E60 Alpina?

[st_files]

Hi Guys. Apart from the badge on the steering wheel & wheels, what difference is there between a standard 550i M Sport & a 550i M Sport Alpina (eg http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1309961.htm)?

[MattOz]

That's a 550i M Sport with Alpina alloys and a badge on the steering wheel. It's not actually a bona fide Alpina. Additionally, a proper Alpina wouldn't have the Sport steering wheel IIRC.

[NicoG]

Despite the fact that Alpina produce Bespoke cars in their own right, Alpina accessories have long since been available from Dealer as 'dealer-fit' options.

I would hazard a guess that the original owner of the 550i had his arm twisted for some such dealer fitted extras and parted with (lots of) cash for the privilege.

I have noticed a fair few 550i Sprts with Alpina add-ons

This goes way back, a colleague had an E39 528iSport with Alpina wheels,interior accesories and Alpina front valence all fitted from new at the delear. An my first E30 M3 had Alpina Wheels and side stripes fitted from new (with receipts) but was NOT a B63.5s for example, the only official Alpina E30 M3

Not to be confused with an 'genuine' Alpina Vehicle which is something different. Or indeed the sytner built lisenced cars like the Alpina B2.5 E36 with uprated cams and inlet manifold fitted in limited numbers under lisence by Sytner Nottingham in the early nineties...


HTH

Nick

Edited by NicoG on Tuesday 24th November 13:21

[jamoor]

Indeed, a proper alpina would have a massive supercharger under the bonnet

[st_files]

Cheers fellas....why try and paint something to be something it isnt??

I couldnt drive that 550 around without putting the originals back...

[Slurms]

st_files said:

Cheers fellas....why try and paint something to be something it isnt??

I couldnt drive that 550 around without putting the originals back...

It's depressingly common.. They must be keeping their fingers crossed that someone who doesn't know will think it's a desirable special edition..

[J888SXY]

I wish you could get one for that price. He doesn't seem to be passing it off as one though. But I'm pissed and 6000 miles away.

[jamoor]

Slurms said:

st_files said:

Cheers fellas....why try and paint something to be something it isnt??

I couldnt drive that 550 around without putting the originals back...

It's depressingly common.. They must be keeping their fingers crossed that someone who doesn't know will think it's a desirable special edition..

I am surprised people fall for that

[st_files]

jamoor said:

Slurms said:

st_files said:

Cheers fellas....why try and paint something to be something it isnt??

I couldnt drive that 550 around without putting the originals back...

It's depressingly common.. They must be keeping their fingers crossed that someone who doesn't know will think it's a desirable special edition..

I am surprised people fall for that

Its surprising that people dont research stuff like this.

I'm after a 550 but I am in no rush at all and can wait up to 18 months for the right one

[benny.c]

MattOz said:

Additionally, a proper Alpina wouldn't have the Sport steering wheel IIRC.

...and the badge on said steering wheel would have probably been put on straight too....

[rassi]

st_files said:

jamoor said:

Slurms said:

st_files said:

Cheers fellas....why try and paint something to be something it isnt??

I couldnt drive that 550 around without putting the originals back...

It's depressingly common.. They must be keeping their fingers crossed that someone who doesn't know will think it's a desirable special edition..

I am surprised people fall for that

Its surprising that people dont research stuff like this.

I'm after a 550 but I am in no rush at all and can wait up to 18 months for the right one

You would wait up to 18 months to find a 550?? They may not be as common as say a 535d but it is not as if it is THAT rare, I would have thought?

[st_files]

rassi said:

st_files said:

jamoor said:

Slurms said:

st_files said:

Cheers fellas....why try and paint something to be something it isnt??

I couldnt drive that 550 around without putting the originals back...

It's depressingly common.. They must be keeping their fingers crossed that someone who doesn't know will think it's a desirable special edition..

I am surprised people fall for that

Its surprising that people dont research stuff like this.

I'm after a 550 but I am in no rush at all and can wait up to 18 months for the right one

You would wait up to 18 months to find a 550?? They may not be as common as say a 535d but it is not as if it is THAT rare, I would have thought?

No, its not a question of rareness, more waiting for the price to drop some more - I'm hoping that the increasing petrol prices and launch of the next generation 5 series will deflate the value of these. I'm waiting for a decent black one, fully loaded 5/6/7 years old, full service history with less than 70k on the clock can be got for £12.5k or less....plus the fact that I lose some points off the licence next summer and I'm quite happy windowshopping for a while. I cant be the only one who enjoys the hunt almost as much as the kill (aka purchase)?