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Alpina Roadster
- Thread starter legin
- Start date
I have driven all 3, owned 3 different ones as well and now I have the 3.0si.
First Z was a 3.0i, was fine. Second I didn't own but drove was the Alpina, was nicer than the 3.0i. The second Z I had was the M, was way more of an animal compared to the Alpina (Alpina more of a cruiser, the M more of a faster car and also had the LSD which was great).
Third Z I now have is a 3.0si, sits at the level of the Alpina more or less as smoother than the M and not as fast but easier to drive.
First Z was a 3.0i, was fine. Second I didn't own but drove was the Alpina, was nicer than the 3.0i. The second Z I had was the M, was way more of an animal compared to the Alpina (Alpina more of a cruiser, the M more of a faster car and also had the LSD which was great).
Third Z I now have is a 3.0si, sits at the level of the Alpina more or less as smoother than the M and not as fast but easier to drive.
It really depends on what you want out of the ownership experience. There is no single answer and its totally dependent on what you want from a car, not what someone else needs.
The M has the special engine and immense performance, its an M after all. But its expensive to maintain and run. If thats what you want, thats the best car for you.
The 3.0si is reliable, cheaper to run, still does 80% of what the M does for less than 50% of the price. If thats what you want, thats the best car for you.
The Alpina, seems to have its own niche, it certainly is a rare beast, and maybe thats important to you in terms of an ownership experience.
The M has the special engine and immense performance, its an M after all. But its expensive to maintain and run. If thats what you want, thats the best car for you.
The 3.0si is reliable, cheaper to run, still does 80% of what the M does for less than 50% of the price. If thats what you want, thats the best car for you.
The Alpina, seems to have its own niche, it certainly is a rare beast, and maybe thats important to you in terms of an ownership experience.
Sorry i meant the Alpina vs Si but I guess the same applies. I had a Z3m at the time and tried the new Alpina but missed the top end fizz then tried the Z4m and other than chassis stiffness preferred the Z3m especially the 5 speed gearbox. Now Im getting on a bit M engines dont have the appeal to me anymore so its Si or Alpina i think.
coldel said:
Having had both Si and M that's exactly my thoughts too.
I've never tried an Alpina though as they are all E85s, and I like a Coupe!
It looks like a 3.0 Si is the sweet spot in terms of what you get for what you pay. After all it has 265PS so not much less than the Alpinas 300 PS, but Alpinas are significantly dearer.
Ms are equally expensive, but you do get HPAS and an LSD to go with the much higher service costs!
I think you really have to want an Alpina or an M to justify the extra cost over an Si, but that's just IMHO.
I had an M itch that needed scratching. :lol:
I've owned all three. I've had an Alpina for 8 years now (on my second) and in between also had numerous Si's and a Z4MR.
The 3.0 Si's are great and value for money for what they are. I bought a Z4MR from a friend with the intention of it replacing my Alpina, but after a month or so came to dislike the harshness of the ZM so kept the Alpina instead. I found it always wanted to go down a gear and then when you did, it wanted to fly, so wasn't necessarily easy to drive sedately. It just seemed happier when being driven hard.
I've been on numerous annual trips with 4 or 5 Z4MR's together and found the Alpina to equal them for power and handling when driven hard, but also easy to cruise and potter. That with the added bonus of lower servicing costs and Road Tax being c£340 pa rather than all but touching £700pa for the Z4MR, it was a no brainer for me. Especially with for a car that sits garaged 6 days a week.
The Alpina is also a rarer car and therefore prices are rising or at worst holding. Alpina values have risen c£10k since I first purchased one in 2015.
Its a car you can own knowing that its not costing you anything.
ALpian 019 ( 2015 - 2021)
Alpina 307 (2021 - Present)
The 3.0 Si's are great and value for money for what they are. I bought a Z4MR from a friend with the intention of it replacing my Alpina, but after a month or so came to dislike the harshness of the ZM so kept the Alpina instead. I found it always wanted to go down a gear and then when you did, it wanted to fly, so wasn't necessarily easy to drive sedately. It just seemed happier when being driven hard.
I've been on numerous annual trips with 4 or 5 Z4MR's together and found the Alpina to equal them for power and handling when driven hard, but also easy to cruise and potter. That with the added bonus of lower servicing costs and Road Tax being c£340 pa rather than all but touching £700pa for the Z4MR, it was a no brainer for me. Especially with for a car that sits garaged 6 days a week.
The Alpina is also a rarer car and therefore prices are rising or at worst holding. Alpina values have risen c£10k since I first purchased one in 2015.
Its a car you can own knowing that its not costing you anything.
ALpian 019 ( 2015 - 2021)
Alpina 307 (2021 - Present)
An interesting thread to read through. 
All I can add is that the MR is the most fun car to drive I am ever likely to own. How I remember the joy of swapping ends safely and smoothly at will on any damp suface. Or blipping the throttle on my way home through the Saltash tunnel.
:driving:
All I can add is that the MR is the most fun car to drive I am ever likely to own. How I remember the joy of swapping ends safely and smoothly at will on any damp suface. Or blipping the throttle on my way home through the Saltash tunnel.
:driving: Some good ownership experience here and a lot points to how raw an experience you're after which I can relate with. Im more soft end these days so Si or RS for me I think. A slight tangent but what is the Alpina specific parts availability situation, ecu, trim, body kit, wheels that sort of thing ? Is it still possible to buy Alpina OEM struts and springs ?
Hi, we currently own an Alpina roadster S Lux and a E86 coupe Si sport.
I enjoy driving and owning both cars but find that they are both completely different driving experiences. The Alpina is much quicker than the coupe and is much better through corners etc. inspiring more confidence. Also I find that the gear change and braking in the Alpina is better than in the coupe.
I haven't driven an M roadster so can't give a comparison, but Number 5's experience of the three said it all to me. Depends what you like and want personally.
Can't say about the parts that you mentioned, I would think that they are readily available. I know that when we had to change the alternator on the Alpina (which isn't the same as the standard alternator) there wasn't a problem obtaining the parts.
As others have said servicing costs are certainly comparable to the coupe and therefore roadster and I think that the road tax is now cheaper
than the coupe's.
.
I enjoy driving and owning both cars but find that they are both completely different driving experiences. The Alpina is much quicker than the coupe and is much better through corners etc. inspiring more confidence. Also I find that the gear change and braking in the Alpina is better than in the coupe.
I haven't driven an M roadster so can't give a comparison, but Number 5's experience of the three said it all to me. Depends what you like and want personally.
Can't say about the parts that you mentioned, I would think that they are readily available. I know that when we had to change the alternator on the Alpina (which isn't the same as the standard alternator) there wasn't a problem obtaining the parts.
As others have said servicing costs are certainly comparable to the coupe and therefore roadster and I think that the road tax is now cheaper
than the coupe's.
.