Alpina general car conundrum

jamesa · Post by **jamesa** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 9:04 pm

Not sure what size & age of van you require but leasing new sounds good, older (hammered) examples can be a nightmare for reliability / cost.

An X3 is almost a van, was when we had one ... well packed out when towing the horses and competing the Mk1 Golf.

I don`t envy your dilemma as whatever route of change you go there will be regrets ...

simon13 · Post by **simon13** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 9:04 pm

ChrisLux wrote:
AG wrote:e36 B3.0 touring. Hard one really, stellar miles but well looked after, a known car so whoever buys it knows what they're getting, but considering few appear for sale there isn't much of a benchmark to gauge against .

Maybe Â£4.5k, couldn't really say. Depends if the buyer just wants a B3 or wants an all original B3?

I've seen in last couple of weeks a B2.8 Touring at EUR 15,950 and a B3 3.0 Touring Switchtronic EUR 17,775 over here in Europe, amazing there is so much price difference between the two countries

And mileges compared to mine?! 246,000 miles is nearly 396,000kms! I expect that could be a destination for it would be to a germany/europe to break it up for bits as it is fairly morsel laiden

Its a 3.2 one of 5 RHD cars sold new here so the register states. There were no RHD 3.0 tourings made so its pretty rare in touring terms. MCB has the blue one. Shaz has one and no ones heard of the whereabouts of the other two, assuming they're still on the road maybe? And this one which is number 36 touring built so obviously the best

Yes mines manual but i converted it on 200,000 miles! I did it how alpina did it so 6 speed M3 evo gearbox with a 2.93 diff. Mines an LSD Alpina offered a touch shorter final drive also with 3.15 - this is probably a bit better in the real world. I like its long leggedness as its got the torque to pull it. Over 100mph in 3rd gear 65-70mph in 2nd. Cruises the motorway great 70mph in 6th is just over 2000rpm and 90 is still under 3000rom plus it will do low 30's mpg too on a run. Try all that in a switch-tronic car

I've kept the auto box, ECU and selector lever but i've sold the diff last year and the switch tronic slip ring for the steering wheel to a guy with an alpina blue B3 3.2 coupe. Unique items and mega money from Alpina so forgive me!

E36 M3 evo front brakes, hubs and master cylinder. They're the only "mods" So it stops better than the shit standard 328 brakes it had. It has traction all the time now with an LSD instead of an open diff and you can change gear yourself. All win in my eyes!

Its a bit of a warhorse tbh and the bodywork is its problem. Mechanically its very good the engine runs like a watch, hardly uses any oil and everything works - windows, central locking, rear wiper, heated seats, air con, cruise control

I've lost count to what i've replaced over the years but its alot to try and keep it in reasonable shape despite the milege covered

It drives properly, no vibrations, overheating and isn't riddled with lots of interior sqweeks. Gearbox has the normal chatter in Neutral of most old BMWs. Its the sort of car i'd drive to Russia and back. Faults? bodywork rust in all bolt on panels, rear arches the air bag light is on, and the ASC+T and ABS light is on. The drivers window regulator is hanging out of it nearly and desperately needs changing. I've just changed the Air con compressor this weekend as the original seized. So i need to get the system gassed up again. I'm planning on sorting the other bits when time allows. Its due a major service on 250k gearbox oil is due plus engine oil etc

If anyone might be interested drop me a PM ignore the milege, rusty panels and its ok

Its normally quite dirty! Can you keep them all? !

simon13 · Post by **simon13** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 9:31 pm

jamesa wrote:Not sure what size & age of van you require but leasing new sounds good, older (hammered) examples can be a nightmare for reliability / cost.

An X3 is almost a van, was when we had one ... well packed out when towing the horses and competing the Mk1 Golf.

I don`t envy your dilemma as whatever route of change you go there will be regrets ...

James i've agreed on a mates 11 plate T5 transporter van so at the moment theres another vehicle coming.

I Must fix the roof on one garage i have free access to, my wifes Gran has given up driving a few years back and its empty

MCB · Post by **MCB** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 10:17 pm

Hodge wrote:You're right Kevin, I think the average joe would think 4.5 pricey for an E36 of this age, but I think forum member realise the work within this B3 even if many say it's not that original. I don't recall a manual ( albeit not orig) E36 B3.2 Touring being on the market for a long time, Terry's switchtronic is the last that comes to mind, and that was about Â£8k iirc.

Cheers

The auction estimate for our B3 was Â£6,500-Â£8,000 . It did not sell and we bought it out of auction for Â£5,750. Although a couple of people here said afterwards that Â£4,500 would of been about the right price. But we can all throw numbers about and come up with what we think these cars are worth. The fact is with only 5 ever built and nothing on the market to do a comparison then how does one decide on a value!! Recently Sab had his E36 B3 coupe agreed valued at Â£15k. Ultimately it comes down to finding the right buyer at the right time and who wants the car.

jamesa · Post by **jamesa** » Tue Oct 11, 2016 10:56 pm

simon13 wrote: James i've agreed on a mates 11 plate T5 transporter van so at the moment theres another vehicle coming.

I Must fix the roof on one garage i have free access to, my wifes Gran has given up driving a few years back and its empty

Good choice, times two !

Hodge · Post by **Hodge** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 4:20 pm

Anything happened yet, has a new owner been installed

Cheers

simon13 · Post by **simon13** » Fri Oct 21, 2016 9:18 pm

this has landed!

98k on it basic spec but bought off a plasterer mate i know. Its only 85bhp holy moly its slow with no load in it, remap?

Suddenly hit home theres alot of cars on the drive

MCB · Post by **MCB** » Fri Oct 21, 2016 10:52 pm

simon13 wrote:98k on it basic spec but bought off a plasterer mate i know. Its only 85bhp holy moly its slow with no load in it, remap?

I am sure that you will be able to get more out of it Simon

Hodge · Post by **Hodge** » Mon Oct 24, 2016 6:22 pm

Nice, I once had the use of T5 180 Tdi sportline which made my B3s at the time feel a real slouch, I'm sure a laptop could get to 120 before you start bolting stuff on. Any movement on the E36 yet.

Cheers

simon13 · Post by **simon13** » Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:22 pm

I just thought of this thread and well, all cars are still here! Not one has been sold ha!

The M5 is tucked up in a neighbours garage - tempted to pull it out now weather is improving, and the B3S touring is in one of our grandparents garages whos given up driving. This is great free storage and solved the parking problem straight away and gave me time to think about it all and well still not any the wiser

I've not driven a car for over a month just the bloody slow van with work work work. One car for everyday of the week and no time to use them

rattusM3 · Post by **rattusM3** » Thu Mar 16, 2017 2:45 pm

What you need is for Alpina to build vans, of course this would mean BMW would have to build them as well

Norrie · Post by **Norrie** » Thu Mar 16, 2017 9:27 pm

Have you considered storing the cars for future use, if so pm me I may have a fairly cheap solution for you, which is part of a business I own.

simon13 · Post by **simon13** » Fri Mar 17, 2017 10:16 pm

im suffering from a severe jealously of anyone driving a car, and then it turns to anger if its petrol car especially something quick

I must be getting old as i've driven our F25 x3 enough now to know that alpina must be working some magic to make it into something i'd like to own!
Diesel hasn't won me over in stock bmw format.

Is it sad to be longing for the E36 with a manual box, no auto stop start shit, eco, comfort sport mode bollocks and all this other shit which seem like gimmicks. You just get in it and drive it?! Friday ranting sorry

simon13 · Post by **simon13** » Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:19 pm

Right i need to move something on as another ver interesting E34 has been offered to me that i'm most probably going to buy so i think the E46 is the one to go

If anyone fancies a B3S touring in alpina blue drop me a PM

Brief details, 145,000 miles

Alpina blue
Black merino leather
bluetooth

Rest is standard B3S spec so heated seats and xenons but thats about it, bit light on options compared to alot of other e46 Alpinas

cosmetically tatty, needs a wheel refurb, front wings are toast and spoiler is pebble dashed and rear arches are scabby - just as i bought it 4-5 years ago. It drives spot on, engine is animal and suspension great. Everything fitted works and no dash full of warning lights like most e46s now

full engine rebuild about 30,000 miles ago and new torque converter plus lots more of all the usual e46 stuff . Can't believe me the hoarder is writing this!

Its number 104 and the last RHD touring built i think, one of two in alpina blue of the 8 UK tourings sold

AG · Post by AG » Wed Jun 14, 2017 4:56 pm

any idea on a figure Simon? I've just bought a replacement BMW but as its a B3S touring I think i need to investigate! PM me if you prefer.

As for the e36, you bought that as I was talking to the seller, glad you bought it, I could never have completed that journey!