New D3 vandalised after only 6 days - Help!

Spanny · Post by **Spanny** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 1:56 pm

Hi Everyone,

After 4 months of waiting and reading this forum nearly every single day over that time, I finally took receipt of my D3 Biturbo last week.

After only 6 days, it was vandalised in a carpark in Manchester; they took a screwdriver to all of the alloy centre caps (ruined them all) and they took a trophy - namely the rear Alpina badge which they picked off each letter using a knife. The centre caps did their job but as you can see from the pictures, they're ruined and the repair bill is coming in close to Â£700.

So, I need a bit of help please and I'd really appreciate some advice as a newbie here:

1. The boot needs to be resprayed because of the damage they caused to the paintwork. Where other than Alpina can I source a replacement 'Alpina' and 'D3 Biturbo' badge from. I've been quoted be Sytner Â£125 for each badge!!

2. Should I go stealth and not replace them at all? I want to get a feel for the consensus on this as I appreciate to an enthusiast that could be a big no-no.

Thanks for your help, not exactly what I had in mind for my first post!

All the best,

Paul

KevinB10 · Post by **KevinB10** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 3:09 pm

I really feel for you, there are some nasty jealous people out there.

You may get cheap copies on ebay but I doubt if they are as good as the originals through Sytner.

Can you claim through your Insurance ?

hap · Post by **hap** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 3:32 pm

Wankers I am so sorry mate words just don't even come close

See this link chap selling most of the word alpina new May take an offer from you
http://www.thealpinaregister.com/forums ... hp?t=21795

Don't change don't let the bastards win

Keep ur eyes peeled for a wannabe alpina with your badges on it
What car park called presume no cctv ?

Spanny · Post by **Spanny** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 4:12 pm

Cheers guys, no sadly I can't go through my insurance on this occasion, I had two claims last year and the last thing I need is another one on the record!

No CCTV sadly, therefore no leads to go on. The car park was the SiP car park on Great Jackson St in Manchester, avoid like the plague. I can't work out if it was a bunch of kids trophy hunting or whether it was some fella wanting my wheels. I'm just glad the centre caps did their job, I'd hate to have come back and found it dumped into its brake discs!

jolls · Post by **jolls** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 6:47 pm

Absolute scumbags. I'm so sorry to hear of this. I think after this experience if it was me I would go "stealth". I may be wrong but I believe you can spec the car with no badges from new? So don't worry what others think, it's your peace of mind that is important. Although the wheel caps have done there job you could buy some good quality locking wheel nuts for extra protection.

As hap been said don't let the bastards win and enjoy what is a beautiful car.

D3orbust · Post by **D3orbust** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 6:58 pm

There is some absolute filth out there.

If it was me I'd go stealth for now and post up a WTB for the badges.

Sorry Sytner but Â£125 per badge is an absolute pis* take.

By the way that's a beautiful car that you have there.

Spanny · Post by **Spanny** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 7:31 pm

Cheers D3orbust, and yeah very tempted to go stealth for now and just foot the Â£200 respray. I washed her for the first time since I've owned her today, not the nicest feeling (which my wife finds hilarious btw - zero sympathy!!) and I keep finding more damage from the tooling that they used. Little s*#ts!

The centre caps are potentially recoverable - the body shop think they can heat them up and flatten back to shape so I'll let you all know if that works.

Good call on the locking wheel but too.

Apparently Sytner say that Alpina manufacture badges to order only, confirming the chassis number when they do. This is to prevent a 320d slapping on a genuine Alpina badge but it comes with a big price tag. Still, Â£250 for badges is a bit of a joke!

D3-No.435 · Post by **D3-No.435** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:09 pm

Mate I understand how you must have felt. I had my S6 vandalised within a month of having it.

Best thing is not to let it get you down. Firstly get the bootlid sprayed, that way you wont have to look at the damage. Secondly see how it looks and decide if you want to add the badges or not. As Jolls said its your car so don't worry about what others say or think. The purists will say that it should remain as it was the day it left the factory but as yours is black I actually think it will look nice de-badged, it will give the rear end a smoother look.

As for the badges that were taken keep a lookout on Ebay, Gumtree etc, could be someone who knew there value. My friend had his wheels stolen and within a few days they were on Ebay for sale. I know it would be almost impossible to prove anything if you did see them for sale but you may be able to ask a few questions or even buy them back cheaper than the Â£250. Sucks I know but I also don't agree with the Â£250 costs from Sytners.

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:14 pm

Gutted for you, if you're not claiming on insurance then I understand you trying to save as much as possible. Plenty of anonymous cars out there so save the badge money and get the rest sorted.

Fingers crossed all goes according to plan going forwards 👍

Paulb · Post by **Paulb** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:55 pm

Try contacting Alpina directly or going through one of the Belgian / Luxemburg dealers.

Saddens me to see that kind of wanton vandalism, it achieves nothing - I really thought the days of those who fed from the bottom of the barrel stealing the likes of VW badges to hand on a chain round their neck was long behind us.

WINNE1 · Post by **WINNE1** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 10:28 pm

rodbargee · Post by **rodbargee** » Sun Aug 06, 2017 1:35 am

Commiserations, Â£125 a pop is very steep. I thought bright work on vintage Japanese bikes was a rip off (Â£150 for a fuel cap) but that sucks.

hap · Post by **hap** » Sun Aug 06, 2017 6:05 am

Come across the alpina badge from usa about Â£60
https://www.ebay.com/p/2001-2006-bmw-oe ... &rdtsrc=vi

hap · Post by **hap** » Sun Aug 06, 2017 6:27 am

This company a lot of members have used from Holland
Good reputation and good price savings

http://www.fmw-tuning.de/shopping_cart.php

Spanny · Post by **Spanny** » Sun Aug 06, 2017 8:47 am

Cheers hap, appreciate the guidance. It's tricky - after currency conversion and postage costs, broadly the parts are coming in at what Sytner are quoting, slightly cheaper but with Sytner any issues I guess it would be easier to take up with them. I'm not sure if the Alpina badges differ at all between marques? But to be safe I should probably get the F30 badge no?

So, new centre caps - Â£125 a pop. New badges - Â£250. Respray - Â£200. What a crappy weekend!