What an absolute gentleman the CEO is. He is such an accomplished driver, businessman and living repository of knowledge and personal experience, yet he respected and honored your work, passion and commitment to the history of Alpina. This vid was outstanding, thanks Sreten.
M539 Restorations, the only channel where it's worth paying for Patreon. Genuinely, Sreten, thank you for the best content, and never stop restoring BMWs.
34:22 CEO of Alpina acknowledging the amount of time and work you put into restoring the car. He appreciates what you did. This is a culminating activity of your life 🙏🏽
I was a bit surprised he wasn't familiar with the channel. It also crossed my mind how many workers there do NOT subscribe and watch his videos. Maybe I missed it, but I was waiting for someone on the floor to say "Hey ! Aren't you the guy who...??"
@@whitehornet90 He's fake. They spam both Islam and Christianity stuff to piss people of and draw people away from the faith. Reverse trolling, basically. What better way to make people dislike the people you hate, right?
@@squidikka you're right. Everyone needs to report this guy. We're here trying to enjoy good things from our beloved content creator not arguing on everybody's faith.
They have a future customer in me, that's for sure. And it's because of this series and specially this video. I didn't like Alpina very much because their cars are unreliable as is evident from this series and also some other TH-camrs I've seen. But I see now how much work and stress testing they do for the newer cars and I'm really interested in the B5 GT
The CEO of Alpina is a legend! His passion is infectious and I love how his face lights up when he speaks about racing. These guys should run the car companies we love!
Sreten at first talked to some stuck up customer support guy, not to someone who has anything to say in that company. They also did nothing in particular wrong, as I can recall. They told him that the engine shouldn't be repaired like that, which turned out to be true, since the engine literally blew up after 100km. They also would have sold him a replacement part, just like they would have to any other customer. They just didn't want to give him parts for free, which is totally understandable.
Only Streten could go to the Alpina factory then identify an issue, diagnose it and offer a master mechanic the solution within 10 seconds of starting up a car. A god amongst men.
Lollll anybody with an ear for internal combustion engines can pinpoint that issue... surprised they let the cars sit for so long. Another had a dead battery lollll
I met many times personally Mr Bovensiepen, and he is like he is in the video. A very simple and elegant person, with big passion and knowledge. A big pleasure to hear from him the story of the success of Alpina. He is not only a great car driver, but also a very skilled wine connoisseur. Well done. Amazing video! Bravo
1:13:16, to have one of your cars driven by the CEO of Alpina, then having it there like that on that picture is absolutely priceless. That photo for me is the best thing in this whole episode. Without saying a word it's telling you so much history. the new owner is a very, very lucky person to have this piece of magnificent history.
If I am not mistaken, this was the first time you said "my wife" instead of "my girlfriend", on camera at least... Congratulations Sreten, many happy returns. Thank you very much for all the content you make.
Yes good Piont! Congratulations to you both - the book test was a classic - I recall my wife Brest feeding in the back of my M5 doing 200kms on a French motorway for hours 👏👏👌
It’s incredible to remember that at the start of this series alpina wanted absolutely nothing to do with this car or rebuilding it. Now the CEOs flooring it on the Autobahn. Sretens passion is undeniable, translates beyond any language and is so incredible to watch grow in real time. Cheers to you man, you are truly living the dream!
@@neuroleptika Yeap I think I heard the same thing from somewhere. On a wider range, that stuff is happening everywhere all the time. One employee can change your outlook on a business and even screw up long lasting partnerships.
I remember when that changed. One of the episodes, he had received some rare and expensive plastic parts directly from Alpina to help him finish it out properly. They had to take him seriously eventually.
This is FANTASTIC! The folks at Alpina are a lot like Sreten! Now I understand why Mr. Andreas Bovensipen, the CEO of Alpina, reached out! You are just as dedicated to the crafting and recrafting of BMW machines as they are! Oh THIS IS SO WONDERFUL! Andreas is a wonderful guy! He's driving it too, no playing around! LOVE IT! That FULL TRUST he placed in your work, is the greatest compliment EVER! 👏🏽
@Landon-si5xc I've been on what you would call "the other side" already. My conversation with who you call Allah began and has been two-way and continuous since the age of 2 years old. What you know as "Hell" is actually a place where your comprehension of this plane of existence does not align / is not capable of dealing with the reality of the next one. There is NO physical action you can take today to change your outcome in the next life. You can only seek to find understanding about life and nature, and do that as well as you can! All Religions have only a little bit of the answer right, none are the true answer completely.
He is AND an engineer AND a racing driver, so his opinion is worth a lot. He definitely sees and admires the thoroughness of Sretens work. A compliment for both of them.
Wow I have to say that was one hell of a podcast. The 1:13 hrs just flew by. The access to Alpina was mind blowing. A huge THANKS to the staff and CEO Mr Andreas Bovensipen. Best one yet Streten M539 👊
50:15 I love that Sreten is trying to tell the guys what is wrong and and how to fix it instead of focusing solely on the car, just show's his level of detail!
I was waiting the whole video for him to bring up the fact that the H1 engine in this car is disposable and they should/should've done a better job at it. But I guess they know that already and that's why they stress test the cars so much now
lack clearance and inconsistent gap in each cylinder wall from the original H1 Engine, sreten did explain it in one of project chicago episode when he had disastrous test drive which bring the rebuild engine blown up
Living in Australia with a 110kmh top speed limit, the autobahn talk makes my teeth hurt! Ah man, to be able to drive at 200 to cut journey times would be awesome! Great video as always!
Video has over 156000 views in 2 days(!) - of course they will "step in". I believe most manufacturers WOULD do it, Alpina is just lucky Sreten is into BMWs :)
I'm amazed by the hospitality od Alpina. We can only imagine how this project could change if they didn't reject Sreten when he reached out to them for the first time. Great project, great work man!
@@HNedelI think he just spoke with the wrong person that first time or maybe they weren't sure who this TH-camr was and were reluctant to help him officially. Anyway the change of attitude is very wholesome. It makes the company look much more approachable and Sreten truly deserves this recognition. Edit: Corrected a grammar mistake!
@@bellezayverdad Well they basically acted as they should have not knowing who he was. Noone's ever handing out freebies. In a way Sreten's got some pull now and it's good for the company. Average joe with a broken alpina engine would receive the same answer.
