BMW E39 Alpina
Discussion
Does anyone know anything about this B10 advertised in Brighton on this web site http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Is it a genuine car worth a look? Seems like a fair price? What are the pitfalls (if any) in owning a B10 E39 over say a M5 E39?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.....
Is it a genuine car worth a look? Seems like a fair price? What are the pitfalls (if any) in owning a B10 E39 over say a M5 E39?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.....
I had a B10 V8 Touring and loved every moment of it. I sold that with 70k on the clock (inc 16:9 Nav) over 3 years ago (or was it 4) for under £8k.
To my mind that makes the listed saloon a tad over-priced. If not I'll be advertising my B7 at similar mark up! Happy days.
I decided against the M5 at the time because I didn't want a manual and the Switch-tronic box of the B10 was particularly good. I traded an E39 540i saloon for the B10 and the handling, performance and overall character of the car is of a different league.
Good times indeed.
Best of luck either way.
Should have added - I'd offer £4k on that 3.3 and feel generous with it!
To my mind that makes the listed saloon a tad over-priced. If not I'll be advertising my B7 at similar mark up! Happy days.
I decided against the M5 at the time because I didn't want a manual and the Switch-tronic box of the B10 was particularly good. I traded an E39 540i saloon for the B10 and the handling, performance and overall character of the car is of a different league.
Good times indeed.
Best of luck either way.
Should have added - I'd offer £4k on that 3.3 and feel generous with it!
Edited by Crombers on Wednesday 11th March 19:01
You could have my V8 for that price!
In fairness, if it's as good as it looks, it might not be terribly overpriced in the current market.... But it does feel a bit dear at £9k for a 3.3.
Very smart though (although are those headlights after market?).
It really would seem a shame to miss out on the lovely V8 in the 4.6...
In fairness, if it's as good as it looks, it might not be terribly overpriced in the current market.... But it does feel a bit dear at £9k for a 3.3.
Very smart though (although are those headlights after market?).
It really would seem a shame to miss out on the lovely V8 in the 4.6...
I didn't have a stab at the M5 vs B10 question.
The M5 is faster than the V8 (but not embarrassingly so) and much faster than the 3.3. The M5 has a manual box and a LSD so is more engaging to drive fast.
The B10 rides better than the M5, the autobox isn't bad by any means, and (in V8 guise at least) they have a certain "iron fist velvet glove" appeal. The Alpina makes for a phenomenal distance cruiser. And the power delivery of the V8 does make it feel properly quick.
I can't really comment on the 3.3 specifically.
Buy a V8!
The M5 is faster than the V8 (but not embarrassingly so) and much faster than the 3.3. The M5 has a manual box and a LSD so is more engaging to drive fast.
The B10 rides better than the M5, the autobox isn't bad by any means, and (in V8 guise at least) they have a certain "iron fist velvet glove" appeal. The Alpina makes for a phenomenal distance cruiser. And the power delivery of the V8 does make it feel properly quick.
I can't really comment on the 3.3 specifically.
Buy a V8!
Edited by Gruber on Wednesday 11th March 21:34
I have a B10 3.3 manual. It's bloody wonderful.
Not as quick as an M5 ultimately, but far more stealthy/less-blatant, and has a level of ride compliance vs handling finesse that generally eludes BMW entirely.
The 3.3 has R&P steering and is really brisk-enough in manual form. In part this is because the 3.3 manual is 220Kg or more lighter that the average E39 540 and especially the average M5 - yes, really. And in part it's because the Alpina take on the engine is wonderfully flexible and can both trickle along at 800rpm in 5th or howl readily - it's very free-revving, and utterly loves the 5-7K band.
Put it this way, I certainly don't regret my choice of purchase - from a hunt which included a few M5s.
Not as quick as an M5 ultimately, but far more stealthy/less-blatant, and has a level of ride compliance vs handling finesse that generally eludes BMW entirely.
The 3.3 has R&P steering and is really brisk-enough in manual form. In part this is because the 3.3 manual is 220Kg or more lighter that the average E39 540 and especially the average M5 - yes, really. And in part it's because the Alpina take on the engine is wonderfully flexible and can both trickle along at 800rpm in 5th or howl readily - it's very free-revving, and utterly loves the 5-7K band.
Put it this way, I certainly don't regret my choice of purchase - from a hunt which included a few M5s.
Edited by Huff on Wednesday 11th March 22:40
Mine's a V8 - as above really: didn't need a manual, so went for the B10. Handles as any e39, but rides really well, compared to the more focused M5, I feel. Just eats the miles, Dorset to Scotland effortlessly, been down to Spain, over to France & Germany with kids & bikes, it just takes everything in its stride. Ref the headlights: they're probably either new or refurbished, mine need doing soon. It's lovely, but big bucks for a 6 cylinder, imo.
