Discussion
Finally, these were in stock at a time that fits with a trip to the US, so discs ordered and will be back here ready to fit in October. No rush! There are a few little jobs to do on the Alpina at the moment but time has been short and none of it is urgent. The important stuff like green powder coated front subframe and antiroll bar is done, of course. And will all be fitted with the brake conversion.
Finally booked in at ETA for a number of things. Unfortunately not until Dec 7th. But they will do the Brembo/ECS 2 piece brakes, braided lines, Alpina green powder coated subframe, new engine mounts, green powder coated Eiback AR bar, Purple tag rack (still black and purple, the shame!), track rod ends, and steering jointy thingy. And getting the CCV replaced and fuel purge valve.
This means I will win my boot space back!
I have also bought a second Alpina...
This means I will win my boot space back!
I have also bought a second Alpina...
I encourage you not to book your car in for work too far in advance... in the waiting period, I'm accumulating an ever larger collection of parts to be fitted and replaced!
While most give a nice dopamine kick, replacement Eibach springs, even the front strut top reinforcement plates, I have to say that today's purchase of anti vibration shims for brembo calipers at £65, has not released any dopamine at all. Maybe I'll release less cortisol when the brakes don't squeal instead!
Roll on December and all this stuff finding its way onto the car.
While most give a nice dopamine kick, replacement Eibach springs, even the front strut top reinforcement plates, I have to say that today's purchase of anti vibration shims for brembo calipers at £65, has not released any dopamine at all. Maybe I'll release less cortisol when the brakes don't squeal instead!
Roll on December and all this stuff finding its way onto the car.
I think the Alpina typewriter needs to go back to Buchloe for some work. Although it has no rust, which is a pleasant surprise. I think the rust only came in when Alpina started being associated with BMW.
Anyway, while I'm in the 40 days in the desert without big fat Brembo brakes, I've at least prepped them with a few layers of G techniq C5. This is specifically for wheels, so I've probably killed a detailing unicorn somewhere, but I think the nano tech has decided to stick to the calipers much as if they were wheels. Here they are. I thought better of applying it to the discs.
And it's still making progress on its way to the moon. About 80k miles to go, I believe.
Anyway, while I'm in the 40 days in the desert without big fat Brembo brakes, I've at least prepped them with a few layers of G techniq C5. This is specifically for wheels, so I've probably killed a detailing unicorn somewhere, but I think the nano tech has decided to stick to the calipers much as if they were wheels. Here they are. I thought better of applying it to the discs.
And it's still making progress on its way to the moon. About 80k miles to go, I believe.
Thanks for the comments.
A couple of updates on the E46.
The brakes are unsurprisingly excellent. They should be, and it's worth noting that for Alpina E46s, the upgrade is more involved than for standard BMW E46s...
It's not for the faint hearted. On a standard BMW, you need M3 325 or 345mm discs, calipers, brackets and conversion brake lines, Hel do braided lines that are E46 at one end, Brembo at the other. Oh, and a wear sensor- even those are offered for this conversion. That's everything you'd expect for such an upgrade. But on the Alpina, there's one more element.
I've been running hub centric 12mm spacers for 2 years, no issues with them or their impact on the drive at all. So the new brakes should certainly not have fitment issues behind the Alpina wheels? In fact, in the end, the wheels/ calipers necessitated a 23mm spacer. This is a "B" type spacer, that bolts to the car and then uses the original wheel bolts to hold the wheel. I would never have considered using this width of spacer before.
But the worst I expect is a more frequent replacement of wheel bearings. On a car that does 3-5k miles a year and that has a thorough approach to upkeep. That's not a problem for me. So far there is no discernible effect on the way it drives. It's at ETA next week and I'll have them drive it and consider their expert opinion too. Anyway, the key point is that this upgrade is not a simple bolt on for Alpinas as it is with standard BMW E46s.
