1989 BMW Z1 Alpina Limited Edition Roadster

Registration no. ADZ 112 Chassis no. WBABA91020AL00266 Engine no. C2/6 00266/8680

Footnotes

This particular Z1 is one of the first German-registered cars imported into the UK. Registered in the UK as a private import on 26th June 1989, the car was purchased on or around that date by Sytner of Nottingham Ltd for general sale. On 21st July 1989 the car was bought by a known BMW Alpina collector, who immediately enquired about the possibility of an Alpina 2.7-litre engine conversion. Following confirmation from Alpina they would indeed be converting the Z1 using the C2/2.7 engine, the then owner placed an order on 23rd October 1989.

In June 1990, Alpina informed Sytner of their intention to produce a Limited Edition Roadster version of the Z1 to coincide with the final production run at Munich. While the run was limited to only 66 cars (converted at the Alpina factory from unregistered examples), Alpina asked Sytner if the owner of the Z1 offered today would be interested in having his car completed to Limited Edition Roadster specification and thus being one of the 66. This offer was accepted and meant that this particular Z1 would be the only LE Roadster to be assembled and supplied in the UK by Sytner. It is also probably the earliest chassis number to be converted to LE Roadster specification. Alpina allocated number '4' out of the 66 for this particular car. Out of the 66 cars, 50% were bought by Alpina's Japanese importer, one car ('4') went to the UK, and the rest to German and other European customers.

In June 1990, the Z1 engine was sent to Alpina in Germany and was returned and reinstalled by Sytner in July. The new engine number assigned was '266'. Wheels and tyres were made specifically for the LE Roadster by Ronal and Michelin, with only 100 sets made (the rolling radius of the 235x40 ZR17 tyre being the same as the standard 225x45 ZR16).

According to the only German road test (in Motor und Sport), the engine develops 200bhp and not the 210bhp of a normal C2 because of the catalytic converter. Torque is the same at 213lb/ft. While the exhaust system is new, the rear section is adapted from the original. In addition to the aforementioned items, the LE Roadster pack includes the following:

3.73:1 limited-slip differential
Three-spoke MoMo steering wheel
Two front springs
Silver and leather dashboard sign
Seven Alpina number emblems (four for wheels, one for steering wheel, two spares)

The current vendor purchased the Z1 on 6th December 1991. Most of the service bills from acquisition in 1991 until circa 2001 are available. After that the car went into professional storage when the vendor moved abroad. Returning to the UK in 2010, he retrieved the car and used it briefly (hence MoTs and service bills in 2012/2013), then worked abroad again so the car went back into storage. The last major service was carried out in 2021 when the engine belts, including the cam belt, were changed. Seldom, if ever, taken out in the rain, the car is described as in good condition throughout, having covered fewer than 8,100 miles from new. Accompanying documentation consists of sundry bills, MoT to 13th September 2022, a V5C Registration Certificate, and Sytner letter of authentication.