Updating Unofficial Alpina homepage - Page 3 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

greg1234 · 29th October 2006, 00:45

Hythe

Maybe it's not so much a "competition" issue; more to do with pride / ownership of something you have built...?

As to the "point" of the forums being to spread knowledge - that is true in part, but I doubt that it is the main motivating factor behind the enormous commitment of time and energy that must have gone into this site (and the other of course). If I'd set it up, my motivating factor would be the fact that I had created something and wanted it to thrive... but the fact that I was a founder would be very important to me... Seeing other people benefit from the knowledge would be great, but probably not the main driving force, which would be personal.

Andy G · 29th October 2006, 14:49

I have to agree that its good to keep this site seperate from the other, this is the original forum for the Alpina community and should remain, in fact I think that it would be a good idea for the 'other to merge with this and maybe this be the common forum? However both are fine sources of information.

But one worrying thing to me is the lack of owners of the original older cars, to me the older cars are the ones that interests me, and not necessarily the newer models (which are too far out of my price range)

puppypilgrim · 29th October 2006, 21:03

Good and healthy discussion guys. Given the difference between the two forum cultures, I am in favour of diversity rather than a full merge (combine both into one completely) or a partial merge (combining the register and Alpina directory of cars leaving actual forums discussions separate).

kees · 31st October 2006, 23:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by hythe

If Kees and Neil didn't want to work together, that's cool, obviously. But the opportunity is there for something bigger and better than probably either could manage on their own.

Well - I haven't heard anything from anyone at thealpinaregister to date...so I'm assuming that's a NO?

D4 · 1st November 2006, 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy G

I have to agree that its good to keep this site seperate from the other, this is the original forum for the Alpina community and should remain, in fact I think that it would be a good idea for the 'other to merge with this and maybe this be the common forum? However both are fine sources of information.

But one worrying thing to me is the lack of owners of the original older cars, to me the older cars are the ones that interests me, and not necessarily the newer models (which are too far out of my price range)

Andy

I've been reading this thread with interest over the last few days and have thought long and hard about what to say. (please note these are simply my views and hopefully they're in the main factual)

there's a couple of clear issues as why I couldn't condone theALPINAregister forum merging with this forum - so that this became the only forum.

for a start this ALPINA forum is simply a sub section of the M5 board - were as theALPINAregister.com forum is predominately an ALPINA only one - As most of us ALPINA owners are constantly trying to battle the preconceptions caused mainly by the fanatiscm of the M brand I can't see how the 2 could go forward (long term) hand in hand

You and others have mentioned that there is a lack of owners of older cars.
To this statement - i'm not sure which forum you are referring to.. it's true that for some reason (unknown to me) there appears to be a different owner demographic on each forum.. but it's not as simple as old on one and new on the other.

This forum seems to have members who own models like the B8 and B10 BiTurbo which are more niche/cult ALPINAs with, even more than normal, limited numbers remaining... this is perhaps because this section of the site is predominately european/US populated - which is where most of these cars are based but it seems to have less members of the more attainable models from the past 10 years. (this site seems to cater for the iconic ALPINA fan and at the same time the more affluent too)As there also seems to be quite a few B5 owners on here too. Like you this is not a car I can contemplate buying just yet (unless I want to sell all my worldly goods including the house)

On theALPINAregister site/forum there are a greater mix of models from current/newer models like the B5, B3s Roadster S. But there are also owners of cars like the B10, E36 B3, E38 B12, E32 B11 & B12, E30 C2, and E28 B9 & B10's which at least in the UK are cars that are owned by club members like you and me.

You mentioned about the affordability of these cars - when infact an E39 B10 v8 (like I have) can be bought for less than £8K which is cheaper than you'd find a decent Bi Turbo for...

I don't see the need to have a single forum.. afterall no-one is suggesting that the gemeinschaft forum (which covers the biggest cross section of ALPINA ownership) should merge with the M5 board or vice versa...
additionally when I want to find details on my B10 (which is E39 based) invariably i'll use forums like bmwcarmagazine or bmw5.co.uk and nit just here or the other forum.. IMO more forums means more information/opinions/suggestions not less..

