Alpina Roadster S

[Pondrew]

Next question is who on here has one for sale or is considering selling? I've seen the ones on autotrader etc.

This one is very well known on the forum and seems to be a realistic price..
viewtopic.php?t=144021

[True-Blue]

Number5 & Pondy have summed it up nicely.

Smooth, lots of torque, very tractable engine, power to weight ratio that is very close to the M… won’t be left behind on the road, and I wouldn’t want to track mine. I would think only a very low % of M’s get tracked anyway, so which is faster on the track is ‘pub chat’.

Properly rare, makes you feel special, more than the sum of its parts. Cheap-ish road tax, sensible service and parts costs.

Is it worth the significant premium over an Si, that’s a very personal thing but it is to me personally.

[mmm-five]

My e34 M5 cost £52k new...in 1994

Bloody hell. My house cost that in 1994!

I think I was earning <£200/week back then - so about 5x my gross earnings.

[pvr]

Number5 & Pondy have summed it up nicely.

Smooth, lots of torque, very tractable engine, power to weight ratio that is very close to the M… won’t be left behind on the road, and I wouldn’t want to track mine. I would think only a very low % of M’s get tracked anyway, so which is faster on the track is ‘pub chat’.

Properly rare, makes you feel special, more than the sum of its parts. Cheap-ish road tax, sensible service and parts costs.

Is it worth the significant premium over an Si, that’s a very personal thing but it is to me personally.

It is special, no doubt about it, but the price differential is a bit steep with the one linked to.

My 3.0si also came from Aberdeen, also 91k on it, same colour combo but I paid 6 for mine whilst the Alpina is up for over 16. For that type of upgrade, the difference in cost is too steep.

[True-Blue]

Number5 & Pondy have summed it up nicely.

Smooth, lots of torque, very tractable engine, power to weight ratio that is very close to the M… won’t be left behind on the road, and I wouldn’t want to track mine. I would think only a very low % of M’s get tracked anyway, so which is faster on the track is ‘pub chat’.

Properly rare, makes you feel special, more than the sum of its parts. Cheap-ish road tax, sensible service and parts costs.

Is it worth the significant premium over an Si, that’s a very personal thing but it is to me personally.

It is special, no doubt about it, but the price differential is a bit steep with the one linked to.

My 3.0si also came from Aberdeen, also 91k on it, same colour combo but I paid 6 for mine whilst the Alpina is up for over 16. For that type of upgrade, the difference in cost is too steep.

Apples and Oranges…

[Pondrew]

It is special, no doubt about it, but the price differential is a bit steep with the one linked to.

But maybe the prices should be compared to the 'M'? If you do that, the prices are around the same.
Besides, the Roadster S was probably £15k more when new than an Si.

As Mrs Artois (or Stella to me) once famously said; they are "reassuringly expensive".

[True-Blue]

It is special, no doubt about it, but the price differential is a bit steep with the one linked to.

But maybe the prices should be compared to the 'M'? If you do that, the prices are around the same.
Besides, the Roadster S was probably £15k more when new than an Si.

As Mrs Artois (or Stella to me) once famously said; they are "reassuringly expensive".

In reality, if any E85 achieves true ‘classic’ status it’ll be the Alpina.

Only 167 made in RHD for the uk, circa 400 globally, hand-built engine, individually numbered etc.

Can’t compare an Alpina to an Si… totally different ownership proposition.

I’ve stopped looking at Z4 adverts, other than the odd one here and there that people have linked to… and then it’s only out of curiosity

[pvr]

The one linked has a very high mileage, but it is priced at models with around the 65k miles.

When you see an M advert with those miles, it is substantially cheaper than a lower miles version.

[True-Blue]

The one linked has a very high mileage, but it is priced at models with around the 65k miles.

When you see an M advert with those miles, it is substantially cheaper than a lower miles version.

Undoubtedly M’s do command lower prices than Alpina’s (E85’s). It’s a terrible time of year to be trying to sell any 2 seater sports car IMHO, let alone M’s and Alpina’s. Probably a good time of year to buy, if you can find the right car.

I’m not sure closing in on 100k miles is ‘high’ but obviously this does impact the value of M’s and Alpina’s more than Si’s (comparatively). I’m not sure how many Z4M’s there are to choose from, but I’m fairly sure it was a lot more than 167. You might be right, the asking price might be a touch ambitious as we approach December, but it looks a cracking example (I prefer Blue or Silver, but I like the black & red leather).

Then you’ve got the road tax (most M’s being £700p.a.), fuel economy (My Alpina isn’t much thirstier than a 3.0Si in reality). Consumables, brake disks for a Z4M are much more expensive than an Alpina for example.

The issue with Alpina pricing is it’s an old car, and there are so few for sale at any point in time that comparables are really difficult. Yes, it’s a big wedge for an E85, but there only around 120 +/- left.

That particular car has forum history for about 15 of its years… all points worthy of consideration

[pvr]

Like for like, the M has always fetched more money. It is generally a couple of thousand more expensive having looked at both of them over the last 10 years or so and seeing the price trends. The Alpina is cheaper to own, that is for sure, as the servicing costs are the same as the 3.0 (dealer prices at least) and the road tax the same. Having had an M, I would like to have an Alpina as well as it is very different. I don’t need the lsd that the M has as I would not use the car like
I do my Porsche.

I did briefly look at that Alpina but as the mileage is way too high for me and certainly my for that price, I will keep an eye over time for a lower mileage one (and only a garaged model)

[Mr Tidy]

I’m not sure how many Z4M’s there are to choose from, but I’m fairly sure it was a lot more than 167. Y

Yes the UK got 614 M Roadsters, and somewhat surprisingly only 695 manual 3.0Si Roadsters!

[mr wilks]

I’m not sure how many Z4M’s there are to choose from, but I’m fairly sure it was a lot more than 167. Y

Yes the UK got 614 M Roadsters, and somewhat surprisingly only 695 manual 3.0Si Roadsters!

Where is that info from regarding the manual Si 3.0 ? Seems way short of the mark

[Mr Tidy]

Where is that info from regarding the manual Si 3.0 ? Seems way short of the mark

It was from this database compiled by a forum member back when free VIN decoders were still available!

http://perso.numericable.fr/tonyz4c/index30si.html

[Mynewz4]

So has anyone got a guide for converting the Roadster s Alpina to ulez compliant. I understand it's possible and not too complex. Don't want to buy one and not be able to enter London without a huge charge. Anyone here actually done it themselves and personally knows how it's done?