Bargain Alpina B10 3.3

[Mattyc]

In my usual browsing spotted this - don't think its been posted up before.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1788449.htm

Sounds a really good one, must be one of the last ones. Is it just me or is this cheap? These must have been around £40k when new.

Soooo much car for the money and if I didn't do 20k + miles a year then i'd be sorely tempted.

[shimsheemer]

If it sounds too good to be true...

[TouringTash]

doesn't list the mileage mind.

still for 8K
hmmmm

just think what 8K could do to an E30 without going mad on alpina/hartage bits

[B7]

At first glance, 8k seems steep for a thirty nine. However, realistically, 8k will not yet put you in any decent e60. Certainly not an M Sport. Plus this being a late B10, I reckon it's bang on the money. Would look keener at 7k and I'd want rid of that wood as well.

[TouringTash]

TIMBER

is a little on the bright side.

would clash with my ginger bonce

[Simon13]

8k is way over priced, thats buys an M5

e39 is 2 shapes out now and that won't be worth 8k in 2 years more like 4. Plus its a scotch car so rusty!

[TouringTash]

B7 do you have a thing about burning stuff?

hence wanting to out the wood?

[B7]

8k is way over priced, thats buys an M5

e39 is 2 shapes out now and that won't be worth 8k in 2 years more like 4. Plus its a scotch car so rusty!

Si, I'd have one of these over an M5 any day. None of the v8 costs or issues, rack over box, insurance saving, servicing costs, individuality and instant entrance to the exclusive Buchloe club. Perhaps not as quick but quick enough.

The wood reminds me of an old Rover! Needs the aluminium, piano black or the cubix like my 530 sport has.

[Blitz]

I like Alpina wood.

[TouringTash]

wouldn't call a daughter that.

though it does have a certain ring about it.


btw my surname is wood

[Mattyc]

Mileage is listed at 54k.

Shouldn't have the same threat of serious expense hanging over you that you'd get with an M5.

Don't think the wood would bother me that much - i'd be driving an Alpina

Heres another that i've drooled over for ages, its been around Sheffield for at least a couple of years now.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1828032.htm

Bit optimistic on price if we reckon 8k is about right for the other one. Still got that dodgy wood too....

[Blitz]

Loving the high OBC.

[CaesarBob]

Loving the high OBC.

Do you mean the plaque above the rear view mirror?

[325isporttech1]

Thats the lesser 3.3 alpina so its not worth 8k and is a gimmick only.

Especialy when you can get the M5 for less or the daddy B10 with the 4.6 V8........ http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1871959.htm

This would be my choice... http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1668125.htm

No brainer

[B7]

Problem is, Everyone has an M5. No many have a B10 be it the V8 or the 3.3. And I'm a huge fan of the way a 6 pot handles over the eight.

[325isporttech1]

The e34 b10 Bi-turbo has got to be the daddy of them all imo and the prices reflect

[Mattyc]

As you say B7 everyones got an M5 - for me it'd be the Alpina everytime. Seen that V8, it sounds great right until the Cat C part. I think £8k is a good price, given its age and what the earlier 3.2s seem to sell for.

If I hadn't just had the garden done so my 4 month old has somewhere to crawl around in next Summer, after selling the cabby i'd have been somewhere near the asking price in the kitty. Not sure it would have got through the finance committee though!!

I'll keep dreaming.......

[bss325i]

All the E39 Alpinas with a six cylinder engine have an iron bock and M52 type head like an S52 engine (US spec E36 M3 engine) instead of the alloy blocks 528i/530i's.

All the V8 E39's have an alloy block.

I have driven many many different E39's including several E39 M5's and a B10 3.2.

They are worlds appart and the M5 handles vastly better.

I did like the B10 but a nice* E39 M5 is one of my favourite M cars and i even prefer them to E60 M5's of which ive driven a few.

The difference in steering feel between the V8's and 6 pots inst as noticeable as people make out.


*Not a cat D, 120k miler 15 owner bruv special on Nankangs!

[325isporttech1]

As you say B7 everyones got an M5 - for me it'd be the Alpina everytime.

Thats like saying...everyone else has a beautiful wife il take an ugly one to be different

[BadDave]

Oh where to start.

The 3.3L's have a thirst for oil for some strange reason.
Som require a 1L top up every 500-600 miles,some don't. No explanation for it from what I've heard.
The 3.2L's don't suffer this affliction

The early 3.3's were manual or auto while those from 2001 are switchtronic only.
If you do decide to invest in one,Alpina recommend Castrol SLX(rebranded EDGE) fully synthetic oil,although Mobil 1 0w40 is acceptable as it meets BMW longlife specs.

TBH, there's not much difference between the 2 other than 20 bhp and a bit more torque along with sports steering wheel and the facelifted front end.

As has already been said, they were circa £40K new and the one in the link has the standard wood trim.
Only 239 were made between 1999 and 2003 compared to 266 of the 3.2L's so rarer than the M5 for that little extra exclusivity.
3.2L/3.3L Touring's are even rarer.

Looks as if it may be one of the later ones to come off the production line, even taking into account the 6 month waiting time these had back then.