And the second update. After having my key in a bag all day, it wouldn't unlock the car. I suppose it was being activated all day by the other contents of my bag. This would be ok if I still had the second key. So after replacing the battery in the fob, which is a pretty quick and simple soldering job following a you tube video, it should have worked. Alas! It needed resynching to the car. In the end I drove the 30 minutes to the excellent bmkeys.com in East London and he cut and programmed a new key and synched my repaired one. He could easily have sold me two new keys, but saved me money, and fixed the repaired key. Very pleased. He charges £70 per key- cut and programmed. Obviously you either need to have the car there or send your GM5 unit by post.
Well, I can use the car again after it's had a week languishing several streets away, and it's nearly time for its Christmas treat visit to ETA.
A couple of updates on the E46.
The brakes are unsurprisingly excellent. They should be, and it's worth noting that for Alpina E46s, the upgrade is more involved than for standard BMW E46s...
It's not for the faint hearted. On a standard BMW, you need M3 325 or 345mm discs, calipers, brackets and conversion brake lines, Hel do braided lines that are E46 at one end, Brembo at the other. Oh, and a wear sensor- even those are offered for this conversion. That's everything you'd expect for such an upgrade. But on the Alpina, there's one more element.
I've been running hub centric 12mm spacers for 2 years, no issues with them or their impact on the drive at all. So the new brakes should certainly not have fitment issues behind the Alpina wheels? In fact, in the end, the wheels/ calipers necessitated a 23mm spacer. This is a "B" type spacer, that bolts to the car and then uses the original wheel bolts to hold the wheel. I would never have considered using this width of spacer before.
But the worst I expect is a more frequent replacement of wheel bearings. On a car that does 3-5k miles a year and that has a thorough approach to upkeep. That's not a problem for me. So far there is no discernible effect on the way it drives. It's at ETA next week and I'll have them drive it and consider their expert opinion too. Anyway, the key point is that this upgrade is not a simple bolt on for Alpinas as it is with standard BMW E46s.
And the second update. After having my key in a bag all day, it wouldn't unlock the car. I suppose it was being activated all day by the other contents of my bag. This would be ok if I still had the second key. So after replacing the battery in the fob, which is a pretty quick and simple soldering job following a you tube video, it should have worked. Alas! It needed resynching to the car. In the end I drove the 30 minutes to the excellent bmkeys.com in East London and he cut and programmed a new key and synched my repaired one. He could easily have sold me two new keys, but saved me money, and fixed the repaired key. Very pleased. He charges £70 per key- cut and programmed. Obviously you either need to have the car there or send your GM5 unit by post.
Well, I can use the car again after it's had a week languishing several streets away, and it's nearly time for its Christmas treat visit to ETA.
The poorly 'pina is at ETA again for the cam cover gasket and all of the diff and rear subframe bushes, a new guibo and centre bearing, and some suspension tweaks to ensure the wider track and a little too low nose stops rubbing on fast corners, speed bumps, freshly laid smooth Tarmac, that sort of thing.
Had a nice chat with ETA Matt about bikes (pedal variety) as he is building up a very quirky cannondale in the workshop and I was leaving for the station on mine. They always offer a lift to the station if they can but he's on his own today and I am enjoying the variety of routes to get to Eynsford station.
I'll update on the driving when I pick it up.
Had a nice chat with ETA Matt about bikes (pedal variety) as he is building up a very quirky cannondale in the workshop and I was leaving for the station on mine. They always offer a lift to the station if they can but he's on his own today and I am enjoying the variety of routes to get to Eynsford station.
I'll update on the driving when I pick it up.
It's back! And driving better than ever. It's possible to enjoy the benefits of the wider track, big brakes, new roll bar and springs and the slightly quicker rack, now that the suspension has been raised a touch and the centre bearing is fixed.
ETA replaced all of the rear subframe and diff bushes as well as the centre bearing guibo. And they replaced the cam cover gasket meaning the car doesn't fill with oil fumes on start up. Sorted.
Geoff picked us up from the station and showed my son what proper driving is- always within the limit, unnoticeable gear changes, looking way ahead on the road, which was nice as he then got to sit in C3BMW's E30 M3 trackcar when we got to the workshop, he's still beaming now I think!
