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Ok gear heads--- who can correctly identfy this roadster ?

Bill Ferris said:
Ok show your source with proof, and I will initiate a class action law suit against BMW NA.
I took on and won hands down Dade county FL. & the University of Miami for a very large sum and will not hesitate to thump anyone else for lying or deceiving.

Would a 100 + big ones be a good starters to feed/finance a class action lawsuit legal machine ?
2 CYBER SAVEY & KNOWLAGEBLE ATTORNEY FRIENDS would easily depute your inter bubby net claim..
Show me your undisputable "Bubba" source, don`t tell me !!
No Woes here KentTeffteller.

Or are you so bored on this Saturday evening that your trying to find my buttons.

Enjoy yourself as you see fit.
Regards, OKB
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I misread you, apologies to you and BMW. And enjoy your nice, superbly styled, awesome new to you ride. Did not mean or intend to push any buttons.
 
Here's Elvis' 507 in the BMW museum, current as of 2 weeks ago when I visited.

It is white, some interaction between the lighting and my camera gives it a pinkish cast in the pic.

y4mLeZU9kRXF338fLmfGV37qHQ3DBr4XC754R0iLhRrIMK1im81DW9x6NVpqzEKxUxj9sX8aDrbGNXHg-y6yQt8rk4vEqDwcx_AMa5Mxo21TTf2T6alt0rfzCQb_E18NnlAEiv5ereeRh7oW2K7LcLO-HwswWR8EUKcPWxbozSiwM3M-zovUd8i4RTg4T1DQFR6p3Bjc-wPLLrKITX7iP32Uw
 
BMWCCA said:
The Z8 wasn't made in South Carolina. You're confusing the Z3 and Z4 with the Z8. The Alpina version of the Z8 was simply a way to get an automatic transmission in the car for those who asked for one. The BMW Z8 was only available in a stick. Alpina did some other tricks like an entirely different engine with a bit less horsepower but a bit more torque. The suspension was a bit softer on initial bounce due to the Alpina progressively wound and tapered springs but would stiffen up nicely when the demands required. Special Alpina leather interior and gauges also separated the Alpina from the standard Z8.

Primarily intended for the USA market (California), the color palette was kept simple though other colors were offered in the handful that were sold outside the USA, including the special Alpina Blue which was offered in the Canadian market Alpinas. Titanium Silver is rather common (my wife's 5-series is Titanium).

BTW, I still have my limited edition Z8 watch given to me at the International Launch for the Z8 in California. I was very proud to have shot my first cover with the Z8 in an orange grove.
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Very interesting info. BMWCCA about these roadsters from you.
I was wondering when you were going to chime in, being your employed ? within a BMW dealership ? as I thought I picked up from reading your threads/posts here on AK.

All my info concerning the Z8`s being manufactured in SC(Spartanburg, if I recall correctly ?) were recollections from 13~14 years ago from my BMW dealer`s staff providing it to me, and I have certainly have consumed a few beers since then.
And since it really wasn`t a concern I chose not to further research the information.

I`m pretty sure that if I wasn`t left side partially paralyzed(like I had a stroke), I probably would have opted for the Z8 as I drove manual transmission cars on and off during my life up until the event that partially paralyzed me, and certainly did enjoy the control.
Though I can have some "near beer" like manual shifting experience fun, via the steering wheel paddles on theZ8 Alpina, as I sometimes use on my 2006 Mini S as well.
Plus I owned and rode motorcycles(both dirt & street) from 14 through 26 yrs old, so I was no stranger to manual transmissions.


So my only option, if I wanted that style BMW roadster, was to buy the Z8 Alpina because of the auto transmission, for the legal/practical requirements for any vehicle that I drive and certainly wasn`t for bragging rights, as some might think.

Thanks for the information.

Kind regards, OKB
 
Bill Ferris said:
Very interesting info. BMWCCA about these roadsters from you.
I was wondering when you were going to chime in, being your employed ? within a BMW dealership ? as I thought I picked up from reading your threads/posts here on AK.

All my info concerning the Z8`s being manufactured in SC(Spartanburg, if I recall correctly ?) were recollections from 13~14 years ago from my BMW dealer`s staff providing it to me, and I have certainly have consumed a few beers since then.
Click to expand...
My Z8 experience came from in-between stints at a BMW dealership during which time I was an automotive journalist and editor. My test-drive partner during the Z8 launch was someone actually known for their career as a journalist, Ron Wakefield.

I was actually introduced to the Alpina V8 Roadster at the Frankfurt Autoshow by Andreas Bovensiepen, son of the Alpina founder Burkard Bovensiepen. Andy spent a great deal of time patiently explaining to us the work the Alpina elves in Buchloe put in creating the Roadster from the chassis supplied by BMW. You should be proud to own one of the Bovensiepens' creations—and I hope you understand the origin of the Alpina logo "crest".
 
BigElCat said:
Err....Kent's not known to be a trouble maker. I guess he misread something.

Quite a few of us are "Bubbas" who enjoy swapping lies.

We'll try to be careful.
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Yes, most puzzling BigEICat, for I have read quite a few posts/threads by/from Mr. Kent for over 2 years, and have, and still do have great respect for him.
But that T-bone caught me off guard.
But all is good now.
And being born and raised in NE.FL. I`m considered a redneck cracker with the southern accent that goes with it.
Sophisticated, I "ain`t !!! LOL !!
Take care and enjoy this summer Sunday as best you can.

Kind regards, OKB
 
BMWCCA said:
My Z8 experience came from in-between stints at a BMW dealership during which time I was an automotive journalist and editor. My test-drive partner during the Z8 launch was someone actually known for their career as a journalist, Ron Wakefield.

I was actually introduced to the Alpina V8 Roadster at the Frankfurt Autoshow by Andreas Bovensiepen, son of the Alpina founder Burkard Bovensiepen. Andy spent a great deal of time patiently explaining to us the work the Alpina elves in Buchloe put in creating the Roadster from the chassis supplied by BMW. You should be proud to own one of the Bovensiepens' creations—and I hope you understand the origin of the Alpina logo "crest".
Click to expand...

I am very proud and consider myself to be one lucky son-of-a-gun for the "privilege" of owning this fine roadster tweaked by the Alpina Elves.
I take very good care of my "Bavarian Mistress" and nobody but the mechanics certified(I forgot the qualification level) to work on her & myself have been allowed to drive her. Heck!! I even built a attached well beyond code bunker garage for her, even before I purchased her.

I had read about the history of the Alpina some years back, but don`t remember the details clearly at this point in time.

Like I`ve stated previously, I`m not a gearhead, but have a great appreciation for finely crafted, precision machinery, and electronic equipment. Helped many a friend turn a wrench on their hotrods in my HS years.

I`m a 62, soon to be 63 year old retired sound engineer(FOH) and audio equipment repair technician and concentrated my life`s work trying to perfect those talents.


Thank you BMWCCA, for your interest and information about the BMW roadsters.

Take care Sir. And have a great Summer Sunday..

Kind regards, OKB.
 
BMWCCA said:
Well BMWCCA, I can`t be positive, but that looks like a crank shaft to the right and maybe twin carburetors and their intakes on the left side implying tuning ?
I have those badges on all four wheel hubs & was given 2 mouse pads and a lapel pin by my BMW dealership parts friend 5 years ago.
And if I was consumed and egotistical about my ownership of the Alpina I would have put that badge as my desk-top image on one of my computers, but don`t and won`t.. Thanks, OKB


bc3cca784fc11aae62fffcc0b0aadfef.jpg
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Used to be side-draught carbs but later intakes for the Alpina slide-throttle system. Note that the crank recalls Alpina's origins tweaking BMW 4-cylinder engines.
:banana:
 
BigElCat said:
Just read this about Alpina. Alpina is a separate company from BMW. They purchase the cars before they are built, and do the custom work in plant.

The Alpinas brought to the US are purchased by BMW from Alpina. Most unusual. The founder of Alpina lives on BMW property.

http://edition.cnn.com/style/article/alpina-bmw/index.html
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Yes. Thanks for your interest and the link BigEICat.
Have a great Labor day.
Take care.

