Black & Tan 332iT

[Bry5on]

Loaded the wagon up on a trailer yesterday to make its way to TX. We'll be knocking out the carbon slicktop roof, hatch, doors and (hopefully) trunk floor with quad exhaust at George Hill's place - all said it should total -120lbs and ~6.5% body roll reduction.

[bigjae46]

as for the driving experience, suspect it’s an expectation issue. As in, it’s not a sports car, it’s a cruiser. Expect a sports car and you will be disappointed.

Makes sense. I've rode in one, never driven. It felt like a grossly overpriced Z4 to someone who doesn't like convertibles. The Z8 is excellent to look at though! What kills me is BMW did a great job of designing the car so you can make the connection to the 507. Couldn't imagine how the BMW Design of today would mutilate a similar project.

[George Hill]

My best friend has a b10 e39.

A B10S? wow, that's a find, they have to be one of the lowest production number cars. What a cool car, lucky guy!

[Obioban]

Depends on your expectations but cost wise Alpina's are regularly north of $300. Like everything mileage dependent but general rule is they command way more money than the Z8.

I have a client with a 12k miles Alpina Roadster and he said he specifically searched for it because he thought it was a better GT car than the Z8. The Alpina has a softer suspension and at the time they didn't come with the same run flat the Z8 did. The chassis are known for flexing and the strut towers folding inward. While it happens on Alpina's traditionally is much more common on the Z8s so the idea the Alpina's are more plush seems to be proven by that fact alone. Additionally it was quite common for Z8 owners to swap to Alpina suspension too. I will agree, not a fan of the Alpina wheels, lol. But I've driven both and they are lovely in either form, it is absolutely a subjective opinion and I can see pros and cons of both.

Interestingly the Alpina M62, makes more down low torque and only slightly less horsepower on paper vs an S62. The Alpina "F5" engine also came in the B10 E39s iirc and I'd really like to drive one of those with an 8spd auto, that would be a sweet combo IMO.

Having owned and driven every golden era BMW convertible/roadster there really is not a similar experience than cruising a Z8/Alpina Roadster at 85mph top down on the highway, just a lovely car in either form.

My best friend has a b10 e39.

…. I like it less than the 530i and m5.

[George Hill]

Isn’t the alpina worse? Automatic non m engine vs manual m engine, and bigger uglier wheels…

Depends on your expectations but cost wise Alpina's are regularly north of $300. Like everything mileage dependent but general rule is they command way more money than the Z8.

I have a client with a 12k miles Alpina Roadster and he said he specifically searched for it because he thought it was a better GT car than the Z8. The Alpina has a softer suspension and at the time they didn't come with the same run flat the Z8 did. The chassis are known for flexing and the strut towers folding inward. While it happens on Alpina's traditionally is much more common on the Z8s so the idea the Alpina's are more plush seems to be proven by that fact alone. Additionally it was quite common for Z8 owners to swap to Alpina suspension too. I will agree, not a fan of the Alpina wheels, lol. But I've driven both and they are lovely in either form, it is absolutely a subjective opinion and I can see pros and cons of both.

Interestingly the Alpina M62, makes more down low torque and only slightly less horsepower on paper vs an S62. The Alpina "F5" engine also came in the B10 E39s iirc and I'd really like to drive one of those with an 8spd auto, that would be a sweet combo IMO.

Having owned and driven every golden era BMW convertible/roadster there really is not a similar experience than cruising a Z8/Alpina Roadster at 85mph top down on the highway, just a lovely car in either form.

[Obioban]

It is a cool 507 tribute and that's it. I don't know if they are universally loved because there are not a lot of people that know this exists. It is a cool car but not $115k salvage title cool.

It’s loved because it’s one of the best looking cars ever made.

as for the driving experience, suspect it’s an expectation issue. As in, it’s not a sports car, it’s a cruiser. Expect a sports car and you will be disappointed.

[Obioban]

Isn’t the alpina worse? Automatic non m engine vs manual m engine, and bigger uglier wheels…

[George Hill]

Is it an Alpina? These Z8s are pieces of junk and are not a very good performance car. I'd be shocked someone would pay that for a salvage title Z8.

Lol if it was an Alpina I'm not sure doubling the price would get it done.

Edit, it wouldn't be my car to own with a short supply of cash, but if you haven't driven one then you really can't appreciate the experience.

[bigjae46]

Aren't these universally loved? I don't think people are tracking them or anything. That's not really the point.

The sale price is wild given the cost of a running and driving one with a clean title. A Z8 with an S85 would go crazy though.

It is a cool 507 tribute and that's it. I don't know if they are universally loved because there are not a lot of people that know this exists. It is a cool car but not $115k salvage title cool.

[Keith_MN]

There's a Z8 local to me that I've admired but I had no idea they were valued that high. Would have been an interesting project.

[discoelk]

Is it an Alpina? These Z8s are pieces of junk and are not a very good performance car. I'd be shocked someone would pay that for a salvage title Z8.

Aren't these universally loved? I don't think people are tracking them or anything. That's not really the point.

The sale price is wild given the cost of a running and driving one with a clean title. A Z8 with an S85 would go crazy though.

[Bry5on]

Is it an Alpina? These Z8s are pieces of junk and are not a very good performance car. I'd be shocked someone would pay that for a salvage title Z8.

Nope!! Just a 'regular' Z8 - which is honestly the better one.

[bigjae46]

Alas, it sold for north of 115k! Absolutely crazy for a car that needs a motor and will end up with a salvaged title. And it didn’t even sell with the matching hardtop.

Is it an Alpina? These Z8s are pieces of junk and are not a very good performance car. I'd be shocked someone would pay that for a salvage title Z8.

[0-60motorsports]

We managed to sleuth down the previous owner to verify it was a short 5 minute or less situation where he drove into a flash flood and sucked water into the engine. Nothing made it into the car, it was dry minutes later and it happened in the last few months. All in it looked like a pretty safe bet for a deal.

Alas, it sold for north of 115k! Absolutely crazy for a car that needs a motor and will end up with a salvaged title. And it didn't even sell with the matching hardtop.

That's crazy

[Bry5on]

What did it go for? That is a risky one!

To me, hydrolocked = flood car. Especially in that area with recent floods. As long as water didn't get inside the car then I think it might not be too bad. But wheel bearings, brakes...anything that moves under the car is likely rusted to shit on a car that has likely been sitting.

We managed to sleuth down the previous owner to verify it was a short 5 minute or less situation where he drove into a flash flood and sucked water into the engine. Nothing made it into the car, it was dry minutes later and it happened in the last few months. All in it looked like a pretty safe bet for a deal.

Alas, it sold for north of 115k! Absolutely crazy for a car that needs a motor and will end up with a salvaged title. And it didn’t even sell with the matching hardtop.