B3S touring #029: Hodge's old car

[Steve84N]

Mercedes do this with the W204 C63
the engine is a 6208cc but wideley sold as a 6.3 for some reason
S204 wagon is next on my bucket list .......

It's mainly homage to the original 6.3 V8 that was in the Red Pig. They also like to round up, no matter how small the amount over.

[Bob]

Not one of my various Alpinas had a plastic cover over the VIN.

I have mislaid most of my Alpina pix due to a half-assed pc swap, but I found a very old one on my phone....I've sent it to Bob to post as I can't remember how to! B3SBiturbo #127 had the said plastic cover, and I'm 100% sure another did too. It probably explains why this B3s has the weirdly rusty VIN's

Sorry Ade, not been around much this weekend. Thanks for the pic

[Charles]

So, I think we can reasonably conclude that:

- some cars have a clear plastic sticker over the VINs and some don't
- having increased the engine capacity of the B3S, ALPINA differentiated the two engines by classifying one as 3.3 and the other as 3.4

I can rest easy now

[PerryGunn]

So, I think we can reasonably conclude that:

- some cars have a clear plastic sticker over the VINs and some don't
...
I can rest easy now

ah.... but there appears to be another, albeit subtle, difference in those with plastic covering the VIN

In Ade/Bob's photo above, the air bubbles appear to indicate that the plastic was fitted after the VIN was stamped, on #320 the plastic is embossed into the VIN - so the plastic was fitted before stamping the Alpina VIN

...can't have you resting too easily...

[ade and liz flint]

So, I think we can reasonably conclude that:

- some cars have a clear plastic sticker over the VINs and some don't
...
I can rest easy now

ah.... but there appears to be another, albeit subtle, difference in those with plastic covering the VIN

In Ade/Bob's photo above, the air bubbles appear to indicate that the plastic was fitted after the VIN was stamped, on #320 the plastic is embossed into the VIN - so the plastic was fitted before stamping the Alpina VIN

...can't have you resting too easily...

Correct Perry, and I'm convinced one of my others was stamped through the plastic, as yours is. Probably on my RS, but I've a niggly feeling all mine were covered, now. I'm going to try and find other pics I lost, but doubt I've many close ups of VIN's like the one Bob shared for me.

[Charles]

So, I think we can reasonably conclude that:

- some cars have a clear plastic sticker over the VINs and some don't
...
I can rest easy now

ah.... but there appears to be another, albeit subtle, difference in those with plastic covering the VIN

In Ade/Bob's photo above, the air bubbles appear to indicate that the plastic was fitted after the VIN was stamped, on #320 the plastic is embossed into the VIN - so the plastic was fitted before stamping the Alpina VIN

...can't have you resting too easily...

Oh I think I can still as that is simply a subset of the main group of those cars WITH a sticker

[Bob]

Just for my own sanity, here's a selection of others:

B3 3.3 COUPE's #136 doesn't appear to've ever had one
B3 3.3 COUPE #170 show signs that sticker was removed
B3S CABRIO #060 doesn't appear to've ever had one
B3S COUPE #122 has a sticker

[Bob]

Anyway, back to the original topic.

Bids are slow so far, looking a long way to the £13.8k the seller paid in Nov-20, and disappointing to see it hasn't had any kind of servicing, even an oil change, since Oct-19 even if it's <2k miles ago.

[churchie386]

Looking at the comments on Collecting Cars, it seems the car has spent time in Northern Ireland and could have more than the four previous owners that DVLA records show. Plus MOT records for a significant protion of the car's history (while in NI) are unavailable online. Then there's the lack of recent servicing. The car is near to me, and was considering a bid, but I think I'll sit this one out.

[PerryGunn]

...disappointing to see it hasn't had any kind of servicing, even an oil change, since Oct-19 even if it's <2k miles ago.

