1998 BMW ALPINA B12 5.7 Saloon E-KAT 750iL (E38)
VIN#: DH40787
ENGINE: 5.7 L D3 V12 (BMW M73TUB54), 382 HP At 5,000 RPM, 413 LB-FT at 3,900 RPM
TRANSMISSION: ZF Automatic Switch-Tronic 5-speed
CURB WEIGHT: 4,489 LBS.
TOP SPEED: 174 MPH
PRICE WHEN NEW: 223, 300 Mark ($67,666)
NUMBER BUILT: 59
COLOR: ALPINA Blue Metallic
OWNER: Marc Sleenhof
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.
A special thank you goes to our sponsor, Continental, for choosing to feature its tires on Marc’s car for the exhibit.
Check out the ALPINA merchandise in our online giftshop.
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Museum hours are Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm | Saturday 10am – 4pm
(Last admission is an hour before closing each day)
Ticket prices are Adults 18+: $12, Youth 6-17: $6, Children 5 & under: Free
The Ultimate Driving Museum is located at 190 Manatee Court, Greer, SC 29651
www.theultimatedrivingmuseum.org | 864.329.1919
The ALPINA: 60 Years of Excellence exhibit is proudly sponsored by the following:
