Genuine Alpina E30 Quandry

[Scoot1]

Hi I know someone who is in two minds to either break or sell a chrome bumper genuine 2 door Alpina in red, it has the alloys (refurb needed little bit tatty) engine exhaust etc complete but rear arches have tin worm in them.
Seats are cloth no rips or tears (bolster ok). No tax or MOT and the paint is flat red.

Advice welcomed as to what he should do, where to advertise it and what sort of money should he be asking.

I have thought of having it off him but I have to much on the go currently.

Thanks

[inlovewithRWD]

If the only rust is on the arches, he can't scrap it! Someone should check the full extent of the rust and then decide if it's salvageable or not.

P.s.

[Scoot1]

The arches can be repaired (inside and out) no pics tho, I know its hard to assess in the absence of but all you experts out there have an idea of what bottom end would be surely.

I will try to get pics but car is dry stored currently, I would think restore it as if not he will just break it but if someone genuinely looking for this type of thing I can put them in touch.

I noticed a set of the same ALPINA ALLOYS for sale on here int he same condition and they were up for £385 with peple raving over them, so I guess it is worth more than £385 as it stands complete unmessed with.

What is the max and min one of these is worth in a nutshell.

[jbh]

what model of Alpina is it? it would be nice to see this being saved but sadly when it comes to prefacelift cars most ppl will reshell them into a facelift car. would be nice to see some pictures. does it have the kit on it ?

[daimlerman]

Sadly,the car is probably worth more in bits,to do a half decent job on it by the sound of it a full re-spray will be needed,with all the tatty bits that uncovers fixing,say £2500+.
If it's been standing for any length of time all the suspension bushes will be soft and need replacing...any specialist Alpina parts needed will either be non-available or eye-wateringly expensive...
My heart says restore,my wallet says break...

[Blitz]

Any Alpina now is worth restoring. Because there so rare.

[Felix79]

Seriously need to know what type of Alpina it is first. You could make a small fortune selling the Alpina goodies. If it is a C2 2.5 with the grill badge still attached I will be happy to pay you for it

Things that will sell from breaking an early one would be the badges , boot spoiler , side skirts , cow plough , gear knob , Alpina cluster , Alpina exhuast system , Wheels , Seats if they are Alpina ones , Alpina Plaque , Letter of orginality if one is still owned.

If the car has no paperwork or good history then it's just any e30 with Alpina bits bolted on. How ever if you have loads of history and all the things are in place then you got a basis of a car worth investing in but I promise you no matter how much time you wait for it to mature you will not get your money back trying to restore one properly.

[jbh]

I promise you no matter how much time you wait for it to mature you will not get your money back trying to restore one properly.

there getting rare cars an i tend to disagree with this. I beleive they will come up in value. look at the mk2 and mk1 escorts. 10 years ago you could buy a shell for a hundred quid or a mint one for a few k. now your paying a few k for a shell and about 10k for a mint car.. most of the boys I know are into there mk1 and mk2 escorts say the e30 is the modern mans mk1 or 2 escort.. there rwd,small and light and are starting to go the same way as the rwd escorts. just my opinion and a few boys i know fell the same

[Felix79]

The numbers are very rare as we all know but I can't see mine ever breaking high money due to amount of miles on the clock. Look at Si13's 2 door , by his own amssion he's already put the best of £6000 into it so far and it's still going to need more time an money before it's finished. If it was not for his mechincal know how the restro would have been insainly steep. It may be one of the highest value 2 doors once Si's done it but can it really take on top M3 money?

I think with the e30 it will be in the strange position that the M3 will always be in bigger numbers and be worth more than the very rare Alpina's. Also you have the mine field of which Alpina do you save? You have the C1 2.3 , C2 2.5 , C2 2.7 , C2.5 for the UK market and obviously the B6 and B6S in LHD form. Obviously the B6S is one of the most expensive e30's to buy due to it being an Alpina M3 but bar that I just don't think people will really be prepaired to spend strong money on some of the Alpina's. I have no idea what mine is worth now the bodywork is all straight and I done all the mechanics but I doubt I could get more than what £4000-£5000 for it at a real push. People like them but rarely will the spend the money a real one needs and with it being so easy to make a lookalike most will be like "why bother"

[bmwsport]

^ Totally agree with this. What really takes the pee pee is that i regularly see many E30 Tech II sports selling for 5k+ and 'rare' motorsport cabs selling for 8k +. I know what i would sooner have... Very rare Alpina/Hartge's or generic production line models... hmmm let me see . Oh and onto the M3, there's no denying they are extremely iconic legendary cars but the prices some of those go for are silly, especially the rare models but even striped rolling shells sell for 5k+ or complete breaker worthy rot box can sell for 7k+, in that aspect they are totally over-rated and i certainly would not be parting with that sort of money. A 320is on the other hand is a win win scenario

