a long established belief that all BMWs should have 6 pots, and surely even the E30 M3 falls into that barrier, as great as the race derived S10 powerplant is, shod with its throttle bodies and strange ignition system. It seems Alpina shared this view. While they spawned off an assortment of Alpina E30s a very different Alpina left the building in 1987. That would be the Alpina B6 3.5 S!
Not only was it graced with Alpina's lovely livery across the square M3 arches it may well be the only Alpina to base a car on an BMW M model! That however did not stop them from removing the S10 engine and putting in their own fettled M30 3.5 litre engine, but this time pumping out 245BHP over the M3's 190-210BHP. For those few people who wanted a 'big' six pot power with the M3 Chassis this car was it! But only 62 examples found homes over its 4 year lifespan, including a one off B6 3.5 S Cabrio!
For me I think the Alpina wins. The livery suits it down to a tee in my eyes as does the exclusivity of it. Sure, that big six is a tight squeeze into the engine bay but it does look right at home. I am sure however upon driving both the M3 would probably change my mind very swiftly, but for now all I can do is wonder.
But which is for you?
However, there has been a long established belief that all BMWs should have 6 pots, and surely even the E30 M3 falls into that barrier, as great as the race derived S10 powerplant is, shod with its throttle bodies and strange ignition system. It seems Alpina shared this view. While they spawned off an assortment of Alpina E30s a very different Alpina left the building in 1987. That would be the Alpina B6 3.5 S!
Not only was it graced with Alpina's lovely livery across the square M3 arches it may well be the only Alpina to base a car on an BMW M model! That however did not stop them from removing the S10 engine and putting in their own fettled M30 3.5 litre engine, but this time pumping out 245BHP over the M3's 190-210BHP. For those few people who wanted a 'big' six pot power with the M3 Chassis this car was it! But only 62 examples found homes over its 4 year lifespan, including a one off B6 3.5 S Cabrio!
For me I think the Alpina wins. The livery suits it down to a tee in my eyes as does the exclusivity of it. Sure, that big six is a tight squeeze into the engine bay but it does look right at home. I am sure however upon driving both the M3 would probably change my mind very swiftly, but for now all I can do is wonder.
But which is for you?