While I would be totally on board with that, I think it would be just as cool if Alpina simply hired M539 as an independent consultant to improve their products and services.
I thought the same. Although they most likely have better mechanical skills using the specialised tools, he has so much knowledge from ALL the models he restored on his own, without delegating the work to someone else from the company, that he knows... The part where he knew from which engine the parts on the table are without a hesitation, while the workers weren´t sure, showed how much he knows about ALL BMW cars. He would be good consultant, if not employee. Especially after seeing a lot of reoccuring issues among all the cars, that could be solved by simple changes suggested by him. I seriously hope he will remain TH-camr as he is, with some collaboration with them, so they all gain from the cooperation while doing what they know the best.
I love your channel. I am 69 years old and have always been a domestic car man , the USA. Corvettes in particular and older types. You have amazed me with your attention to detail on the engine rebuilds and everything else you tackle. You are fearless in getting to the nuts and bolts of the problem. Now, I am fascinated with BMW's. When you took apart the Maserati you complained about how it was designed the whole time. Then after watching many of your videos, I realized that the Beamer was built to be repaired as easily as possible just like you had been commenting throughout your work, and the Italian piece of junk was never meant to be repaired. Unfortunately, in the U.S. we do not have the Autobahn or other areas where we can test our work. Why build a machine that can do 200km/h when you cant drive it. Well, I build for the pleasure and an occasional high-speed law breaking drive around the interstate. I really admire your talent. You found a job that you love and that makes you a lucky man. Like I commented above I am now a BMW junkie.
What's mindblowing within the first 20 minutes is how much of a 'mom & pop' operation Alpina seems still, despite a global reputation.. they look like a small volume supercar manufacturer yet you can buy a used Alpina pretty affordably. I have a tremendous amount more respect for them even just after watching this video. You can really tell the pride they put into their cars. Absolutely fascinating video. Seeing how they want to focus on customers with older cars, and restoration of classic models really helps explain why they decided to get so involved in this video! Great move by Alpina PR! :)
Alpina is one of the success stories of small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany. Half our country is built on those highly specialized KmU (kleine und mittlere Unternehmen).
I agree that was a brillant PR move - but it could be too that such a move is congruent w/their world view and not guided by PR Either way I agree with everything you wrote.
I thought it was funny how German they were. Using flashlights in some rooms so they didn't spend a nickel on electricity for areas they aren't working in regularly. It makes sense but it's kinda funny.
Burkard Bovensiepen the founder of Alpina died in the 18th of October at the age of 87 .. His vision is continued by his sons Andrea and Florian. This project from start to finish is a worthy tribute to the man and his dream.. I am sure he would approve and appreciate the restoration.
Wow, wow, wow! This is just a fantastic and very emotional conclusion to Project Chicago. You were treated as a king at Alpina and I was just delighted to be a part of it. I found myself nodding and interacting while riding along in the car with you and Mr. Alpina :) One of the most enjoyable videos that I have watched in your channel. ¡Muchísimas gracias Sreten!
There's BMW. Then there's Alpina. Now you have a special 1 off BMW Alpina with a M539 Streten badge on the motor. Its the only one in the world. The rarest of the rare. Be proud my dude. You created a legacy not just with that car, but with yourself as well. Absolutely incredible. Legend.
First time viewer. Just amazing. I recently purchased a 2015 750i and it's just wonderful. I perform my own maintenance and learn much from watching vids and asking around from the experts. Thanks for the viewing and I hope I can ask you questions as well.
okay this might be my second only comment ever, i dont care to like, subscribe or comment anything. i just watch. however, as an alpina liebhaber, it is kind of frustrating that there is only few content about alpina. mainly older and in bad quality. thank you very much and especially alpina for making this happen. this work together was absolutely needed. i am very happy for this content and absolutely appreciate everyone involved. bless everyone :)
This channel is phenomenal... i mean, there aren't alot of channels where you watch a video 40-50 min, even 1 hour long without a stop and with a smile on your face... this is just.. i mean.. we need this! Don't ever stop doing what you're doing! I like the idea of visiting a dealer shop or a factory of the car that you restored (and geting there with that car). Simply amazing content. P.S. Would like to see your builds go to the nurburgring for a test with Misha!
Tacoma, Wa owner of 03 745li weekend driver. Enjoy and appreciate all you do and thankful for your patience and humility for giving your knowledge and especially peaceful soul for world experience/witness. Alpina people are great too. Keep it up and Aloha!
I could have listened to Mr Bovensipen speak all day. Lukas gave an outstanding tour. Respect to the guys at Alpina for stepping up. Such a great video. Thanks mate
I don't have a BMW and I don't think I can own one however i really admire BMW cars, the engineering, the design, everything. Really love all your videos man. Greetings from the Philippines.
Was so nice getting this early on Patron. I felt special. 🤣 Sign up for his patron guys. It’s really cheap for what you get. I got the 5€ package because I’m not much of a car person. I just love the mechanics and the way he works.
Matthias I have watched this episode from start to finish and can tell you, you are a MASTER !! I have a hard time waiting for your next projects and log on to TH-cam and first thing is looking for new stuff from you! I lived in Hanau for several years and when I am back in Deutschland I would be so honored to come visit you in person, if that is even possible.
What a fitting finale for some awesome (and rare) Alpina content. Seriously, this is some top quality Alpina content. We don't get to see that much on TH-cam. Really well done!
I always appreciate his shop tours. The paint correction shop, the leather refurbishing shop. It's a nice behind the scenes look at all these niche industries with craftsmen that bring tired things to life. Even the one guy who converted the E46 seats to a model that was never actually produced, the sport comfort seats. Really cool and nice result.
Ok this is just insanely cool, taking it back to its home and even having it driven by the CEO. And than he starts interviewing you, adding some unique extra insights about your experience. Amazing video!
Your E65 B7 is probably the best-looking one still in existence, and probably runs much better than any other, especially considering how difficult this car is to maintain. A Masterpiece!
it's so so amazing to see the guy with 4k subs when I got here, here, right now, having chats with Alpina CEO and having a time of his life. Very happy for you
I'm amazed of this video! You can see the satisfaction on Sreten's face as he is going thru the different places on the Alpina shop. Proud paetron sponsor of this channel.