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ETA replaced all of the rear subframe and diff bushes as well as the centre bearing guibo. And they replaced the cam cover gasket meaning the car doesn't fill with oil fumes on start up. Sorted.
Geoff picked us up from the station and showed my son what proper driving is- always within the limit, unnoticeable gear changes, looking way ahead on the road, which was nice as he then got to sit in C3BMW's E30 M3 trackcar when we got to the workshop, he's still beaming now I think!
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As a thank you for the recent attention I've given it, the Alpina has communicated with me in dash lights. A little yellow one that means "a pile of lambda codes" has popped up.
I replaced the pre cat ones with Bosch about 3 years and 9k miles ago. They supposedly have a 160k life, so I'm wondering if something was disturbed while it was being worked on. The correct pre cat lambdas are part number 0258005177, 990mm in length. They're only £120 for a pair but I don't like replacing them without knowing what's happened. So it's back to ETA later this week for diagnostics.
Engine / Motor:
- Fault: Lambda control bank 1 control block
- Code: 0000CA
- Fault: Lambda control bank 2 control block
- Code: 0000CB
- Fault: Lambda probe signal before Kat Bank 2 min value less than threshold
- Code: 00009A
- Fault: Lambda-probe signal from a shore-Kat-min-value smaller than threshold
- Code: 000097
Back at its second home- Wheelpower- as it needed an alignment again following the subtle suspension lift achieved with the BMW front rough road shims and rear spring pads (necessary since the slight lowering as a result of Eibach springs and some arch contact).
We went for a touch extra negative camber at the front, just beyond the factory spec, but nothing silly. That's the only "red" number on the final set up.
Having a poke around underneath, i spotted some weeping from the transmission sump. Will get that checked, and I may as well do a service on it as it's been 4-5 years and a huge 16,000 miles- and I live in fear of the gearbox melting.
I replaced the pre cat ones with Bosch about 3 years and 9k miles ago. They supposedly have a 160k life, so I'm wondering if something was disturbed while it was being worked on. The correct pre cat lambdas are part number 0258005177, 990mm in length. They're only £120 for a pair but I don't like replacing them without knowing what's happened. So it's back to ETA later this week for diagnostics.
Engine / Motor:
- Fault: Lambda control bank 1 control block
- Code: 0000CA
- Fault: Lambda control bank 2 control block
- Code: 0000CB
- Fault: Lambda probe signal before Kat Bank 2 min value less than threshold
- Code: 00009A
- Fault: Lambda-probe signal from a shore-Kat-min-value smaller than threshold
- Code: 000097
Back at its second home- Wheelpower- as it needed an alignment again following the subtle suspension lift achieved with the BMW front rough road shims and rear spring pads (necessary since the slight lowering as a result of Eibach springs and some arch contact).
We went for a touch extra negative camber at the front, just beyond the factory spec, but nothing silly. That's the only "red" number on the final set up.
Having a poke around underneath, i spotted some weeping from the transmission sump. Will get that checked, and I may as well do a service on it as it's been 4-5 years and a huge 16,000 miles- and I live in fear of the gearbox melting.
helix402 said:
If the autobox leak is minor I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s the ZF box I think? 5HP19, I serviced one when I owned a car with one once. Did the entire job by the book, gen BMW parts, new bolts torqued correctly etc, still had the smallest weep 6 months later.
The ZF boxes are quite reliable, even the “dreaded” GM boxes in the diesels are too. I had one which last 220k, only had one oil&filter change.
The lambda codes could be due to an air leak from split/perished vacuum hoses or inlet pipes rather than the sensors themselves.
Hi Helix, thanks as always, it's good to have your inputs!The ZF boxes are quite reliable, even the “dreaded” GM boxes in the diesels are too. I had one which last 220k, only had one oil&filter change.
The lambda codes could be due to an air leak from split/perished vacuum hoses or inlet pipes rather than the sensors themselves.
