Alpina B3 review

The price is high, but with Alpinas remaining so exclusive – just 2,000 are made each year, and fewer than 100 sold in the UK annually – we suspect your B3’s value will stay strong. But good luck keeping your options spend low: if you want the wheels and paint pictured here, you’ll have already added almost four grand to your bill. Alpina’s ‘high performance braking system’ with 395mm front discs (£1,680) and a head-up display (£1,030) are both things we’d suggest adding if you’ll be driving this briskly, too.

Alpina also makes a diesel 3 Series of this generation – the £12,000 cheaper D3 S – so you’ll likely be headed in that direction if cost is a big driver. While we’re on the topic, the B3 claims 28.5mpg and 228g/km of CO2 emissions (where the D3 S offers 42.2mph and 176g/km). Experience of running other performance BMWs suggest the B3's fuel economy will be better than claimed, though. The perks of having a big, hearty six up front.

Ownership ought to be a doddle, too; BMW’s three-year warranty and roadside assistance package remain intact, and you can get all your servicing done at regular BMW dealers, too.