Alpina - handbuilt?
Discussion
Hand finished is more how i'd describe them
Your 'quality' mass produced BMW taken to Saville Row for a bit of cosmetic and mechanical fettling
The best of both worlds
Handmade cars = Often Problematic
Mass Produced cars (read Bentley GT these days!!) = Not that special
Your 'quality' mass produced BMW taken to Saville Row for a bit of cosmetic and mechanical fettling
The best of both worlds
Handmade cars = Often Problematic
Mass Produced cars (read Bentley GT these days!!) = Not that special
Edited by Mustard on Wednesday 23 April 12:41
I always thought the engines were stripped and after being re-bored hand built back together. Also they're more a cruising type of car, performance cruisers, unlimited.
ETA: I forget where I heard it but the wheels you see on virtually all Alpina models (the spokey ones) are specifically designed like that so the valve is protected. Alpina spent a s
t load of money on developing them as well.
ETA: I forget where I heard it but the wheels you see on virtually all Alpina models (the spokey ones) are specifically designed like that so the valve is protected. Alpina spent a s
t load of money on developing them as well.Edited by MK4 Slowride on Wednesday 23 April 14:25
Mustard said:
The best of both worlds
Totally agree. I have been running my Alpina B3S for 6 months now with no issues. Alpina are a manufacturer rather than a tuner but as officially the car is a BMW Alpina B3S it still comes under BMW warranty and all servicing can be done by BMW.In theory.
In practice, the local numpties at my dealership seem to have no clue what it is.
If you're considering one, I would advise you to drive one, fall in love and buy it. Go for the B10 V8S if you can, a hell of a lot of car for your money. Take a look at www.thealpinaregister.com for loads more info.
Mustard said:
Hand finished is more how i'd describe them
Your 'quality' mass produced BMW taken to Saville Row for a bit of cosmetic and mechanical fettling
The best of both worlds
Handmade cars = Often Problematic
Mass Produced cars (read Bentley GT these days!!) = Not that special
The basic changes are the wheels, suspension, gearbox (swap to switchtronic usually), interior and engine. All the engines are hand-built and they add on their own aero package to the car. I've been running my Roadster S as a daily driver for 11 months and 14k miles and it hasn't skipped a beat. You get the benefit too of standard BMW service intervals (although that does mean standard BMW customer service sometimes Your 'quality' mass produced BMW taken to Saville Row for a bit of cosmetic and mechanical fettling
The best of both worlds
Handmade cars = Often Problematic
Mass Produced cars (read Bentley GT these days!!) = Not that special
Edited by Mustard on Wednesday 23 April 12:41
)...Rod Rammage said:
B3Svert said:
Go for the B10 V8S if you can, a hell of a lot of car for your money.
Is it true that the V6 has rack and pinion steering but the V8 has recirculating ball steering?BMW Car magazine has a buyers guide to the car in this months issue. Alpina take a car from BMW, then add / improve the major performance parts, ie ECU's, suspension parts, pistons, exhausts, interior parts and wheels / body panels. Very few people ever regret owning an Alpina.
What you are buying is a bespoke car....engineered by BMW and then reengineered by Alpina who are registered car builders not aftermarket tuners. Once you have owned one you will probably never go back to a standard BMW again.
What you are buying is a bespoke car....engineered by BMW and then reengineered by Alpina who are registered car builders not aftermarket tuners. Once you have owned one you will probably never go back to a standard BMW again.
belleair302 said:
BMW Car magazine has a buyers guide to the car in this months issue. Alpina take a car from BMW, then add / improve the major performance parts, ie ECU's, suspension parts, pistons, exhausts, interior parts and wheels / body panels. Very few people ever regret owning an Alpina.
What you are buying is a bespoke car....engineered by BMW and then reengineered by Alpina who are registered car builders not aftermarket tuners. Once you have owned one you will probably never go back to a standard BMW again.
You swine.What you are buying is a bespoke car....engineered by BMW and then reengineered by Alpina who are registered car builders not aftermarket tuners. Once you have owned one you will probably never go back to a standard BMW again.
Now I want one badly.
Rod Rammage said:
belleair302 said:
BMW Car magazine has a buyers guide to the car in this months issue. Alpina take a car from BMW, then add / improve the major performance parts, ie ECU's, suspension parts, pistons, exhausts, interior parts and wheels / body panels. Very few people ever regret owning an Alpina.
What you are buying is a bespoke car....engineered by BMW and then reengineered by Alpina who are registered car builders not aftermarket tuners. Once you have owned one you will probably never go back to a standard BMW again.
You swine.What you are buying is a bespoke car....engineered by BMW and then reengineered by Alpina who are registered car builders not aftermarket tuners. Once you have owned one you will probably never go back to a standard BMW again.
Now I want one badly.
I run a B10 V8S and can vouch for how great a car it is. The V8 rumble alone when turning the key was enough to win me over. The car just goes, turns and stops beautifully. It delivers its 375bhp and 500Nm of torque in a silky smooth style, surprisingly unlike the M5.
As an overall proposition, I actually preferred it to the e39 M5.
As an overall proposition, I actually preferred it to the e39 M5.
I pine for an E39 B10 - the 3.3, rather than the 4.2, because I'd rather have a straight six than a V8.
280HP is more than enough to get me into plenty of trouble.
One day, one day...
ETA: This sort of thing: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/385975.htm
280HP is more than enough to get me into plenty of trouble.
One day, one day...
ETA: This sort of thing: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/385975.htm
Edited by CommanderJameson on Thursday 24th April 13:06
Rod Rammage said:
That'd make you moist, I reckon. Shame it's not black.
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