Alpina B3 3.3 #32 - UK Press car - whats is it worth?

[MkX]

Valeted and detailed to perfection with all niggles taken care of, on a good day, I could see this being worth £7-8K to the right person.

The car has a reasonably un-troubling MOT history, it was MOT'd only a few days ago. The MOT tester highlighted as an advisory the fact the car has a MAJOR oil leak of undetermined origin. I imagine this has panicked the current owner into selling or perhaps he's taken advice on the repair and it's an expensive fix, (if he's a top chap of scrupulous morals he might have told you about this or even had the necessary work done). 

If you're unaware of this and the repairs have not been effected you'd need to consider; additional expense, the fact the vendor has tried to hoodwink you and the worst case scenario - has the engine been damaged because it's been run with low oil levels.

If it's just a gasket or seal needs renewing and the engine is good then there should still be a profit to be had. If the vendor has tried to conceal the oil leak from you, a chance to leverage a bit off the asking price.

p.s.
I just tried another random B3 3.3 Alpina on MOT check, it's coming up on the DVLA database as a BMW Alpina.
This car is coming up as a BMW 328, are you 100% that it's not a replica?

Is this a long-time owner selling it or an Arfur Daley?

[mylittletony]

May 29, 2018 12:39:02 GMT MkX said:

p.s.
I just tried another random B3 3.3 Alpina on MOT check, it's coming up on the DVLA database as a BMW Alpina.
This car is coming up as a BMW 328, are you 100% that it's not a replica?

Is this a long-time owner selling it or an Arfur Daley?

Some (if not all) of these were converted in the UK by Sytners in Notts and if the opening section about it being a press car is correct it may have been registered before the work started... Worth checking the VIN against the docs, but the supporting evidence should be enough to prove the authenticity.

The oil leak could be a problem though.

FWIW my uncle bought one new and still has it, I really like them (as does he apparently) as they're effectively a more luxurious M3. He was tossing up between a boggo 911 and the Alpina, but went Alpina for rarity and spec. The interior is truly a lovely place to be...

[Ray Singh]

Thanks all - the oil leak is a PAS fluid leak coming from one of the hoses. Seller will replace this prior to the sale.

I have checked the car with Sytners and it is a genuine Alpina and not a conversion.

It has two VIN numbers - as all Alpinas do.

Thanks for the comments. This is helpful.

[mylittletony]

I'd say buy it then, seems to be a chunk under current market value.

Fit proper suspension though!

[Ray Singh]

Thanks all. Proper suspension is really expensive. I might just stick with this set up for now.

I am buying as a business now.

[ChasR]

For £4.5k it's fairly priced for me. They're not quite M3 money yet but they are not miles off either.

PAS high pressure does does like to leak. But they are simple enough to change. If there are other oil leaks that are 'major' that will most likely be down to the engine gaskets, in particular, the cam cover, the oil filter housing gasket going onto the engine itself as well as even the oil gasket that should be changed when the oil filter is done. Sumps can leak but it's nowhere near as the common as the other suspects.

Which coilover setup is it on? If it's on HSDs or KWv3s I'd be tempted to leave them on but raise the car. IME B4 isn't as good as OE despite what people tell, and B6 is decent; I think Bilstein match the B6s to Alpina dampers too, but they can be unhelpful at times.

Go to Cotswolds or Rybrook Warwick for the parts and say you are part of M3Cutters ; it can get you some decent discount, and BMW parts come with a 2 year warranty.