Alpina - “incredibly hard to sell”?

[px1980]

Quote in the subject comes from another post about Alpina.
B5 to be specific, which I’m considering buying.

Given how niche these cars are, I’m assuming it won’t be as easy as, plug the reg into Cazoo, or take it to a dealer for part exchange; if I want to trade it on 2 years from now?

[Welshbeef]

You could simply put in the details of an Alpine to one of those sites and see

[smashy]

I tell you how it works with Alpinas having had one

" Yes sir it is expensive but its a very desirable car in a very niche market with not many buyers fighting over a few cars so sorry no discounts "

" No sir I realise that but it is a very niche market with not many buyers who desire to get into that market so it is only worth this amount I am afraid "

[Stick Legs]

smashy said:

I tell you how it works with Alpinas having had one

" Yes sir it is expensive but its a very desirable car in a very niche market with not many buyers fighting over a few cars so sorry no discounts "

" No sir I realise that but it is a very niche market with not many buyers who desire to get into that market so it is only worth this amount I am afraid "

"how much is it?"
"are you selling or buying?"

Ever was thus.

[Welshbeef]

I would advise bashing down the seller with the issues you have flagged then when come sell time pump up the price so when it sells it can drop to an acceptable level for you.


Or it’s a keeper.

[px1980]

smashy said:

I tell you how it works with Alpinas having had one

" Yes sir it is expensive but its a very desirable car in a very niche market with not many buyers fighting over a few cars so sorry no discounts "

" No sir I realise that but it is a very niche market with not many buyers who desire to get into that market so it is only worth this amount I am afraid "

Thanks. It was this kind of first hand experience I was looking for.
Did you have to sell it back to Sytner or another dealer?

[chandrew]

I have a B5 Touring and can't bring you any direct info of selling it (I suspect that I never will as long as I can buy petrol). However what I can tell you about is the final payment if I choose to buy it off the lease company.

I got mine earlier this year, very lightly used but an early car (#19) for around CHF100k. It would have been CHF145k new. After 4 years I will buy it for the c. CHF35k agreed on the contract. So yes, they depreciate heavily but so does most of this class of car. Realistically given older generation cars I'd expect a garage to want somewhere between CHF45k - CHF40k if you bought a 7 year old car (which is what it will be).

I think the issue that they have from a financial perspective is that if I was to get an RS6 or M5 new here I'd expect somewhere between 15 - 20% discount on list. The B5 new will have been similar money but you won't get any discount (and Alpina leasing rates are higher as they aren't subsidised by BMW)

Given I don't like the way the B8 looks, I would claim that the B5, especially in Touring format is the best car Alpina makes, and therefore is the best car that is made in a BMW factory. You pay for this and when I spec-up my ideal format it comes to CHF192k new. I can't think of anything at similar money - or even a 4 seat vehicle at more - that I'd prefer to have for that sort of money. When I got mine the dealer had a Bentley Flying Spur that was of a similar age / mileage and it was similar money. I guess in 4 years time you'd get it for the same sort of price as the Alpina. So compare one with a 5 series and it's horrendous, but I do think you can compare it to a Bentley.

You can always sell if you're prepared to accept market price.

[px1980]

Thanks. I do like the B5 a lot, more so than RS6, E63 AMG and other options I’ve considered. I love the way it’s luxurious and fast but at the same time understated.
As long as depreciation is predictable I’d be fine with loss of value over time. It’s the hassle when trying to sell that would put me off, a lot actually.

[smashy]

PX1980 can I suggest you head over here a thriving community full of great people who would give you an honest answer to your situation

https://thealpinaregister.com/forums/viewforum.php...

[brightonpad]

They are a pain in the ass to sell. Both times I’ve been through it I said I’m not getting another one because of this reason. Currently smoking around in my 3rd one

[Wilmslowboy]

Seem to sell well on CC (30+ to date)


https://collectingcars.com/?query=Alpinas&page...

[px1980]

brightonpad said:

They are a pain in the ass to sell. Both times I’ve been through it I said I’m not getting another one :

Not what I wanted to hear, to be honest. They do seem like pretty amazing cars, and the B5 ticks all the boxes for me, while no other cars do. But what I’m looking for is hassle free ownership and to sell the car on after a year or two of enjoying it. Find the next car in say 2023, part exchange what I have, keep it simple. I did go to the other forum that was recommended on here - lots of useful info but also e.g . stories of people struggling to insure their cars with main insurance companies.. I’m starting to think this may not be a brand for me. My schedule’s pretty busy and what free time for car related stuff I do have, I tend to spend on track days and sorting out things related to those.

Edited by px1980 on Monday 29th November 22:43

[Clarkedontgo]

I couldn’t sell either of my b10’s privately

[AlpinaB5]

As an owner of a B5 can I ask what year model you are looking at?

Mine is a 2013 540 ps version. Compared to a regular BMW 5 series it is much better for comfort. It depends what you want the car for. If you want to go point to point as fast as possible then buy an M5. If you want to cross continents at very high speed in comfort go for the B5.