Sreten, I have been following since before you bought The B7 and I watched EVERY single video you made on it. I worked at a European Auto Repair shop for 12+ years and the N62 & N62Tu were my favorite engines to work on. I have pulled cylinder heads, pulled entire engines out, done bottom and top end work on 545-550-645-650-745-750 cars. I ALWAYS wanted to work on an Alpina B7! But alas I only ever saw 2 maybe 3 of them here in Fort Worth Tx, and they never came to the shop where I was working. Everything you did to this car, was so perfect I loved getting to watch every nut and bolt go back and be torqued to PERFECTION. So glad you have her sold and MADE MONEY! Your work is absolutely fantastic, I cannot wait to see what comes next! Bravo my Bmw Brother! On to the next one!
Everything has already been said about this project, about this car, about this fantastic work and the overwhelming result. Now the title of nobility through a kind of acceptance trip from Mr. Bovensiepen jun. himself! And then a tour of the hallowed halls, the birthplace of white-blue-green glory...I'm both envious and delighted to see this! Unfortunately I can not say more than Thank you Sreten!
ALPINA is THE Class Act! Went there in 1989, spent a small fortune on motors. Also bought a 40 foot container of new take off parts from their dismantling. Our garage made great $ from installing them in Montreal. That German trip was a Blast on the Autobahn! Bavaria has some of the Finest food in Europe. The Beer was Incredible, better than some Champagne.
I have to admit, I hated this car when you first got it. However, your perseverance to get it running, even after the first engine rebuild failed, along with everything else you did to it has made me really like the car. This was a great tour and video as well. Well done!
What a sight to behold, Sreten. Thank you for taking us on a beautiful tour of the Alpina HQ, it was a blast. Seeing Project Chicago finally finished and a full accounting was eye-opening. Thank you for always giving us your best, Sreten, it's greatly appreciated. Also, it was amazing seeing you finally get the recognition you deserve, Alpina went out of their way to welcome you into their dojo. You represented all of us very well and made us proud. Thank you for everything you do to bring us all of this content, I'm sure it's not an easy task and you do it extremely well, my friend. As always, it's a pleasure to be able to support all your endeavors on Patreon, I hope my American shillings are helping you out in a small way. I know that every shilling is going to good use in the dojo. Take care of yourself, and I can’t wait to what else you have in store for us soon.
Thank you so so so very much for Project Chicago. It gave me the confidence to tear down my E30's M20 engine and rebuild it. It now runs like the day it left Munich!
Congratulations ! An amazing video! With the fact that this gentleman is driving this superb B 7 Alpina, you have practically doubled the value of the car and this vehicle has successfully entered Alpina history ! Interesting how passionate and focused on the quality of their products are these people from Alpina! I think it's the only job where I would like to work and at the job interview I wouldn't be interested in the salary! Just being there and contributing to the production of mechanical masterpieces would be the reward !
WOW after watching this makes me love the brand Alpina even more. I grew up with Alpina being the top tier of bmw, almost unattainable, seeing their factory for the first time here shows me how humble the company seems, it's beautiful and and wait to order my first Alpina.
Sreten I’ve been here since you’ve had like 5000 subs. I’m happy to see your success. Keep the videos coming! The badge with your name on it is truly deserved.
This is by a long-shot the best TH-cam channel available, your determination is exemplary and your attention to detail contagious. Thanks for a truly spectacular channel.
As an F90 M5 owner I am mightily impressed with the care and attention shown by Alpina workers. Your tour guide was fantastic as was interview with ceo. I will definitely consider an Aplina variant for my next car. Thank you for the fantastic B7 journey.
BIG congratulations to everyone who was involved in this phenomenal project with this wonderful B7! Especially to M539 Sreten (and his wife 🙂) for the endurance and perfection in work that was done even under huge problems. Also to the new owner of this car - always have good and safe ride and take good care of this masterpiece of engineering. And many many thanks to ALPINA, especially to Mr Bovensiepen, for the detailed insights in your precious company, your appreciation and for presenting the great young historic cars like E34-B10. Keep up the fantastic work, you all!
Yep, the finest channel on TH-cam, never a so-so episode, always so interesting and informative. This episode was the right ending for such a massive project, very well done Sreten and very well done Alpina. Great stuff.
I have known and been a fan of Alpina for over 25 years. It is very good video. Never seen Bovensipen showing all these things around. I have driven e30 Alpina it was amazing. For me the best are the old turbo charged Alpinas based on M30 engines - those are the fastest 4 door cars of its time in the world. Amazing video - thank You for it.
Fantastic conclusion! This was my favorite project, the one the got me hooked on the channel. What a great end to be complimented by the CEO and see the factory. That car was well worth the $43000+
This takes me back. I spent 20 years in research and development for large vehicle manufacturers. Spent countless hours on dyno developing calibrations, software and hardware, countless hours developing calibrations in development vehicles, and countless hours freezing my ass off in cold soak making sure my diesel software would start the engine at -20! Miss it dearly
I was on board from the start, when the delivery guy pushed the crap out of it... It is amazing how far this project came, thank you Sreten for taking us with you along the journey!!! Was (and is) a great ride :D Edit: Almost forgot Robert's (the mechanic, who helped Sreten measure the components) two hilarious lines: "It's not your fault, but it's your problem" (Ep.8) "Stop wasting time, put that thing together, it's not a space shuttle" (Ep.10)😂😂😂 Give that man a big-big applause, without him this project never came this far ❤
Congratulations, plaudits to Alpina for recognizing your impeccable work on this B7. It's amazing that EVERY car featured on your channel receives the same attention and care as the dear departing B7. As a viewer, under your tutelage, I've learned to appreciate more BMWs than just the E38 ❤ 🖖🙏🙌👍
The final price is an arm and a leg! This was most definitely my favorite series and I am sad to see the alpina go but I am also happy to see more space for new projects! And I am glad to see you at Alpina because you most certainly deserve it and that the future owner will enjoy it and take care of it.
I was surprised to hear the new owner is from Kuwait, they usually have a lot more cash than taste... I'm glad Sreten got some of that oil money though, he deserved it for such an incredible project!
