Thanks for all the comments.
Gary and I just spoke this morning, and it looks like the car will be finished the second week of July.
Gary is truely an artist with his work. Plus, for a one man show, the results speak for themselves. One thing I particularly liked when talking with him prior to taking him the car is that he essentially works on one car at a time. Once the car comes up for work, you take it to him and he works on it until it is done. It is not like some production place that has a bunch of cars being done at once. Plus, he is very up front in that when he takes paint off, he never knows what is underneath. One thing Gary does with all his work is document everything. He will have pictures of each step and will send them on a disc when done.
Rog, this car is going to be unbelievable!. Are you going to replace or refurbish most ot the parts, i.e., suspension, seating, etc. I also have a question about the infamous Alpina hood. Was that just an option or did it come on earlier / later models. Just curious why your car doesn't have one
Bankswood
Oh! and all this time I thought he had a good one. JK Rog.
Bankswood
Steffen's right - the vented hood was present only on the B12 5.7. Also, it was made of Carbon Fiber. Alpina will only sell one to replace a damaged hood from a B12 5.7, and require a VIN to verify this before selling one. Also, do not even ask how much one costs - the last figure I heard was just under $10,000.
Alpina made 97 B12 5.0 cars, and 57 B12 5.7 cars. Prices have continued to climb after dipping several years ago. I looked into the B12 5.7 which was for sale recently, but there was no way I could even think of affording it after I found out the price - and FYI from what I understand it sold for over the equivalent in US Dollars of $120,000. Also, I was told (but was unable to verify this) that a very low Kilometer (under 40K Km) B12 5.0 recently sold for over 60,000 Euros. My car has 38K Km. I know of two B12 5.0 cars with mileage (in Km) of over 150K that are for sale in the 35K to 40K Euro range. A B12 5.0 was for sale last year in Japan for $60K, but I have not seen it lately, so maybe it sold. It seems that collectors are starting to snatch them up.
I hope to go through everything as time permits, most of which I hope to do while the car is apart and before final reassembly.
Last edited by rogbmw; 06-26-2012 at 04:20 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
It's good to see Alpina prices achieve the lofty heights for which the cars are named. Congratulations Roger, I'm sure when all is said and done, you'll have the finest B-12 5.0 on the planet! Marcia is a wonderful wife and companion to put up with all this obsession, but then she's been through it all before. I can't wait for the big debut of the finished product of so m-a-n-y hours of your and Gary's labors of love. Hopefully the rest of the "lesser" 8 series Bimmers in all iterations will finally achieve their just monetary due and rise in appreciation along with the B-12's.
Im Curious to know what Alfred's (alpina devil) car is worth. His car is 5.7 version. Red. I've seen it in person. Beautiful car!!!!.. US based car....
Rog any idea?..
Board Member of SoCalEights (Marketing, Web Development & Social Media), Vice President: BMWCCA/E31 Chapter, www.cartiologyfilms.com
Current E31s:
1997 BMW 840Ci Black on Beige. CSI 62, 107 and 16. Euro-CSi #892.
Client Represented E31s (Cartiology Films)
1994 BMW 850CSi #11 USA, 1994 BMW 850CSi #31 USA, 1994 BMW 850CSi #58 USA
93-850Ci - manual 6 speed. 97-850Ci - M73 Steptronic. 94-CSi 125, 95-CSi 162 Daytona Violet, CSi 198 White on Red
Past E31s:
1991 BMW 850i. Calypso Red on Beige Nappa and 1995 BMW 840Ci. Bright Red on Beige Nappa
1997 BMW 840Ci. Black On Black Nappa, but changed to Dakar Yellow on Black Nappa and 1994 BMW 850CSi #27. Red On light Silver.
1991 BMW 850i. Automatic. Red On Black and 1996 BMW 850Ci. Automatic. Midnight Blue on Gray.
1994 BMW 850CSi. Black On Blak #107, Black/Black 97-840. White/White CSi. Silver/Silver 97-840
Alec - it is all based on supply and demand, and unfortunately for those wanting a B12, and especially a B12 5.7, the demand far outweighs the supply (available cars), thus cars are expensive. I do not profess to know all the prices, just the ones I have heard about through different groups. I personally discussed the 5.7 that sold recently with the owner - a BEAUTIFUL car, but we both quickly realized that it was out of my price range. The only other 5.7 car I know of that recently sold was also over $100K. I purchased my B12 5.0 in November 2009 (yes..it was that long ago) and started the process of importation and legalization with Bill Fox's help, and I am glad I did in light of how the prices are going up.
I have seen pictures of Alfred's 5.7, and it is a beautiful car.
Thanks for the kind words. But, there are no lesser 8's - they are all beautiful! And since you know Marcia, you know I'm a lucky guy (we just celebrated our 33rd anniversary) - you are too with Sue, and yes, we are fortunate they put up with our obsessions .
Last edited by rogbmw; 06-27-2012 at 09:05 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Talking about the Norwegian one?
I've seen AND driven it during our int. E31 meeting in Sweden two weeks ago.
A beautiful car but not yet perfect. Engine compartment looks pretty "used" and the rims have curb rash on all four of them.
But driving this machine has been a dream. The owner was so kind to let me drive his baby for about 200km mainly over rather small but perfect Swedish country roads.
And the interior is one of a kind. Calling it beautiful won't do it justice.
I felt kind of bad when I saw my own car again.
Last edited by wokke; 06-28-2012 at 05:20 AM.
Gary just sent these...tomorrow he will start reassembly of the car - putting the windows back in, hanging the doors, fenders, hood, and trunk. Again, notice the reflection of the lights and wires from the ceiling. Can't Wait
Wow! Shiney shiney
its not so much the shine. take note fellas: this is what paint is supposed to look like, its all about the flatness - usually this takes a lot of blocking and wet sanding
this is looking very good. i hope i'm able to get mine resprayed to that level one day.
Gary just sent some more pictures - the doors are back on. Also, the headlight assemblies minus the buckets are shown. Note on the picture of the roof that you can see the underside of the Mustang on the lift behind the car. I told Gary that one of the bolt heads on the Mustang was crooked. I am scheduled to pick up the finished shell on Saturday. Can't wait!!!!!!!
Roof shot - notice the reflection of the Mustang on the lift:
Doors are back on:
Headlight assemblies:
Last edited by rogbmw; 07-12-2012 at 12:09 PM.
With all this, I am envious except for the wheels. Have you thought about Alpina wheels (even if not the real ones or the correct model ones)?
'93 850Ci - Mineralweiß Metallic
2001 740iL - Titansilber
ALPINA B7 -Alpinweiß III
...the price of cool ain't cheap!
Makes me want to throw rocks at my 8.
OMG, Roger has done the impossible....made Steffan humble! All of us will be as excited as you, Roger, to see the finished project.
Steffen - your cars look great and your attention to detail is second to none, plus - I have go do a good job to keep my SPM Florida franchise!
NO NO NO NO NO NO... don't throw rocks...all 8's have the same basic DNA - just some went to a laboratory!
Last edited by rogbmw; 07-13-2012 at 08:04 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Any updates?
- Sean
RIP Blitzkrieg
Sorry - since I got the car home I have been gone more than here. The only thing I have accomplished is taking the left airbox out of the car...seriously...in preparation of working on the engine bay. I look at the body...then the engine bay...and think....what a lot of work ahead under the hood . Oh well...it will keep me out of the bars, and off the golf course, and Marcia will at least know where I am.......
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