Alpina was an aftermarket tuning company, that well Modifies BMW's. Sort of like AMG used to be a separate company than Mercedes Benz.

At some point Mercedes bought AMG. And BMW has a franchising deal with Alpina now (even though they have their own "m" Bmw Motorsport division.

An earlier version of this is probably what you came across:

BMW North America

Although being a poseur is huge in the BMW and Mercedes worlds. I can not count the number of cars that I've seen that had AMG or alpina wheels AND the badge on the trunk, with no underhood mods. A TRUE B7 would give you a run for your $$. A 745 or 750li not so much....

Take care,

George

 

Thanks guys. These forums seem a little more friendly than the mustang forums. I actually get info on answers here. The service records and carfax show nothing other than routine maintenance. I'm still trying to get a hold of a service manual on the car. I'm anxious to learn more. I'm only 21 and totally ignorant on this thing but loving it so far.

 

Welome to STR ownership 99snake.

As mentioned here if you just had to rely on the dealer network you would go broke fast!
I usually take mine in for a service a year so I can have the books stamped. I also arrange for a 'health check/report' booking with the dealer, which last time only cost me around $250, which also gives me another dealer receipt. I always bring my own oil/filter to the dealer. Other wise I use local mechanics.
BUT for other maintenance items I will always attempt it first.
In the 3 years/30,000kms of ownership (19,000 miles), here is what I have to report:-

-All 4 lwr wishbones needed new rubber mounts/bushes; can't buy them seperate, needed to buy whole wishbones!. I would have a look at this if you can.
-Hose inlet tube on radiator expansion tank cracked. Have to replace whole unit. Flea-bay.
-Transmission selector solenoid seized. Have to replace whole selector. Flea-bay.
-Rear brake pads. Modified front Alfa GTV pads to suit-cheaper option. Although you might have the downgraded/non-Brembos as standard.
-Recently have had to change the plugs again as some of the points were suspect. All points were changed as well. Flea-bay again.

Otherwise everything else has been routine.

Enjoy!

 

George you may have hit the nail on the head. When the BMW took off down the exit ramp I wasn't impressed with the rear wheels and tires. They didn't seem tall (22") nor wide (285) as described by Alpina. The twin drivers-side exhaust pipes on 6 cyl. models are small. Otherwise, it was too short an incident to thoroughly analyze wether this car had the larger wheels or twin driverside exhaust pipes. One thing I thought interesting is Alpina using centrifugal superchargers prior to their twin turbo set up.

 

bfsgross, I like the mods you have done to yours. My problem is I live in a condo so it makes it kind of tough to do any work on the cat. Have you dyno'd your STR?

 

Hi Pushing_Tin

I tried finding the Forum when I first got the cat. Can't quite remember now but I either didn't find this Forum or it wasn't as good as it is now. Over the years I even thought of getting a Vette to compete with my brother who drags his. I was impressed with the Corvette Forum too! Now that the Cat is here to stay and I think the Jag Forum is tops and the knowledge base is top notch.

 

Hey Scatty, which Corvette forum did you find? Been seriously thinking of letting the MGB go in favor of an early C5.

 

SCATTY, Def. understand condo rules. Regardless, the mods I mentioned are best performed at a custom exhaust/install garage. Haven't dynoed her yet but spring is here and a Connecticut performance dyno/tune outfit I corresponded with over the winter awaits my car to measure output. After the front bumber is repainted this week I'll post a video of her prior to and during dyno run. I like to think she belts out over 450 ponies, but who knows if she's near or over this mark. The one thing that bugs the STR is adaptive learning searching for reasons to richen her up and pull back timing and boost. Periodic hard re-sets are necessary to start the process over again.... Ultimately a "Chiller" or methyl alcohol system is necessary if one retains the stock Eaton M112. Perhaps one day a twin screw will be developed for the STR? Enjoy your STR.

 

Hey snake, Welcome to the STR club. I'm also a Mustang guy here and a previous Cobra (superformance) owner. My philosophy on buying cars is do your homework upfront, negotiate the price, and then never look back otherwise you'll drive yourself crazy with all the what-ifs Every deal is different and you really can't compare them as there are so many factors to consider. As a for instance, I purchased my wife's '03 loaded (owned by a local sports celebrity's wife) low mileage (42K) STR (and our first Jag) in late 09 for about $14k. I loved driving it so much that I started looking for my own. I found it ('06 STR all black) with $62K and paid $15K for it. Now I could look back on my '03 and think that I paid too much but I never do that because what matters most is that both my wife and I are happy and that's all that matters.

 

Like I said earlier I'm not far from you at all. I have a copy of JTIS I could so called let you "borrow". (as in copy it for you) I also have an ELMScan5 in case you ever have problems. Got a little workshop area too if you are wanting to wrench to save money. Just have to let me know. Should of went to Cars and Coffees with me Sat there was a huge turnout and would of been cool to have another Jag out there. If you are interested we should meet up for the next one I thinks its May 7th and cruise out there should be a fun little drive.

 

I would definitely like to copy that. I havnt been able too find any chilton or haynes manuals. I would really appreciate it.

 

We're contemplating moving to the US, and Raleigh is one of the main choices as its where the company I work for are headquartered. Guess I'd want to leave my RHD STR behind though....

 

Just get a LHD when you get here. If you take the trip let me know. I'll be here at least another 4 years.

 

Bodyman, check this one out, www.corvetteforum.com

My brother as a exceptional 1999 C5 Red Convertible that he occasionally drags. It has minor mods and nitrous. I found the Corvette Forum to be excellent like the Jaguar Forum. Good luck on your search

 

bfsgross, I used to do some mechanical work in my day (I'm a young 68), my brother (he's a real young 75) and I had a stock car that we raced on short tracks in the Midwest. I just need that extra snap of HP. Your mods sound great. I guess I better start saving the schekels. Let us all know how your dyno runs turn out.

 

You will almost surely have to get the lubricant for the tranny "whooping" noise, it is not a big deal. I have owned 4 Jag S-Type, a 2002 V8 4.0, an 03 V8 4.2, an 07 V6 and now a Limited Edition 05 V8 4.2 Sport Pkg with XK8 Interior. If cost to own is a concern the standard V8 4.2 has been by best experience. I also owned a 03 XJ8 and it was by far the best built of all the Jags I owned. The S-Types are nice, but, they do require keeping an eye out for the tranny noise and also coolant leaks because of the cheap plastic used that will crack in extreme heat or cold. Over the past year residual values of Jags have actually increased nicely due to the limited production and I think a determination of the dealers to raise the pre-owned values. I like that, but, since I am a pre-owned buyer it makes it harder to get a steal on them now.