Powertrain families
ALPINA B3 twin-turbo inline-six · ALPINA D3 twin-turbo diesel inline-six
B3 / D3 (F30/F31) — Sedan
2013–2019
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- ALPINA B3/D3 F30 Sedan
- Production
- 2013–2019
- Body style
- 4-door sedan
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
B3 / D3 → F30/F31 → Sedan
B3 / D3 F30/F31: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sedan fits into the family.
F30/F31 B3 Bi-Turbo combined a six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol engine with eight-speed Switch-Tronic, while D3 Bi-Turbo supplied a six-cylinder diesel alternative. Sedan and Touring were the only series bodies because two-door ALPINA cars moved to the new B4/D4 line.
B3 evolved into B3 S with higher output and revised turbo, cooling and chassis details. Rear- and all-wheel-drive availability varied by model and market; the Touring was especially associated with all-wheel-drive specifications in later phases.
This is the generation where the 3/4 name split must be enforced: F32/F33 coupé and cabriolet belong under B4/D4, not as F30-generation B3 body styles.
2013–2019generation lifecycle
2body branches
2engine/drive families
3range designations
F30/F31factory code
longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drivearchitecture
Sedan: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,645 mm
Width1,811 mm
Height1,440 mm
Wheelbase2,810 mm
Luggage480 L
Fuel tank60 L
Seats5
Doors4-door sedan
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented sedan applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B3 Bi-Turbo | 2013–2017 | ALPINA N55 3.0 L twin-turbo inline-six | 410 PS | 8AT Switch-Tronic | RWD / AWD | Global range | BMW 3 Series F30/F31: ALPINA model history |
| B3 S Bi-Turbo | 2017–2019 | ALPINA N55 3.0 L twin-turbo inline-six | 440 PS | 8AT Switch-Tronic | RWD / AWD | Global range | BMW 3 Series F30/F31: ALPINA model history |
| D3 Bi-Turbo | 2013–2018 | ALPINA N57 3.0 L twin-turbo diesel inline-six | 350 PS | 8AT Switch-Tronic | RWD / AWD | Europe | BMW 3 Series F30/F31: ALPINA model history |
Factory designations
B3 Bi-Turbo · B3 S Bi-Turbo · D3 Bi-Turbo
High-performance powertrain
Engine, cooling, exhaust, software and transmission form a distinct M or ALPINA specification rather than an option package on the base model.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- ALPINA B3/D3 F30 Sedan: 4,645 mm × 1,811 mm × 1,440 mm
- ALPINA B3/D3 F31 Touring: 4,645 mm × 1,811 mm × 1,465 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
B3 Bi-Turbo
Petrol sedan and Touring production began on the F3x platform.
D3 Bi-Turbo
A high-performance six-cylinder diesel branch joined the family.
B3 S
The later evolution raised output and revised key powertrain and chassis systems.
F30/F31 ALPINA ends
Production closed as G20/G21 B3 and D3 S arrived.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Sedan
ALPINA B3/D3 F30 SedanB3 / D3 ALPINA B3/D3 F30 Sedan is a distinct F30/F31 body branch. The conventional four-door passenger-car body, balancing rear-seat access, luggage space and the generation’s core chassis layout. Engines/drive: ALPINA B3 twin-turbo inline-six, ALPINA D3 twin-turbo diesel inline-six.
Touring
ALPINA B3/D3 F31 TouringB3 / D3 ALPINA B3/D3 F31 Touring is a distinct F30/F31 body branch. The long-roof estate body adds a large rear opening and folding load area while retaining the passenger-car platform. Engines/drive: ALPINA B3 twin-turbo inline-six, ALPINA D3 twin-turbo diesel inline-six.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- ALPINA B3/D3 F30 Sedan — Sedan; ALPINA B3/D3 F31 Touring — Touring
- Range designations
- B3 Bi-Turbo, B3 S Bi-Turbo, D3 Bi-Turbo
- Powertrain families
- ALPINA B3 twin-turbo inline-six, ALPINA D3 twin-turbo diesel inline-six
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01AlpinaWikipedia contributors
Secondary company, manufacturer-status and model-line context.
- 02BMW 3 Series F30/F31: ALPINA model historyALPINA Automobiles model archive
Factory model archive with base BMW, production dates, engine type and performance by derivative.
- 03Expanding the portfolio: BMW Group acquires the ALPINA brandBMW Group PressClub
Primary record of the independent ALPINA programme ending after 2025 and the trademark transition to BMW Group.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- F32/F33 are B4/D4 records and must not be restored as B3 coupé/cabriolet bodies.
- Separate B3, B3 S, D3 and xDrive rows by production phase and market.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026