Kind regards, OKB
 
KentTeffeteller said:
I misread you, apologies to you and BMW. And enjoy your nice, superbly styled, awesome new to you ride. Did not mean or intend to push any buttons.
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Kent, I just realized you indicated "new to me ride" above!!
I`ve owned the roadster since 10/20/03, when I took "brand new delivery" from the dealer, and this October 20th I will have owned "her" for 14 years, hardly "new" or recent to me.. :confused:

Just a minor time line correction I thought to convey about my purchase & ownership of this BMW roadster.

Thanks to all who have shown interest and provided information about it. :)

Take care folks and have a great Labor day.. :thumbsup:

Kind regards, OKB
 
Beautiful car! I have been watching these ever since they came out, hoping the depreciation curve would put them within reach ($50k). But that appears unlikely to ever happen now. Whether it's the beautiful Fisker design or the legendary E39 M5 drivetrain, they are stubbornly staying on the six figure side and even moving up.

I got to drive one that belongs in the Michael Kittredge collection and I will never forget the experience...

jblnut
 
jblnut said:
Beautiful car! I have been watching these ever since they came out, hoping the depreciation curve would put them within reach ($50k). But that appears unlikely to ever happen now. Whether it's the beautiful Fisker design or the legendary E39 M5 drivetrain, they are stubbornly staying on the six figure side and even moving up.

I got to drive one that belongs in the Michael Kittredge collection and I will never forget the experience...

jblnut
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Thank you for the compliment on my car jbinut, that`s very kind of you.
I`m glad you had the experience to drive one.

Ironically, regular run of the mill Insurance companies, in their silly ignorance try to devalue that car, even though it`s a numbered car and it`s collectable value has increased..
Both Liberty Mutual(the original insurer when purchased, early on and who originally properly classified it for what it is" a Z8 Alpina") likes to label it as a much more common Z8 and now All State(actually it`s their greedy underwriters game playing IMHO) even though the state of FL. DMV registration clearly states that it is a Z 8 Alpina.. !! Go figure !?!?
 
Not a surprise. The original Z8 does bring more than the Alpina version. The Alpina was softened and equipped with the automatic primarily for the US market where the majority were sold. That's great, if you want an automatic and a softer ride quality. If you want the sportiest version (not that either is really a serious sports car) then that would be the original version. Fantastically beautiful boulevard cruisers, for sure. Collectible, certainly. Put the top down and go for a ride!
 
BMWCCA said:
Not a surprise. The original Z8 does bring more than the Alpina version. The Alpina was softened and equipped with the automatic primarily for the US market where the majority were sold. That's great, if you want an automatic and a softer ride quality. If you want the sportiest version (not that either is really a serious sports car) then that would be the original version. Fantastically beautiful boulevard cruisers, for sure. Collectible, certainly. Put the top down and go for a ride!
Click to expand...

I haven`t looked at eBay motors, ect. in a very long time, but last time I looked there was a very, very low millage Black BMW Z 8 Alpina for sale of around $ 200,000.00 !!
Don`t know or even care if it ever sold, or even sold for that price.. I, in my case, didn`t purchase it as a investment, and could care less if it`s value increases, or decreases..
If I wasn`t partially paralyzed, I would have been able to have a better selection of a roadster or other type manual transmission performance sports cars..
My local dealership wants mine & people have followed me around and offered to buy it many, many times since I purchased it.

Well BMWCCA, as to your suggestion of me dropping the top and taking her out for a spin, you might would look at Jacksonville, FL. NWS`s current radar loop ! :eek:
With hurricane Irma trying to crawl up FL`s butt at the moment, I think I`ll leave her in "her bunker "for a while !! She could probably use a natural soft water rinse off, but it would be pretty extreme for me to take her out in this mess right now !! :no:

Enjoy your Sunday Sir.
I think that I`ll stay put here in my Bill`s Bunker" house.. Thank you very much..

Kind regards, OKB
 
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