Alpina Market Watch

[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-details/202111079316071?onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&make=BMW&advertising-location=at_cars&model=Alpina%20Roadster&sort=relevance&include-delivery-option=on&postcode=tf118hb&radius=1501&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.

 

[peteslag]

Is it just me or does the drivers seat look like it has done London taxi miles?

One of the sales men rang me back about an hour a go. He pleaded ignorance over the problems this car had and promised that all existing faults would be rectified. If the engine has been run dry of oil and been noted as "abnormally noisy" surely the only remedy is a tear down and full inspection of the cam shaft, valves, bores etc.

So to round up:

The body work is shot
The interior is battered
The engine is knackered
It has rusty brake lines
The drivers seat restraint needs replacing
It hasn't been serviced since 2014

All this on a car with only 55,000 miles. I'm very curious to know what the repair scheme is for this car. It will be a bit like triggers broom by the end of it!

 

[msportpanda]

Wow, I know this car. It used to live near me and I considered leaving a note a few times, bullet dodged!

 

[H14ytr]

3 for sale on eBay at the moment… varying in price From £16k through to £20k and mileages from 63,000 to 107,000.

Not sure if anyone is looking but thought I’d mention them.

Hope you’ve all had a good Christmas.

 

[Number5]

3 for sale on eBay at the moment… varying in price From £16k through to £20k and mileages from 63,000 to 107,000.

Builds 026 and 155 are amongst them. There is previous sale history for these two within this thread too.

£20k for a 63,000 mile example bodes well for mine, currently sat on 44k with a fresh MOT on Christmas eve

 

[H14ytr]

Believe it or not #5 the 20k is for a 90,000 mile example… albeit it holds the number plate E85 ALP which is included.

 

[Number5]

Believe it or not #5 the 20k is for a 90,000 mile example… albeit it holds the number plate E85 ALP which is included.

Realistically I can’t see a 93k miler fetching £20k even with the plate. (The plate is worth £1k max I’d say )

 

[H14ytr]

Yeah I think it’s steep too, the silver one has 63k on it for £17,500 although it’s been tinkered with a bit (non standard badges, coil overs etc).

 

[Number5]

Yeah I think it’s steep too, the silver one has 63k on it for £17,500 although it’s been tinkered with a bit (non standard badges, coil overs etc).

Yes. This was previously BigScreen's car from Bristol. He took it to Spain in 2015 and brought it back only a year or so back
It was last up for £16k in April 2021 with 64k on
The Door pockets have been filled with speakers, Head Unit swapped out, badges changed and non-standard Headlamps fitted (possibly due to it being used on the other side of the road for 5 years) Its also a Non-lux model.

 

[Al_Pina]

Believe it or not #5 the 20k is for a 90,000 mile example… albeit it holds the number plate E85 ALP which is included.

Realistically I can’t see a 93k miler fetching £20k even with the plate. (The plate is worth £1k max I’d say )

Agreed, and especially when it was for sale little more than 18mths ago at £8.5k and it's still not passed an MOT since then.