However be warned they have issues with the V8 ( google N63 engine problems ). Alpina themselves acknowledge there is a problem with the piston rings and there is the much documented valve stem oil seal issue. I had a new engine in mine as it was drinking oil. Even after it now drinks more than before! The dealer I go to for my servicing on my G30 540i X-drive are also an Alpina dealership and even the new G30 versions I am told have engine issues. Some of their customers have had to have new engines at around 100,000 KM's. The repair bills for Alpinas are also eye watering. Mine was just a partial rebuild. New block, pistons, rings seals etc and that was 15K if you add turbos and cylinder heads I guess you can double that.

As for selling I have seen cars here for sale for over 3 years it seems very hard to sell them. Just make sure you have good warranty cover!

This may sound a tad negative but I am just being honest. Mine was my dream car I had waited a long time for and when driving it is a wonderful machine but there can be gremlins.

Good luck!

[px1980]

AlpinaB5 said:

As an owner of a B5 can I ask what year model you are looking at?

Mine is a 2013 540 ps version. Compared to a regular BMW 5 series it is much better for comfort. It depends what you want the car for. If you want to go point to point as fast as possible then buy an M5. If you want to cross continents at very high speed in comfort go for the B5.

However be warned they have issues with the V8 ( google N63 engine problems ). Alpina themselves acknowledge there is a problem with the piston rings and there is the much documented valve stem oil seal issue. I had a new engine in mine as it was drinking oil. Even after it now drinks more than before! The dealer I go to for my servicing on my G30 540i X-drive are also an Alpina dealership and even the new G30 versions I am told have engine issues. Some of their customers have had to have new engines at around 100,000 KM's. The repair bills for Alpinas are also eye watering. Mine was just a partial rebuild. New block, pistons, rings seals etc and that was 15K if you add turbos and cylinder heads I guess you can double that.

As for selling I have seen cars here for sale for over 3 years it seems very hard to sell them. Just make sure you have good warranty cover!

This may sound a tad negative but I am just being honest. Mine was my dream car I had waited a long time for and when driving it is a wonderful machine but there can be gremlins.

Good luck!

Thanks for detailed reply. It’s a 2019-20 car I’m looking to buy.
I must say that while on paper the B5 sounds like the best option for me, these kind of time consuming issues (with re-selling, servicing, finding insurance…) put me off. 90% of my waking time mid-week is spent at work, weekends are then family time. I’m looking for the least time-consuming ownership possible, the car is supposed to be refined, understated and give me that little bit of fun on the daily commute and weekend family trips. I just can’t afford, time-wise, something that would further eat into my free time. I currently have a 2018 Macan Turbo, it’s taken practically no time to maintain other than 1 service, and I need the next car to stay this way.
Thank you for taking the time to reply but I will probably need to pass on Alpinas.

[bigandclever]

brightonpad said:

They are a pain in the ass to sell. Both times I’ve been through it I said I’m not getting another one because of this reason. Currently smoking around in my 3rd one

I cheated a bit and bought from Sytner, sold back to Sytner. Hassle free, just had to do two different dances with the same salesman

[AlpinaB5]

px1980 said:

Thanks for detailed reply. It’s a 2019-20 car I’m looking to buy.
I must say that while on paper the B5 sounds like the best option for me, these kind of time consuming issues (with re-selling, servicing, finding insurance…) put me off. 90% of my waking time mid-week is spent at work, weekends are then family time. I’m looking for the least time-consuming ownership possible, the car is supposed to be refined, understated and give me that little bit of fun on the daily commute and weekend family trips. I just can’t afford, time-wise, something that would further eat into my free time. I currently have a 2018 Macan Turbo, it’s taken practically no time to maintain other than 1 service, and I need the next car to stay this way.
Thank you for taking the time to reply but I will probably need to pass on Alpinas.

Well they are wonderful cars and if it is a newer version that you intend to exchange before the problems start then go for it. They are really wonderful to drive and 911 drivers get most irate when you put your down and fly off in to the distance Before you make your decision get a test drive you will be impressed and one that new will be covered by dealer warranty anyway. You need to drive one to really appreciate the engineering.

[px1980]

bigandclever said:

I cheated a bit and bought from Sytner, sold back to Sytner. Hassle free, just had to do two different dances with the same salesman

Do you mind me asking how much you paid, and how much you got back? I’m interested in dealer spread, basically.

[bennno]

px1980 said:

bigandclever said:

I cheated a bit and bought from Sytner, sold back to Sytner. Hassle free, just had to do two different dances with the same salesman

Do you mind me asking how much you paid, and how much you got back? I’m interested in dealer spread, basically.

It will be huge, if concerned id buy a rs4/6, c/e63, m5 - which will all loose you a chunk but be far easier to sell.

[bigandclever]

px1980 said:

bigandclever said:

I cheated a bit and bought from Sytner, sold back to Sytner. Hassle free, just had to do two different dances with the same salesman

Do you mind me asking how much you paid, and how much you got back? I’m interested in dealer spread, basically.

It was so long ago I've got no idea. I don't remember feeling particularly disappointed by either transaction but that's not much help! It was influenced by buying it before the M3 was launched and selling after, and that had an influence.

In terms of your other concerns, mine (a B3) had one thing fail (power steering pump, covered under warranty), insurance was no more awkward than any other motor, servicing I chose to do through BMW Oxford, it drank a fair amount of oil, and tyres were expensive. Apart from that, it was no more difficult or expensive to run than any other 3-series of the time but about a billion times better to own

Edited by bigandclever on Tuesday 30th November 13:47