An “Arm & a Leg” … really? This car is an appreciating asset and what new car could you buy for the money that would give you the same driving experience?
@@JACB006 I don’t know if you are actually serious or not but I meant that part as a joke obviously this car is awesome and many would love to own it including myself.
God-Tier 7 series! I’ve held this opinion before you’ve proudly owned this car, Sir. I’ve said an innumerable amount of times; the E65 Alpina B7 is the sexiest 7 series of all time. No contest. No contention. Bar none. The GOAT. I’m so elated for you!!
Random Alpina employee: "nope - sorry". Six months later... CEO of Alpina: "Sure - have a free supercharger rebuild and some parts. Oh, and come to the HQ for a look around." 😊😊
What an amazing finish to an amazing project. So cool that Alpina invited you over and that the ceo drove your car. Perfect video while lounging on the beach in crete 😎
Imagine the kudos of restoring a legendary B7 and having the CEO of the manufacturer driving the car. Of a lot of automotive TH-cam content I have watched this was without doubt one if not the best ever. Incredible work Sreten I personally have had the pleasure of driving a restored B10 E34 3.6 that was on the cover of Performance BMW. If you’ve experienced the pleasure you’ll never forget it.
Wow, Sreten, congratulations on making it to the end! I am extremely happy for you. I can only imagine how proud you must feel sitting next to Alpinas' CEO with the Ex-Check Engine light in such perfect condition. You truly deserved it.
Listening to the CEO of Alpina was amazing, he was so respectful and genuinely interested in what you've done and in his own passion for alpina, the racing history was my favourite part. Now then, so many projects to go through now and look forward to seeing them, since you made Project Chicago immaculate it would be a fair amount of effort to keep it that way such keeping it clean, driven, maintained etc and hope the new owner adores the car as much as yourself.
Well, Sreten you have achieved legendary status. To be feted by Alpina themselves is a real honor. It appeared the CEO of Alpina was amazed that you rebuilt the B7 all by yourself. I think he imagined a staff tackling that kind of job.
Good for Sretetn and very inteligent move for Alpina. The car is in mint condition and the Alpina Tour is priceless, a classic builder that still survives.👍
5 sec into video, I have to stop and say: Thank you Alpina for honoring Sreten with this rare privilege as he truly deserves it!
Sreten at Alpina was like a kid in candy store..
This is a beginning of a beautiful long relation friendship..
Sem dúvidas! Prêmio por tanta paixão e dedicação!
❤ best TH-camr ever 🎉
omg *_SAME_*
( then seeing all those Alpinas 2 seconds later I had to stop again... for a different reason )
its lit no cap
What an absolute gentleman the CEO is. He is such an accomplished driver, businessman and living repository of knowledge and personal experience, yet he respected and honored your work, passion and commitment to the history of Alpina. This vid was outstanding, thanks Sreten.
@Landon-si5xcAlright Schizo stop replying to people on this video because nobody cares.
😁🤫gave me a harfa 🤓😎been watching since 38,000 subs thankyou man 👍🤘keep them coming 🦾
M539 Restorations, the only channel where it's worth paying for Patreon. Genuinely, Sreten, thank you for the best content, and never stop restoring BMWs.
So true 😎
Likewise, the only channel I pay to support and view videos early.
you say Jarax like turkis yarak haha
At 0:10s i was like: Rob Dahm??? The hell? 😂😂😂
Yes, Sreten is one of the few TH-cam channels I support on Patreon. It's worth every American shilling to support such an amazing channel.🥰🥰
34:22 CEO of Alpina acknowledging the amount of time and work you put into restoring the car. He appreciates what you did. This is a culminating activity of your life 🙏🏽
I was a bit surprised he wasn't familiar with the channel. It also crossed my mind how many workers there do NOT subscribe and watch his videos. Maybe I missed it, but I was waiting for someone on the floor to say "Hey ! Aren't you the guy who...??"
@Landon-si5xc stop spamming you duck. I'm a muslim too but making people annoyed is surely ain't a way to heaven
@Landon-si5xc nee Michael Stürzenberger
@@whitehornet90 He's fake. They spam both Islam and Christianity stuff to piss people of and draw people away from the faith. Reverse trolling, basically. What better way to make people dislike the people you hate, right?
@@squidikka you're right. Everyone needs to report this guy. We're here trying to enjoy good things from our beloved content creator not arguing on everybody's faith.
I think it’s fair to say that Sreten has single-handedly led to more people being interested and attracted in the Alpina brand!
They have a future customer in me, that's for sure. And it's because of this series and specially this video. I didn't like Alpina very much because their cars are unreliable as is evident from this series and also some other TH-camrs I've seen. But I see now how much work and stress testing they do for the newer cars and I'm really interested in the B5 GT
Absolutely - because that's me in a nutshell. Before I thought their name was just status and exhaust.
I'm very happy to learn that I'm wrong.
Alpina clearly thinks so.
i've been wanting to get myself a BMW to work on just because of this channel.
If you know bmw, you know alpina
The CEO of Alpina is a legend! His passion is infectious and I love how his face lights up when he speaks about racing. These guys should run the car companies we love!
toyota ceo also a very passionate man
I always forget how soft-spoken most Germans are in a professional setting - no body is being loud or annoying - such a respectful culture.
If you want the opposite, stop by France 😂
Completely agree and greatly respected
Yes, it's so refreshing compared to Americans.
@@JmanRx81America is huge compared to Germany. And consists of a far bigger variety of cultures. So you can’t say that everyone is loud and obnoxious.
He is probably just a Inbred...@@AnontheGOAT
Crazy how alpina went from not wanting to help you at all to now being a big supporter and acknowledging your work.
Because they've realised it's the future of their business.
I don’t think the people working there have the time
@@bertjilk3456 Electric cars will ruin alpina if they don't adapt.
@@Dan-nh8nu bmw can go all electric (excluding m hopfully) and alpina can fill the petrol niche, if the goverment allows...
Sreten at first talked to some stuck up customer support guy, not to someone who has anything to say in that company. They also did nothing in particular wrong, as I can recall. They told him that the engine shouldn't be repaired like that, which turned out to be true, since the engine literally blew up after 100km. They also would have sold him a replacement part, just like they would have to any other customer. They just didn't want to give him parts for free, which is totally understandable.
Only Streten could go to the Alpina factory then identify an issue, diagnose it and offer a master mechanic the solution within 10 seconds of starting up a car. A god amongst men.
💪💪💪💪
Epic :)
Lollll anybody with an ear for internal combustion engines can pinpoint that issue... surprised they let the cars sit for so long. Another had a dead battery lollll
@@klowenstein483 It's just a light hearted pat on the back for the creator bud.
It's Sreten. The name. Sreten.
I met many times personally Mr Bovensiepen, and he is like he is in the video. A very simple and elegant person, with big passion and knowledge. A big pleasure to hear from him the story of the success of Alpina. He is not only a great car driver, but also a very skilled wine connoisseur. Well done. Amazing video! Bravo
Having honor of CEO driving your restored B7 is next level :)
And what a very nice man that is !
1:13:16, to have one of your cars driven by the CEO of Alpina, then having it there like that on that picture is absolutely priceless. That photo for me is the best thing in this whole episode. Without saying a word it's telling you so much history. the new owner is a very, very lucky person to have this piece of magnificent history.
If I am not mistaken, this was the first time you said "my wife" instead of "my girlfriend", on camera at least...
Congratulations Sreten, many happy returns. Thank you very much for all the content you make.
I'm glad that I wasn't the only one to notice this! Congratulations, Sreten!
I'm likewise glad that someone else noticed this too. It warmed my heart when I heard that.
Yes good Piont! Congratulations to you both - the book test was a classic - I recall my wife Brest feeding in the back of my M5 doing 200kms on a French motorway for hours 👏👏👌
Maaai waaiiiffeeee :D
Amazing! Thank you for the opportunity to watch this video! Greetings from Romania! ❤
It’s incredible to remember that at the start of this series alpina wanted absolutely nothing to do with this car or rebuilding it. Now the CEOs flooring it on the Autobahn. Sretens passion is undeniable, translates beyond any language and is so incredible to watch grow in real time. Cheers to you man, you are truly living the dream!
I think it was some lower level customer service people that were very rude and anti and negative but then the higher ups heard about it and fixed it
@@neuroleptika Yeap I think I heard the same thing from somewhere. On a wider range, that stuff is happening everywhere all the time. One employee can change your outlook on a business and even screw up long lasting partnerships.
I remember when that changed. One of the episodes, he had received some rare and expensive plastic parts directly from Alpina to help him finish it out properly. They had to take him seriously eventually.
This is FANTASTIC! The folks at Alpina are a lot like Sreten! Now I understand why Mr. Andreas Bovensipen, the CEO of Alpina, reached out! You are just as dedicated to the crafting and recrafting of BMW machines as they are!
Oh THIS IS SO WONDERFUL! Andreas is a wonderful guy! He's driving it too, no playing around! LOVE IT!
That FULL TRUST he placed in your work, is the greatest compliment EVER!
👏🏽
@Landon-si5xc I've been on what you would call "the other side" already. My conversation with who you call Allah began and has been two-way and continuous since the age of 2 years old. What you know as "Hell" is actually a place where your comprehension of this plane of existence does not align / is not capable of dealing with the reality of the next one.
There is NO physical action you can take today to change your outcome in the next life. You can only seek to find understanding about life and nature, and do that as well as you can!
All Religions have only a little bit of the answer right, none are the true answer completely.
@@Mister006who are you talking to, who is this Allah guy ?
@@andipajeroking they deleted their insane comment. Actually, the account of the nitwit was terminated
Loving the CEO taking the car out for a spin. What a moment
He is AND an engineer AND a racing driver, so his opinion is worth a lot. He definitely sees and admires the thoroughness of Sretens work. A compliment for both of them.
Marketing video. Please remember.
Wow I have to say that was one hell of a podcast. The 1:13 hrs just flew by. The access to Alpina was mind blowing. A huge THANKS to the staff and CEO Mr Andreas Bovensipen. Best one yet Streten M539 👊
50:15 I love that Sreten is trying to tell the guys what is wrong and and how to fix it instead of focusing solely on the car, just show's his level of detail!
A true Master of his craft.
I was waiting the whole video for him to bring up the fact that the H1 engine in this car is disposable and they should/should've done a better job at it. But I guess they know that already and that's why they stress test the cars so much now
what causes that to happen?
lack clearance and inconsistent gap in each cylinder wall from the original H1 Engine, sreten did explain it in one of project chicago episode when he had disastrous test drive which bring the rebuild engine blown up
@@GentatneG Same thing that plagues the e60 m5, the tolerances cause premature rod bearing wear and detonate those engines around 100k miles.
Living in Australia with a 110kmh top speed limit, the autobahn talk makes my teeth hurt! Ah man, to be able to drive at 200 to cut journey times would be awesome!
Great video as always!
Wow, way to go for Alpina for stepping in and being so open to collaborate with the channel! Most manufacturers would never do this.
Video has over 156000 views in 2 days(!) - of course they will "step in". I believe most manufacturers WOULD do it, Alpina is just lucky Sreten is into BMWs :)
@@inoslavbiskupic6118 No thanks, said no one ever to free PR
@@DuBstep115 Exactly this. Letting someone like Sreten walk and film around Alpina HQ is the best free advertisement they could ever get.
First thing that pops up when Sreten opens his phone at 34:23: wheels to buy. Like a true petrolhead, forever and ever. Excellent video. Cheers!
I'm amazed by the hospitality od Alpina. We can only imagine how this project could change if they didn't reject Sreten when he reached out to them for the first time. Great project, great work man!
But then we would have never known that the block is the same and can be had for €600 instead of €5000 😊
@@HNedelI think he just spoke with the wrong person that first time or maybe they weren't sure who this TH-camr was and were reluctant to help him officially. Anyway the change of attitude is very wholesome. It makes the company look much more approachable and Sreten truly deserves this recognition.
Edit: Corrected a grammar mistake!
@@bellezayverdad yes, hopefully now it will be even easier for the channel to get other established brands involved in the projects.
Someone just realized the power of social media. And imagine that this car will be worth more in the future because it was built on youtube.
@@bellezayverdad Well they basically acted as they should have not knowing who he was. Noone's ever handing out freebies. In a way Sreten's got some pull now and it's good for the company. Average joe with a broken alpina engine would receive the same answer.
