Alpina F31 B3 biturbo
Discussion
Hey there,
Do read a lot here and due some writers here I dared to buy an Alpina.
To give something back to this community I have my write up too.
Alpina where always my dream cars and still having bad night of the cars I didn’t buy like a mint e21 B6.
Did have quite some BMWs : 323i e21, 318i e30, 318iS e30, 518i E34 touring and almost for sale my current oxford green e46 330i M-sport touring.
Also other cars : escort 1600 sport mk2 (twice) escort RS1600i mk3 and a mk1 fiat panda with 1300cc uno turbo motor.
Nice stories but last week I bought the alpina, finally!
Was looking at an high mileage one (within budget) but than a lower mileage popped up and bought it instant on 3 pictures and great story from the seller.
The car is great and very happy with it!
First the 20 inch wheels and skinny rubber was hurting my eyes but it drives nice and getting used to it now.
No mods planned ! So no 100 pages with greasy pictures for you to look at.
Previous owner tried to update the stereo and the parts used are good but the settings are rubbish.
There is a dsp amp in there and some fresh setting made a huge improvement.
Next step : ordered a cubby hole sub box and a 10 inch JL audio sub.
The amp is already there but not connected , weird indeed.
Rear speakers also don’t work so an investigation needs to be done too.
And finally , the pictures. A few to start with due to the crappy weather.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/pAu3aZ48.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/HKfTmNWX" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[url][img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/HKfTmNWX.jpg)
Do read a lot here and due some writers here I dared to buy an Alpina.
To give something back to this community I have my write up too.
Alpina where always my dream cars and still having bad night of the cars I didn’t buy like a mint e21 B6.
Did have quite some BMWs : 323i e21, 318i e30, 318iS e30, 518i E34 touring and almost for sale my current oxford green e46 330i M-sport touring.
Also other cars : escort 1600 sport mk2 (twice) escort RS1600i mk3 and a mk1 fiat panda with 1300cc uno turbo motor.
Nice stories but last week I bought the alpina, finally!
Was looking at an high mileage one (within budget) but than a lower mileage popped up and bought it instant on 3 pictures and great story from the seller.
The car is great and very happy with it!
First the 20 inch wheels and skinny rubber was hurting my eyes but it drives nice and getting used to it now.
No mods planned ! So no 100 pages with greasy pictures for you to look at.
Previous owner tried to update the stereo and the parts used are good but the settings are rubbish.
There is a dsp amp in there and some fresh setting made a huge improvement.
Next step : ordered a cubby hole sub box and a 10 inch JL audio sub.
The amp is already there but not connected , weird indeed.
Rear speakers also don’t work so an investigation needs to be done too.
And finally , the pictures. A few to start with due to the crappy weather.
Quite some goodies, most of them I don’t need... till I have them!
Silly thing like heads up display is quite handy and it also project speed limit next to it. That’s a money saver in faster than you think you go cars.
Interieur is very black so need some sunshine to get a better picture. (I’m one of those iPhone photographers)
Added the small sub box with 10 inch JL audio sub, amp was already there so little effort.
Very pleased with the result, blends in nicely without eating all your trunk space.
Together with the dsp amp it’s a great piece of kit.
Easily the best sound system in any of my cars, nice staging and clarity.
Even have to connect the center speaker and fix the rear door speakers.
Silly thing like heads up display is quite handy and it also project speed limit next to it. That’s a money saver in faster than you think you go cars.
Interieur is very black so need some sunshine to get a better picture. (I’m one of those iPhone photographers)
Added the small sub box with 10 inch JL audio sub, amp was already there so little effort.
Very pleased with the result, blends in nicely without eating all your trunk space.
Together with the dsp amp it’s a great piece of kit.
Easily the best sound system in any of my cars, nice staging and clarity.
Even have to connect the center speaker and fix the rear door speakers.
So fast forward to 2026!
After 5 years and added 70.000km still a fantastic piece of machinery. Now on 200.000km.
No mods, no need for it.
Maintenance?
Other that the usual maintenance:
New brakes and one new caliber, the bleeding nipple cross threaded. The material is quite soft and got oxidized stuck.
Last week the valve cover start leaking, known n55 failure, fixed with a new cover.
Broken steering rod, also quite known for the f30 platform. The 20 inch wheels don’t help here.
Still original bearings, turboos and even the charge pipe.
Oil investigation showed no metal parts.
Just to be sure , next visit to the shop it will get new bearings.
After 5 years and added 70.000km still a fantastic piece of machinery. Now on 200.000km.
No mods, no need for it.
Maintenance?
Other that the usual maintenance:
New brakes and one new caliber, the bleeding nipple cross threaded. The material is quite soft and got oxidized stuck.
Last week the valve cover start leaking, known n55 failure, fixed with a new cover.
Broken steering rod, also quite known for the f30 platform. The 20 inch wheels don’t help here.
Still original bearings, turboos and even the charge pipe.
Oil investigation showed no metal parts.
Just to be sure , next visit to the shop it will get new bearings.
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