WTB: An interesting car - FOUND IT!!

genefor · Post by **genefor** » Dec 17, 2007 12:33 AM

If you don't want that "old car" feel, you may just have to step up to an e39 like I did. Sure the car isolates you from the sports car feel, but the machine, IMHO, is better in just about every way - quieter, better safety (6 airbags), better brakes, silky smooth engine, smooth clutch, better gas mileage, better headlights, freeezing cold A/C, no crack dash, this is getting long-winded and maybe blasphemous on the e28 board ?... so do you want to trade your M6 for an e39?

Gene

slave2school · Post by **slave2school** » Dec 17, 2007 12:38 AM

Mine was pretty interesting, try to find one though

wkohler · Post by **wkohler** » Dec 17, 2007 2:12 AM

Mike sold the M3. He's looking for an interesting replacement. I do not believe the E39 is interesting. An E34 M540i/6 = more interesting than any E39 in my opinion.

I'm still routing for the E30 M3 Evo. One will come along sooner or later. I know of a couple out here. One quite possibly might almost nearly be for sale.

m-racer · Post by **m-racer** » Dec 17, 2007 6:43 PM

wkohler wrote:Mike sold the M3. He's looking for an interesting replacement. I do not believe the E39 is interesting. An E34 M540i/6 = more interesting than any E39 in my opinion.

I'm still routing for the E30 M3 Evo. One will come along sooner or later. I know of a couple out here. One quite possibly might almost nearly be for sale.

You know of actual E30 M3 Evo cars in the US? I know of one that belongs to a German Army officer which has to go back to Germany with him when his tour in the US is over. Pray tell, where are these Evo cars? I would certainly be interested in buying one.

gray635 · Post by **gray635** » Dec 17, 2007 6:56 PM

Yeah, I'm with Chris on this. Gene and I are friends and all, but the e39 is certainly NOT interesting. At least not to me. It is a fine automobile, but it does not appeal to me in the same way my M5 and M6 do. The older cars just have more...... character, maybe

Or maybe it is just the fact that I liked them a lot when they were new 20 years ago, couldn't afford them then, and can afford them now.

Gene must feel the same way, since he's trying to swap me out of the M6 for his e39!!

Still soliciting all suggestions and leads.

Any leads on a quality e30 M3 would be most welcomed.

M5BB · Post by **M5BB** » Dec 18, 2007 12:03 PM

Mike,

Might not be that fast considering it's size but it is unique and you need a good cruiser to go to 5er Fest.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 76113&rd=1

gray635 · Post by **gray635** » Dec 18, 2007 2:52 PM

Hey Gary!

I had seen this Hartge 7 series on Ebay before your post. Looks like a "Bimmer Brothers" car in SoCal. Just a little too big for my taste, but a cool vehicle nonetheless. I have already been offered a 745 from a board member here and passed on that car as well. Both neat cars but not quite what I'm looking for.

I hope you got your S38 motor problems in the M5 squared away. Was it just carbon build up on the valves or are you going to wind up doing a top end rebuild?

wkohler · Post by **wkohler** » Dec 18, 2007 3:08 PM

That Hartge 7 was a Phoenix car. It was traded to Bimmer Bros for an '87 535i (black/Llama) which is now in Canada. I understand there was some cash involved, too. From what some locals who knew the car said, it needs a lot.

dauer · Post by **dauer** » Dec 18, 2007 6:37 PM

You may find this interesting.
Euro E30 with Euro S50 transplant

Damon in STL · Post by **Damon in STL** » Dec 19, 2007 9:30 AM

Unfortunately...I just sold my euro 1987 e30 M3...so that one is off the market.

http://www.collaborating.net/m3/forsale/euro/m3.htm

But, this one is for sale again....

http://www.stlbmwcca.org/wwwboard/viewt ... light=euro

Damon in STL

gray635 · Post by **gray635** » Dec 31, 2007 12:47 AM

Well, guys, it looks like I found my "interesting car". I wound up buying Tim Jones' Alpina B9

In response to my post, Tim PMed me and told me the B9 might be available. I had seen the car at 5erFest in TN last May, so I was somewhat familiar with the car. Tim also sent me a spec sheet and some photos - WOW!!

Anyway, I drove up to Norfolk last Thursday/Friday and looked at the B9 Friday afternoon. Frankly, I was almost hoping that I would not like the car. That way, I could just go on searching for a nice Porsche 911 and my decision would be simplified. I thought that it was, after all, pretty much like my M5 and just another nice e28 bodied car.

BOY WAS I WRONG! The B9 feels much lighter and quicker at "normal" speeds. It has fantastic brakes, suspension, clutch, VDO gauge set (very reassuring!),UUC short shift and lovely euro bumpers. I even got used to the flashy cloth Alpina interior

Tim has obviously done a fantastic job with the car.

So, I bought the car. I drove it back to Fayetteville, NC Friday afternoon, spent the night and drove to Charleston, SC on Saturday, spent the night and Sunday morning there, ate lunch and drove to GA Sunday afternoon. The trip back, particularly the stretch on I-95, was pretty awful - rainy and lots of stop and go traffic. The B9 performed flawlessly.

It is an absolute blast to drive

Many folks on the board helped and encouraged me with my "car search" and provided me with some great leads on some fine (and some not so fine

) cars. I really appreciate all the help and interest.

Unfortunately, I cannot post photos of the car. However, if anyone wants to see some photos, Tim has the car listed in the Alpina Register with some great photos : www.thealpinaregister.com. Check it out - lots of very cool cars there.