To be fair, the car has had a pretty regular servicing schedule before this and, while it's coming up for 8 months over the 2-year time-based service interval, given the disruptions to daily life caused by Covid I very much doubt if it'll be the only vehicle that may have had an extended interval between recent services.

[ade and liz flint]

Looking at the comments on Collecting Cars, it seems the car has spent time in Northern Ireland and could have more than the four previous owners that DVLA records show. Plus MOT records for a significant protion of the car's history (while in NI) are unavailable online. Then there's the lack of recent servicing. The car is near to me, and was considering a bid, but I think I'll sit this one out.

Whilst in NI it was well maintained. I know this as I was nearly the one to bring it back over in 2014 iirc when I was waiting for my first Macan to be built. I entered into conversation with the seller, and the only part it fell down on was a bit of a disagreement around inspection before purchase: we were in similar ballparks on value, though. I'm not going to enter into details, but we couldn't agree: so it eventually, much later, sold elsewhere and came back over. In Hodges tenure previously, it was very well maintained. I'd reckon its had 2 owners back here since its time in NI, one in NI, Hodge, plus 1 (sytner?) or maybe 2? I don't get too hung up on # of keepers: as an example my 330D had 3 keepers before me (for 4yrs, 8yrs, 1yr) but due to an admin cock up (not guilty: seller at fault) it now has 4. It is what it is.

The lack of recent servicing is a common trait amongst older BMW models where the owners aren't so clued-up about the 2 year cycles.

To be fair, the car has had a pretty regular servicing schedule before this and, while it's coming up for 8 months over the 2-year time-based service interval, given the disruptions to daily life caused by Covid I very much doubt if it'll be the only vehicle that may have had an extended interval between recent services.

This. I have exact same issue with the 330D. I have a file of past work, and a mainly completed service book. And a different set of data re engine service on my OBC which corresponds to the last ownership change date of 04/21 ie during Covid 19. My guess is the oil was changed (but little else TBF) for the handover to that owner, but no stamp in the book and I have no invoice for the sale which clearly took place via a trader. With the sheafs of supporting paperwork, significant service book info, and a bit of knowledge on its background, I accepted the apparent gap: plus it runs and sounds perfect, and I'm a pretty good judge. It's in for oil and brake fluid on Friday, I've done the air and cabin filters myself and kept the invoice for parts on file. The oil and brake service will go in the service book to bring it up to date: it's no biggie, and neither is it with #29. Change the oil and filters post purchase, and get on with driving it.

[Bob]

Looking at the comments on Collecting Cars, it seems the car has spent time in Northern Ireland and could have more than the four previous owners that DVLA records show. Plus MOT records for a significant protion of the car's history (while in NI) are unavailable online. Then there's the lack of recent servicing. The car is near to me, and was considering a bid, but I think I'll sit this one out.

I think as Ade has said the count of owners is likely correct at 4+current and two of them were/are members here: Best I can determine they are (allowing for some variation on the actual months and I don't know if Hodge was the 2nd or 3rd owner):

OWNER: Mark Chamberlain, stripey1966 [Insta] Nov-20 to date
PREVIOUS: David Broadley [The Classic Car Store] Sep-15 - Nov-20
PREVIOUS: darren_mk [ALPINA Register] Jun-07 - Jul-14
PREVIOUS: Mark aka Hodge [ALPINA Register] xxx-xx - May-07
PREVIOUS: Sytner Press Car (AutoCar: Chris Harris + others) Mar-03 - xxx-xx

As for the recent servicing, on reflection the extended gap is probably insignificant in the grand scheme, assuming it's done before any significant usage.

[Hodge]

I was the 3rd owner as far as I’m aware. Sytner Press Car then a guy at Linby Notts as I recall his address as the prev owner on the V5. Hope that helps.

Cheers

[CB 987]

Sooooo looks like I now own this! I honestly thought it would have done better?!

[simon13]

Sooooo looks like I now own this! I honestly thought it would have done better?!

Good man! I'm sure you'll love it! Its a nice spec this car