Fake Alpinas

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Should we be concerned about authorised Alpina accessories for fitting on standard BMWs as offered from the Alpina Classics shop??

https://www.alpina-classic.shop/parts/

I quote: "Aerodynamics

The Look and Feel of an ALPINA...

...on your BMW!"

https://www.alpina-classic.shop/parts/all-products

What is going on??

[bss325i]

Alpina styling has been offered as part of the "accessories" catalogues for decades.

Nothing new here.

[Norrie]

I kind of understand the question, it bring many conversations to mind over E30 vehicles converted or not in the UK. Sytner it is alleged would sell cosmetic packages to other dealers who would fit them. In some cases there would be no engine modification carried out, is that car an ALPINA? I am not arguing for or against but it does highlight the issue.

[Baggio850]

Alpina styling has been offered as part of the "accessories" catalogues for decades.

Nothing new here.

Agreed. Alpina used to officially offer upgraded wheels, suspension and aerodynamics packages for normal BMWs and some packages even came with the ‘Alpina’ trunk badge but not model designation. I still have the brochures and prices lists from the 90s so I don’t see anything wrong with upgraded cars. It’s very much like the M Performance upgrades that BMW offer now.

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".... I don’t see anything wrong with upgraded cars."

But it's not an upgraded car. It's a bog standard BMW with false badges. No different to, say, a ratty Mk 2 Cortina with Lotus stickers and a noisy exhaust which most true enthusiasts laugh at and pity. I don't blame people for aspiring to own an Alpina, they're a rare treasure and it was decades before I managed it, but I do get fed up of people asking at car shows "is it a real one?" because of all the wannabes around. BMW build good cars so be proud of your BMW for what it is, respect it and look after it properly.

Imo, posing as an Alpina says more about the owner than the car itself. It causes confusion, raises distrust which skews the used BMW market and damages our own residual values. A correctly used and maintained Alpina is already too undervalued in a very niche market without these additional headwinds and I'm as disappointed that Alpina should be encouraging the 'go faster stripe' brigade by promoting official decal kits on its website as I am frustrated by those [younger first time] E36/E46 B3 owners asking what colour polybushes should they 'upgrade' to.

If Alpina want to create more brand awareness (it's a bit late now!) I'd rather they'd directed their energies to protecting the Alpina name, its ethos and its unmatched legacy than encouraging look-alikes. Other top end manufacturers have successfully sued people who besmirch, disrespect or in some other way lower the prestige and exclusivity of their expensively created and long term heavily protected image and IP which has resulted in appreciating values across their whole model range. A well targeted media campaign that clearly differentiates and positions Alpina for its superior qualities would have done far more for its on-going place in motoring history than selling stickers to all and sundry.

[bss325i]

".... I don’t see anything wrong with upgraded cars."

But it's not an upgraded car. It's a bog standard BMW with false badges. No different to, say, a ratty Mk 2 Cortina with Lotus stickers and a noisy exhaust which most true enthusiasts laugh at and pity. I don't blame people for aspiring to own an Alpina, they're a rare treasure and it was decades before I managed it, but I do get fed up of people asking at car shows "is it a real one?" because of all the wannabes around. BMW build good cars so be proud of your BMW for what it is, respect it and look after it properly.

Imo, posing as an Alpina says more about the owner than the car itself. It causes confusion, raises distrust which skews the used BMW market and damages our own residual values. A correctly used and maintained Alpina is already too undervalued in a very niche market without these additional headwinds and I'm as disappointed that Alpina should be encouraging the 'go faster stripe' brigade by promoting official decal kits on its website as I am frustrated by those [younger first time] E36/E46 B3 owners asking what colour polybushes should they 'upgrade' to.

If Alpina want to create more brand awareness (it's a bit late now!) I'd rather they'd directed their energies to protecting the Alpina name, its ethos and its unmatched legacy than encouraging look-alikes. Other top end manufacturers have successfully sued people who besmirch, disrespect or in some other way lower the prestige and exclusivity of their expensively created and long term heavily protected image and IP which has resulted in appreciating values across their whole model range. A well targeted media campaign that clearly differentiates and positions Alpina for its superior qualities would have done far more for its on-going place in motoring history than selling stickers to all and sundry.

You are missing the fact that Alpina actually started out selling "kits" of parts to BMW owners and have always done so. Sytner even came up with their own "packages" approved by Alpina in Buchloe.

Agreed, when people badge them up as something they are not and trying to pass it off as genuine then that is a problem but to write off an owner and/or their car just because it has some Alpina styling or suspension upgrades is equally wrong.

https://www.thealpinaregister.com/downl ... aparts.pdf

https://www.thealpinaregister.com/downl ... aparts.pdf



Above is an E39 540i I owned four years ago for a while. It had, BMW dealer fitted from new Alpina wheels, suspension, front and rear spoilers and quite a few E39's with various engines were sold like this in the late 90's.

Maybe the original purchasers of these "upgraded" cars didn't want or couldn't afford the full fat version but wanted the chassis dynamics and styling.

Whats so bad about that if done with the approval of both Alpina and BMW?

[Norrie]

The old story which is once in personal ownership anyone can do as they wish with the car. Personally I am not a lover of the replica or dare I say fake?

I am also not too sure how additional "parts" enhance a non ALPINA vehicle, but some seem to like it. Where the difficulty presents its self is when someone innocently buys an "ALPINA" for strong money in naivety only to discover unlike Coke its "not the real thing".

There was an alleged car whereby a widow sold and ALPINA E30 to someone for 28K, it turned out it was as 323 or 325 and parts of enhancement were supplied by Sytner and fitted by a BMW dealer in Hertfordshire way back in the mid 80's. It was further alleged the new owner tried to sue the widow for misrepresentation as the real market value was far less. It had no engine upgrade.

When it went to court the widow was asked what she knew and if she was a mechanic or car enthusiast, she said "my late husband always told me it was an ALPINA". Apart from that she was a passenger and never had a driving licence, hence it being sold on his death.

The alleged ruling was she sold it in good faith and a case of Caveat emptor.