This Alpina B3 GT3 Is An M3 GTS Without The Bonkers Price Tag

The products of Alpina tend to be slightly more sedate alternatives to the explosive nutters from BMW’s M Division. But, there is one car that bucks the trend: the E92-based B3 GT3. It’s best thought of as Alpina’s answer to the E92 M3 GTS, but unlike that beast, you won’t need over £100,000 to buy one: Silverstone Auctions has one going under the hammer next month with an estimate of £50-60,000.

You don’t get the M3 GTS’s glorious, high-revving V8, but the GT3’s 3.0-litre, twin-turbo straight-six actually produces more torque. Its 398lb ft figure is 74lb ft up on the GTS, and you won’t be wanting for power either, with 402bhp on tap. 0-62mph is possible in 4.5 seconds, and at the top end it runs out of ideas at 186mph.

As with any Alpina worth its salt, you get a set of stunning multispoke wheels, 25 per cent lighter than the rims found on the boggo B3. Underneath the front pair you’ll find 380mm brake discs with six-pot callipers. In the suspension department, the GT3 received fully adjustable coilovers, giving a variable ride height, 12 settings for compression, and 18 for rebound. If you’re a suspension geek, you’re well catered for here.

Other nice touches include a titanium exhaust, part leather/part Alcantara bucket seats with Alpina stripes, and a digital ‘race display’ system.

Still not convinced? It’s worth pointing out the GT3 is even rarer than the GTS - just 99 were made, versus 135 examples of M Division’s machine.

It’ll be auctioned off by Silverstone at Salon Privé on 3 September.