[w17led]

^ Totally agree with this. What really takes the pee pee is that i regularly see many E30 Tech II sports selling for 5k+ and 'rare' motorsport cabs selling for 8k +. I know what i would sooner have... Very rare Alpina/Hartge's or generic production line models... hmmm let me see . Oh and onto the M3, there's no denying they are extremely iconic legendary cars but the prices some of those go for are silly, especially the rare models but even striped rolling shells sell for 5k+ or complete breaker worthy rot box can sell for 7k+, in that aspect they are totally over-rated and i certainly would not be parting with that sort of money. A 320is on the other hand is a win win scenario

Yeah but you pay for the e30 m3's being so rare.

They were from factory and do look the business, where as alpina, hartge are just slightly modded by tuners and to be honest not much quicker than a standard 325.

They maybe rare but you are just paying for a badge/wheels/slight engine mods if that!

Where as the e30 m3 is a iconi as you say.

320is now thats a nice package all round and normally well priced.

[bmwsport]

Yeah but you pay for the e30 m3's being so rare.

They were from factory and do look the business, where as alpina, hartge are just slightly modded by tuners and to be honest not much quicker than a standard 325.

They maybe rare but you are just paying for a badge/wheels/slight engine mods if that!

Where as the e30 m3 is a iconi as you say.

320is now thats a nice package all round and normally well priced.

The E30 M3 is not actually that rare, there are always multiple cars available on the market at any one time.

The 'slight' engine mods you refer to does actually depend on the model of the Alpina or Hartge in question. Fair enough some 2.3/2.5 m20 models only have a few bolt on bits with slight power gains but when you get onto the bigger fish i.e ”“ Alpina C27, Hartge H27, those ”˜slight’ engine mods actually exceeds the original 195bhp E30 M3 power output with 210bhp”¦ Even in the early 80’s (before the M3 existed!) you could order the Hartge H28 (see my car in sig) and H35 which both had modified 6 cyl M30 donks transplanted from the 5/6/7 series cars, not to mention Alpina’s identical offerings. These cars offered 210bhp and 240bhp respectively, back then the E30 323i was BMW’s flagship 3 series model that rolled off the production line with only 139bhp”¦ These cars must have been quite a transformation especially when the E30 M3 came later with less power. Even the revised E30 M3 only had 215bhp, a mere 5bhp more than the Alpina/Hartges of the early 80’s. That in itself is not quite an achievement, but then again they used completely different engines so I am in no way comparing tuning abilities, just the power output of the cars available.

Lastly, no offence to any E30 M3 owners, they are lovely cars but I cannot see what all the fuss is about to command such high price tags. If they were more realistically priced I would actually snap one up myself.

[Blitz]

There were also 330 BHP Hartge's.

[Felix79]

With regards to the 2.5 Alpina's they have a fair more grunt than a normal 325i ever did. Also there was over 17,000 M3's made. In my eyes that's a fairly large number. For example there were 74 C2 2.5's like mine were done. I beliave Sytner did less than 150 2.7's and you need to remember an Alpina is an offical BMW product. Yes they are made incredable backwards in their manufacture but still to this day Alpina's have gotten the styling cues right when BMW and the M-tech devision have failed.

[bss325i]

This thread has made me laugh!

I take it the car is RHD?

If thats the case the it will either be a C1 2.3, C2 2.5 or C2 2.7. With it being a prefacelift saloon the chances of it being a C2 2.7 are slim as most were facelifts.

You need to tell us what model it is before any sort of valuation can be given.

[Simon13]

if i won the lottery i'd be hoovering all these cars up! well 2.7s anyhow

[Scoot1]

Hi all, thank you for the replies I am in awe of this site and the positivity which exists amongst all.
I have spoken to my friend and he would prefer not to break the car but sell it as a going concern (unfortunately he is not back till Sunday so please be patient thanks).

This I know the car by some weird stroke of appears to have been bought new several years ago by his current boss (who recognised it in an instant) and is a geniuine Alpina, he sold it on but it remained in the local area since and coming into the ownership of my friend.

I have had lots of pm's re:the car and I will endeavour in the spirit of the zone to take pictures and post details about the car.
I know the car has the Alpina 6 branch exhaust manifold as I thought it would be a good addition to my 2.7 cabbie conversion, but my pal would rather not break the car as he and I agree it will be one less Alpina on the road.
He really is a genuine E30 honest person and owned a 325ix Touring, a car which I would have liked to have bought as I have only ever read about them and never seen one in the flesh yet alone driven one.

