Alpina versus ///M Roadster

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Hello all,

So has anyone been in the above position? Not from a racing around private runways PoV, but more from a toss up between which to buy?

Keen to hear from anyone who bought one or the other, your reasons for choosing what you did. A friend of mine is interested and I'm biased towards the ///M badge, but appreciate the high level of kit you gain from going the Alpina route.

Cheers!
 
Rather than people banging the drum for the Alpina (or ///M) camp.....

Stuart Truman, gentleman of this parish, owned Alpina RS #69 and then moved over to an ///M Roadster - here's his report on the changeover http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=49348&
 
Alpina noticeably more conomical over a mix of driving , their custom interior is very nice & cheaper tax band are all positives as is the lovely tone they make
Had a drive in Number5s & torque in abundance but wooly suspension by direct comparison & not the same confidence inspired drive as you get from the M set up
Holding well pricewise but my beef is would anyone buy a like for like spec/miles/history Alpina if same price as a ///M :? jmo of course but i think they should be between Si & ///M money & the minute they stray over you would have to really want one to choose it over the M car :wink:
 
mr wilks said:
Had a drive in Number5s & torque in abundance but wooly suspension by direct comparison & not the same confidence inspired drive as you get from the M set up
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You have to remember that Number5's Alpina has aftermarket suspension rather than the Alpina OEM suspension - I think he has the 3.0L E85/6 Bilstein B12 kit that was fitted by the previous owner, the main issue with this being that all kits for the standard 3.0L are likely to have front springs that are underrated for the heavier Alpina engine.
 
mattwaltersz4m said:
If he is concerned about residuals then M all the way.
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Again... it's not what you'd think - The Alpina is substantially rarer than the ///M and prices for decent examples are not just holding their value but rising. I've had mine for 4 years and it's probably worth more now than when I got it (certainly hasn't lost money)

Sytner's current stock - they only have one of each so I'm not 'cherry picking'
2006 Z4M Roadster in Interlagos Blue (flimper spec) 36k miles - £18k http://www.sytner.co.uk/car-search/5663071-bmw-z4-m-3.2-2dr/
2005 Alpina Roadster S Lux in Sterling Grey 58k miles - £19k http://www.sytner.co.uk/car-search/5879719-alpina-roadster-s-roadster-s-2dr/
 
PerryGunn said:
mr wilks said:
Had a drive in Number5s & torque in abundance but wooly suspension by direct comparison & not the same confidence inspired drive as you get from the M set up
Click to expand...
You have to remember that Number5's Alpina has aftermarket suspension rather than the Alpina OEM suspension - I think he has the 3.0L E85/6 Bilstein B12 kit that was fitted by the previous owner, the main issue with this being that all kits for the standard 3.0L are likely to have front springs that are underrated for the heavier Alpina engine.
Click to expand...

I cant really comment on the suspension. It was on there when I bought it but having owned 3 other Z4's (a 2.5 & a 3.0 all with non-OEM, plus a 2006 SE with standard OEM) I think the Alpina is spot on. Not too Hard and certainly not soft. It's a comfortable ride yet has never let me down in a corner. At the Eng/Welsh meet the guy following in an E89 commented how well he could see it sit through a corner and how he couldn't follow it round.

Everyone has their own views but I've not really driven an //M long enough or far enough to give a proper opinion. As far as values are concerned, I cant see how something produced in a limited number will depreciate more than something made in mass and especially with the rising omissions based road-tax.
 
I can only comment on my own thoughts when I bought my ///M. I could have bought an Alpina for a lot less at the time. The ///M was a lot newer in comparison. I bought an ///M after I drove them and preferred the more focused drive and more rev hungry delivery of the ///M engine.

Move forward several years and the ///M has stopped depretating for the time being, but is starting to get on a bit, so the derision process would be different now. You should still base it on which you prefer to drive though. IMHO They both look great and it looks likely both are going to hold there value over the next few years. :D
 
Number5 said:
PerryGunn said:
mr wilks said:
Had a drive in Number5s & torque in abundance but wooly suspension by direct comparison & not the same confidence inspired drive as you get from the M set up
Click to expand...
You have to remember that Number5's Alpina has aftermarket suspension rather than the Alpina OEM suspension - I think he has the 3.0L E85/6 Bilstein B12 kit that was fitted by the previous owner, the main issue with this being that all kits for the standard 3.0L are likely to have front springs that are underrated for the heavier Alpina engine.
Click to expand...

I cant really comment on the suspension. It was on there when I bought it but having owned 3 other Z4's (a 2.5 & a 3.0 all with non-OEM, plus a 2006 SE with standard OEM) I think the Alpina is spot on. Not too Hard and certainly not soft. It's a comfortable ride yet has never let me down in a corner. At the Eng/Welsh meet the guy following in an E89 commented how well he could see it sit through a corner and how he couldn't follow it round.
Click to expand...
I'm only aware of the front spring issue with the standard kits because, as mine is now over 10 years old, I've been thinking about a complete suspension refresh and I like the idea of adjustable units. As the Alpina isn't listed as a standard kit, I've contacted the technical support people at a couple of manufacturers about the correct units. An underrated front spring isn't likely to affect day-to-day use as you'd just get used to it but it could explain the 'woolly' feeling that Andy describes after a back-to-back drive - suspension is, after all, one of Alpina's strengths as a manufacturer and they've been praised for their setups many times over in the motoring press
Number5 said:
...As far as values are concerned, I cant see how something produced in a limited number will depreciate more than something made in mass and especially with the rising omissions based road-tax.
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This is one of the difficult ones as 'people in general' are more aware of the ///M brand than of the Alpina brand and it's much easier for them to boast to their mates that they've got an ///M3 than an Alpina B3BT so this keeps 'popular' demand up and prices higher. This also has a downside for the ///M brand as older, tatty cars become perfect chav-bait whereas there aren't enough Alpinas around for that to happen.
 
Didn't a Belgium member rebuild an Alpina to M spec? Best of both worlds with the facelift look and the Alpina bits.
 
pvr said:
Didn't a Belgium member rebuild an Alpina to M spec? Best of both worlds with the facelift look and the Alpina bits.
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That was FemmeT - he rebuilt it to a fair bit better than ///M spec... Drexler LSD, custom suspension, subframe reinforcement, mov'it brakes, ESS Supercharger, Recaro seats etc. etc. plus all the cosmetic mods
 
pvr said:
Didn't a Belgium member rebuild an Alpina to M spec? Best of both worlds with the facelift look and the Alpina bits.
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I know a few member here have installed an LSD but did not remember an Alpina to M spec which would be awesome... :thumbsup:
 
WLH said:
pvr said:
Didn't a Belgium member rebuild an Alpina to M spec? Best of both worlds with the facelift look and the Alpina bits.
Click to expand...
I know a few member here have installed an LSD but did not remember an Alpina to M spec which would be awesome... :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

As I said, he took it a bit further than M spec... here's the full info http://modgarage.net/project/alpina
 
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