Thanks for all the replies guys. I must admit, i'm a bit new to BMW's & I think I prefer the exclusivity of the B10 Alpina vs the E39 M5 (although I have not driven either yet). Already have my V8 fix with my Corvette so no real pressure to go V8 BMW (although interesting to hear what people think 3.3 vs 4.6).
Also interesting to hear that people think its a bit 'over priced'? Like I said new to BMW's & I appreciate that an Alpina or an e39 M5 will always be at a substantial preimum to say a 530i M sport. However I have seen B10's for £4000 & £8995. It appears to me they seem to be priced on spec & milage as opposed to year of production. There is a grey B10 for sale with a bright red interior for £3995 with around 140miles. Not really seen too many with sub 100k miles on the clock. I assume big milage will not be a problem on these engines?
Also interesting to hear that people think its a bit 'over priced'? Like I said new to BMW's & I appreciate that an Alpina or an e39 M5 will always be at a substantial preimum to say a 530i M sport. However I have seen B10's for £4000 & £8995. It appears to me they seem to be priced on spec & milage as opposed to year of production. There is a grey B10 for sale with a bright red interior for £3995 with around 140miles. Not really seen too many with sub 100k miles on the clock. I assume big milage will not be a problem on these engines?
To what extent (greater / lesser) is the E39 B10 Alpina (3.3 & V8) 'hand built' ie where the bog standard E39 BMW's shipped to the Alpina factory where by they are stripped & fettled lovingly by the Alpina tech's revamping suspension & remapping the engine etc . Or is this just a fallacy & they were actually built in the BMW main factory side by side with the E39 530i's & an Alpina badge was stuck on the car as it crossed the production line by someone in an Alpina overall?
Have a good look through the Alpina Registry for this kind of thing. The 3.2/3.3s started life as 528 SEs delivered to Alpina at Buchloe. The suspension springs, dampers and geometry are bespoke (extra adjusters at the rear, different geo settings all round, plus the wheels of course); the engine is a bored & stroked unit based not on the delivered (alloy) engine but the cast steel S52 block used in American M3s plus different (stroked) steel crank. No M52 nikasil issue! Pistons and rings by Mahle to suit custom bore. Head - starts life as standard item but with 15hours of handporting. Alpina's own cams ground to their specs. Exhaust manifold, again S52 item. Inlet manifold, Alpina's own - different runner length and it is a machined ally casting, not plastic.
So hardly a BMW production item! That said, all the service parts are BMW, the list of euivalents is easy to find (and Sytner or youe local BMW dealer can source anything), so not much in the of 'M' tax - unless its front discs and pads for a V8S you are wanting...
So hardly a BMW production item! That said, all the service parts are BMW, the list of euivalents is easy to find (and Sytner or youe local BMW dealer can source anything), so not much in the of 'M' tax - unless its front discs and pads for a V8S you are wanting...
The BMW E39 530i is one of the best all round cars they have built imo, and B10 3.3 is that next level up, 280bhp comes alive when its up in the 3500-4000 rpm range, and with less weight on the front end than the V8 it feels more of a drivers car yet can still be comfortable on a long journey.
The prices for these cars are anywhere from 4k to 13.5k at the moment, so this car is not particularly overpriced, its just at the higher end of the market, so for what it is worth, these cars are priced according to age/mileage/spec, and obviously you will pay a premium for any 'exclusive' car. And depending on why you are buying it, will determine whether you think its worth buying, if your buying to keep it for a year and have some fun then knock it on, i would say, buy one with double the miles for half the price.... BUT, if you are looking to keep it for a long time, then you should always try and buy the lowest mileage best spec you can afford.
The prices for these cars are anywhere from 4k to 13.5k at the moment, so this car is not particularly overpriced, its just at the higher end of the market, so for what it is worth, these cars are priced according to age/mileage/spec, and obviously you will pay a premium for any 'exclusive' car. And depending on why you are buying it, will determine whether you think its worth buying, if your buying to keep it for a year and have some fun then knock it on, i would say, buy one with double the miles for half the price.... BUT, if you are looking to keep it for a long time, then you should always try and buy the lowest mileage best spec you can afford.
Sorry, got another Alpina question...... Re the 3.3ltr switchtronic steering wheel. Does anyone know if they can be reconditioned (the leather seems quite worn on a few of these cars wheels). I was wondering if they can be profesionally recovered bearing in mind they have various buttons on them.
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