Powertrain families
ALPINA B3 3.3/3.4 naturally aspirated inline-six
B3 / D3 (E46) — Cabriolet
1999–2006
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- ALPINA B3 E46 Cabriolet
- Production
- 1999–2006
- Body style
- 2-door convertible
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
B3 / D3 → E46 → Cabriolet
B3 / D3 E46: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected cabriolet fits into the family.
E46 B3 began with the 3.3-litre naturally aspirated inline-six and evolved into the 3.4-litre B3 S. ALPINA offered saloon, Touring, coupé and convertible bodies and also built an all-wheel-drive B3 3.3 branch from 330ix base cars.
B3 3.3, B3 3.3 All-Wheel-Drive and B3 S differ in engine type, output, production period and permissible bodies. Switch-Tronic automatic and manual configurations likewise need their own performance and mass fields where the archive distinguishes them.
The E46 ALPINA family is separate from S54-powered M3 and from the rare Roadster S based on Z4. Exact body, drivetrain and ALPINA type number should lead every technical lookup.
1999–2006generation lifecycle
4body branches
1engine/drive families
3range designations
E46factory code
longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drivearchitecture
Cabriolet: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,488 mm
Width1,757 mm
Height1,372 mm
Wheelbase2,725 mm
Luggage260 L
Fuel tank63 L
Seats4
Doors2-door convertible
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | ALPINA B3 E46 Sedan | 1999–2006 | 4-door sedan / 5 | 4,471 mm | 440 L |
| Coupe | ALPINA B3 E46 Coupé | 1999–2006 | 2-door coupe / 5 | 4,488 mm | 410 L |
| Touring | ALPINA B3 E46 Touring | 1999–2006 | 5-door wagon / 5 | 4,478 mm | 435–1,345 L |
| Cabriolet | ALPINA B3 E46 Cabriolet | 1999–2006 | 2-door convertible / 4 | 4,488 mm | 260 L |
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 cabriolet applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B3 3.3 | 1999–2002 | ALPINA E4/4 3.3 L inline-six | 280 PS | 6MT / 5AT Switch-Tronic | RWD | Global range | BMW 3 Series E46: ALPINA model history |
| B3 S | 2002–2006 | ALPINA E5 3.4 L inline-six | 305 PS | 6MT / 5AT Switch-Tronic | RWD | Global range | BMW 3 Series E46: ALPINA model history |
Factory designations
B3 3.3 · B3 3.3 Allrad · B3 S
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.
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 E46 Sedan: 4,471 mm × 1,739 mm × 1,415 mm
- ALPINA B3 E46 Coupé: 4,488 mm × 1,757 mm × 1,369 mm
- ALPINA B3 E46 Touring: 4,478 mm × 1,739 mm × 1,409 mm
- ALPINA B3 E46 Cabriolet: 4,488 mm × 1,757 mm × 1,372 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 3.3 production
The E46-based 3.3 entered a four-body programme.
All-wheel-drive B3
330ix-based saloon and Touring cars created a separate drivetrain branch.
B3 S
The 3.4-litre evolution raised output and continued the broad body offer.
E46 ALPINA ends
Final B3 S body production concluded before the E9x turbo era.
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 E46 SedanB3 / D3 ALPINA B3 E46 Sedan is a distinct E46 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 3.3/3.4 naturally aspirated inline-six.
Coupe
ALPINA B3 E46 CoupéB3 / D3 ALPINA B3 E46 Coupé is a distinct E46 body branch. A lower-roof two-door body with longer doors and a more overtly sporting brief than the corresponding sedan. Engines/drive: ALPINA B3 3.3/3.4 naturally aspirated inline-six.
Touring
ALPINA B3 E46 TouringB3 / D3 ALPINA B3 E46 Touring is a distinct E46 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 3.3/3.4 naturally aspirated inline-six.
Cabriolet
ALPINA B3 E46 CabrioletB3 / D3 ALPINA B3 E46 Cabriolet is a distinct E46 body branch. An open body with a folding roof and generation-specific structural reinforcement, seating and luggage packaging. Engines/drive: ALPINA B3 3.3/3.4 naturally aspirated 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 E46 Sedan — Sedan; ALPINA B3 E46 Coupé — Coupe; ALPINA B3 E46 Touring — Touring; ALPINA B3 E46 Cabriolet — Cabriolet
- Range designations
- B3 3.3, B3 3.3 Allrad, B3 S
- Powertrain families
- ALPINA B3 3.3/3.4 naturally aspirated 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 E46: 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.
- B3 3.3 AWD is limited to compatible body/base-car branches, not every E46 body.
- B3 S 3.4 data must not overwrite the earlier 3.3-litre cars.
- 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.