Alpina B6S cabriolet
Discussion
Lovely motor, I do appreciate a good Alpina. I always keep an eye on the B5 and B5S that occasional come up for sale, always strong money. I have just bought an E55, and see the B5 as a much more comparable and competitive rival than the M5 of the era.
Is the supercharger issue a known one? And are the superchargers different B6 to B6S? Your warranty was very worthwhile, but quite a scary amount of money required for something I assumed was a million times more reliable than the V10's!
Is the supercharger issue a known one? And are the superchargers different B6 to B6S? Your warranty was very worthwhile, but quite a scary amount of money required for something I assumed was a million times more reliable than the V10's!
The supercharger isn’t too bad, it is just that the incorrect oil filter is commonly fitted fitted (even by Sytner Garages). This starves the S/C of oil and then it’s not too long before bits of S/C fail and can if not noticed end up in the engine for a very expensive engine rebuild.
There are some S/C’s that last over 100k miles without issue and they improved the design several times since launch.
The original B6 S/C is an older design to that fitted to B6S but most will of been replaced for the same or similar upgraded units by now.
My car had done comfortably over 100k when I had the Warranty work done and this was the first major work required on the engine so it lasted well in comparison to the V10 engines. The gearbox is just a ZF unit so pretty bulletproof as long as you ignore the lifetime oil nonsense BMW persist in telling owners.
There are some S/C’s that last over 100k miles without issue and they improved the design several times since launch.
The original B6 S/C is an older design to that fitted to B6S but most will of been replaced for the same or similar upgraded units by now.
My car had done comfortably over 100k when I had the Warranty work done and this was the first major work required on the engine so it lasted well in comparison to the V10 engines. The gearbox is just a ZF unit so pretty bulletproof as long as you ignore the lifetime oil nonsense BMW persist in telling owners.
A small update, due to a error in the scoring for some reason which has since been corrected I have now been awarded best Alpina again in the BMW National concours at Gaydon this year. A little annoying that the error happened but happy to have the issue resolved quickly and now have a matching pair of trophies. Roll on next year to try for the hat trick...
Trying to think of things to do over the winter now to improve it. Mechanically it is sorted so maybe some cosmetic touches to come...
Excuse the gratuitous pic from Bimmerfest in Holland this year.
Trying to think of things to do over the winter now to improve it. Mechanically it is sorted so maybe some cosmetic touches to come...
Excuse the gratuitous pic from Bimmerfest in Holland this year.
Edited by Philv8s on Friday 1st November 20:07
It’s been awhile since I last posted and due to the lockdown I have only been out once in it or an essential journey which is frustrating.
I have had a good clean during the lockdown with a full machine polish, re dyed and waterproofed of the roof, removed the wheels to clean them and the arches thoroughly and cleaned and fed the leather interior. It is looking great but I thought the wing mirror covers were looking not quite as good as the rest of the car so I decided to have a go at respraying them.
I watched a few YouTube videos to get some ideas of how to do it but I am pleased with the results. 3 coats of primer, 3 coats of base colour and 3 coats of top coat and then a machine polish at the end resulting in a nice shiny pair of wing mirror covers.
No going back now!
The carcoon also doubles as a spray booth
All finished, pleased with the results.
I have had a good clean during the lockdown with a full machine polish, re dyed and waterproofed of the roof, removed the wheels to clean them and the arches thoroughly and cleaned and fed the leather interior. It is looking great but I thought the wing mirror covers were looking not quite as good as the rest of the car so I decided to have a go at respraying them.
I watched a few YouTube videos to get some ideas of how to do it but I am pleased with the results. 3 coats of primer, 3 coats of base colour and 3 coats of top coat and then a machine polish at the end resulting in a nice shiny pair of wing mirror covers.
No going back now!
The carcoon also doubles as a spray booth
All finished, pleased with the results.
Edited by Philv8s on Tuesday 5th May 16:54
Got around to some outstanding maintenance issues today.
I got the gearbox serviced/flushed, rear diff oil changed and a new A/C condenser fitted.
The A/C has never worked even after regarding so guessed the condenser was damaged somewhere. The gearbox was serviced a few years ago but I wanted a flush to ensure all the fluid was changed not just the 60% when you drop the filter pan and the diff oil has never been changed to my knowledge so was well overdue. It was nice to have nice cold air blowing at last on the way home.
