Hi everyone
This forum and others have been a great source of knowledge in the time before and during my ownership of my Roadster S, so I thought I'd share my thoughts from my first year of ownership...
Intro
So I orginally looked at getting a cheaper, high mileage 3.0 for around £6k. Then I decided that, as my daily driver (c.15k p/a) that I'd like something with lower mileage and a better spec. That put the budget up to nearer £8-9k.
Then my current car had its service, which alerted me to the fact that the MOT would be a real struggle and that was due in 30 days, so I had to get moving if I wanted to part-ex that in before the MOT was due.
I extended the search and stumbled on the Alpina variants and ended up getting one from a dealer in London for £12k and early 60ks - £10k + £2k for my car.
Issues
I picked the car up and the first thing that happened was my mate took it for a spin and immediately kerbed the front passenger side wheel! I was furious but consolled myself with the fact that I'd no doubt do it to all 4 soon enough! An aside - I suspect I've damaged mine on the EuroTunnel due to their low profile.
So i'm going to get these reconditioned over xmas when I buy a winter-wagon.
After a week or so I noticed the dreaded chain/rattle noise, mainly when passing through roads that give an echo. This was quickly diagnosed as the vanos (with some assistance from members here and on Alpinaregister).
After a bit of a batle, the warranty paid out and whilst it was with the mechanic I got them to give it a once over and do the compression tests etc, which all came out fine.
So definately pay attention to this - I only really noticed it in tight streets etc and then once I first heard it, it became unmissable.
I've just had my MOT/Service last week after 1 yr and only the rear bushes came up, which were replaced. It had had the suspension done a couple of years before I bought it, so hopefully i'll not need that doing.
So touch wood, until the end of year 2 it'll not have cost me too much.
It drinks 0w60 oil; around 1ltr = 1000 miles. But this slowed during the colder months to half this rate.
The electrics had a spell of being on the blink - the satnav would play up and turn off as would the radio, but that's stopped happening. No idea what that is.
I've been a wimp and done no mods... I really should do the aux-in one and FYI my Samsung G2S doesn't pair properly. IT receives and makes calls but the phone book doesn't show up on the screen - so you have to dial from the actual phone, which isn't safe, but you can answer calls but won't know who it's from!
Insurance is good value. I've max no claims, no points, am an accountant and have a reasonable post code. Adrian Flux wouldn't insure in year one due to lack of experience, but they offered me £400 for me and £550 with my mrs just now, who only got her licence 4 years ago.
Overall
I'm not a mad petrol head and it's the only truly fast car i've ever owned and the first two seater.
It's wonderfully smooth, very comfortable and understated. But very quick when needed. Not the most amazing handling and the traction control comes on a touch too easily imo. It gets a bit grumbly in the wet. Obviously it was pointless in the snow and ice!
The black is a complete pain to keep clean, which is a shame - i'll never buy another black car!
As a daily driver it is fantastic. The straight 6 allows you to pootle along with cruise control. It's very quiet. But obviously it's violent when you put your foot down in any gear. I find the 1st to 2nd change a bit of a pain, so combined with the traction control gripe, pulling out from junctions and speeding off can be uncomfortable - that could of course be my poor gear changing though!
If I didn't have other needs, I'd keep driving it. However, as it's now just under 80k and because I love it, I'm going to get an old 3 series for winter.
Values seem to have held well since I bought it and there is a real lack of 3+ litre 2 seaters that are practical and designed to be a rag top. I can't really see the point in anything else! I'll have to take a hit when I do pass it on, so i'll keep it as my 2nd car indefinately until I get a double garage and can afford something really offensive.
I guess the main question is should I have bought a 3.0? I think if i had kept my old car then I would have bought a 3.0 but as a daily driver, spending the extra on the Alpina was well worth it for £3-4k more than a high end 3.0 from 2004 (at the time).
Ta
BB
This forum and others have been a great source of knowledge in the time before and during my ownership of my Roadster S, so I thought I'd share my thoughts from my first year of ownership...
Intro
So I orginally looked at getting a cheaper, high mileage 3.0 for around £6k. Then I decided that, as my daily driver (c.15k p/a) that I'd like something with lower mileage and a better spec. That put the budget up to nearer £8-9k.
Then my current car had its service, which alerted me to the fact that the MOT would be a real struggle and that was due in 30 days, so I had to get moving if I wanted to part-ex that in before the MOT was due.
I extended the search and stumbled on the Alpina variants and ended up getting one from a dealer in London for £12k and early 60ks - £10k + £2k for my car.
Issues
I picked the car up and the first thing that happened was my mate took it for a spin and immediately kerbed the front passenger side wheel! I was furious but consolled myself with the fact that I'd no doubt do it to all 4 soon enough! An aside - I suspect I've damaged mine on the EuroTunnel due to their low profile.
So i'm going to get these reconditioned over xmas when I buy a winter-wagon.
After a week or so I noticed the dreaded chain/rattle noise, mainly when passing through roads that give an echo. This was quickly diagnosed as the vanos (with some assistance from members here and on Alpinaregister).
After a bit of a batle, the warranty paid out and whilst it was with the mechanic I got them to give it a once over and do the compression tests etc, which all came out fine.
So definately pay attention to this - I only really noticed it in tight streets etc and then once I first heard it, it became unmissable.
I've just had my MOT/Service last week after 1 yr and only the rear bushes came up, which were replaced. It had had the suspension done a couple of years before I bought it, so hopefully i'll not need that doing.
So touch wood, until the end of year 2 it'll not have cost me too much.
It drinks 0w60 oil; around 1ltr = 1000 miles. But this slowed during the colder months to half this rate.
The electrics had a spell of being on the blink - the satnav would play up and turn off as would the radio, but that's stopped happening. No idea what that is.
I've been a wimp and done no mods... I really should do the aux-in one and FYI my Samsung G2S doesn't pair properly. IT receives and makes calls but the phone book doesn't show up on the screen - so you have to dial from the actual phone, which isn't safe, but you can answer calls but won't know who it's from!
Insurance is good value. I've max no claims, no points, am an accountant and have a reasonable post code. Adrian Flux wouldn't insure in year one due to lack of experience, but they offered me £400 for me and £550 with my mrs just now, who only got her licence 4 years ago.
Overall
I'm not a mad petrol head and it's the only truly fast car i've ever owned and the first two seater.
It's wonderfully smooth, very comfortable and understated. But very quick when needed. Not the most amazing handling and the traction control comes on a touch too easily imo. It gets a bit grumbly in the wet. Obviously it was pointless in the snow and ice!
The black is a complete pain to keep clean, which is a shame - i'll never buy another black car!
As a daily driver it is fantastic. The straight 6 allows you to pootle along with cruise control. It's very quiet. But obviously it's violent when you put your foot down in any gear. I find the 1st to 2nd change a bit of a pain, so combined with the traction control gripe, pulling out from junctions and speeding off can be uncomfortable - that could of course be my poor gear changing though!
If I didn't have other needs, I'd keep driving it. However, as it's now just under 80k and because I love it, I'm going to get an old 3 series for winter.
Values seem to have held well since I bought it and there is a real lack of 3+ litre 2 seaters that are practical and designed to be a rag top. I can't really see the point in anything else! I'll have to take a hit when I do pass it on, so i'll keep it as my 2nd car indefinately until I get a double garage and can afford something really offensive.
I guess the main question is should I have bought a 3.0? I think if i had kept my old car then I would have bought a 3.0 but as a daily driver, spending the extra on the Alpina was well worth it for £3-4k more than a high end 3.0 from 2004 (at the time).
Ta
BB
