Anyone driven an Alpina and M?
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pilchardthecat
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BMWZ4MC said:
+1 crossed it off my shortlist because of that
markeg said:Official figures are always a bit curious, and I always take them as a challenging target rather than gospel - Alpina is renowned for under-stating the BHP of their engines, so would always quote it as 300+ bhp.tomscott said:Sounds like the Alpina is a hell of a car.
Ticks most the boxes!
0-62 in the M is 5 but 0-60 is 4.8 I think, not that is makes any difference what so ever or would you ever notice it!
I think we need a drag race between an Alpina and an ///M at a meet one day... Only to 60mph, obviously :evil:
I am probably in the minority here but I think the Alpina is something that someone who knows a bit about cars will look at and see you as a serious enthusiast... The M badge will impress the 16-18 year old boys out there, but as a badge Alpina is far cooler (IMHO).
I would consider an M car, but im my mind I would consider it for the car itself despite the M badge rather than because of it.
I would consider an M car, but im my mind I would consider it for the car itself despite the M badge rather than because of it.
I agree and had the Alpina version version been sold in the US I likely would be driving an Alpina today instead of my ///M. I would have likely added an LSD to the Alpina as that was one of the reasons I made the move to the ///M...sp3ctre said:I am probably in the minority here but I think the Alpina is something that someone who knows a bit about cars will look at and see you as a serious enthusiast... The M badge will impress the 16-18 year old boys out there, but as a badge Alpina is far cooler (IMHO).
I would consider an M car, but im my mind I would consider it for the car itself despite the M badge rather than because of it.
markeg said:Drove both when looking for a weekend car. The ///M I found very harsh in its characteristics, quite an aggressive, brutish drive. I actually loved driving it and as a weekend car it seemed ideal. I didn't do the deal there and then as I wanted to look at a few others (caymans etc), and whilst looking saw an Alpina. Apart from the headlights (hated the ginger look) and the tail lights (prefer the facelift versions) I though the overall lines with the Alpina body kit was nicer than the ///M.
I then took it for a test drive and wow - was dead impressed. It was very responsive over the whole range, 0-60 is just about the same as an ///M (5.1 secs vs 5 secs official) but the acceleration is more constant. Comfort-wise, it was excellent as Alpina have a different suspension setup to the ///M, and run on 19" dynamics (and no bloody RFT!). Did some more looking around, and found various sites that explained the history, how easy it is to upgrade the tail lights and de-ginger the headlights and compared the differences between the two. The LSD was a concern at first, but after driving the Alpina (and knowing that I wasn't going to be a track god) found it was a limitation that wasn't a blocker.
Cost-wise, the Alpina and ///M were very similar, residuals about the same, but road tax is a lot less in the Alpina. Servicing costs are akin to a 3.0. Parts can be expensive if they are the Alpina-branded parts. Fuel consumption is excellent - I get an average of 30mpg and do suffer from the heavy right foot.
I ended up buying the Alpina and have never regretted the decision. It has become my daily driver rather than weekend car as I love driving it so much. Its rare (only 167 in RHD), looks fantastic, drives superbly and I have since had the headlights upgraded (angel eyes, clear indicators and black housings) but am living with the tail lights (for the moment).
My recommendation? Drive both, see what floats your boat, and go with the heart. Head will tell you to buy a 3.0
Also, final point, with the Alpina you get the chance to be spotted in both the Alpina and z4 forums
Thanks for the informative write-up, I too was playing with the idea of an M or Alpina.
I am amazed at the MPG that you are getting, is this as per the Trip Computer or have you actually measured it?Its measured, and agrees with the trip computer - I am usually anal about monitoring mpg as its an indicator towards other issues, especially in a performance engine. I do use V-Power only, never refill on anything else. My mpg is slightly down on others reported for Alpina's (see Ade's post (2alpsade)) which may be due to higher mileage (mines on 83k), heavier right foot, or even that I run mine on 10w60 oil and Ade's (IIRC) on 00w30.
Wobblewing was looking to fit an LSD to his Alpina, the cost was not unreasonable for a "big" mod and if you're an enthusiast track driver it might be worthwhile, otherwise I suspect you'd probably never notice the lack of it. I don't.
I don't think you'd regret buying either. I hope that the Alpina might have better longer term residuals as there are so few of them, but that wasn't the reason I bought #69
I don't think you'd regret buying either. I hope that the Alpina might have better longer term residuals as there are so few of them, but that wasn't the reason I bought #69
Alpina of course... wonder why I say that? 
I did have a quick go in an ///M. I liked it, sightly more 'harsh/reckless(!)' than the Alpina (but not that significantly different). That 'sport' button is annoying.. why would you want to turn it off?
The Alpina definitely has the attraction from the point of view of design (well, for me anyway), lux pack gizmos (digital TV, carver DSP, SAT NAV, electric mirrors etc etc ) and I love the dynamic wheels, even though they are a bitch to clean!
There is however a general problem with these cars (Alp and M).. They make you drive like a %^&£ 'cos you just can't resist a hoon!
Gave mine a polish Thursday night, so all looking shiny (well apart from the brake dust all over the dynamics, after a hoon last night )
Weathers out... time for a trip to the airfield, roof down of course.. then a cooling flight around the Norfolk coast. life's a bitch.
I did have a quick go in an ///M. I liked it, sightly more 'harsh/reckless(!)' than the Alpina (but not that significantly different). That 'sport' button is annoying.. why would you want to turn it off?
The Alpina definitely has the attraction from the point of view of design (well, for me anyway), lux pack gizmos (digital TV, carver DSP, SAT NAV, electric mirrors etc etc
) and I love the dynamic wheels, even though they are a bitch to clean!There is however a general problem with these cars (Alp and M).. They make you drive like a %^&£ 'cos you just can't resist a hoon!
Gave mine a polish Thursday night, so all looking shiny (well apart from the brake dust all over the dynamics, after a hoon last night
)Weathers out... time for a trip to the airfield, roof down of course.. then a cooling flight around the Norfolk coast. life's a bitch.
markeg said:
Nearly right...I've a mix 50:50 of 0W30 and 5W40 in her atm as I attempt to arrest the oil usage. Still a very thin oil compared to Mark's 10W60, and probably the reason for my slightly higher mpg. I don't think your right foot is any heavier than mine
and mine is now just under 50k miles2alpsade said:markeg said:
Nearly right...I've a mix 50:50 of 0W30 and 5W40 in her atm as I attempt to arrest the oil usage. Still a very thin oil compared to Mark's 10W60, and probably the reason for my slightly higher mpg. I don't think your right foot is any heavier than mine
Ha - now at 84k, get some miles in, Ade!
Driving in rush hour traffic this morning, around 180 miles in various conditions (congestion, clear and just parked up), roof down, and got 35.2 mpg. Well happy
I've driven them both. I almost upgraded from Z4 3.0i (231 BHP) to an Alpina a few years back. It's a big step up. I thought the Alpina felt a lot more solidly built (I believe they were all hand assembled?), it has a great engine note and as Markeg suggests it has a lovely power delivery. It's also easier to drive everyday than the M but I thought it lacked the overall grip that the M has and at ten tenths I don't think it would live with an M.
In the end I wasn't too concerned about having an easy-to-live-with car because I knew I would soon be getting a daily shed so I went for an M and I don't regret it one iota. A fabulous car, incredible engine and engine note and despite what some people think it has a very rapid pick up in the gears and overtaking is therefore very easy. I also loved the Coupe looks and believed (and still do) that the Z4MC is headed for future classic status.
Two gorgeous cars - you need to drive both and you'll know which is for you
In the end I wasn't too concerned about having an easy-to-live-with car because I knew I would soon be getting a daily shed so I went for an M and I don't regret it one iota. A fabulous car, incredible engine and engine note and despite what some people think it has a very rapid pick up in the gears and overtaking is therefore very easy. I also loved the Coupe looks and believed (and still do) that the Z4MC is headed for future classic status.
Two gorgeous cars - you need to drive both and you'll know which is for you
Driving in rush hour traffic this morning, around 180 miles in various conditions (congestion, clear and just parked up), roof down, and got 35.2 mpg. Well happy
Wow, I don't think I'd get that out of mine.. Motorway driving I get 34-35mpg.. Daily hacking to work (windy roads, lots of slowing down and speeding up) with heavy right foot I usually get circa 28mpg.