B10 V8, No. 388

[KennyP]

Hello all, newbie here saying hello. I have placed deposit on no.388 which was for sale at HPC Classics. The car is requiring some work so won't be delivered for a while yet but thought I'd get in touch in the hope that someone on here might know some history on it?

Cheers,

KennyP

[KennyP]

Hi all, got some time to add some more details and a pic (hopefully!). I tried to buy a B10 4.6 around 7 years ago from well known dealer down south. Car had very low mileage and the car was bought unseen after lots of back and forth between me and the dealer. Long story short, when I got there to collect there was some undisclosed damage (cue argument), a bit of a re-haggle price-wise and a decision to purchase. Took it to the local filling station where it proceeded to leak all the super I had just filled it up with.......Car rejected and a VERY long drive home in a rental. Moved into the Porsche and TVR direction after that but still hankered after a B10 (had to be V8) and saw this on Car and Classic on Monday. After phone calls, emails and lots of pictures taken decided to bite the bullet. The sills and wheels are needing some work together with a bit of titivation here and there some of which has already been done. The history file seems very good with lots of Munich Legends work including the head gaskets so time will tell! If anyone does know anything about this one I'd love to hear from you, good or bad!

Cheers,

KennyP

[B10BOV]

Congratulations its a beautiful car. I know very little about it, beyond it being rather a lovely colour combination.

It gives an interesting litmus as well on where good B10 values are at the moment as well.

All the best, Tom

[Bob]

Welcome aboard Kenny.

The previous owner who Miles acquired #388 from is a multiple-ALPINA owner, he still frequents the Facebook ALPINA groups if you want to track him down.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ALPINAOwners

[KennyP]

Thanks chaps, I have bought the car directly from Miles who is doing all the prep work. It is one of the more expensive ones out there but the price is to include work to the sills, wheels re-done, some interior sorting (driver's doorcard), Geo set-up, brake bleed, mot, general fettling and delivery to Dundee area so assuming (fingers crossed etc!!) all is as it should be then it's not too bad when compared to the 'classic' market in general. If it is good 'un then (famous last words.... ) we'd plan to keep it for a good while. I'd planned to join the Fb group once it was here and knew more about it. What are folk's thoughts on the interior? I know the seats are Bmw comfort and heated, is that just standard BMW leather or Alpina stuff? Thoughts on postcard!

Cheers,

KennyP

[JASV8S]

Hi Kenny,
Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the group. I stay up in Aberdeen but I am originally from Dundee, in fact I was down on Saturday. Once you get your car it would be good to meet up with our cars sometime as the restrictions ease. Another colleague on the forum Asim who has a V8S also has a Dundee connection having studied there and has been back and posted pics of his car up the Law.
As far as seats go there are many options from Sport, Comfort, Massage, Recaro with combinations of electric and heated.
Regards,
John

[Bob]

What are folk's thoughts on the interior? I know the seats are BMW comfort and heated, is that just standard BMW leather or Alpina stuff? Thoughts on postcard!

Your Nappa leather was the upgrade BMW option rather than the unique ALPINA Lavalina leather options which doesn't appear to have been an option until Mar-99, when it cost £8,000!!

This is a Sytner price list from Apr-97 which I suspect would be the list the original owner spec'd the car from as #388 was a Mar-98 BMW build. The other price list I have is from Mar-99 so that is too late.

Based on Apr-97 pricing your car was a bit of a christmas tree:

• Nappa Leather £2,795

• Comfort Seats with Memory £1,945

• Seat Heating £320

• Electric Glass Sunroof £990

• De-chroming £175

• Double Glazing £680

• Electric Rear & Manual Door Blinds £390

• Rear Spoiler £460

[KennyP]

CeasarBob and JasV8 thank you very much indeed. I didn't think it was the lavalina as it didn't look quite right but it appeared different from Bmw's standard fare. Doing a quick hammer on the calculator puts it at £72K (or a near as makes no difference) new nearly 23 years ago which must have put it up against some fairly serious competition back then. As a comparison, my 1998 TVR Cerbera that I sold last summer was around £45k new with the options of 4.5, full leather and a/c so quite difference!

Jas, who do you use servicing parts wise around the area? I know Gordon at Ashton motors well but he prefers to keep away from the complicated stuff these days!

Thanks again, its always interesting reading,

KennyP

[JASV8S]

Jas, who do you use servicing parts wise around the area? I know Gordon at Ashton motors well but he prefers to keep away from the complicated stuff these days!

Thanks again, its always interesting reading,

KennyP

I have used AW Autotech early on but I use Alan Ross Motor Engineers. Alan owns an e34 B10 that he has completely rebuilt and his foreman technician carried out that work with Alan so they are very familiar with Alpina. They did really good work which was quite extensive last year and I was very happy with them. I don't know who in Dundee would be a good independent but there used to be one of our members who had an e39 B10 on here from Brechin and he might know someone more local to you. I can't remember his name but I did meet him one time we had a run. I'll check through and see if i can remember who he was. I am sure there must be an alternative to John Clark near you.

[164 coupe]

Hi Kenny and welcome to the forum. There’s some great knowledge on here.

I think the owner John is thinking of is John Anderson (John B10) who sold his car back in 2017.

[KennyP]

Thanks guys, if that B10 you are thinking of is grey then it is in Gordon's place (Ashton motors), not sure of the no. of it so it could be unrelated. Received couple of pics of the sills on mine as it's now in the bodyshop..... They are not pretty but will hopefully get a proper repair done. Miles has ordered new wheel centre badges too (from Buchloe) so 388 should be looking very good indeed once all the work is completed.

Cheers

[JASV8S]

Thanks Roy, I remember John Anderson now. I had in the back of my mind that his name was John but thought that was too easy. I am sure John's car was blue though.

[KennyP]

Well, unless there are mot/delivery dramas this will hopefully turn up this week!. Wheels are done, sills are done, mot tomorrow....what could possibly go wrong with a 23yr old Alpina...!

[BarryM]

what could possibly go wrong with a 23yr old Alpina..

It’s the E39 bits you need to worry about

[KennyP]

what could possibly go wrong with a 23yr old Alpina..

It’s the E39 bits you need to worry about

Hah! Maybe the timing chain/guides and coolant system gods will smile down on me....there again...

Am I correct in thinking that as this is the older design 4.6 it either doesn't have vanos or it has the older simpler (less borky) version? I may of course be completely wrong for only the second time since 1974.....