The Alpina versions are indeed automatic as already stated for the US Market and they are horrible. Don't know how a tuning company came out with a car with less power than the standard model.

Z8's are INCREDIBLE cars to drive, IMO. I LOVE the layout of the dash, and the sound of the engine when you really step on it. It's hard not to love the styling of the exterior as well, nothing else looks like it on the road and you get plenty of looks from people around.

I've been fortunate enough to do extended test drives on several Z8's, both standard and the Alpina versions when i worked at a BMW shop and it's def. a car i would own if i could; no contest about it.

 

If I remember correctly, frame issues were caused by Dinan cutting to fit headers.




via 

 

Dubizzle Dubai | Z8: BMW Z8, 25,000 MILES FULL OPTIONS, AMERICAN SPECS, 2001.

http://www.alainclass.com/inventory/cars/135/BMW/Z8

 

An older friend of mine with an extensive collection of BMWs and other exotics purchased a Z8 last year in blue with a crème interior and the car was absolutely stunning, I am not sure if he still has it since he goes through cars quickly but it seemed like he was going to keep it.

A friend and I helped him remove the hardtop off the car and it is nerve-wracking, the rear glass is attached to the hardtop, so when the hardtop goes – the rear glass goes with it. This means that if you have another person removing the hardtop, make sure that you are removing it in unison in the same direction otherwise the glass will shatter if there’s extensive twisting. When he purchased it, it came with a hardtop stand with wheels so it was easy for storage. He also told us that the dealer recommended to store the car with the soft-top on instead of the hardtop if it is going to be inactive for a while, however I forgot the reasoning to it.

I realize that this doesn’t quite pertain to mechanical issues of the engine but I figured it is something to be wary about.

 

Nice! I like the one on dubizzle. I would do the following if I had a Z8

EVOLVE MEDUSA Headers Paired with Superpsrint exhaust
EVOLVE Mafless tune
EVOLVE Intakes (not necessary, BMC panel filters will be fine)
Coilovers
HRE's/ADV's

But yeah thats just me, I cant have a stock car LOL.

 

You couldn't leave it alone, could you? LOL

 

Nope Never LOL, Ok Fine I'll change the wheels to BBS LMs as their very classy