Okay, I’ve been on a run of drop-top BMWs recently, and the Alpina B3 3.0 Cabriolet had me wondering – what’s the ideal spec for an E36 convertible? I think I may have found it. This last-model-year convertible we’re looking at today is a European-specification model, which means it’s got the 321 horsepower 3.2-liter S50 with individual throttle bodies. Great! It’s also got a hardtop, the interior isn’t black, and it’s got the forged Style 24s. Wow! To top it off, though? Yeah, it was run through BMW’s Individual department and came out the other side in Violet Blue Metallic. Oh, and it’s only got 46,000 miles, and seems surprisingly affordable given all these factors. Why? Let’s check it out!
Category: BMW
The M Coupe has moved from cult legend into one of the most desirable M products produced. Late-production S54-equipped models have recently topped $100,000 at auction. Add in a rare color and great condition, and they’re all the more desirable. While not quite a 1:1, the M Coupe is like the Porsche 964 and has gone from being ugly duckling to the market darling, and the S54 models are the RS America of the lineup.
For most of us, that means if you want a ‘Clownshoe’ you’ll need to look towards early production when they were equipped with the venerable S52. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as lower running costs and higher production numbers mean much lower asking prices. Take this Imola Red ’99, for example. First off, only 2,180 S52 M Coupes were sold here. Imola Red was one of the more common colors on the M Coupe, with 422 made. This one is one of 164 Imola/Black S52s made, and it’s got lower mileage. Let’s take a look:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1999 BMW M Coupe on eBay
Comments closedHaving just looked at a B3 3.0, let’s look at its predecessor – sorta. What do I mean? Well, indeed, the Alpina B6 2.8/2 was the first E36 modified by Alpina, but it was replaced in 1993 by the B3 3.0 model. The B6 2.8/2 was also only available in sedan and coupe form. So what’s going on here, with this very obviously long-roof 1997? Japan.
That’s right, although the B3 model had replaced it, in 1996 the B6 2.8 was resurrected for the Japanese market. Now only available in Touring form, the car was reportedly a reaction to BMW’s decision not to bring the 328i Touring to the market. Unlike the contemporary cars, these were badged as “Limited Edition” and mostly came with the standard automatic instead of Alpina’s SwitchTronic gearbox, and they were only made in Arctic Silver, Bright Red, and Boston Green as we see here. Some 136 are claimed to have been produced, and this one is number 40:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1997 Alpina B6 2.8 Touring on eBay
3 CommentsFrom the G8x to the E36 seem like a vast gulf to you? Well, a similar gap in time takes us back to the roots of BMW’s small modern convertibles. From the diminutive Isetta grew the oddly-shaped 600, which then bore the 700 run. Available in 2-door sedan, Coupe, or rare cabriolet, the 700 developed some 30 horsepower from its .7 liter twin in the rear. The handsome Michelotti design signaled the direction for the new BMW designs, with (for the time) modern lines penned to the standard 3-box formula. A total of nearly 200,000 700s were produced, but just over 2,500 cabriolets were produced. This one is far from perfect, but still very cool to see:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1963 BMW 700 Cabriolet on eBay
Comments closedThere’s no doubt that the G8x M3 and M4 are…polarizing. If the styling wasn’t enough to push you off, in order to keep up with the Joneses, BMW added all-wheel drive to the lineup as well. The results are undeniable; the M4 Competition xDrive coupe hits 60 in just 2.8 seconds thanks mostly to the system being able to channel its 503 horsepower to the ground. Remember when that was quick for a bike? Despite their nearly two-ton curb weight, they’re also capable of 1g-plus in the corners, thanks in no small part to the 19 and 20″ wheels with super-sticky Michelins that are part of the Competition Package. The all-wheel-drive system also adds a surprisingly small amount of weight, and it can be reverted to rear-drive only; quite the trick. The convertible also went from the complicated and heavy hardtop mechanism to a more traditional soft top for the first time since the E46. That meant it was about 40% lighter than the hardtop, though it does limit the color pallet.
In the convertible version, the M4 is limited to Competition and xDrive configuration. So equipped, it starts at over $87k – and this one adds in Executive package for $1,800, the M Driver’s package, $2,500, M Drive Professional package for $900, piano black trim for $1,000, neck warmers for $650, front seat ventilation for $350, and the ~$5k Individual charge for its Mint Green paintwork. I’m guessing you’re not going to be surprised by the asking price, as a result: