PRICE WHEN NEW: 223.300 MARK
NUMBER BUILT: 59
COLOR: ALPINA BLUE METALLIC
OWNER: MARC SLEEBHOF
OWNED SINCE: 2023
LOCATION: COLLEGE GROVE, TENNESSEE
Marc Sleenhof, a connoisseur of refined automotive excellence, held a particular fondness for the creations emerging from ALPINA workshops. His admiration wasn't for fleeting trends, but for a specific era of understated power. Having owned several E38 7 Series BMWs, he appreciated their sophisticated performance, yet a desire for something truly exclusive lingered – the rare 1998 BMW ALPINA B12 5.7 Saloon E-KAT (E38). He'd tracked its rising market value, and when one appeared on Bring a Trailer in 2023, he watched with anticipation. To his delight, the final bid secured him this automotive gem. This wasn't just any E38; of the mere 202 B12 5.7 Saloons produced between 1995 and 1998, only 59 were produced in the long wheelbase version of the 7 Series, making his newly acquired Japanese-market model exceptionally rare. By the time it reached his hands in Ontario, Canada, it had covered a remarkably low 58,000 miles. In the process of his journey back to his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, the E38 B12 5.7 Saloon E-KAT transformed once again into the even rarer designation of being the only one in the United States.
The journey to claim his prize involved a flight to Ontario, where he met the seller near the ALPINA. The drive back home was a multi-state adventure, including a significant stop in Detroit, Michigan, to navigate the import paperwork. With those formalities completed, the journey south resumed. Sleenhof recognized the unique nature of his acquisition, likely the only long-wheelbase E38 ALPINA of its kind in the United States. This wasn't just a vehicle to drive; it was a piece of automotive history demanding careful preservation, especially with his invitation to showcase it in The Ultimate Driving Museum’s newest exhibit, ALPINA: 60 Years of Excellence.