RE: 110k-old Alpina B6S: Reader's Car of the Week
Friday 17th August 2018
Alpina B6S: Reader's Car of the Week
Taking a punt on a 110k-old Alpina is risky business. But for this PHer, it appears to have paid off
The thing about performance cars is they’re often driven rather hard. Yes, they’re designed and built for it, but there’s always a risk a fast machine is only a matter of miles away from the sort of repair bill that causes petrolhead insomnia. It’s for this reason many of us cower at the thought of a hot high-miler before reading the advert description. But in some cases, that means we could be missing out on a fantastic purchase opportunity.
PHer Philv8s seems to be among the campers that have bagged themselves a good’un when taking a punt on a high-mileage performance machine. He purchased a 110,000-mile-old Alpina B6S cabriolet back in January, and now, seven months later, he has avoided financial ruin and maintains that this 530hp supercharged V8-powered Alpina is still a welcome addition to the driveway.
The car's not been without its problems, of course. It recently suffered an intermittent start issue that left no fault codes in the computer and appeared completely random. But Philv8s tracked down the cause to a failing integrated supply module. £70 later he had a new one fitted and…so far so good.
In fact, Philv8s has done such a fine job of looking after his B6S that it’s just won a concours award. So while many of us would have been scared off by the prospect of running a high-end machine of this mileage, this PHer has shown that mileage needn’t be a cause for rejection if the car is right. Well done Phil!
Discussion
110,000 miles is nothing, why is everyone scared by mileage, why is it such a big deal? My M3 has done over 80,000 miles in 2.5 years and feels the same as the day I drove off the forecourt with 12 miles on the clock at the end of the year it'll be over 100k and it won't be falling apart.
Cars are built to be driven it's what they do.....
Cars are built to be driven it's what they do.....
Wills2 said:
110,000 miles is nothing, why is everyone scared by mileage, why is it such a big deal? My M3 has done over 80,000 miles in 2.5 years and feels the same as the day I drove off the forecourt with 12 miles on the clock at the end of the year it'll be over 100k and it won't be falling apart.
Cars are built to be driven it's what they do.....
I agree, however condition is largely dependent on conditions the car is driven in. My E39 M5 was driven in North scotland for 4 years, and the bodywork is the worse on any similar BMW I have ever seen, put down to the salt on the roads + mileage in said conditions.Cars are built to be driven it's what they do.....
110 000 miles of summertime driving and long cruises is a very different proposition to daily driver throughout the year.
Personally I have always bought cars on their condition and never been that bothered about mileages. So long as they've had regular oil changes anyway. BMW know how to build some of the best engines out there and 100k isn't too much of a concern when properly maintained.
Whilst this isn't my particular type of car, it's clearly been owned by enthusiastic drivers who have looked after it.
Whilst this isn't my particular type of car, it's clearly been owned by enthusiastic drivers who have looked after it.
British Beef said:
I agree, however condition is largely dependent on conditions the car is driven in. My E39 M5 was driven in North scotland for 4 years, and the bodywork is the worse on any similar BMW I have ever seen, put down to the salt on the roads + mileage in said conditions.
110 000 miles of summertime driving and long cruises is a very different proposition to daily driver throughout the year.
My car is in the north of England and gets driven no matter what the weather and is kept outside all year, snow/rain/hail whatever and apart from a few stone chips the car is mint...mileage isn't an issue. 110 000 miles of summertime driving and long cruises is a very different proposition to daily driver throughout the year.
The age of the car in the article will have more of a bearing on condition than the mileage.
Wills2 said:
110,000 miles is nothing, why is everyone scared by mileage, why is it such a big deal? My M3 has done over 80,000 miles in 2.5 years and feels the same as the day I drove off the forecourt with 12 miles on the clock at the end of the year it'll be over 100k and it won't be falling apart.
Cars are built to be driven it's what they do.....
80,000 mile over 2.5 years in a brand new car is very different to 80,000 mile over 2.5 years in an 11 year old car. I'd be surprised if you'd said a 2 year old car on 80k felt tired tbh, I'd expect it to feel brand new still.Cars are built to be driven it's what they do.....
e30m3Mark said:
BMW know how to build some of the best engines out there and 100k isn't too much of a concern when properly maintained.
