Used Bmw Alpina
Alpina are now fully recognised as a motor manufacturer in their own right but for many years their illustrious name was fully associated with BMW. Even now, the names slot together just perfectly and the famous collaboration has left a legacy of superb cars.
The History
Alpina were formed in 1963 by Burkard Bovensiepen and initially, the company was solely used in the production of typewriters! However, Bovensiepen had always been interested in the tuning and upgrading of cars and the firm was later re-incorporated in 1965 to do just that.
The owner of Alpina had first worked on improving a Fiat but had always harboured an interest in BMW vehicles. Subsequently, when BMW produced the 1800 in 1963, it was met with a lukewarm reception from the buying public and Bovensiepen found an opportunity.
The 1800 was essentially the successor to the 1500 but there were no improvements worthy of note. Additionally, BMW 1500 owners were also disappointed so Alpina produced a standalone tuning kit. The first, unofficial BMW Alpina was born and thus began a long history of impressive collaborations.
Some notable models were produced, including an uprated M3 and in 1983, Alpina became recognised as a manufacturer in their own right.
What you get for your money
The exact upgrades on a BMW Alpina from its parent vehicle will depend to a large extent on the exact model that you buy. Generally speaking, you can expect to find a much higher torque which will naturally lead to a better performance on the road.
Another distinctive feature of any Alpina car is the 20 spoke alloy wheels while the unique, metallic blue paint can be found on many models. Inside the vehicle, the interior is also uprated to include different materials and stitching.
Overall, the emphasis is on greater luxury and higher performance from the original BMW version.
What you can expect to pay
Once again, this will depend on the version of the BMW Alpina that you're looking to buy but you can expect to pay a small premium for the Alpina tuned version of the original BMW car.
An older, higher mileage vehicle can sell for a figure comfortably below the £10,000 mark while a newer, pristine model with fewer miles on the clock can exceed £20,000 at the top end of the scale.
What to look out for
The main issues with a used BMW Alpina may be entirely cosmetic and wear and tear to the stitching and paint on used models may be evident. In some cases this can be more expensive to address.
Mechanically, it pays to have an independent inspection and an approved BMW service if you can because these powerful beasts are expensive to run.
Replacement parts
The majority of replacement components can be sourced and fitted by your local BMW specialist and the parts are completely generic.
Unique Alpina items such as the wheels may be harder to track down but there is still a ready supply so speak to BMW first.
How it drives
A BMW Alpina is a BMW with much higher torque so expect a more thrilling and responsive ride than you would from an arguably more pedestrian parent vehicle.
Handling may not always be as reliable but the added excitement is always there.