What a finale !
To have the CEO drive the car and compliment you on such tremendous work is an immense achievement.
Congratulations.
I can already see that the CEO wants to hire Sreten and instantly give him a raise. The way he looks at Sreten says it all.
Didnt notice that really. Though the CEO was doing a good marketing job, well balanced
While I would be totally on board with that, I think it would be just as cool if Alpina simply hired M539 as an independent consultant to improve their products and services.
I thought exactly the same. If only there were enough mechanics that Sreten could hire like him that they could have a restoration relationship there.
Na that’s just the way he is, was just as enthusiastic on smoking tyre podcast.
I thought the same. Although they most likely have better mechanical skills using the specialised tools, he has so much knowledge from ALL the models he restored on his own, without delegating the work to someone else from the company, that he knows...
The part where he knew from which engine the parts on the table are without a hesitation, while the workers weren´t sure, showed how much he knows about ALL BMW cars.
He would be good consultant, if not employee. Especially after seeing a lot of reoccuring issues among all the cars, that could be solved by simple changes suggested by him.
I seriously hope he will remain TH-camr as he is, with some collaboration with them, so they all gain from the cooperation while doing what they know the best.
I wasn’t a Alpina fan but after this video I’m convinced how much love and effort they put into their cars. I changed my opinion ❤
Man this video will forever be a piece of history. What a beautiful restoration and what a channel.
This is one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. Not just car related. One of the best videos ever.
This is the finale I've been waiting for! Paying for patreon has been the best decision ever.
Couldn’t agree more!!
I concur.
I agree.
Totally agree
@@bountyhuntermk2520 And Mister Bountyhunter, proud of it or only thankfull?
I love your channel. I am 69 years old and have always been a domestic car man , the USA. Corvettes in particular and older types. You have amazed me with your attention to detail on the engine rebuilds and everything else you tackle. You are fearless in getting to the nuts and bolts of the problem. Now, I am fascinated with BMW's. When you took apart the Maserati you complained about how it was designed the whole time. Then after watching many of your videos, I realized that the Beamer was built to be repaired as easily as possible just like you had been commenting throughout your work, and the Italian piece of junk was never meant to be repaired. Unfortunately, in the U.S. we do not have the Autobahn or other areas where we can test our work. Why build a machine that can do 200km/h when you cant drive it. Well, I build for the pleasure and an occasional high-speed law breaking drive around the interstate. I really admire your talent. You found a job that you love and that makes you a lucky man. Like I commented above I am now a BMW junkie.
What's mindblowing within the first 20 minutes is how much of a 'mom & pop' operation Alpina seems still, despite a global reputation.. they look like a small volume supercar manufacturer yet you can buy a used Alpina pretty affordably. I have a tremendous amount more respect for them even just after watching this video. You can really tell the pride they put into their cars. Absolutely fascinating video. Seeing how they want to focus on customers with older cars, and restoration of classic models really helps explain why they decided to get so involved in this video! Great move by Alpina PR! :)
Alpina is one of the success stories of small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany. Half our country is built on those highly specialized KmU (kleine und mittlere Unternehmen).
well, they only make 1700 cars yearly. That's why they can be mom & pop operation
I agree that was a brillant PR move - but it could be too that such a move is congruent w/their world view and not guided by PR
Either way I agree with everything you wrote.
@alexunltd haha no.. I just set it as a profile picture way back when Google+ was a thing and never bothered to change it since :-)
I thought it was funny how German they were. Using flashlights in some rooms so they didn't spend a nickel on electricity for areas they aren't working in regularly. It makes sense but it's kinda funny.
Burkard Bovensiepen the founder of Alpina died in the 18th of October at the age of 87 ..
His vision is continued by his sons Andrea and Florian.
This project from start to finish is a worthy tribute to the man and his dream..
I am sure he would approve and appreciate the restoration.
24:16 "If nobody tells us what we are doing wrong, we can't get better."
This.
Just this.
Now I want an Alpina.
EVERY company should abide by this...
Wow, wow, wow! This is just a fantastic and very emotional conclusion to Project Chicago. You were treated as a king at Alpina and I was just delighted to be a part of it. I found myself nodding and interacting while riding along in the car with you and Mr. Alpina :) One of the most enjoyable videos that I have watched in your channel. ¡Muchísimas gracias Sreten!
Incredible hospitality from Alpina, great craftsmanship.
Man, that plaque is gonna become LEGENDARY!!!
There's BMW. Then there's Alpina. Now you have a special 1 off BMW Alpina with a M539 Streten badge on the motor. Its the only one in the world. The rarest of the rare. Be proud my dude. You created a legacy not just with that car, but with yourself as well. Absolutely incredible. Legend.
No finer compliment than from the CEO. A superb achievement Sreten. You deserve all your hard earned success. Bravo.
Mr. Bovensiepen seems to be very impressed by the suspension 😅
What a honor riding with the man in your B7.
Damn chief you got the ceo to give you the seal of approval
That special plaque is just the best!
To be given such respect from the CEO, Streten, you have made it! Congratulations
It's good to see Streten getting the recognition he desires! Especially from the actual manufactures.
It's Sreten. The name. Sreten.
@@justjoe7313 it’s spell check. It’s called spell check, ass
Deserves...
Thanks for the kind invitation and your concern for our souls...it is well.@Landon-si5xc
First time viewer. Just amazing. I recently purchased a 2015 750i and it's just wonderful. I perform my own maintenance and learn much from watching vids and asking around from the experts. Thanks for the viewing and I hope I can ask you questions as well.
You could just see the joy in his eyes when he presented the E30 to you! This is a documentary episode! Loved every second of it!
okay this might be my second only comment ever, i dont care to like, subscribe or comment anything. i just watch. however, as an alpina liebhaber, it is kind of frustrating that there is only few content about alpina. mainly older and in bad quality. thank you very much and especially alpina for making this happen. this work together was absolutely needed. i am very happy for this content and absolutely appreciate everyone involved. bless everyone :)
This channel is phenomenal... i mean, there aren't alot of channels where you watch a video 40-50 min, even 1 hour long without a stop and with a smile on your face... this is just.. i mean.. we need this! Don't ever stop doing what you're doing! I like the idea of visiting a dealer shop or a factory of the car that you restored (and geting there with that car). Simply amazing content. P.S. Would like to see your builds go to the nurburgring for a test with Misha!