They are lovely engines to use, but in no way are BMW engines reliable. Swirl flaps, HPFP, turbos, VANOS, big ends, water pumps, valve train issues, oil seals, the x20i engine generally etc etc. I love them and have owned many, but would never say that a BMW engine is reliable from sadly very painful experience. If you read the thread, the only reason the gamble paid off is because of the warranty. Without, it would be the standard and well trodden road to financial ruin. Definitely a good advert for the warranty though - no quibbles.
EML - incorrect plugs and coils
EML - new cats and manifolds on both banks
Over consuming oil - in workshop for 3 months, new rocker covers, gaskets, vacuum pump and new supercharger
Totalled £13k apparently.
You still have to have deep pockets when you buy an expensive and exotic car, no matter how much, or little, you pay for it.
EML - incorrect plugs and coils
EML - new cats and manifolds on both banks
Over consuming oil - in workshop for 3 months, new rocker covers, gaskets, vacuum pump and new supercharger
Totalled £13k apparently.
You still have to have deep pockets when you buy an expensive and exotic car, no matter how much, or little, you pay for it.
Smitters said:
If you read the thread, the only reason the gamble paid off is because of the warranty. Without, it would be the standard and well trodden road to financial ruin. Definitely a good advert for the warranty though - no quibbles.
EML - incorrect plugs and coils
EML - new cats and manifolds on both banks
Over consuming oil - in workshop for 3 months, new rocker covers, gaskets, vacuum pump and new supercharger
Totalled £13k apparently.
You still have to have deep pockets when you buy an expensive and exotic car, no matter how much, or little, you pay for it.
Correct. EML - incorrect plugs and coils
EML - new cats and manifolds on both banks
Over consuming oil - in workshop for 3 months, new rocker covers, gaskets, vacuum pump and new supercharger
Totalled £13k apparently.
You still have to have deep pockets when you buy an expensive and exotic car, no matter how much, or little, you pay for it.
The point of the article seems to be that well used cars need not be money pits. And then illustrate the point with a car that has had thousands spent on it (albeit under warranty).
I was expecting “I’ve spent nothing on it beyond a service and petrol”......
Notwithstanding a great car that I hope brings the owner much enjoyment
v8s in the username suggests here's a person who may know their ALPINAs 
The supercharger issues on all of this generation is what gives me the willies, there have been numerous revisions but they're still vulnerable to incorrect servicing. If a BMW dealer puts the oil filter on that the standard BMW base car would get, not the ALPINA specified one, then the supercharger will suffer from oil starvation and fail over time. Got so common that they produced an update with a sodding great sticker to go next to the oil filter to warn the mechanic not to do it IIRC.
Not something a new owner can easily prove so warranty is a must.
Do still love me a supercharged V8 though
The supercharger issues on all of this generation is what gives me the willies, there have been numerous revisions but they're still vulnerable to incorrect servicing. If a BMW dealer puts the oil filter on that the standard BMW base car would get, not the ALPINA specified one, then the supercharger will suffer from oil starvation and fail over time. Got so common that they produced an update with a sodding great sticker to go next to the oil filter to warn the mechanic not to do it IIRC.
Not something a new owner can easily prove so warranty is a must.
Do still love me a supercharged V8 though
Good spot on my user name. I used to own a B10 V8s so this is not my first Alpina.
To assist with the comments above, I only got this car because it came with the approved used warranty which obviously was a gamble on my behalf that payed off. I have had the car over 2 years now I fact and since the initial problems were resolved it’s basically cost me just routine service costs apart from the mentioned module I swapped over last month.
As with any high performance car of any marque, the ability to produce big bills is always a possibility but I have owned enough high milers to buy with my eyes wide open and cautiously.
I have now dropped off the BMW warranty scheme as I feel the car has proved reliable enough to risk the odd hiccup..
To assist with the comments above, I only got this car because it came with the approved used warranty which obviously was a gamble on my behalf that payed off. I have had the car over 2 years now I fact and since the initial problems were resolved it’s basically cost me just routine service costs apart from the mentioned module I swapped over last month.
As with any high performance car of any marque, the ability to produce big bills is always a possibility but I have owned enough high milers to buy with my eyes wide open and cautiously.
I have now dropped off the BMW warranty scheme as I feel the car has proved reliable enough to risk the odd hiccup..
As another said, no mention of purchase price.
Say, for example, the guy only paid £5000 for the car, it would hopefully leave loads in the coffers for any potential issues, presuming that they wouldn’t be covered by the warranty.
Without a purchase price it makes it difficult to ascertain how ‘cheap’ the car has been over a set period of time imho.
As an aside, I agree on the mileage vs condition issue.