Happy New Year to all!!

Regards,
Mike Gray

JoshInAtlanta · Post by **JoshInAtlanta** » Dec 31, 2007 12:53 AM

Gorgeous car, Mike!!!

alpinass · Post by **alpinass** » Dec 31, 2007 2:04 AM

Need anything for her?

L_N_Love · Post by **L_N_Love** » Dec 31, 2007 10:11 AM

Congratulations! That is a very nice car!

Post by **Justin_FL** » Dec 31, 2007 10:37 AM

Mike, I'm sure you'll enjoy the B9! Having seen it several times since Tim J has owned it, I thought about purchasing the car earlier this year but my practical side told me a nice daily driver was more important

So I have an '01 530i sitting in my driveway. Not nearly as much fun, but I don't have to worry about driving it, either.

I believe you have the infamous "Shawn D." auxiliary gauge cluster in the Alpina. Great job Shawn does with those! I purchased one from a board member that never installed his and have been patiently waiting for the right E28 to appear. The B9 is so perfect I might've been bored without those little projects to complete

I don't blame you for picking the B9 over a 911. There will always be pretty 911s to buy, but a nice AND rare E28 does guarantee you a unique ride.

johnnye23 · Post by **johnnye23** » Dec 31, 2007 10:44 AM

Sweet, nice way to start off the new year .

bigdaddy · Post by **bigdaddy** » Dec 31, 2007 11:29 AM

Be sure and get some stated value insurance on that ride soon...Haggarty's has a great deal on collectibles car policies.

m-racer · Post by **m-racer** » Dec 31, 2007 11:29 AM

gray635 wrote:Well, guys, it looks like I found my "interesting car". I wound up buying Tim Jones' Alpina B9

In response to my post, Tim PMed me and told me the B9 might be available. I had seen the car at 5erFest in TN last May, so I was somewhat familiar with the car. Tim also sent me a spec sheet and some photos - WOW!!

Anyway, I drove up to Norfolk last Thursday/Friday and looked at the B9 Friday afternoon. Frankly, I was almost hoping that I would not like the car. That way, I could just go on searching for a nice Porsche 911 and my decision would be simplified. I thought that it was, after all, pretty much like my M5 and just another nice e28 bodied car.

BOY WAS I WRONG! The B9 feels much lighter and quicker at "normal" speeds. It has fantastic brakes, suspension, clutch, VDO gauge set (very reassuring!),UUC short shift and lovely euro bumpers. I even got used to the flashy cloth Alpina interior Tim has obviously done a fantastic job with the car.

So, I bought the car. I drove it back to Fayetteville, NC Friday afternoon, spent the night and drove to Charleston, SC on Saturday, spent the night and Sunday morning there, ate lunch and drove to GA Sunday afternoon. The trip back, particularly the stretch on I-95, was pretty awful - rainy and lots of stop and go traffic. The B9 performed flawlessly. It is an absolute blast to drive

Many folks on the board helped and encouraged me with my "car search" and provided me with some great leads on some fine (and some not so fine ) cars. I really appreciate all the help and interest.

Unfortunately, I cannot post photos of the car. However, if anyone wants to see some photos, Tim has the car listed in the Alpina Register with some great photos : www.thealpinaregister.com. Check it out - lots of very cool cars there.

Happy New Year to all!!

Regards,
Mike Gray

I had been thinking about selling the B9 ever since I bought Ron P's Euro M5 but was committed to finding the right steward for the car. I have spent a great deal of time, effort and money to get the car to it's current state (as Paul did before me) and it was important to me that the new owner would respect the unique nature of the car, continue with it's care, and drive it (as opposed to it ending up in a collector's garage and never being driven). I bought a low mile 635CSi from Mike earlier this year and have been impressed by the level of care that it received prior to my ownership. Based on that, I am very convinced that the B9 is in good hands. Enjoy it Mike!

gray635 · Post by **gray635** » Dec 31, 2007 11:54 AM

Hey Guys:

Justin is, of course, correct re: the Porsche 911. There will always be plenty 911s around. You do not find a B9 for sale every day, particularly one in the condition that Tim's car is in. I would have hated to pass it up for a 911 or e30 M3 (my two other choices) and regretted it later.

BigDaddy makes a good recommendation on the Hagerty's stated value policy. I had my 635CSi I sold to Tim earlier this year insured with Hagerty. I plan to get the both the B9 and the 1988 M6 insured with Hagerty, since the M6 will be eligible after 1/1/08. Coverage is excellent and the premiums are about 1/2 of regular coverage, in my experience. The M5 will be the "daily driver". Now there's some practical and economical daily transportation

I really appreciate Tim entrusting the "care and feeding" of the B9 to me. I truly believe that he was very concerned about the car going to a good home, so I take it as a compliment that he decided to sell the car to me. I will do my best to be a good steward of it.

Thanks to everybody for all the positive comments and help with my most recent hunt. I have had to promise my wife that I will not be buying any more cars for A VERY LONG TIME

kway · Post by **kway** » Dec 31, 2007 1:21 PM

Absolutely gorgeous. Congrats, Mike! You've BTDT with 911s anyway, I think you made the right choice.

Funny that you guys have had luck with Hagerty insurance, they basically said F-U when I went to them for my 745i. Same with Grundy. The poor old E23 gets pissed on once again. J.C. Taylor gladly wrote me a $15k policy though, been very happy so far.

MyE28.com

MyE28.com

WTB: An interesting car - FOUND IT!!

Try this one.

CONGRATS! Mike!!!!!! I know what you bought!!!!!

B9