| Production | |
|---|---|
| Model Year: | 1993 |
| Production Years: | 1993 - 1998 discontinued in 1998 |
The Alpina B3 Touring (E36) is a high-performance station wagon produced between 1993 and 1998. Built on the BMW E36 3 Series platform, this model combines Alpina’s signature tuning expertise with the practicality of a station wagon body style. Designed to offer both dynamic driving performance and everyday usability, the B3 Touring features enhancements over the standard E36 Touring, making it a unique niche vehicle of the era.
Though exact exterior dimensions may vary slightly depending on specific configurations, the Alpina B3 Touring typically measures approximately 4,400 mm (173.2 inches) in length, around 1,700 mm (66.9 inches) in width without mirrors, and about 1,390 mm (54.7 inches) in height. Its spacious wagon design provides a versatile cargo area, ideal for families or enthusiasts needing extra load capacity without sacrificing sporty driving dynamics.
Weight for the B3 Touring ranges near 1,460 kg (3,219 lbs), reflecting the inclusion of Alpina performance components such as upgraded suspension, distinct wheels, and a tuned engine that boost its driving character. The car is known for blending luxury, sportiness, and practicality — featuring Alpina’s signature refinements inside and out.
Overall, the Alpina B3 Touring (E36) stands out as a rare and highly respected station wagon from the 1990s, offering a harmonious balance of performance and utility. It remains a sought-after model among collectors and enthusiasts for its exclusivity, driving pleasure, and timeless design.
Discover the standout features that make the 1993 Alpina B3 Touring a leader in its class
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The Alpina B3 Touring (E36) produced between 1993 and 1998 has an approximate length of 4,490 millimeters (176.8 inches) and a width of around 1,720 millimeters (67.7 inches). These dimensions reflect the typical size of a compact luxury station wagon of that era, offering a balanced combination of maneuverability and interior spaciousness. The E36 body style provided ample room for passengers and cargo while maintaining a sleek, sporty profile characteristic of Alpina-tuned BMWs.
The Alpina B3 Touring (E36) stands approximately 1,360 millimeters tall (53.5 inches). Ground clearance is usually around 135 millimeters (5.3 inches), typical for sporty sedans and wagons of its class. This moderate height and ground clearance offer a low center of gravity that enhances handling and stability, especially in cornering and high-speed driving. The relatively low stance is designed to improve aerodynamics while still providing sufficient clearance for everyday driving scenarios.
The curb weight of the Alpina B3 Touring (E36) is approximately 1,440 kilograms (3,175 pounds). This relatively light weight for a performance-oriented station wagon contributes to its agility and responsiveness. Alpina's engineering focused on performance enhancements while maintaining a manageable vehicle weight to optimize acceleration and handling. This weight balance supports the car's sporty character, allowing it to deliver spirited driving dynamics without compromising the versatility expected from a touring wagon.
The interior cargo capacity of the Alpina B3 Touring (E36) varies but generally offers about 460 liters (16.2 cubic feet) of storage space with the rear seats up. Folding down the rear seats expands the cargo volume significantly, accommodating larger items and increased luggage capacity typical for station wagons. This spacious cargo hold, combined with a comfortable passenger area, makes the Alpina B3 Touring a practical choice for those needing performance and everyday usability, balancing sporty driving with family and cargo carrying versatility.
The Alpina B3 Touring (E36), with its length of approximately 4.49 meters (14.7 feet), width of 1.72 meters (5.6 feet), and height of roughly 1.36 meters (4.5 feet), typically fits comfortably into a standard residential garage. Most standard single-car garages provide interior dimensions of at least 6 meters (20 feet) in length and 3 meters (10 feet) in width. Owners should still consider space for opening doors and additional storage, but in general, the car’s size does not pose any notable difficulties for typical garage accommodations.
The Alpina B3 Touring (E36) succeeded the E30-based Alpina B3 Touring and brought several dimension changes aligned with BMW’s newer E36 platform. The E36 generation is slightly longer and wider, with the E30 generally measuring around 4,320 millimeters (170 inches) in length and 1,670 millimeters (65.7 inches) in width. The E36's more modern design featured smoother lines and a more aerodynamic shape, translating into better interior space and driving comfort. Overall, the E36 B3 Touring offers a modest increase in size that improves passenger and cargo space without sacrificing the car’s sporty characteristics.
Compared to contemporary sporty station wagons like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Wagon (W202) or the Audi 80 Avant from the mid-1990s, the Alpina B3 Touring (E36) is very competitive in size. The Mercedes C-Class Wagon measured roughly 4,460 millimeters (175.6 inches) in length and about 1,710 millimeters (67.3 inches) wide, placing it very close to the dimensions of the Alpina B3 Touring. Similarly, the Audi 80 Avant was slightly shorter, around 4,400 millimeters (173 inches) long. These comparable dimensions highlight the Alpina's positioning as a nimble yet practical sporty wagon in the compact luxury segment.
The Alpina B3 Touring (E36) typically houses a fuel tank capacity of approximately 62 liters (16.4 US gallons), allowing for reasonable driving range between fill-ups, especially considering its performance-oriented engine tuning. Regarding weight distribution, the E36 platform is renowned for its near 50:50 front-to-rear balance, which Alpina maintains or slightly improves with performance upgrades. This balanced distribution delivers excellent handling stability, precise steering feedback, and predictable cornering behavior, making the B3 Touring both engaging and confidence-inspiring in various driving conditions.
The Alpina B3 Touring (E36) featured a tuned version of BMW’s 3.2-liter inline-six engine, producing around 280 horsepower (209 kilowatts) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. This powertrain allowed the vehicle to accelerate briskly, achieving 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in approximately 6 seconds, impressive for a station wagon of its time. Alpina enhanced the engine, suspension, and electronics to deliver a unique blend of luxury and sportiness, positioning the B3 Touring as a high-performance alternative to standard BMW 3 Series touring models.
Dimensionally, the Alpina B3 Touring (E36) shares the same basic body shell as the standard BMW 3 Series Touring (E36), with nearly identical length, width, and height. The key differences lie in performance and refinement. Alpina upgraded the engine to deliver significantly higher power output, complemented by sport-tuned suspension, unique exhaust, and aerodynamic enhancements. While the 3 Series Touring provides balanced everyday usability, the Alpina B3 Touring amplifies performance without sacrificing practicality, offering a more exclusive and dynamic driving experience within the same vehicle footprint.
Alpina