A month ago I sold my Audi A4 1.8T Quattro Sport.
It had covered 248k and had received at least 4 cambelt changes and more oil and filter changes than you could shake a stick at. Fully serviced every year too, and the body had only 3 tiny spots of surface rust.
Personally I’d rather own a car that looked like it was out of Mad Max and had mechanicals that were meticulously maintained than the other way round...
Say, for example, the guy only paid £5000 for the car, it would hopefully leave loads in the coffers for any potential issues, presuming that they wouldn’t be covered by the warranty.
Without a purchase price it makes it difficult to ascertain how ‘cheap’ the car has been over a set period of time imho.
As an aside, I agree on the mileage vs condition issue.
A month ago I sold my Audi A4 1.8T Quattro Sport.
It had covered 248k and had received at least 4 cambelt changes and more oil and filter changes than you could shake a stick at. Fully serviced every year too, and the body had only 3 tiny spots of surface rust.
Personally I’d rather own a car that looked like it was out of Mad Max and had mechanicals that were meticulously maintained than the other way round...
zedx19 said:
80,000 mile over 2.5 years in a brand new car is very different to 80,000 mile over 2.5 years in an 11 year old car. I'd be surprised if you'd said a 2 year old car on 80k felt tired tbh, I'd expect it to feel brand new still.
That's why I said the age is more important than mileage, mileage doesn't matter, age does, as that's what degrades components. As an example I have an 11 year old Z4 with half the mileage of the M3 and that really is starting to show its age but if it had 100k on it wouldn't make a difference, it would be no worse for the additional miles. Owner, don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the car, or your decision making. The premise of the article is it's a good trouble free experience, which isn't quite the story of your thread.
I bottled a 96 C4S purchase because I was spending every penny and had to buy private. I was acutely aware the parts prices were reflective of the original purchase price, not my purchase price! A no quibble warranty from a respected dealer would have been different, but was 3k more, which I just didn't have. Got a 350z instead, for 1/4 the price. Dumbest decision ever.
I bottled a 96 C4S purchase because I was spending every penny and had to buy private. I was acutely aware the parts prices were reflective of the original purchase price, not my purchase price! A no quibble warranty from a respected dealer would have been different, but was 3k more, which I just didn't have. Got a 350z instead, for 1/4 the price. Dumbest decision ever.
Wills2 said:
110,000 miles is nothing, why is everyone scared by mileage, why is it such a big deal? My M3 has done over 80,000 miles in 2.5 years and feels the same as the day I drove off the forecourt with 12 miles on the clock at the end of the year it'll be over 100k and it won't be falling apart.
Cars are built to be driven it's what they do.....
Cars are built to be driven it's what they do.....
Unless this is some admission that modern cars can't handle the miles, which I don't believe.I remember years ago buying an E28 M Series with 157,000 on the clock. Ran like a dream for the 10 years I then owned her for.
Fire99 said:
Wills2 said:
110,000 miles is nothing, why is everyone scared by mileage, why is it such a big deal? My M3 has done over 80,000 miles in 2.5 years and feels the same as the day I drove off the forecourt with 12 miles on the clock at the end of the year it'll be over 100k and it won't be falling apart.
Cars are built to be driven it's what they do.....
Cars are built to be driven it's what they do.....
Unless this is some admission that modern cars can't handle the miles, which I don't believe.I remember years ago buying an E28 M Series with 157,000 on the clock. Ran like a dream for the 10 years I then owned her for.
Very nice Alpina - I was close to getting a B6 but went for the practicality of the 5 series and now have a B5 S with the same engine. Clever tech from Alpina in terms of supercharger efficiency and maintenance of boost on coming off the throttle ready for the next throttle application. The torque is really something else.
Such a complete car for the real world and serious contender for one car for all purposes.
Prices seem to now reflect the rarity and all round package. I too would struggle to replace mine with anything other than a newer version but they got a bit heavy for my liking after the E60.
We have completed two European family road trips in ours and managed to stop by the factory in Buchloe on one of them. I have huge respect for Alpina but can’t help thinking that the difference has reduced between them and the M cars somewhat.
Such a complete car for the real world and serious contender for one car for all purposes.
Prices seem to now reflect the rarity and all round package. I too would struggle to replace mine with anything other than a newer version but they got a bit heavy for my liking after the E60.
We have completed two European family road trips in ours and managed to stop by the factory in Buchloe on one of them. I have huge respect for Alpina but can’t help thinking that the difference has reduced between them and the M cars somewhat.
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