Alpina, should I..?

B

Ben.

Active member
 East Midlands
So, I'm doing noghts on a boat trip around the Scottish Islands - What else to do but search Pistonheads & Autotrader...

I have been looking at Alpina Roadster S's..
Would I be crazy to trade in my (54) 40k 3.0 Z4 for a (54) or (04) Alpina with 50-60K miles - Plus about 5 Grand Cash?
I have not driven one yet but the more I read about them, the more I want one. It would be perfect for my Euro Road Trip next year.
I don't think I can streatch to an 'M' just yet (well, I could cancel my wedding).

Interested to hear some oppinions on the idea.
I am concerned that most of the cars for sale are at the big 60k point in theie lives...

Cheers
Ben
 
10-20k miles difference isn't a great amount.

Are they cheaper than equivalent M's? Or were Alpina's only offered on the pre-facelift, and M's post-facelift? Sorry I don't know much about them either. I do remember reading a grouptest of the Alpina against the Boxster S and TVR T350C (I think) in evo a good few years ago and it got a very favourable outcome.
 
Ben,

They are a great car and if the right one comes up then I think it could be a good trade. The extra 10 or 20k of mileage does not matter. Cared for they will run for 200k

The trade decision is down really to:
How much do you want one and is the right car available?
Can you actually get for yours what you have factored in?
Do you want an ///M really - if so wait a year
How about the costs of insurance, running, etc.
 
The Alpina was indeed pre-facelift only, and the Z4M post. In terms of list price I think they were very close, perhaps the Alpina was a little more not nothing appreciable.

I often find myself thinking about the Alpina. If you don't do a lot of mileage then it would make a lot of sense. The tax is less than any other Z4, and the servicing is comparable to a 3.0i. They're also likely to hold their value better than standard cars, from this point onward at least (I hear that first owner residuals are quite harsh on Alpina cars in general). You also get almost everything on the standard car, and *literally* every option on the Lux. But it's the generally high mileage that puts me off, although I'd expect a lot of good examples to come out of the woodwork if there's an Alpina version of the new Z4 as existing owners upgrade. I'd personally look for one that's either an approved used car or has some warranty left, as not being a standard BMW I doubt there would be any goodwill from BMW UK and parts will be more costly if anything goes wrong.
 
could be a good choice but only if the m is not ur dream car as i dout u will buy a 3rd z4 after having the alpina- therefore u may never have one!
 
paddy wright said:
could be a good choice but only if the m is not ur dream car as i dout u will buy a 3rd z4 after having the alpina- therefore u may never have one!
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Excellent advice IMO... :thumbsup:
 
I'd wait and get an M probably.

Mainly because you will be bored of the Z4 by the time you get one...

That is if you want an M some day as others have said :)


As always test drive both and see if the M is worth waiting for!
 
Good advice - thanks.
I do fancy an "M" but in a couple of years could be looking at a 911 instead :?
I will keep an eye on the ad's and see what comes up in the next coupke of weeks.
Will be booking a test in both!
 
Ben. said:
I do fancy an "M" but in a couple of years could be looking at a 911 instead :?
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Tis a good point!

In two or three years a 911 Turbo (996 maybe) or something will probably be in my sights, and so a 5 year old M Z4, a faster version of what I'd had for almost four years, would seem a lot less desireable I suppose :)

Maybe you can get sick of a Z4 if you have too many!? :D
 
I think the Alpina is a fantastic and rare version of the Z4. I decided to buy the 'M' because it is a more sorted performance car than the Alpina and I wanted to own the 'M' version.

But if that's not your priority the Alpina will tick most boxes, quick, loads of spec, rare, cheaper to run than an 'M' etc.

The Alpina version of the new Z4 is likely to be a stormer as the turbo engine is easy to tune to 360BHP :driving: Will cost a lorra lorra money though :thumbsdown:
 
a11y said:
Nah not the Turbo, surely the GT3?! Would be my choice if I had the £££.
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Dunno really. I've been put off them from an owner (bought an old car of mine, and has had several 911's) a bit. Most now have been track cars and used a great deal... and having adjustable suspension and a custom built engine to the same kinda exotic material levels as a Ferrari V8, means that they are pretty big money pits...
911 Turbo has it's problems too, but probably less expensive. I guess the big issue is the offset in depreciation. 911 Turbo will fall more, GT3 will retain more... haha...

I like both. Not sure I could get a normal one though. Just don't feel special enough imho. Would rather wait and get one of the top ones :)

Dave
 
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