Spotted: Red Alpina Roadster S

mmm-five

Lifer
 Liverpool
Site Supporter
In the showroom of Davind Holmes BMW in Stockport - £17800 (or thereabouts) for a 04 plate (is that good, bad, average?).
Had a different plate on though, and that red looked (a bit) better in the flesh.

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Its quite expensive seeing as 06 plate Z4Ms are about 18k-19k!!

Nice car though, nice and torquey and rides exceptionally well and very comfortable...M division could learn something here I think.

The Alpina Z4 styling is a bit much for me with that rear spoiler but you cant see it from the drivers seat ;)

The other advantage with the Alpina is £190 a year road tax as it is not classed based on its emissions.
 
Automatic Air Conditioning
Cd Player
Leather interior
Multi-Function Steering Wheel
Navigation
Sports Seats
Xenon Headlights

45165k miles, Red
 
People will pay that price for the Alpina Roadster S. They are hard to find at BMW dealers (probably worth more than newer Z4M in the future).
 
texasjohn said:
Nice car though, nice and torquey and rides exceptionally well and very comfortable...M division could learn something here I think.

Not for me, if I was looking for exceptional ride and very comfortable I would be looking for a different car. The rawness of the Z4M is a large part of the appeal. Not for everyone I agree but I think the M division got it more right than wrong. The Alpina leaves me cold I'm afraid and historically everything Alpina depreciates like a falling brick, rare or not. That's a very expensive car at that age and price.
 
It's weird, because if it were steptronic like the B3's, I'd actually prefer it... but as a manual I'd prefer the M...

I dunno why, but I think Alpina missed a trick making it manual only because those who really want to drive would get an M, while I'd buy it (just like I would a B3 or B10) for a wafty sports car done well.

Imo anyway. I'm sure they are still really nice... but when the M is there, or a newer steptronic Si/i model with 265bhp, the Alpina starts to make less sense.

Dave
 
Found another one on PH (£16,500). Here is what the seller says about the car:

47,000 miles, 6 speed with Lux Pack (additional £3,000 when new) which includes Blue Tooth phone prep with steering wheel controls, cruise control and European 2007 3D sat nav (£300 upgrade at BMW), more responsive steering and uprated handling.

This car has every conceivable extra and cost in the region of £45,000 when new! (another £3000 for the Lux pack).

Huge specification including:
* Engine - 3.4 litre straight 6, hand built in Germany. This is a non VANOS BMW engine so is more reliable than the M roadster (VANOS is BMW's version of variable valve timing which is renowned for breaking at a staggering cost of £3000+ to repair!!) * Manual ZF S6-37 six-speed manual gearbox, developed to Alpina; * ABS, Traction control, anti slip control; * Airbags; * Alarm/immobiliser, Proximity sensors for when the roof is down; * Radio/CD and 6CD Changer; * Air conditioning, Climate control, * Electric heated mirrors, * Electric windows, * Fog lights, * Power assisted steering, * Remote central locking; * Parking distance control; * Cruise Control; * Headlight Washers; * Auto lights/wipers; * BMW Business stereo with excellent sound quality and 6 CD multi changer; * On-board computer for trip, MPG, distance, fuel remaining etc etc; * Passenger side airbag disable function (unlike a previous 350z so you could never carry a child in the passenger seat!); * Reverse parking sensors; * Alpina body kit, extended Alpina leather interior (Dash, Centre Console, Door Handles/Trims); * Alpina embossed, Heated, electric memory seats with 3 memory settings; * Obc; * Alpina Multi functioning steering wheel with phone and stereo controls; * Dials designed by German designer Borg; * 19" ALPINA Dynamic alloys with Front size:* ALPINA wind deflector; * Alpina floor mats; * Alpina tax disk holder and even Alpina key ring! * Alpina leather document folder containing all service books, brochures; *

All other normal extras (black electric folding roof with heated glass rear window. BMW Alarm/Immobiliser, Locking wheel nuts).


If you are considering this or an M roadster (as I did), here are a few factors to consider and why I chose the ALPINA over the M:
* The Alpina is hand built so is free from all squeaks, rattles and shakes; * It is considerably cheaper to buy than a comparable M roadster; * M roadsters are often higher mileage as they are available as company cars! * Alpina's are pampered by enthusiast owners; * It is a lot rare than an M roadster and will retain more value over time; * The Alpina has over 2500 changes to the car over a standard Z4, not just the engine but the body styling and the opulent luxury interior, the M roadster inside looks and feels like a standard Z4, the Alpina feels special; * An inspection 2 service on any 'M' car is in the thousands. Servicing costs for the Alpina are in line with a standard Z4 (less than half an M service); * The M roadster gets a combined fuel economy figure of around 22mpg, the Alpina gets a combined 28mpg and often mid 30's on the motorway! * This is a non VANOS BMW engine so is more reliable than the M roadster (VANOS is BMW's version of variable valve timing which is renowned for breaking at a staggering cost of £3000+ to repair!!).

The Roadster S utilises the renowned Alpina 3.4 litre six, hand-built in Buchloe, Germany. Outstanding performance courtesy of the 300bhp available at 6,300rpm and the Roadster S' low kerb weight of 1320kg, together yielding a 0-60mph sprint time of just 5.0 seconds (German tests confirm actually 4.9). Top speed is 169mph without the hardtop, 176mph with. 362Nm (266 lb-ft) of torque is generated at 4800rpm, yet the real key to the Roadster S' breathtaking elasticity is the availability of 90% of maximum torque from 3000rpm to 6500rpm.
 
Compared to the other Zeds from that time, leather dash, different stiching on the chairs, steering wheel.
 
i might be a little late at this post but i just thought i would say something about the Alpina roadster s.
I have in fact the same model and color ( Japan Red ) as the car in the photo. mine is model 110.
this colour i s extremely rare in Uk . ( there is only 6 cars ).
i have also owned a 3 litre Z4 sport and although i loved that i adore this .
I looked at the M but to be honest its not in same class.
this car pulls like a train from low revs in top gear .
Handles brilliantly i can really chuck it into corners confident i am going to come out facing the same way .
I never felt like this with the 3 litre as the tyres and suspension were a big let down and the ride too hard.
hit a succession of bumps at high speed and it seems to skate , very scary!!!.
this car looks awesome in the flesh too and turns lots of heads.
its cheaper to run and the fuel consumption compared to the M is lots better too.
Insurance is lower and so is tax .
And dispite what peple say it holds its value.
my Z4 dropped like a stone.
an 04 z4 3 litre is about 10500 and equiv roadster is 17000.
This car cost new 45000 compared to 30000 .
And lastly its really reliable and i love the fact that its a rare car.
So if you see one and fancy it i would recommend .
oh and to just tell you about the box , its a ZF short shift box , far better than the Bmw manual, slick with great gearing .
Drivings about a stick and a clutch , stick the paddles :D :D
 
This car was in the showroom when i first went up to speak to the salesman when I bought my car (about 7 weeks ago). Therefore they will be up for a deal....

I've driven an Alpina on a couple of occasions and they are a really lovely car to drive with a very different character to the M's. If you fancy a little lazier more laidback less frenetic approach the Alpina is ideal (more of a roofless GT if you like). On the otherhand if you want the motorsport derived, 'grab it by the scruff of the neck' style then the M is the car for you.

This car is lovely in the flesh, I had a good long look at it as I placed by deposit on my M. Never tempted to change my mind though..... :P
 
There is a mistake in the ad's specs, because the Alpina 3.4 does in fact have VANOS, (a single unit instead of the double).
 
I think it looks terrible. Like a chav special.Personal taste I guess, but I really think that Alpina Z's are rather nasty.The wheels and body kit just don't work,and that red colour is truly awful. I assume it possibly drives really well, but I love my Z for the looks, and the Alpina is a bit of a lash up. :thumbsdown:
 
i love them in any colour but that red. i saw a grey version a while back and it looked sweet !
 
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