Tacoma, Wa owner of 03 745li weekend driver. Enjoy and appreciate all you do and thankful for your patience and humility for giving your knowledge and especially peaceful soul for world experience/witness. Alpina people are great too. Keep it up and Aloha!
I could have listened to Mr Bovensipen speak all day. Lukas gave an outstanding tour. Respect to the guys at Alpina for stepping up. Such a great video. Thanks mate
I don't have a BMW and I don't think I can own one however i really admire BMW cars, the engineering, the design, everything. Really love all your videos man. Greetings from the Philippines.
Love the plaque idea. All your builds should have this plaque. Even the past projects. Awesome 👏🏾 work
Having honor of CEO driving your restored B7 is next level
Was so nice getting this early on Patron. I felt special. 🤣
Sign up for his patron guys. It’s really cheap for what you get. I got the 5€ package because I’m not much of a car person. I just love the mechanics and the way he works.
Matthias I have watched this episode from start to finish and can tell you, you are a MASTER !! I have a hard time waiting for your next projects and log on to TH-cam and first thing is looking for new stuff from you! I lived in Hanau for several years and when I am back in Deutschland I would be so honored to come visit you in person, if that is even possible.
What a fitting finale for some awesome (and rare) Alpina content. Seriously, this is some top quality Alpina content. We don't get to see that much on TH-cam. Really well done!
Hello Hunter.
I always appreciate his shop tours. The paint correction shop, the leather refurbishing shop. It's a nice behind the scenes look at all these niche industries with craftsmen that bring tired things to life. Even the one guy who converted the E46 seats to a model that was never actually produced, the sport comfort seats. Really cool and nice result.
@@flavioc5389 whatsup Flavio🫶🏻
Ok this is just insanely cool, taking it back to its home and even having it driven by the CEO. And than he starts interviewing you, adding some unique extra insights about your experience. Amazing video!
Your E65 B7 is probably the best-looking one still in existence, and probably runs much better than any other, especially considering how difficult this car is to maintain. A Masterpiece!
I said it once and I’ll say it again, SRETEN NEVER MISSES!! Another classic video, even got to enjoy some ribs while I watched too
This shows how far the channel has come. I am so happy for you Sreten!
it's so so amazing to see the guy with 4k subs when I got here, here, right now, having chats with Alpina CEO and having a time of his life. Very happy for you
You learn, we are entertained, you earn money and finally a subscriber will be able to enjoy it. Worth it, worth it, worth it, worth it!!!!
I'm amazed of this video! You can see the satisfaction on Sreten's face as he is going thru the different places on the Alpina shop. Proud paetron sponsor of this channel.
Sreten, I have been following since before you bought The B7 and I watched EVERY single video you made on it. I worked at a European Auto Repair shop for 12+ years and the N62 & N62Tu were my favorite engines to work on. I have pulled cylinder heads, pulled entire engines out, done bottom and top end work on 545-550-645-650-745-750 cars. I ALWAYS wanted to work on an Alpina B7! But alas I only ever saw 2 maybe 3 of them here in Fort Worth Tx, and they never came to the shop where I was working. Everything you did to this car, was so perfect I loved getting to watch every nut and bolt go back and be torqued to PERFECTION. So glad you have her sold and MADE MONEY! Your work is absolutely fantastic, I cannot wait to see what comes next! Bravo my Bmw Brother! On to the next one!
Everything has already been said about this project, about this car, about this fantastic work and the overwhelming result. Now the title of nobility through a kind of acceptance trip from Mr. Bovensiepen jun. himself! And then a tour of the hallowed halls, the birthplace of white-blue-green glory...I'm both envious and delighted to see this! Unfortunately I can not say more than Thank you Sreten!
ALPINA is THE Class Act! Went there in 1989, spent a small fortune on motors. Also bought a 40 foot container of new take off parts from their dismantling. Our garage made great $ from installing them in Montreal. That German trip was a Blast on the Autobahn! Bavaria has some of the Finest food in Europe. The Beer was Incredible, better than some Champagne.
Guys, you have got to remember that Content will never be anywhere near as good as this on any TV channel ever.
I have to admit, I hated this car when you first got it. However, your perseverance to get it running, even after the first engine rebuild failed, along with everything else you did to it has made me really like the car. This was a great tour and video as well. Well done!
What a sight to behold, Sreten. Thank you for taking us on a beautiful tour of the Alpina HQ, it was a blast. Seeing Project Chicago finally finished and a full accounting was eye-opening. Thank you for always giving us your best, Sreten, it's greatly appreciated. Also, it was amazing seeing you finally get the recognition you deserve, Alpina went out of their way to welcome you into their dojo. You represented all of us very well and made us proud. Thank you for everything you do to bring us all of this content, I'm sure it's not an easy task and you do it extremely well, my friend. As always, it's a pleasure to be able to support all your endeavors on Patreon, I hope my American shillings are helping you out in a small way. I know that every shilling is going to good use in the dojo. Take care of yourself, and I can’t wait to what else you have in store for us soon.
Thank you so so so very much for Project Chicago. It gave me the confidence to tear down my E30's M20 engine and rebuild it. It now runs like the day it left Munich!
Congratulations ! An amazing video! With the fact that this gentleman is driving this superb B 7 Alpina, you have practically doubled the value of the car and this vehicle has successfully entered Alpina history ! Interesting how passionate and focused on the quality of their products are these people from Alpina! I think it's the only job where I would like to work and at the job interview I wouldn't be interested in the salary! Just being there and contributing to the production of mechanical masterpieces would be the reward !
WOW after watching this makes me love the brand Alpina even more. I grew up with Alpina being the top tier of bmw, almost unattainable, seeing their factory for the first time here shows me how humble the company seems, it's beautiful and and wait to order my first Alpina.
Sreten I’ve been here since you’ve had like 5000 subs. I’m happy to see your success. Keep the videos coming! The badge with your name on it is truly deserved.
I've been here longer 🤣
A very nice video recognising Sreten s hard work.
