Differences between the Roadster S and the standard Z4

Number5 · Post by **Number5** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 2:35 pm

I've heard rumours that over 1,000 changes were made during the conversion of a standard 3.0 Z4 to the Alpina Roadster....

Is there a simple but comprehensive list anywhere, stating exactly what those changes were ?

GuidoK · Post by **GuidoK** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 2:49 pm

for the 1000 changes.... do they count different engine as 1 or every individual part in the engine as 1?

How many changes do you count?

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 2:56 pm

Not that I've ever seen...

The major areas that were changed are
- Engine
- Gearbox
- Exhaust
- Front Suspension
- Front Brakes
- Wheels
- Tyres (MPS non-runflats)
- Front & rear spoilers
- Seats
- Interior Trim
- Instrumentation

That's just off the top of my head so there's probably some categories that I've missed

The complete list will probably involve individual items such as all the interior trim changes and ancillary items such as the custom holder for the mobility kit in the boot

85genius · Post by **85genius** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 2:57 pm

GuidoK wrote:for the 1000 changes.... do they count different engine as 1 or every individual part in the engine as 1?
How many changes do you count?

1000 seems a lot but like you said probably were counting components

4 x Wheels
4 x Wheel centre caps
4 x Tyres
4 x Tyre valves
4 x Tyre valve caps
20 x Wheel bolts

That's 40 to start with... Easy for bits to start adding up and that's just with the wheels

GuidoK · Post by **GuidoK** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:00 pm

If you count every single stitch in different colour in the interior.....
Sure 10000+ changes

Whats the difference in front suspension& brakes btw?

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:04 pm

GuidoK wrote:If you count every single stitch in different colour in the interior.....
Sure 10000+ changes

Whats the difference in front suspension& brakes btw?

The engine is heavier so I would assume it had stronger springs/dampers & bigger brakes?
Just guessing, mind you

Rob

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:05 pm

Oh and, at the gross rather than component, level, there was also

- The steering wheel
- Door Trims

@GuidoK - They'd count the engine as 1 as it's a different engine rather than a lot of individual changes to the existing engine

Whereas for something like the front brakes, they'd count the Rotors, calipers and pads separately....

as it happens, if you look in this review it says that 'ALPINA made over 2000 alterations and improvements to the cabin of the Z4, most of them unseen' - note that says to the cabin so doesn't even include the major mechanical components

Post by **Marlon** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:10 pm

Blimey this is an eye opener - perhaps its easier to list what's the same between the cars

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:17 pm

GuidoK wrote:If you count every single stitch in different colour in the interior.....
Sure 10000+ changes

TBH Journalists love big numbers so they'll quote something to sound impressive - that said, there are a hell of a lot of changes over the donor car. Alpina even changed all the padding on the seat frames because they weren't happy with the comfort/feel of the original BMW seat pads

GuidoK wrote:Whats the difference in front suspension& brakes btw?

Front suspension uses (I think it's Bilstein) dampers made to Alpina specs - probably nothing more than specific damping/spring rates but if you have to replace them the OEM replacements are very expensive, hence why people tend to replace the whole lot with a B12 kit or KW kit

Brakes - see viewtopic.php?f=50&t=87856

GuidoK · Post by **GuidoK** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:37 pm

PerryGunn wrote: Whereas for something like the front brakes, they'd count the Rotors, calipers and pads separately....

as it happens, if you look in this review it says that 'ALPINA made over 2000 alterations and improvements to the cabin of the Z4, most of them unseen' - note that says to the cabin so doesn't even include the major mechanical components

Ok but I'm trying to understand the significance of the differences. I mean I read here that changing wheelbolts count as 20 changes, but an engine as one. That doesnt compute for me

I cant even imangine 2000 components in the interior tbh and I think I've taken it apart pretty much, so I'd like to know how they come up with these numbers. A number on its own is pretty insignificant if you really think about it.
I mean different rotors... is that one or two changes? there are 2 front rotors. And 4 front pads.
As you said, the /marketing department loves big numbers as some people seem to be impressed by numbers.

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:45 pm

GuidoK wrote:
PerryGunn wrote: Whereas for something like the front brakes, they'd count the Rotors, calipers and pads separately....

as it happens, if you look in this review it says that 'ALPINA made over 2000 alterations and improvements to the cabin of the Z4, most of them unseen' - note that says to the cabin so doesn't even include the major mechanical components
Ok but I'm trying to understand the significance of the differences. I mean I read here that changing wheelbolts count as 20 changes, but an engine as one. That doesnt compute for me
I cant even imangine 2000 components in the interior tbh and I think I've taken it apart pretty much, so I'd like to know how they come up with these numbers. A number on its own is pretty insignificant if you really think about it.

That's why I said that journalists like to quote big numbers - I've never seen Alpina give a figure for the number of changes they made. The statement above about wheelbolts and my statement regarding the engine & brakes are just our opinions on how they could be counted, they shouldn't be taken as gospel

This is why, IMO, it's probably best to just list the major areas/items that were changed and not worry about if 'wheels' should be 1 item or 160 items - in the real world 'it's got Alpina wheels' is probably enough...

markeg · Post by **markeg** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:47 pm

Don't forget that some of the changes were from a "stock" 3.0i, so are not Alpina-specific but just raised the base level. For example, the following are included (from the Alpina forum site):

Metallic Paint
Electric folding roof
19” Dynamic Alloy wheels
ALPINA front apron
ALPINA 3 piece rear boot lid spoiler
ALPINA up rated suspension
Stainless steel exhaust system
Electric seats with driver’s side memory function
Heated Seats
ALPINA logo’d wind deflector
Dynamic Traction Control
ALPINA trimmed interior with ALPINA logos and rhombs on the seats
ALPINA multifunction steering wheel with co-ordinated stitching and rhombs
ALPINA leather gear knob
BMW Business CD Head unit
6 Disc CD Changer
Automatic Air-Conditioning
Airbag deactivation switch
ISOFix front passenger seat.
Driver & Passenger cupholders
Park Distance Control
Headlamp Wash
Cruise Control

plus the "lux" standard (which most went for) also included:

Bluetooth phone preparation
DVD Satellite Navigation
Xenon Headlamps

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:53 pm

markeg wrote:Don't forget that some of the changes were from a "stock" 3.0i, so are not Alpina-specific but just raised the base level. For example, the following are included (from the Alpina forum site):
[lots of stuff, some of which would have been standard on all UK cars]

It's a minefield...

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 3:55 pm

...and I blame Number 5 for starting it...

AlpinaRoadsterS · Post by **AlpinaRoadsterS** » Fri Jun 03, 2016 4:09 pm

All parts in the Roadster S parts catalogue are different from a normal Z4 3.0.
So you just have to count the parts there