Alpina B10 tourings - where are they?

[VerySideways]

Haven't seen one for sale for a while, i know they're rare but are all the owners just keeping them now?
Or does anyone know of one for sale which i haven't spotted?

[Gruber]

According to the stats, there were only 38 UK touring's:

5 x 3.2, 19 x 3.3, 10 x V8, & 4 x V8S

A very small pool to fish from. But I agree - I haven't seen one for sale in ages.

[E24man]

They get held onto for a fair length of time by their owners and there's usually a list of prospective new owners ready when the time comes to sell so they're gone in the blink of an eye. The B10 V8 and V8S are very nearly equivilant to E39 M5 pace so with no E39 M5 Tourings ever made (not withstanding the BMW cellar car) then the Alpina offerings take on a extra rarity.

[madou]

I put my name down with Phil Crouch and waited a long time for one to come up. When it finally did, I just could not face paying the Alpina tax, with asking price c. 3 times that of a good E39 540iA Sport Touring. If you are willing to consider LHD have a look on mobile.de. In the end I just bought a E65 750i Sport to replace the E39 540iA Sport Touring. If you like the E39 you should try an E65, and not just write it off as too new/big/ugly as I almost did

Edited by madou on Tuesday 19th August 19:16

[E24man]

I can easily believe that the E65 and other cars of that generation are very good cars when they're working perfectly, but the issue with anything after E38, E39, E46 is that, unless you are equipped with the in-depth knowledge, hardware and up-to-date software, they are not easy to maintain at home by yourself.

As for the Alpina 'Tax' on the car's value, in most cases it is the same as the 'M' cars 'Tax' but in cases of the niche cars that BMW failed to make then it is in many cases a little more simply due to supply and demand.

I have no doubt that E39 Alpina V8 & V8S Tourings would be a little cheaper if BMW had made an E39 M5 Touring.

[VerySideways]

My issue is that i need the estate - and i'm not happy with the pre-facelift E61, so it's either E39 or LCI E61, and i can't find a nice E61 550i touring...

[RC1]

Get over to all in a register forum. There's a couple of guys that might consider it.

[Gruber]

VerySideways said:

My issue is that i need the estate - and i'm not happy with the pre-facelift E61, so it's either E39 or LCI E61, and i can't find a nice E61 550i touring...

Very wise.

Mrs Gruber has an e61 pre-facelift SE-spec family wagon (just a 2.5 petrol 6-pot). It's a solid enough baby conveyance, but - and I know it's not a fair comparison - the e39 B10 is light years ahead in refinement, build quality, ride, materials and general ambience.

[E24man]

RC1 said:

Get over to all in a register forum. There's a couple of guys that might consider it.

I'm assuming you meant, "Get over to the Alpina Register Forum."

Most of the B10 Touring owners are on there and a few are quite active - there are a couple who own a pair of Alpina Tourings so might be persuaded to let one go.

Gruber said:

VerySideways said:

My issue is that i need the estate - and i'm not happy with the pre-facelift E61, so it's either E39 or LCI E61, and i can't find a nice E61 550i touring...

Very wise.

Mrs Gruber has an e61 pre-facelift SE-spec family wagon (just a 2.5 petrol 6-pot). It's a solid enough baby conveyance, but - and I know it's not a fair comparison - the e39 B10 is light years ahead in refinement, build quality, ride, materials and general ambience.

This, and the fact that you can maintain an E39 with a set of spanners rather than a set of computers, is why E39's are holding their value in the face of falling E60/61 values.

Edit to add: OP, your garage shows you've had 6 pretty rapid BMW Tourings, the last of which was a probably-quicker-than-a-B10 E91 330i M Sport Touring, so why now a B10?

Edited by E24man on Tuesday 19th August 23:16

[DennisCooper]

Hi Verysideways,

You won't like one of these cars as your shorts might mean you'll start to slip around on the seat when using that throttle pedal !

As per above, not many around at all, and it's the V8S which I think you are wanting?! I think there were 6 of those built of which I think 4 remain. The other two remain as unknown status so might have been scrapped, written off etc.

If you aren't after such a powerful variant and would consider any of the other models, then you need to look a little harder on the usual places

I still think my Touring looks better though!

Cheers, Dennis!

[Cactussed]

FWIW Pete, Get a regular V8 rather than the V8S.
The additional costs aren't worth the negligible extra poke.

I've had my saloon for 4 years now, and still going strong...

[VerySideways]

I will go over to the OC and register now. Worth putting a thread up, see if anyone bites.

E91 330i was to replace a 130i, but it wasn't fun at all, wasn't really much bigger inside, and the ride was worse!

I'd consider an E39 530i or 540i (in fact i am considerin a couple) but i think the B10 would suit me better and thus i'd keep it much longer - a fact my partner would appreciate as she hates it when i go car shopping!

Drew, to be honest i'd be happy with either if i could find one for sale at a reasonable price (or at all at this point!).

[Cactussed]

They are rare as the proverbial hen's teeth.
Worth keeping an eye out though as they're a step up from a regular 540.
Only criticism is they are whisper quiet and could really use an LSD

[hornetrider]

Gruber said:

VerySideways said:

My issue is that i need the estate - and i'm not happy with the pre-facelift E61, so it's either E39 or LCI E61, and i can't find a nice E61 550i touring...

Very wise.

What is the difference pre and post LCI? Mine is a pre-LCI (06) Sport with adaptive xenons, so the lights all look ok. My climate is the proper one with driver/passenger temps. The front door cards are obviously different (I actually prefer mine) and I think the LCI grilles look a bit 'chromier' but that's irrelevant as I have black ones fitted. Obviously the big difference for auto cars is the gear lever (and possibly box) but as mine is a manual that's irrelevant too. Is the iDrive much different?

[Ellieb10]

hornetrider said:

What is the difference pre and post LCI? Mine is a pre-LCI (06) Sport with adaptive xenons, so the lights all look ok. My climate is the proper one with driver/passenger temps. The front door cards are obviously different (I actually prefer mine) and I think the LCI grilles look a bit 'chromier' but that's irrelevant as I have black ones fitted. Obviously the big difference for auto cars is the gear lever (and possibly box) but as mine is a manual that's irrelevant too. Is the iDrive much different?

Indeed, the iDrive is a bit different. It has a few more buttons for faster ui and you can prgramme a full postcode.

Not sure what the protocol is on linking to other sites but here's the full BMW pdf:

http://5series.net/info/2008_LCI_Detailed_Changes.pdf

Just wanted to note that owning an Alpina is different experience to owning a normal BMW. I like my BMW (when its not at BMW getting something fixed - its just had £3000 of warranty work done (that's cost price too)) but I loved my Alpina. They feel special. Where else can you get a reliable hand built engine for less than 10k? (I's sure someone will be along to clear that up for me...)

I will definitely get another when funds allow.

[hornetrider]

Ellieb10 said:

Indeed, the iDrive is a bit different. It has a few more buttons for faster ui and you can prgramme a full postcode.

Not sure what the protocol is on linking to other sites but here's the full BMW pdf:

http://5series.net/info/2008_LCI_Detailed_Changes.pdf

Cheers for that. I have seen some basic iDrives which only have one button but mine has two, presume mine may be because it has Pro Media/Nav etc. Indeed mine doesn't have a full postcode search, or indeed any postcode search! It just won't accept postcodes at all as when I try to enter it is using the database for town/city names. Maybe there's somewhere else to enter the postcodes, dunno

[Ellieb10]

hornetrider said:

Cheers for that. I have seen some basic iDrives which only have one button but mine has two, presume mine may be because it has Pro Media/Nav etc. Indeed mine doesn't have a full postcode search, or indeed any postcode search! It just won't accept postcodes at all as when I try to enter it is using the database for town/city names. Maybe there's somewhere else to enter the postcodes, dunno

Mine's the first gen Logic 7 with pro nav. Single button. My wife hates it and uses her phone! Mine accepts 3/4 of a post code. Just enough to send you to Cambridge rather than Duxford...

Apols for the slight thread hijack and back on topic: I just put the Alpina E61 B5 KDS set up on my 545i. Feels a lot pointier and more stable at speed. I've heard of E39 540i/M5 owners doing similar.

[E24man]

Cactussed said:

FWIW Pete, Get a regular V8 rather than the V8S.
The additional costs aren't worth the negligible extra poke.

I've had my saloon for 4 years now, and still going strong...

There does seem to be quite a premium in price for the V8S for its extra 28bhp and 22lb/ft and subsequent 0.1 second better time to 60. It does of course sit a little lower and have some nice sparkly additions (V8S B-post badges and illuminated door sills - if they still work) as well as the big Brembo brakes - but the big Brembo's are the double edged sword - yes they are better but at a cost; you can replace the V8 discs, pads and exchange calipers for only a little more than the cost of the V8S pads. Pads and discs for the V8S rock up at well over £1.5k, and heaven knows how much the calipers will cost you.

The problem with the V8S set-up is that it is completely bespoke and nothing from any aftermarket set-up will come close, unlike for instance the B10 BiTurbo front brakes where Mercedes S500 pads fit instead of the Alpina premium priced goods.

[Naldrett]

Not sure if a B5 Touring (preLCI) would suit your needs?

http://thealpinaregister.com/forums/viewtopic.php?...

Or if you fancy another 540iA Touring this one looks well looked after and an attractive spec even if not a Sport:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

Finally, I'm sure it is not relevant for OP but couldn't help notice this if anyone fancies a well looked after cheapy (1 owner, garaged from new):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380974617684?ssPageName=...

[VerySideways]

Naldrett said:

Not sure if a B5 Touring (preLCI) would suit your needs?

http://thealpinaregister.com/forums/viewtopic.php?...

Or if you fancy another 540iA Touring this one looks well looked after and an attractive spec even if not a Sport:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

Finally, I'm sure it is not relevant for OP but couldn't help notice this if anyone fancies a well looked after cheapy (1 owner, garaged from new):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380974617684?ssPageName=...

B5? Yes, but sadly i suspect it'd be out of my budget.
Already in touch with owner of that 540i.
Last one is interesting too...