From Alpina B3 to M3

[alpinam3]

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[SAMM3Y]

I think the mirror on your b3 is drunk.. GO HOME MIRROR!!

[SYT_Shadow]

welcome to the forum!

It really sounds special doesn't it?

My suggested would be a high flow cat xpipe and the stock rear section. You will notice the difference in horses and the sound really opens up.

With the stock xpipe there's only so much that can be done

[BayE30]

ummm, how do you have an Alpina B3 e90 in the USA?

[amrazM]

Originally Posted by SFCM3

ummm, how do you have an Alpina B3 e90 in the USA?

I’m curious also, maybe it’s a replica.

[330iToy]

Diplomatic Status or ??? I want the B3!!! Only in Alpina Blue or Alpina Green. Of course we want what we cannot get. They are so nice!

[SickFinga]

Wrong wheels, ebay Alpina badge, wrong exhaust. I don't think it's the real deal.

[atorrealba]

Originally Posted by SickFinga

Wrong wheels, ebay Alpina badge, wrong exhaust. I don't think it's the real deal.

Yeah the rear quarter panel decal was also kinda sketchy

also if the motor isn't N54BXX just lmao

[LuckiSevens]

Originally Posted by SickFinga

Wrong wheels, ebay Alpina badge, wrong exhaust. I don't think it's the real deal.

Agree, wheels look like they're off the 7 series Alpina

[BimmerRules!]

Welcome!

To your queries:

1. I was fortunate to have picked up a fantastic car form our forum that already had Akrapovic exhausts and a Stage II BPM coding that paired it to the AFeintake. The sound it adds once I take the RPM past 2.5k is delightful. But even otherwise, I am enchanted by its sound. So, you might want to research into that option.

2. on aggressive drivers: guess we all see our share of them. In my case, my car is wrapped and stands out like a race car. I first assumed that this is going to invite many to challenge me but interestingly, most slow down and either give a thumbs up or roll their windows to inquire about the car.

[InnerBlueSkies]

Originally Posted by alpinam3

My father owned the vehicle around 10 years ago, and brought it into the country maybe 7 years ago. He passed away and left it for me.

A special car in many ways.

[KevinGS]

Originally Posted by SickFinga

Wrong wheels, ebay Alpina badge, wrong exhaust. I don't think it's the real deal.

Originally Posted by atorrealba

Yeah the rear quarter panel decal was also kinda sketchy

also if the motor isn't N54BXX just lmao

Originally Posted by LuckiSevens

Agree, wheels look like they're off the 7 series Alpina

Originally Posted by alpinam3

My father owned the vehicle around 10 years ago, and brought it into the country maybe 7 years ago. He passed away and left it for me.

[SickFinga]

Originally Posted by alpinam3

Haha, I put the ALPINA badge on the back and front, removing the original BMW roundels as I liked the look better. The wheels on it in the photo are replicas and cracked (along with the originals, see the tire pump pumping air into it in photo? lol)

Exhaust, I don't know if anything was ever done to it as it has been like that for as long as I can remember.

Its kind of embarrassing driving it around here in Houston sometimes, as I don't think the majority of people know that these exist and think that its my own thing I just made up and am driving around... I pulled up next to a B7 once, and he said "did you alpina your shit?" lol

I know you like the badges, but you should take them off. These badges are all fake, Alpina does not replace BMW badges, which is one of the first clues you get that there is a fake Alpina in front of you.
The exhaust, or at least the tips are not factory. You can google B3 BiTurbo photos and compare it to yours. Yours seems larger and stick out more.

Does your car have the Alpina VIN with a BMW VIN crossed off on the shock tower?

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by alpinam3

...It is filthy inside and out and has a massive oil leak so the poor thing is getting neglected.

Originally Posted by alpinam3

Oh and by the way - anyone who says these cars don't last...181K miles and this car is still going good - CEL on because of the thermostat. Never has issues.

[SickFinga]

Originally Posted by alpinam3

I like the fake badges because it is entertaining when I'm out and about in it and get a smartass who tries to cut me off in it, then sees its real when the car gets moving. It's like a 335i but really soft suspension, feels like its "gliding" if that makes sense.

Yes, where the strut is, there is an X over the original vin. Starts with WBAN instead of WBAV I believe. I have hardly driven it since I bought the M3. It is filthy inside and out and has a massive oil leak so the poor thing is getting neglected.

VIN should start with WAP. This is really strange. It's not imported under Alpina VIN, nor under the original BMW VIN. I wonder how it was brought over here. Technically, this car shouldn't be here.

[shimmy23]

Originally Posted by SickFinga

VIN should start with WAP. This is really strange. It's not imported under Alpina VIN, nor under the original BMW VIN. I wonder how it was brought over here. Technically, this car shouldn't be here.

Why shouldn't it be here? People import cars all the time.

[SickFinga]

Originally Posted by shimmy23

Why shouldn't it be here? People import cars all the time.

People do not import cars all the time, unless you are talking about Canadian market cars. To import a car into US from anywhere outside Canada, it has to be 25 years old.

There are few exceptions to that rule. You can import a car under the Show or Display rule. Under that rule a car has to be produced in very limited number (500 or less) or be of historical value (e.g owned by a Pope). You are also very limited to what you can do with it. You are limited to like 2,000 miles per year and you can only drive to car shows.

Another rule is called, "Substantially similar". Under this rule, you can import a car that is very similar to a car that is already sold in the US and require minor modifications that would make it DOT/EPA/NHTSA compliant. This is still a costly process since all the modification have to be done with OEM parts, by an approved importer and you still end up with the same car that you can buy locally.

The last one, is where you pass all the DOT/EPA/NHTSA tests and bring the car to compliance. That means all the crash tests, all the emission test, everything that a manufacturer does to federalize each model.

I bet no one did all the crash testing on it and it doesn't quality under all other rules.

[SickFinga]

Originally Posted by alpinam3

Lol it was brought in under the similar rule...Its literally the same car as any e90, just different badging along the car.

Substantially similar literally means euro 2008 335i vs euro 2008 335i. B3 is not just a different badging. If it were that simple, you'd see a lot of M3 CSLs here. Even though, yes, some people did sneak in Alpina's under that rule, euro E90 and B3 haven't been approved under that rule.

[amrazM]

Dope

[dleonardos]

What’s up Malaka. Nice alpina 👍🏼