RE: Alpina cuts Z4 price
Monday 27th June 2005
Alpina has cut the price of the Z4 Roadster S and increased the equipment levels. The price falls from £42,850 for the Lux edition to £39,820, while a new entry-level variant costs £37,850 OTR. The differences between the two are satellite navigation equipment, phone preparation and bi-xenon headlamps.
Alpina cuts Z4 price
More kit too -- are they that hard to sell?
The standard spec now includes:
- Climate control air conditioning
- Extra leather
- 19-inch Alpina Dynamic wheels
- 6-CD changer
- Cruise control
- Park distance control
- Multi-function steering wheel
The car is powered by an Alpina-tweaked 3-litre straight-six making 300bhp at 6,300rpm. the Roadster S weighs of 1,320Kg, allowing a 0-62mph time of 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 165mph. This compares to the standard car's 5.9 seconds; the BMW 3.0i SE Roadster costs £31,840.
The marque retains its air of exclusivity as the company said it will import only 120 Alpinas into the UK in 2005. Its power units are hand-built in Buchloe and transported to Munich with specifically-engineered handling components and accessories, for assembly by BMW as complete Alpina cars and marketed in the UK with a BMW two-year new car warranty.
Discussion
I drove one after driving a 3.0 Z4. It's got a lot more torque, the front end seems better planted, and the brakes are very strong. It's actually got an iron-block 3.4 litre engine out of the M3 of 10 years back. Even six months ago Sytner (the only suppliers?) was awash with pre-registered examples and muttering about responding to offers.
I was in Sytner's recently having my 325 serviced, and three different salesmen tried to sell me the Alpina Z4. I must say, nice car, although I agree the wheels are naff. They wanted me to test-drive, although I made it clear I was not interested in buying this year.
Anyone with 35-odd thousand to spare could drive a good bargain on these cars.
Blackangel
Anyone with 35-odd thousand to spare could drive a good bargain on these cars.
Blackangel
Strange. BMW make so many really great drivers' cars (from the Cooper S all the way to the M6), yet when they've tried to produce roadsters - cars which have a high profile for the brand and are therefore really quite important - they produced some of their worst efforts. I really don't get it. If you're a competent manufacturer, how hard can it be to stick a funky two seater body on top of a proven set of components?
I'm biased as I bought one in May of last year and love it.
I've just returned from the BMWCC Factory Tour where I visited Buchloe and was actually introduced to the Technician who built my engine. (Aston/Rolls Territory)
I think the issue with UK Sales is the limited way Alpina Cars are advertised, and none-Sytner Dealers ignorance of Alpina. I have spoken to two different potential buyers who visited other Dealerships, the first of which (Tamworth) advised that the Alpina was a basic Z4 with a body-kit, and the second (Coventry) claimed that they were not aware that the car existed.
BMW Alpina/Sytners need to raise awareness of their products.
You only have to read the likes of Autocar, Evo and BMW Car Magazine to know what value they are. But again, as an example, I contacted Auto Express suggesting that the Roadster be compared to the new Boxster S and Merc SLK and they replied saying that it was just a tweaked Z4.
Having visited the Regensburg and Dingolfing Factories in Germany there are also other areas than just Alpina that BMW do not advertise well in the UK, the obvious example being the extended range of colours (circa 100) and interiors that are available on all new cars that few UK Dealers seem aware of.
My next new car will be an Alpina and I will spec. it at Buchloe prior to placing the order with either a mainland Europe Dealer or Sytner depending upon who will be cheaper. I will also request that my engine be built by the same Technician who built my current one. I will also be taking my current car back to Buchloe for servicing from now on as it is a good excuse for a Bavarian break and the level of service provided is superb.
I've just returned from the BMWCC Factory Tour where I visited Buchloe and was actually introduced to the Technician who built my engine. (Aston/Rolls Territory)
I think the issue with UK Sales is the limited way Alpina Cars are advertised, and none-Sytner Dealers ignorance of Alpina. I have spoken to two different potential buyers who visited other Dealerships, the first of which (Tamworth) advised that the Alpina was a basic Z4 with a body-kit, and the second (Coventry) claimed that they were not aware that the car existed.
BMW Alpina/Sytners need to raise awareness of their products.
You only have to read the likes of Autocar, Evo and BMW Car Magazine to know what value they are. But again, as an example, I contacted Auto Express suggesting that the Roadster be compared to the new Boxster S and Merc SLK and they replied saying that it was just a tweaked Z4.
Having visited the Regensburg and Dingolfing Factories in Germany there are also other areas than just Alpina that BMW do not advertise well in the UK, the obvious example being the extended range of colours (circa 100) and interiors that are available on all new cars that few UK Dealers seem aware of.
My next new car will be an Alpina and I will spec. it at Buchloe prior to placing the order with either a mainland Europe Dealer or Sytner depending upon who will be cheaper. I will also request that my engine be built by the same Technician who built my current one. I will also be taking my current car back to Buchloe for servicing from now on as it is a good excuse for a Bavarian break and the level of service provided is superb.
The standard Z4 isn't a bad car at all, the 3 litre really is fantastic fun and the handling is excellent. I'm not sure what the sales figures are like, but I'm guessing it hasn't done as well as the Z3 just going on the amount of them I'm (not) seeing on the roads. Which is ironic as the Z4 is a much much better car than its predecessor.
The styling is, um, challenging and I don't think some of the colours and alloys do it any favours. My main criticism of the 3 litre one was that it felt underpowered compared to a Boxster S. An M version which has been much rumoured, would be a right laugh. Better than a Boxster? Yeah, why not. The Boxsters handling is amazing but it is clinical, an M could be infinitely more chuckable.
I've always like the Alpina version and I've no idea why they've not sold more. I guess the Z4 hasn't been getting that much column inches when compared to its opposition and that low profile must be hurting sales. I'd have one in a shot though. Except I need 4 seats at the moment.
Could be a proper bargain in a couple of years time as a used proposition though.
Its all a bit strange though, I guess the Z4 has become a niche car for BM as they're selling so many things like the X5 now on top of their traditional stuff.
The styling is, um, challenging and I don't think some of the colours and alloys do it any favours. My main criticism of the 3 litre one was that it felt underpowered compared to a Boxster S. An M version which has been much rumoured, would be a right laugh. Better than a Boxster? Yeah, why not. The Boxsters handling is amazing but it is clinical, an M could be infinitely more chuckable.
I've always like the Alpina version and I've no idea why they've not sold more. I guess the Z4 hasn't been getting that much column inches when compared to its opposition and that low profile must be hurting sales. I'd have one in a shot though. Except I need 4 seats at the moment.
Could be a proper bargain in a couple of years time as a used proposition though.
Its all a bit strange though, I guess the Z4 has become a niche car for BM as they're selling so many things like the X5 now on top of their traditional stuff.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff