The Credit Crunch hits Oxfordshire

Post by **Charles** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:53 pm

Over the last few week I have been deliberating over a very important decision.

As some of you know, I have had my name down for the first B3 BiTurbo Touring for quite a while and have been waiting patiently for ALPINA to formally announce that they were going to build the car. This came a month or so ago and I was told I had a slot in September production for #007 to be built.

Unfortunately, the credit crunch is squeezing the Lovibond finances at the moment - so much so that we have decided to have a "middle class credit crunch holiday" in August by being based at home and taking in the sights around the UK courtesy of Tesco Clubcard vouchers

What this also means is that I have decided to give up my build slot and the opportunity to have the first ever customer spec Touring, complete with my specially allocated build number

As I'm sure you will appreciate, this has been an extremely tough decision - weighing up the merits of a new car with full warranty against continuing to run the B3S with 140k miles on the clock and the possibility of serious and expensive things going wrong. I even had approval from the domestic finance director to replace the B3S with a lesser BMW replacement - but that just wouldn't do

So, here I am, having decided to run the B3S for at least another 9-12 months until things improve a bit (which I firmly expect them to do starting early next year).

I know that this will disappoint a number of forum members who have expressed an interest in taking ownership of #049, but I hope you will understand.

I am now beginning to think about how many miles I could actually do in the car. The engine is still as sweet as it was on day one - perhaps even sweeter - and is still only consuming a litre of oil every 7k miles or so. Regular dealer maintenance will continue and I will continue to lavish love and TLC on the car - which I'm sure contributes to the longevity and relatively cheap motoring that I experience at the moment.

I am also thinking about a couple of tweaks and upgrades to keep the love affair fresh - but more about that at a later date.

My question to you is this - how many miles should I reasonably be able to get from #049? My target is at least 200k, but once I get there then I'm sure the idea of covering 1/4 million miles in the car will become tempting

And at that point, it may even be the case that I keep the car as a weekend warrior - simply because it will be one of the last ALPINAs with a normally aspirated, hand built straight six engine.

Oh! Decisions, decisions ....

alpina46 · Post by **alpina46** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:27 pm

Our 523 had 214k on it when we sold it & i'm sure its still out there going strong, Regards your B3s with regular oil changes/serivcing i see no reason why it wont go beyond 250k.

v8 ego · Post by **v8 ego** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:34 pm

I am in agreement with Tony.

I know it's not quite the same thing but one of my Omegas has now covered 140k and doesn't leak oil and runs bang on because it has been well cared for.

Tough call though, it's not quite the same thing but the decision for me to oust the V8 and get the D3 was kind of similar - I originally wasn't going for the D3 as at the time it was nothing near what I wanted (manual, no nav etc) but I have been pleasantly surprised.

Now is the issue that it's hard to justify any significant expenditure or that a well-specced B3BT is going to be pushing up towards Â£50k? What about a D3BT Touring instead?

Post by **Charles** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:46 pm

v8 ego wrote:What about a D3BT Touring instead?

Go and sit on the naughty step, James, and consider what you have done wrong!

alpina46 · Post by **alpina46** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:56 pm

v8 ego · Post by **v8 ego** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:39 pm

Diesel's great, running up to a month between refills as opposed tp up to a week with the B10 although it did sound a whole lot better

Chas · Post by **Chas** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:52 pm

I'm looking forward to getting the old E32 back on the road shortly so that I can take her from 198k miles to the magic 300k. It's not the engines that are the problem with modern cars.

I applaud your decision Charles, even if it means the credit crunch moves from Oxford to Buchloe. And if your FD can stretch to a holiday in Scotland, your accommodation costs will be much lower than they might be elsewhere. Just bring a marquee for the kids to sleep in

Post by **Charles** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:32 pm

Chas wrote:I'm looking forward to getting the old E32 back on the road shortly so that I can take her from 198k miles to the magic 300k. It's not the engines that are the problem with modern cars.

It's interesting you say that, Chas.

I may be tempting fate, but the B3S seems to fare better than early E46 B3 in terms of BMW part failures - perhaps because it is post facelift (or LCI as we must refer to it nowadays) and so the early niggles for that particular model have been substantially ironed out.

On that basis, my instinct would be to try and wait for an LCI version whenever possible.

I applaud your decision Charles, even if it means the credit crunch moves from Oxford to Buchloe.

Oh, I think they'll survive

And if your FD can stretch to a holiday in Scotland, your accommodation costs will be much lower than they might be elsewhere. Just bring a marquee for the kids to sleep in

Thanks for the invite but we don't need to worry about the marquee (even those who remember my Le Mans report for 2007 will recall the 4mx8m marquee that we transported for the event) as the FD has been raiding Tesco's again and come up with a 3 man tent for Â£3

B10BRW · Post by **B10BRW** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:53 am

Sorry to hear that the dreaded squeeze has hit Oxfordshire, I was looking forward to seeing the new 007.

I am afraid to say that I have succumbed to the crunch by buying something I never thought I would to replace the B3S Cab.

An Oil burner , (washes mouth out with soap).

The B10 now has as its staple mate an Imola Red E46 330d M sport, and I have to say this is the only Diesel I have been impressed with, it pulls like a train even in sixth gear and returns 46 mpg.
I am eating severe humble pie, for my previous comments on the D word.

ALPB1033 · Post by **ALPB1033** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:32 am

Sorry to hear about that Charles! Just run the B3S until the maintanence cost is more than what the car worth. That is what I did with my E34 520i. But the bodywok, the brake system, the cluth and a set of tyres are more than the car even the engine is still in excellent condition. Even though the car can still reach its Vmax at its old age(H reg.91 with 200k), my wife said no more money to spend on it. That seals its fate. Yesterday when I had my car back from the indie due to the crack on the air-con piping, I saw a facelift 528i sport with about 210k. The engine is still beautifully sound apart from the tarty bodywork which shows that the car has gone through a hard life.

Post by **Charles** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:33 am

ALPB1033 wrote: I saw a facelift 528i sport with about 210k. The engine is still beautifully sound apart from the tarty bodywork which shows that the car has gone through a hard life.

Say no more

alpina46 · Post by **alpina46** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:10 pm

Nice 330d Brian

Tinker · Post by **Tinker** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:20 pm

Well I sort of agree with your decision, but not due to crunch, more taste. As you say the B3S is the last of the normally aspirated engines, and to me more fun (says the guy with 2 turbos

)

I would have thought that the engine is more or less bullet proof, it is the bits around it that may wear off.

I think the target should be 310.7k miles (500k kms) before a retirement. Mind you fancy a hardly run in B8

at only 124k miles.

Dunk · Post by **Dunk** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:21 pm

As I said on the 'phone - it's a shame, but it's the right thing to do at the moment.

The used market is depressed, and the depreciation on anything new with a big petrol engine is epic at the moment - although this'll probably slow once the government U-Turns on VED and Fuel Duty.

Anyway, set your heights higher man!

Wait until next year and get yourself into a B5s Touring instead - the E60 is due to be replaced in 2009...

Alpina Jim · Post by **Alpina Jim** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 12:40 pm

Charles,

No doubt a lot of people envy you owning a B3S (not us B10 owners of course

) so keep on enjoying her and as many other members of the forum have assured you 140k miles is nothing on a fully serviced quality car. Get out there and put a few more miles on her and smiles on you.