Alpina Roadster S 3.4

Some cars are bought with your head. Others with your heart. Then there are cars like the ALPINA Roadster S, where logic simply doesn’t stand a chance.

Built on the BMW Z4 platform but transformed by the legendary German manufacturer ALPINA, the Roadster S wasn’t simply a tuned BMW. Every car was individually hand-finished at ALPINA’s headquarters in Buchloe, receiving its own chassis number and a level of engineering that elevated it into something altogether more special.

At its heart lies one of BMW’s greatest naturally aspirated straight-six engines, enlarged by ALPINA to 3.4 litres and producing 300bhp. Unlike many ALPINAs of the era, the Roadster S was offered exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox, making it one of the purest and most engaging cars the company has ever produced. 0-60mph arrives in around 5 seconds, but it’s the delivery, the soundtrack and the effortless torque that make every journey memorable.

As Evo Magazine once described the Roadster S: “One of the finest roadsters money could buy.” It remains one of the very few ALPINAs built with driving enjoyment as the absolute priority. Production was incredibly limited, with just 370 examples built worldwide, making it significantly rarer than many contemporary Ferraris and Porsches.

Finding one today is difficult. Finding one with low mileage, a manual gearbox, comprehensive history and in exceptional condition is rarer still. Finished in elegant Titanium Silver Metallic over the stunning ALPINA Red leather interior, this example has covered just approximately 61,000 miles and presents beautifully throughout.

The condition reflects careful ownership, while the drive is exactly what an ALPINA should be; refined when cruising, wonderfully alive when the road opens up. It benefits from an extensive service history and has just received a major service in our workshop, together with new rear wheel bearings, ensuring it is ready for its next custodian.

Details unique to the Roadster S include the bespoke ALPINA aerodynamic package, signature multi-spoke alloy wheels, numbered ALPINA interior, unique instrumentation, ALPINA suspension, subtle badging and countless engineering changes beneath the surface that separate it from the standard Z4.

When new, the Roadster S commanded a substantial premium over the BMW Z4 3.0i, costing well over €70,000 once specified, placing it firmly in Porsche Boxster S territory. Buyers weren’t simply paying for performance; they were buying craftsmanship, exclusivity and one of the world’s most respected specialist manufacturers.

With analogue sports cars becoming increasingly sought after, naturally aspirated engines disappearing and manual gearboxes becoming a thing of the past, the ALPINA Roadster S is rapidly being recognised as one of the hidden gems of the modern classic world. Rare, usable and genuinely special, it has all the ingredients collectors look for.

A beautifully maintained, low-mileage example of one of ALPINA’s finest