Bundles of respect to Alpinas CEO 👏👏
Thank you for such a wonderful finale to a thoroughly interesting build!
I wish I could afford to give you a thank you with more zeros in it
The Chicago Alpina Delivered!!! Congratulations on the tour!!!! Congratulations on the build!!!!!!
This is by a long-shot the best TH-cam channel available, your determination is exemplary and your attention to detail contagious. Thanks for a truly spectacular channel.
As an F90 M5 owner I am mightily impressed with the care and attention shown by Alpina workers. Your tour guide was fantastic as was interview with ceo. I will definitely consider an Aplina variant for my next car. Thank you for the fantastic B7 journey.
what an honor to the work you do and what a chilled ceo.
As an English-only speaking American, I appreciate the effort everyone puts forth to communicate in a non-native language.
BIG congratulations to everyone who was involved in this phenomenal project with this wonderful B7! Especially to M539 Sreten (and his wife 🙂) for the endurance and perfection in work that was done even under huge problems. Also to the new owner of this car - always have good and safe ride and take good care of this masterpiece of engineering. And many many thanks to ALPINA, especially to Mr Bovensiepen, for the detailed insights in your precious company, your appreciation and for presenting the great young historic cars like E34-B10. Keep up the fantastic work, you all!
Yep, the finest channel on TH-cam, never a so-so episode, always so interesting and informative. This episode was the right ending for such a massive project, very well done Sreten and very well done Alpina. Great stuff.
I have known and been a fan of Alpina for over 25 years. It is very good video. Never seen Bovensipen showing all these things around. I have driven e30 Alpina it was amazing. For me the best are the old turbo charged Alpinas based on M30 engines - those are the fastest 4 door cars of its time in the world. Amazing video - thank You for it.
Fantastic conclusion! This was my favorite project, the one the got me hooked on the channel. What a great end to be complimented by the CEO and see the factory. That car was well worth the $43000+
This takes me back. I spent 20 years in research and development for large vehicle manufacturers. Spent countless hours on dyno developing calibrations, software and hardware, countless hours developing calibrations in development vehicles, and countless hours freezing my ass off in cold soak making sure my diesel software would start the engine at -20! Miss it dearly
I was on board from the start, when the delivery guy pushed the crap out of it... It is amazing how far this project came, thank you Sreten for taking us with you along the journey!!! Was (and is) a great ride :D
Edit:
Almost forgot Robert's (the mechanic, who helped Sreten measure the components) two hilarious lines:
"It's not your fault, but it's your problem" (Ep.8)
"Stop wasting time, put that thing together, it's not a space shuttle" (Ep.10)😂😂😂
Give that man a big-big applause, without him this project never came this far ❤
Congratulations, plaudits to Alpina for recognizing your impeccable work on this B7. It's amazing that EVERY car featured on your channel receives the same attention and care as the dear departing B7. As a viewer, under your tutelage, I've learned to appreciate more BMWs than just the E38 ❤
🖖🙏🙌👍
E38 is the absolute queen of this channel.
The final price is an arm and a leg! This was most definitely my favorite series and I am sad to see the alpina go but I am also happy to see more space for new projects! And I am glad to see you at Alpina because you most certainly deserve it and that the future owner will enjoy it and take care of it.
Arm, leg and a kidney....
I was surprised to hear the new owner is from Kuwait, they usually have a lot more cash than taste... I'm glad Sreten got some of that oil money though, he deserved it for such an incredible project!
@@lptomtom Absolutely
An “Arm & a Leg” … really? This car is an appreciating asset and what new car could you buy for the money that would give you the same driving experience?
@@JACB006 I don’t know if you are actually serious or not but I meant that part as a joke obviously this car is awesome and many would love to own it including myself.
Excellent display of how a company can create goodwill towards someone who critiqued them.
Jarax is brutal. Love it. He has no other way besides curt honesty.
God-Tier 7 series!
I’ve held this opinion before you’ve proudly owned this car, Sir. I’ve said an innumerable amount of times; the E65 Alpina B7 is the sexiest 7 series of all time. No contest. No contention. Bar none. The GOAT.
I’m so elated for you!!
Random Alpina employee: "nope - sorry".
Six months later...
CEO of Alpina: "Sure - have a free supercharger rebuild and some parts. Oh, and come to the HQ for a look around."
😊😊
Exactly how it happens to average Joes with no pull. After a while they just realized how good the exposure would be, that's all.
@@agen1manwell that’s because Sreten put in the work to move up from Average Joe. That works pays off. Literally lol.
When Alpina give you a time and CEO drives your Alpina..you know it matters. Well done Sreten,živio!
What an amazing finish to an amazing project. So cool that Alpina invited you over and that the ceo drove your car.
Perfect video while lounging on the beach in crete 😎
Imagine the kudos of restoring a legendary B7 and having the CEO of the manufacturer driving the car. Of a lot of automotive TH-cam content I have watched this was without doubt one if not the best ever. Incredible work Sreten I personally have had the pleasure of driving a restored B10 E34 3.6 that was on the cover of Performance BMW. If you’ve experienced the pleasure you’ll never forget it.
Wow, Sreten, congratulations on making it to the end! I am extremely happy for you. I can only imagine how proud you must feel sitting next to Alpinas' CEO with the Ex-Check Engine light in such perfect condition. You truly deserved it.
Thank you Sreten for the Alpina tour and for sharing your passion!
Listening to the CEO of Alpina was amazing, he was so respectful and genuinely interested in what you've done and in his own passion for alpina, the racing history was my favourite part. Now then, so many projects to go through now and look forward to seeing them, since you made Project Chicago immaculate it would be a fair amount of effort to keep it that way such keeping it clean, driven, maintained etc and hope the new owner adores the car as much as yourself.
@Landon-si5xcMichael Stürzenberger
What an achievement. Well done Sreten. That was also an awesome insight into Alpina's operations and the chat with Herr Bovensiepen was gold.
Well, Sreten you have achieved legendary status. To be feted by Alpina themselves is a real honor. It appeared the CEO of Alpina was amazed that you rebuilt the B7 all by yourself. I think he imagined a staff tackling that kind of job.
Good for Sretetn and very inteligent move for Alpina. The car is in mint condition and the Alpina Tour is priceless, a classic builder that still survives.👍