RE: Alpina B5 Touring: Review
Discussion
DoubleD said:
Philv8s said:
It’s your view, but you are wrong, just ask the nice man at the DVLA and they will confirm they are a manufacturer not a tuner. I’m sure they know more about these matters than you or I.
Well to me its a bmw with a couple of modifications Where is your nearest Alpina showroom? Or do you have to go to BMW first? If they are a standalone manufacturer, one would think they have their own dealer network, rather than going through BMW dealer network, no?
Not any BMW dealer Ross, just Sytners are licensed to import Alpina’s. You are free to take your Alpina to any BMW garage for warranty work though.
As stated earlier on in the thread, due to the unique setup between the two companies many people can’t get their heads around two co existing manufacturers working this closely together.
I’m off now to drive my factory standard Alpina
As stated earlier on in the thread, due to the unique setup between the two companies many people can’t get their heads around two co existing manufacturers working this closely together.
I’m off now to drive my factory standard Alpina
Love an Alpina, always have always will.
One gripe I have, they always use an SE steering wheel. I appreciate all cars are probably based on the SE model, but I think the M-Sport steering wheels of the last 10 years look so much better and more in keeping with the Alpina brand.
Still wouldn't stop me buying one though!
One gripe I have, they always use an SE steering wheel. I appreciate all cars are probably based on the SE model, but I think the M-Sport steering wheels of the last 10 years look so much better and more in keeping with the Alpina brand.
Still wouldn't stop me buying one though!
E65Ross said:
DoubleD said:
Philv8s said:
It’s your view, but you are wrong, just ask the nice man at the DVLA and they will confirm they are a manufacturer not a tuner. I’m sure they know more about these matters than you or I.
Well to me its a bmw with a couple of modifications Where is your nearest Alpina showroom? Or do you have to go to BMW first? If they are a standalone manufacturer, one would think they have their own dealer network, rather than going through BMW dealer network, no?
E65Ross said:
DoubleD said:
Philv8s said:
It’s your view, but you are wrong, just ask the nice man at the DVLA and they will confirm they are a manufacturer not a tuner. I’m sure they know more about these matters than you or I.
Well to me its a bmw with a couple of modifications Where is your nearest Alpina showroom? Or do you have to go to BMW first? If they are a standalone manufacturer, one would think they have their own dealer network, rather than going through BMW dealer network, no?
DoubleD said:
If they built there own car then I would look at them as a manufacturer, but they dont, they take a part built car and bolt on some parts.
Yes, surely that's the case? They take a BMW and tune it/do chassis work and say they manufactured a car? Doesn't 'manufacture' imply some sort of large scale operation?popeyewhite said:
DoubleD said:
If they built there own car then I would look at them as a manufacturer, but they dont, they take a part built car and bolt on some parts.
Yes, surely that's the case? They take a BMW and tune it/do chassis work and say they manufactured a car? Doesn't 'manufacture' imply some sort of large scale operation?4. Manufacture, assemble, fabricate apply to processes in industry. Manufacture, originally to make by hand, now means to make by machine or by industrial process: to manufacture rubber tires. To assemble is to fit together the manufactured parts of something mechanical: to assemble an automobile.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/manufacture
The issue is more blurred when pagani for example make maybe 15-20 cars a year but I am sure you would agree they are a manufacturer!
Some Alpina are more Alpina than others aswell, some may be easily viewed as a lightly tuned version of the BMW donor car. Where as some Alpina have virtually custom built engines, exhaust, suspension, gearbox, suspension, brakes and interior. It’s a spectrum of Alpinaness to deal with.
Scale wise they produce about 2500 cars a year for th global market so are very small fry in the grand scheme of things.
Some Alpina are more Alpina than others aswell, some may be easily viewed as a lightly tuned version of the BMW donor car. Where as some Alpina have virtually custom built engines, exhaust, suspension, gearbox, suspension, brakes and interior. It’s a spectrum of Alpinaness to deal with.
Scale wise they produce about 2500 cars a year for th global market so are very small fry in the grand scheme of things.
I agree they are officially a manufacturer, but it's hard to see how they differ, in theory, from BMW M in terms of being a manufacturer..... Both use base cars but modify them heavily.
The Pagani argument doesn't make sense because they don't start with a base car. Where would you find Huarya interior bits? Stick a cover over a Pagani logo and people aren't going to think it's anything else, stick a cover over an Alpina badge and people will think it's a BMW.
The Pagani argument doesn't make sense because they don't start with a base car. Where would you find Huarya interior bits? Stick a cover over a Pagani logo and people aren't going to think it's anything else, stick a cover over an Alpina badge and people will think it's a BMW.
They keep the BMW badge on the car Ross as a homage to the donor/partnership of the companies! If you see an Alpina boot or bonnet roundel it is an eBay special! Complex I know.
I didn’t really get the Alpina thing until I owned one.
After I sold my first I got a BMW 760, sold it in less than a year to get back into another Alpina! as many other Alpina owners find, once bitten the Alpina thing is a magic recipe.
I believe there an above average repeat ownership of the marque so they must be doing something right.
My first Alpina is for sale currently
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
And here is my current one.
I didn’t really get the Alpina thing until I owned one.
After I sold my first I got a BMW 760, sold it in less than a year to get back into another Alpina! as many other Alpina owners find, once bitten the Alpina thing is a magic recipe.
I believe there an above average repeat ownership of the marque so they must be doing something right.
My first Alpina is for sale currently
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
And here is my current one.
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