Edited by helix402 on Monday 5th March 22:39
In fact, in the Alpina community, we've had lots of problems with the ZF5HP19. Despite having updated Alpina parts, they often only last 80k miles before needing a torque converter, mine broke its flexplate and had a TC at 90k miles. They are a when not if item on the B3. I believe Alpina had to update some of the parts as the torque is right at the design limit of the standard box.
Anyway, MOT day today, have had the car for 5 years which was definitely not the plan! It's failed on emissions due to the lambda sensors (see my post from a couple of weeks ago) and they are being changed tomorrow morning.
While I was there, one of the owners of the MOT place showed me the 2000 325Ci he's just picked up from a customer- 45k miles, South African car with no rust, messy inside but a nice manual silver early E46. I though it looked great- ambers and everything. He's looking to sell it as he's got a Camaro, Corvette and a Sapphire Cosworth plus an assortment of bikes. Nice car though, the paint was pretty fresh- I can't imagine it's been left out in the African sun very much.
Come on, Alpina, let's have you back on the road tomorrow my old friend.
helix402 said:
If the autobox leak is minor I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s the ZF box I think? 5HP19, I serviced one when I owned a car with one once. Did the entire job by the book, gen BMW parts, new bolts torqued correctly etc, still had the smallest weep 6 months later.
The ZF boxes are quite reliable, even the “dreaded” GM boxes in the diesels are too. I had one which last 220k, only had one oil&filter change.
The lambda codes could be due to an air leak from split/perished vacuum hoses or inlet pipes rather than the sensors themselves.
Hi Helix, thanks as always, it's good to have your inputs!The ZF boxes are quite reliable, even the “dreaded” GM boxes in the diesels are too. I had one which last 220k, only had one oil&filter change.
The lambda codes could be due to an air leak from split/perished vacuum hoses or inlet pipes rather than the sensors themselves.
Edited by helix402 on Monday 5th March 22:39
In fact, in the Alpina community, we've had lots of problems with the ZF5HP19. Despite having updated Alpina parts, they often only last 80k miles before needing a torque converter, mine broke its flexplate and had a TC at 90k miles. They are a when not if item on the B3. I believe Alpina had to update some of the parts as the torque is right at the design limit of the standard box.
Anyway, MOT day today, have had the car for 5 years which was definitely not the plan! It's failed on emissions due to the lambda sensors (see my post from a couple of weeks ago) and they are being changed tomorrow morning.
While I was there, one of the owners of the MOT place showed me the 2000 325Ci he's just picked up from a customer- 45k miles, South African car with no rust, messy inside but a nice manual silver early E46. I though it looked great- ambers and everything. He's looking to sell it as he's got a Camaro, Corvette and a Sapphire Cosworth plus an assortment of bikes. Nice car though, the paint was pretty fresh- I can't imagine it's been left out in the African sun very much.
Come on, Alpina, let's have you back on the road tomorrow my old friend.
Edited by Polynesian on Friday 23 March 13:49
The hallowed MOT pass with no advisories. Another year of road legal tinkery and parts replacement beckons. Hallelujah.
MOT man is keeping the 325Ci for the foreseeable and spending a bit on it so it's spot on. Pic of his Camaro to celebrate, and a freshly cleaned Alpina classic and caliper.
MOT man is keeping the 325Ci for the foreseeable and spending a bit on it so it's spot on. Pic of his Camaro to celebrate, and a freshly cleaned Alpina classic and caliper.
I'm preparing myself for another assault on Alpina's imperfectness, and have been using it in the last couple of weeks rather than replacing things. Well, except for two Michelin PS4s at the rear end. I've not replaced tyres for being worn out in a decade I think, it's always a puncture.
Anyway, I enjoyed the calm of the Alpina cabin on the way to see my dad for his 80th, and tried out his Volvo S60- no surprises, lovely seats and stereo and I was glad he'd swapped from an MGF to it! On the way up to him, I had a new immersive theatre experience on what was once the M25. You had to dodge incredibly deep craters from some sort of computer game, desperately trying to preserve your wheels, dampers and monocoque. An amazing experience but quite it involved a lot of darting, erratic manoeuvres and it left me wondering where the motorway had got to. Does anyone know?
