Back after an 11 year absence

[Jerez]

Hi Guys
Thought I’d add some posts after an 11 year absence.
Started here in 2012 when I bought my first e92 ///M3…guess the colour- yup - Jerez and was active until a few personal circumstance changes
Fast forward to current day : I’m now working my dream job at the home of Alpina …. In Sales.
It’s been —— probably the best 4 years of my life , driving some of the most exciting BMW’s available:
Recent drives : X/M-
M4 CSL
M5 CSL
ALPINA B3/B4
Alpina B3 GT3
And the recent M car to tick the box was the BTCC E30 M3

So… I’m a massive fanatic work at the home of Alpina in coals and frosty UK.

If anyone’s interested I’ll post some interesting cars I come across together with models you guys don’t get down there .

I’ve posted one of the nicest colours launched … skyscraper grey - that’s on my previous 320d Touring and current 520d Touring M sport Pro/ Tech pack.

Any comments I make usually stems from personal experience.🙏🏽

 

[///M Individual]

Welcome back!

Wow awesome recent drives and your Tourings are stunning😍

Yes please do post pics of the interesting cars!

 

[VinceM]

Welcome back!

Look forward to reviews of the cars that stood out for you (which can guide other members interested in those models).

M539 has an episode where he visits Alpina, their collection of cars is amazing…can only imagine your real world experience.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[GravityLee]

What did you think of the XM? I find it difficult to look at, but by all accounts it sounds like a physics defying drive?

 

[Jerez]

Thanks guys - Re the XM…. The day it was being brought into the showroom … it turned my head !
Your first reaction is “ what is it “
There have been only a handful of M exclusive cars and this joins those ranks .
2,8 tons of petro electric heaven.
Looks …. Forget about it as BMW have never found the need to conform to the norms which othe manufacturers have … namely the i project and specifically the looks of the i3.

The cars worth all of its £150k-ish price tag as the build finish is superb - bespoke stitching , with Alcantara layered all through the roof lining and around the textured inner - the sculptured look is for sound absorbing sound I believe .

The performance of the car …. Well ! There’s never a need to announce your arrival with such a beast - It rides like you’re on a magic carpet and the 4,4 Twin V8 coupled with its electric motor will take you to 100kms in the advertised 4 ish seconds but it’s just not a car to be popping and banging around the streets … the likes of an SVR or C63sssss or RS models.
It’s sheer class with M badge confirming M power heritage ( don’t mess with me )

If you want to know about top speed runs / 0-100 traffic light GP series I can’t advise as I was pooping myself and just being extra careful about driving and parking it … and besides , I’m getting too old for that now 🤷🏾‍♂️.
It’s bloody quick and despite its weight the all wheel steering system works well to keep you planted on bends .

I never thought I’d walk up to the car to find a couple posing and taking photos , standing against it 😂👍🏾 ( I’ll try to find that pic)

I’m a fan

 

[444YYY]

I remember the name and the M3 Jerez!

Tell us your journey of how you got into Alpina?

Also what do you think of the SA B3, 5 of

 

[Jerez]

I’ll keep it brief -
Worked in uk Telecoms after leaving SA for 21 years and kept dreaming about M cars whilst filling in spreadsheets .
2019 I took a year out of formal working and pursued a Taxi driving ( not SA style but Hackney … London cab style)

At the end of 2019 ok thought about my pension options and decided to get back into formal work.

Contacted the sales guy who I was buying my M Cars from and he offered me a chance at Sales with one of the UK’s largest BMW franchised groups ….. “I don’t know how to sell cars “

The group offered formal training and I think I know a decent amount about BMW’s… I’m a Gen X … so we’ve been and driven E12’s back in the day so my knowledge together with great training and a supportive group of people to work with makes it a great place to be.

I don’t work for Alpina but the group are the only ones allowed to order and market these cars.

There’s a part of the dealership which sells just Alpinas .

Interesting fact - All the press cars with the Reg S17NER is supplied by the dealership I work at.
Had the pleasure of taking the what car/ Top gear B4 test car home … smooth , quiet and rapidly quick …

My view on the B3…. I dislike it when the car has been marketed in SA as a ltd edition 333 homage when it’s not.
I love the B3 …. The Touring is also available here together with XB7 complete with 22’s / Xd3’s and the dealership just delivered the ltd edition B5 GT…. A 300km/h machine .

The people I work with are great and are nothing like what I thought car sales people would be . All car enthusiasts incl the DP who has a few Bowlers and a 72 911SC.
That’s my story

 

[444YYY]

Very cool. Thanks!