I must agree with JBH and BMW sport in that the E30's if maintained properly will command strong money and appreciate over time. Why? because they were an icon of their time, they were the car of an era that set BMW's tills ringing, as such they will evoke memories for those who owned them and more than that they both look and drive wonderfully.
The prices of short nosed Henry's (escorts to those unafficiated with the breed or furry dice stripey T shirt boys) are sky high fuelled by rally enthusiasts, also Audi Quattro SWB have gone silly as well. In my opinion good, clean, straight, honest E 30's are on the up.

I will post the pics Sunday/Monday with more info, thanks to everyone I am sure the car will find a good home and not be one of Gordon B's scrappage victims.
Thanks again tI would just like to add this is the best forum I have been asociated with and yes I have joined quite a few but not to the standard shown here.

[jbh]

looking forward to seeing the pictures. really hope this gets saved. specially with it being a prefacelift.

[Scoot1]

Thanks JBH, so do I, I would take on the project but divorce is so expensive these days, whereas petrol station flowers are so cheap in comparison...total lifesavers and you get a whiff of petrol to boot.

Seriously thanks to all, I have had lots of positive pm's which I will pass on, and hopefully get the pics up this Sunday/Monday for you all to comment on

[jbh]

Thanks JBH, so do I, I would take on the project but divorce is so expensive these days, whereas petrol station flowers are so cheap in comparison...total lifesavers and you get a whiff of petrol to boot.

I must admit ive no idea how my misses puts up with me and cars..

[Felix79]

if i won the lottery i'd be hoovering all these cars up! well 2.7s anyhow

I thought that is what you and Barry have been doing for the last few years anyway. You two are serial Alpina killers! ;)

[bss325i]

Any joy with the pics/details?

[Scoot1]

Hi, apologies I was up in the North West enjoying the joys of the 50MPH speed restriction on the M5 and M6 yesterday all of which informing me that work was in progress.... not a soul to be seen anywhere just another motorists inconvenience and income generator for Gordon.

Consequently late back!

I hope to take the pictures today and post them tonight (although please note I have not put pics on the zone before so any advice to assist with the process welcomed) thanks.

Lots of people interested hope no one is disappointed

[inlovewithRWD]

The easiest way is to load the photos onto a free website like photobucket.com. Select the picture you want to upload and on the left-hand side of the photo there is a box with the title "share this image". Copy the IMG code and post that in the text bo on e30zone and you should have posted photos!

[Felix79]

So what one is it? C1 2.3 , C2 2.5 , C2 2.7?

[Hellbound]

We'll never find out Felix...

[Scoot1]

Still awaiting access to take pics but apparantly was a 'Sytner' car and they upgradede the car when it first came into the country.

I will get the pics on here by weekend !!

[Felix79]

A Sytner car is not garentied to be a Alpina. I could be a normal BMW that the dealership sold. As I said need to find out the all important model number, C1 2.3 C2 2.5 or C2 2.7. Starting to sound more and more like a wind up to me.

[Andyboy]

I've got a 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing here under a tarpaulin. The scrapman has offered me £80 for it, what should I do?

[maxfield]

I've got a 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing here under a tarpaulin. The scrapman has offered me £80 for it, what should I do?

I'll come down now and take it from you for £80 and a Mars bar?

[The_Diddler]

I've got a 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing here under a tarpaulin. The scrapman has offered me £80 for it, what should I do?

Get it weighed in pronto, before the cost of scrap falls any further, get shot of the festering turd

[AlpineAde]

I've got a 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing here under a tarpaulin. The scrapman has offered me £80 for it, what should I do?

Postage to Australia?

[adit]

I've got a 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing here under a tarpaulin. The scrapman has offered me £80 for it, what should I do?

take the £80 (i got £100 for that old Bugatti my uncle had in his barn, 'cos it weighed so frigging much!)

[bdawg]

For what it's worth, I agree that the car should be saved. These 2.7s are so damn rare now, efforts should be made to restore them all

I'm currently going through a labour of love and I am completely restoring my Tech 1 C2 2.7 from the ground up.
It's taking a long time and I don't expect to see much money back from what I'm spending, but I'm not doing it for an investment. I'm doing it because the E30 represents something for me that is lost in the 80's and for me, the Alpina E30 is the most iconic, visual representation of that age. It's a freaking awesome car.

Can't wait to get it back.

If I had the garage space, I'd have at least 3 E30's and I certainly would entertain a Sport Evo M3, despite the common derision.

Apologies for continually posting pics of the car, but I am pretty proud of it, even though the son of a bitch who sold it to me was a fraud. Oh and the previous owner before that made sure that the car didn't get any decent care, despite what may have been said publicly.

[bmwsport]

Nice pina ^^^^ I've had a look at your resto pics and it's looking great. Keep up the good work