And on the way home, Alpina soaking up the queues, I followed a strange thing. A Fiesta with a manically Vibrating wheel and suspension assembly. It looked to be violently vibrating perhaps 2 or more times a second, and left me wondering what could have caused it. This wasn't a poorly balanced wheel. It was more like a poorly balanced car. Hammering up and down- off the road surface and, whallop! Back down! Or perhaps it had simply come from the M25. What could cause the entire rear suspension on one side to vibrate so excitedly?
Thankfully, the Koni FSDs didn't catch whatever the Fiesta had.
Anyway, I enjoyed the calm of the Alpina cabin on the way to see my dad for his 80th, and tried out his Volvo S60- no surprises, lovely seats and stereo and I was glad he'd swapped from an MGF to it! On the way up to him, I had a new immersive theatre experience on what was once the M25. You had to dodge incredibly deep craters from some sort of computer game, desperately trying to preserve your wheels, dampers and monocoque. An amazing experience but quite it involved a lot of darting, erratic manoeuvres and it left me wondering where the motorway had got to. Does anyone know?
And on the way home, Alpina soaking up the queues, I followed a strange thing. A Fiesta with a manically Vibrating wheel and suspension assembly. It looked to be violently vibrating perhaps 2 or more times a second, and left me wondering what could have caused it. This wasn't a poorly balanced wheel. It was more like a poorly balanced car. Hammering up and down- off the road surface and, whallop! Back down! Or perhaps it had simply come from the M25. What could cause the entire rear suspension on one side to vibrate so excitedly?
Thankfully, the Koni FSDs didn't catch whatever the Fiesta had.
Edited by Polynesian on Thursday 3rd May 21:05
What's been going on with the Alpina? Well, I replaced a pair of Michelin's due to a puncture, so after 100 miles on the new PS4s, I have a puncture 😡.
So while ETA are investigating the return of the drivetrain vibration, the tyre guys on the same estate are taking a look at whether its repairable, and Chapell bodywork are quoting to make the worst of the paint into the best- that's a repaired and painted front bumper and spoiler and the rear spoiler finally to go back on.
There are some other pressing jobs to attend to. I've had enough of the red warning on the dash for the rear lights- one of the wires into the bootlid has broken and I've had the proper repair kit for months but not got around to it. The yellow brake sensor light is on- 2 sensor cables and it won't extinguish. I've tried the key in pos 2, door open, closed. Doing it at midnight etc.
And the f
king door seals. My god BMW should be ashamed of themselves for that one. Droopy awful seals that now have melted arborseal (a good fix for 3 years) that's attacked my headlining. They really do need doing as they are disgusting! I felt embarrassed to leave it with ETA, parked next to a shiny carbon black M3. The Alpina was sulking, even it is embarrassed by its door seals.
Pictures to show how carefully I threaded the expensive Brembo to BMW brake sensor cable before finding it hadn't reset the light, and my detailing prowess on the colourful bits
So while ETA are investigating the return of the drivetrain vibration, the tyre guys on the same estate are taking a look at whether its repairable, and Chapell bodywork are quoting to make the worst of the paint into the best- that's a repaired and painted front bumper and spoiler and the rear spoiler finally to go back on.
There are some other pressing jobs to attend to. I've had enough of the red warning on the dash for the rear lights- one of the wires into the bootlid has broken and I've had the proper repair kit for months but not got around to it. The yellow brake sensor light is on- 2 sensor cables and it won't extinguish. I've tried the key in pos 2, door open, closed. Doing it at midnight etc.
And the f
king door seals. My god BMW should be ashamed of themselves for that one. Droopy awful seals that now have melted arborseal (a good fix for 3 years) that's attacked my headlining. They really do need doing as they are disgusting! I felt embarrassed to leave it with ETA, parked next to a shiny carbon black M3. The Alpina was sulking, even it is embarrassed by its door seals.Pictures to show how carefully I threaded the expensive Brembo to BMW brake sensor cable before finding it hadn't reset the light, and my detailing prowess on the colourful bits
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