Servicable items are standard BMW. I.E oil/fuel/air filters/rear brakes etc
Front brakes(disks/pads/calipers) are from the 540 and they like M5 spark plugs(the 4 electrode NGK's for the M5 are approved by Alpina and may actually be classed as an upgrade)
Suspension and rear anti roll bar are Alpina items(there are quite a few Alpina specific parts which you may not realise).
Any Alpina specific items are usually a 3-4 week wait as they are usually on backorder from Germany

I currently use the 3.2L as a daily driver,covering about 500 miles a week.They are a nice comfortable way of getting through the weekly commute and it returns better MPG than the 325 touring(E30),even more so on a long(euro road trip)
Insurance isn't too hefty either when you consider it's covered for 30K miles,sdp,commuting and business use.

All in all, a more civilised way to travel

[octanejunkie]

No thank you. I'd rather have a tasty 540 and some cash in my pocket.
If you bought this, drove it around for six months to a year, then tried to sell it, you'd find out you'd be lucky to get 5k for it. And if for no ther reason than i hate that steering wheel!

[BadDave]

No thank you. I'd rather have a tasty 540 and some cash in my pocket.
If you bought this, drove it around for six months to a year, then tried to sell it, you'd find out you'd be lucky to get 5k for it. And if for no ther reason than i hate that steering wheel!

The 6 pot Alpina's have 540 performance with 528/530 running costs.

Agreed re the steering wheel though

[Mattyc]

[quote]Thats like saying...everyone else has a beautiful wife il take an ugly one to be different

So you've seen the Wife then ...only joking dear (she might be over my shoulder!)

So 30+ MPG on a run is realistic with one of these BadDave? Fair play for doing that kind of mileage in one.

[BadDave]

Thats like saying...everyone else has a beautiful wife il take an ugly one to be different

So you've seen the Wife then ...only joking dear (she might be over my shoulder!)

So 30+ MPG on a run is realistic with one of these BadDave? Fair play for doing that kind of mileage in one.

30-31MPG on the commute

34-35MPG when I took it down to Le Mans.

The 316(M20B25) tourer only avg's 26.5- 28.5MPG commuting and 30 ish on a decent run.

The B10 is much more comfortable than the E30(with stiffly sprung coilovers etc etc)and it made sense at the time of purchase.
It was advertised locally as a 3owner car with FSH and well below market value.(garage was just looking for a quick turnaround)

It was TOO rude not to cast a cursory 2 hr glance/inspection over it before handing over some hard earned

[325isporttech1]

Thats like saying...everyone else has a beautiful wife il take an ugly one to be different

So you've seen the Wife then ...only joking dear (she might be over my shoulder!)

[Mattyc]

Thats like saying...everyone else has a beautiful wife il take an ugly one to be different

So you've seen the Wife then ...only joking dear (she might be over my shoulder!)

So 30+ MPG on a run is realistic with one of these BadDave? Fair play for doing that kind of mileage in one.

30-31MPG on the commute

34-35MPG when I took it down to Le Mans.

The 316(M20B25) tourer only avg's 26.5- 28.5MPG commuting and 30 ish on a decent run.

The B10 is much more comfortable than the E30(with stiffly sprung coilovers etc etc)and it made sense at the time of purchase.
It was advertised locally as a 3owner car with FSH and well below market value.(garage was just looking for a quick turnaround)

It was TOO rude not to cast a cursory 2 hr glance/inspection over it before handing over some hard earned

I'm sold.

Right who'll give me £8k for a very nice early Motorsport cab, with the uber rare chrome trim

[B7]

As you say B7 everyones got an M5 - for me it'd be the Alpina everytime.

Thats like saying...everyone else has a beautiful wife il take an ugly one to be different

Not really. Just the practicality of the 6 pot and the fact, you never see one. I do thousands of miles for work and I must see 1 or 2 M5's every day. They become a bit "oh, theres another one".

See a B10 and it's different.

Take Gaydon, Stacks of e30 M3's and not one turned my eye. C2 2.7 / B3 3.5 and it's like "f*ck me! Thats tasty!"

[B7]

Oh where to start.

The 3.3L's have a thirst for oil for some strange reason.
Som require a 1L top up every 500-600 miles,some don't. No explanation for it from what I've heard.
The 3.2L's don't suffer this affliction

Standard 530's are similar. Mine was thirsty when I bought it. When it went in and had it's service, Barry changed the viscosity. It's had no detriment to it performance wise and it's not used a bit in 4k miles.

The thicker viscosity doesn't worry me as I change it every 6k anyway. Longer (read normal) intervals I may have reconsidered

[BadDave]

Oh where to start.

The 3.3L's have a thirst for oil for some strange reason.
Som require a 1L top up every 500-600 miles,some don't. No explanation for it from what I've heard.
The 3.2L's don't suffer this affliction

Standard 530's are similar. Mine was thirsty when I bought it. When it went in and had it's service, Barry changed the viscosity. It's had no detriment to it performance wise and it's not used a bit in 4k miles.

The thicker viscosity doesn't worry me as I change it every 6k anyway. Longer (read normal) intervals I may have reconsidered

Alpina recommend you change from 0w30 to a 10w60 when they start to get a thirst for oil and IIRC it's a recomendation on the higher mileage BMW's as well.

Castrol TWS springs to mind as being the recommended 10W60 for the Alpina