As for the register aspect - to me they seem to be doing 2 different jobs. one is a statistcal record were as theALPINAregister.com is a live updated record of cars that have owners attached to them rather than just recording build data. (I know Kees may not agree with me on this and it's not a criticism- just my point of view - although I note my B10 V8 is still not listed on the Unofficial list)

When I relaunched the BMW Car Club GB ALPINA Register last year - it was clear to me that i couldn't rely on the club magazine or the club forum to do the job. (this summers antics with the Car Club forum proved me correct on that point at least)
So since the Club and theALPINAregister.com are UK based - it made sense for me to form an allegance with them rather than here - it also lended itself much more at being a real ALPINA portal as it has the data and forum are under 1 roof "so to speak" without the complications of the M cars detracting from the ALPINA brand.

The involvement of the BMWCCGB and the backing of the factory make it very difficult to simply bolt on another 'partner site' and IMO impossible for theALPINAregister.com to be merged with the M5 board... additionally many of the members on here seem to frown on the Sytner ALPINA's and as you know if you want a RHD ALPINA in the UK from the early 80's or before these will invariably be Sytner cars (this 'looking down noses' is not something the Car Club would like to be associated with)

But crucially I don't see why the two sites/forums can't remain doing the job they do.

Cheers
Andy

B10BRW · 1st November 2006, 01:54

I agree with Andy D4, since I have been fortunate enough to own my Alpina I
often use both Forums and find them both very useful and informative.
And IMHO they should remain separate.
The Alpina register hold regular meetings which I like to attend, I also like to attend the London M5 meetings at which myself and fellow Alpina owners are made most welcome.
But as far as I am aware no such meetings have been arranged through this board.
As I like to meet fellow Alpina owners, the current situation suits me fine.
All I can say is a big thank you for the time and effort that the various Administrators put in to the running of the 2 Forums.
We are after all, all Alpina enthusiasts

Andy G · 1st November 2006, 21:19

Andy
I think you're right, the two need to remain seperate forums as both do the job admirably.
In my opinion, what is lacking is the owner of the older car and input of info for the same, and this really applies manily to the Alpina register form (and not this one) as when a question is posted on the site there are few replies (if any and this can be seen if you do a search on the board), now that isn't a critiscm in any way, but it does show a lack of input for the car that isn't an e34/39/60 etc etc, as to me these encompass Alpina more so than the newer cars, but thats my opinion and mine alone.

I understand its down to the fact that most see the Alpina as a newer car, and many are not completely aware of the company's background and the cars they produced before they became more available to the buying public, but as I said before my personal interest is the early cars up to and probably including the e36.

I've been a member of this forum since the early 00's and this is where I obtained a lot of info prior to finding the way forward for contacts here in the UK (in fact I met Craig from this site) so I have a sort of personal link to this place. Therefore for me I find this quite comfortable. Any questions asked regards the early cars are answered quite quickly, so it suits.

But I think there's plenty of room for all, so long may it continue.

as for Sytners, well you know as well as I do that those in mainland Europe tend to feel that the Sytner cars are not exactly 'genuine' Alpina cars, buts thats a discussion for the future!

hythe · 2nd November 2006, 12:45

Everyone seems to think I was proposing merging the forums, which actually wasn't my core proposal. Rather, my main suggestion was to join forces on the database/information website - Janne's old site, etc.

The forums do serve subtly different purposes - the UK one is more of a car club with an online virtual presence, while this is an almost purely virtual construct, a source of mutual assistance and is much more cosmopolitan in its membership - more international and a broader range of models owned.

Andy, I agree that there isn't sufficient focus anywhere on the older models, although this forum is by far the best I've seen in that regard. I would continue to argue that the factory could do far more to promote its own heritage and awareness of the older cars, possibly working together with sites like this and through creating an officially anointed group of marque specialists, including both main dealers and high-quality independents. Aston Martin did this a few years ago and it's been a stunning success, as far as I can tell.

kees · 2nd November 2006, 13:00

Well - the factory have actually given their blessing to Janne's website years ago.

Everyone seems to agree that the 2 websites vary sufficiently to keep them as seperate entities. Maybe we should indeed work together to focus both on their own particular aim?

Gustav · 2nd November 2006, 18:56

I think the discussion ahve been healthy and underlined the differences of the sites in a good way. I don't see any particular problem with BMW M / Alpina owners here, you even see some M5 owners deserting to the B5

The only thing I would not like to see is this forum being less active and I have also through this forum met very godo friends. I have had very fun with B8 Guru over the years!