Nice looking Alpina on AutoTrader

[PerryGunn]

#31, Lux spec in Sterling Grey with black leather 79,500 miles, current owner for last 5 years

Looks like the head gasket was replaced at 76k so, assuming history etc. is in order, could be a good buy at £10,750

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201303025582556

 

[Stuart Truman]

At £10,750 that's a bargain.

 

[2alpsade]

Makes mine look very dear...but then again he's been trying to shift that for an absolute age, so I guess it's not quite a bargain So, maybe mine isn't that dear after all.... :lol:

 

[powerontap]

If the buyer likes that color combo, then I'm happy for him, it looks like a fine car. But that same combo wouldn't even make it on my list of potential purchases.

Again, car colors are such a personnal thing.

Perry, could a head gasket replacement be considered typical on these cars?

 

[PerryGunn]

If the buyer likes that color combo, then I'm happy for him, it looks like a fine car. But that same combo wouldn't even make it on my list of potential purchases.

Again, car colors are such a personnal thing.

Perry, could a head gasket replacement be considered typical on these cars?

The B3s engine has a know appetite for head gaskets from about 60k onwards. Because Alpina bore-out the block the failure is normally at the narrow point between cylinders so there is no oil/water mixing and, as long as it's caught fairly quickly, should not cause any major trauma - other than the usual damage to the wallet.

 

[2alpsade]

If the buyer likes that color combo, then I'm happy for him, it looks like a fine car. But that same combo wouldn't even make it on my list of potential purchases.

Again, car colors are such a personnal thing.

Perry, could a head gasket replacement be considered typical on these cars?

It's a less popular combo of colours than most: we looked at a more-or-less identical sister car to that a few years back as a potential purchase and it just didn't 'wow' us.

HG's on the 3.4S engine can last forever, but as Perry says some do blow between cylinders (commonly 3 and 4 due to the head bolt arrangement and thin walls at that point between cylinders). Generally 80k plus is the worrying time, but some (markEG springs straight to mind) go well past that with no issues whatsoever. I know of a large number of S engines well into 3 figures on the original HG...it's all the luck of the draw.

 

[markeg]

Exactly right Ade, mines at 88k, did a compression test last Sep, no issues at all...... Fingers crossed it continues but if it does happen, I'll be looking at the copper HG route.


Tapatalking...

 

[2alpsade]

Exactly right Ade, mines at 88k, did a compression test last Sep, no issues at all...... Fingers crossed it continues but if it does happen, I'll be looking at the copper HG route.

Pleased to hear all is well Hopefully Phil Crouch has actually got on with it and made a few copper gaskets!