Alpina Market Watch

[Al_Pina]

Build: #287
Year 2005
Reg Plate: FJ55 HCU
Exterior Colour: Black
Interior Colour: Black
Spec: Non-Lux
Price: £22,995
Mileage: 33,400
Location: Loughborough
Trade Sale: https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12489290

[griffnut]

Looks a nice motor, but would it be a good buy at that price since it's not a more desirable Lux.

[Number5]

Looks a nice motor, but would it be a good buy at that price since it's not a more desirable Lux.

I’m not sure that a Lux would add a lot of value these days. I may be wrong but the two biggest differences with the Lux were the pop up Nav screen and Xenon headlights.

Considering the Nav is only 5 digit input and now 17 years out of date it doesn’t wow like it may have in 2004/5

Secondly, with a car of this age and type, would you be buying it with much night time driving in mind or more for a bit of summer/ Sunday afternoon fun and as a sitting investment ?

Lack of Nav means one less thing to go wrong on a ‘Classic’ car so neither of the above would really bother me now if it was the right car but that’s just my opinion

[griffnut]

My thoughts are purely fine weather driving, so night driving would be quite rare. I just thought that the Lux was the desired model having the options of Cruise Control/Nav/Xenons.

I will just have to go and have a look.

[PerryGunn]

My thoughts are purely fine weather driving, so night driving would be quite rare. I just thought that the Lux was the desired model having the options of Cruise Control/Nav/Xenons.

The UK cars were slightly at odds with the Alpina spec sheets as, when first released, there was just under £4k difference in price between the Std and Lux models and the Lux pack was supposed to include
- Park distance control
- wind deflector
- Isofix child seat preparation
- Xenon headlights
- Cruise control
- Sat Nav
- Bluetooth phone prep
- 6-CD changer
- Headlamp washers
- Alpina leather dash and door trims
- Multi-function steering wheel

but I don't recall seeing a UK car that didn't have PDC, wind deflector, MF steering wheel and the Alpina dash/door trims so the £4k didn't get you as much extra kit as it would on a LHD car.

[H14ytr]

I spoke to the previous owner of this car which is #287 and having driven 12 Alpina Roadsters and owning 2 he said it's the best example he's ever driven. I would have gone to view this one but it was a little out of my price range and have opted for one with higher mileage and some bits to get my teeth into. Definitely worth going to see if anyone wants a lower mileage example there is also the Alpina Register test car up for grabs in Liverpool currently which is #288 (Sterling Grey with only 28k on the clock).

Happy Hunting

[PerryGunn]

...there is also the Alpina Register test car up for grabs in Liverpool currently which is #288 (Sterling Grey with only 28k on the clock).

IMO, anyone looking at #288 needs to check it out carefully.

MOT history is a bit odd, it's fairly normal up to May 2011 but has only had two since then
Apr 2009 - 19,616 miles
May 2010 - 23,024 miles
May 2011 - 24,203 miles
Sep 2013 - 26,229 miles
Mar 2017 - 26,399 miles

Its last MOT would have expired in March 2018 so it shouldn't have been driven on UK roads since then. The large gaps between MOTs would lead me to expect that, unless it was trailered to a garage, it's unlikely to have been serviced to schedule.

It was up for sale in Feb 2017 @ £20k - couldn't have sold as according to DVLA it last changed hands in 2009. It may have been sitting in a collection somewhere but I'd definitely want a thorough mechanical inspection.

[H14ytr]

Hi Perry,

I spoke to the dealer (Richard Harris Cars) and he told me that the car has been in a private collection. The car is with a BMW specialist in the Wirral currently being re-commisioned (brakes, tyres replaced etc).
I also didn't view the car as it's up for 25k which again was out of my reach.

Cheers

[griffnut]

I spoke to the previous owner of this car which is #287 and having driven 12 Alpina Roadsters and owning 2 he said it's the best example he's ever driven. I would have gone to view this one but it was a little out of my price range and have opted for one with higher mileage and some bits to get my teeth into. Definitely worth going to see if anyone wants a lower mileage example there is also the Alpina Register test car up for grabs in Liverpool currently which is #288 (Sterling Grey with only 28k on the clock).

Happy Hunting

So, is he the one that bought the TVR Griffith 500 SE off James.

[H14ytr]

Yes Griffnut.

Great guy, very informative and honest about his previous roadster which is the one I have bought.

Cheers

[griffnut]

Yes Griffnut.

Great guy, very informative and honest about his previous roadster which is the one I have bought.

Cheers

On paper it looked like a nice car, and so it was.

[Al_Pina]

#287 now sold
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWWKIAFIMkc/

[peteslag]

Sytner are now auctioning #024 off in their closed dealer auctions. Sale runs to 11 Oct.

Looks like it isn't up to AUC standard:

The service history contains 4 x BMW main dealer visits up to 13.02.14
Last service 13.02.14 @ 42,899 miles - Stephen James BMW, Enfield
There is also a portfolio of repair invoices and MOT's

Exterior
The car would benefit from aprofessional machine polish to help remove light scratches and blemishes
The headlights are tarnished
Scuffs and stone chips to the front bumper
Corrosion to the bonnet edge (see photo)
Scratches to bonnet and front wings
Scratches and dents to doors and rear quarters
Soft top fabric needs a good clean
Scratches across the rear bumper
Rusting to the OSR wheel arch
Both door edges chipped
PDR dents for a dent specialist
The boot struts are weak and not holding the boot up
All 4 alloys need refurbishing due to kerbing and corrosion

Interior
Ashtray lid won't close
Leather seats are heavily worn and there is a tear in the N/S
A thorough valet is required

Additional Information
There is an oil leak from the rocker cover gasket. The car idles lumpy and unevenly from cold and sounds abnormally noisy - this could be due to low oil level. Please consider this if you intend to drive the car away, as we would recommend a full engine flush and fresh oil change first

I think this car is still up for sale:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 501&page=1

If it is this car, I'm eternally grateful to those that have posted the information. To think, I was considering jumping on the train to Leicester tomorrow to buy this car. Not a chance of that happening now.

Thanks again,

Pete

[Al_Pina]

Yes, that's the same car. These are some of the images from earlier adverts.

[H14ytr]

When they first advertised this car they had it up for £22,500!!!

I went and viewed the other they were selling #200 which was up for £24,995 (eventually selling for closer to £22,500 I think?) and asked them if this one had sold, they told me then that they had put it to the trade as they couldn't sell it as an approved used vehicle.... That was at least two months ago. I just assumed that they had invested the money back into the car to get it up to the correct condition but then when I saw the pictures I struggled to believe they were advertising again?!

Looks like a whole lot of work for someone.