I prefered this method I’d hooking a machine upto the transmission cooler lines as it ensures all the fluid in the torque converter is swapped out also.
This picture shows quite well I think why my AC was not working!
I got the gearbox serviced/flushed, rear diff oil changed and a new A/C condenser fitted.
The A/C has never worked even after regarding so guessed the condenser was damaged somewhere. The gearbox was serviced a few years ago but I wanted a flush to ensure all the fluid was changed not just the 60% when you drop the filter pan and the diff oil has never been changed to my knowledge so was well overdue. It was nice to have nice cold air blowing at last on the way home.
I prefered this method I’d hooking a machine upto the transmission cooler lines as it ensures all the fluid in the torque converter is swapped out also.
This picture shows quite well I think why my AC was not working!
Edited by Philv8s on Tuesday 9th June 21:20
bolidemichael said:
Good work Phil.
I think that you're quite brave tackling the painting on the wing mirrors; it's a great job but, to my eyes, the finish is a little flat compared to that of the door panel. Perhaps another coat of lacquer and a wet polish might bring out the depth?
I agree, when I get the polisher out again I will run it over the caps to help bring out the gloss a little more. I was restricted on time when I finished otherwise I would of done it at the time.I think that you're quite brave tackling the painting on the wing mirrors; it's a great job but, to my eyes, the finish is a little flat compared to that of the door panel. Perhaps another coat of lacquer and a wet polish might bring out the depth?
It has been quite awhile since I posted anything due to the whole lockdown/Covid stuff the last 18 months.
The car didn’t really get used last year as there was no where to go to or be allowed to go to! I don’t like not using my cars and even in winter will try to get them out and about to get everything warmed up and used regularly.
The B6 obviously got the hump being stuck in the garage for months so when I finally got around to bringing out again it decided to dump coolant all over the drive!
A bit of a PITA sorting a recovery truck to get it to a local garage to investigate the issue as I couldn’t see where the coolant was coming from.
Luckily it turned out to be just a coolant temperature sensor had ruptured.
Only cost about £70 to fix, got the car serviced and MOT’d (no advisories) ready for this summer at the same time.
I usually tell garages to not do a courtesy wash but forgot this time around and when I came to collect it I saw it was being jet washed around the side of the garage. Too late to stop it but what harm can it do right?
Picked up the keys and took me a few minutes of driving home realised there was no music. Checked radio was turned on etc, nothing, dead as dodo.
Turned around and took it back to the garage and the guy did hook it up quickly to scan for codes but he reckoned it was just one of those of things and I could book it in again to be looked at properly at my expense.
Took the car home and after some quick searches reckoned the over enthusiastic jet washer had drowned the Logic 7 amp in the boot.
I removed the boot linings and found the amp, sure enough it was covered in water marks. I managed to get a replacement unit of eBay and as no coding is required is a nice easy job. Sound restored and lesson learned.
Since then it has been used mainly for long haul duties down to Devon and North Yorkshire with a few pleasure drives in between.
It has been sidelined a little now a new toy (Maserati Gransport)
has arrived which is fine.
They are such different cars, the Alpina is far more refined, plusher ride, sophisticated and quicker too but the Gransport, although still a GT is far more nimble and quicker steered and more a fun car on the twisties.
The Maserati is more of an event due to the great engine dominating everything whereas the Alpina gets on and crushes everything with just consummate ease and zero fuss.
Here is the new sidekick.
The car didn’t really get used last year as there was no where to go to or be allowed to go to! I don’t like not using my cars and even in winter will try to get them out and about to get everything warmed up and used regularly.
The B6 obviously got the hump being stuck in the garage for months so when I finally got around to bringing out again it decided to dump coolant all over the drive!
A bit of a PITA sorting a recovery truck to get it to a local garage to investigate the issue as I couldn’t see where the coolant was coming from.
Luckily it turned out to be just a coolant temperature sensor had ruptured.
Only cost about £70 to fix, got the car serviced and MOT’d (no advisories) ready for this summer at the same time.
I usually tell garages to not do a courtesy wash but forgot this time around and when I came to collect it I saw it was being jet washed around the side of the garage. Too late to stop it but what harm can it do right?
Picked up the keys and took me a few minutes of driving home realised there was no music. Checked radio was turned on etc, nothing, dead as dodo.
Turned around and took it back to the garage and the guy did hook it up quickly to scan for codes but he reckoned it was just one of those of things and I could book it in again to be looked at properly at my expense.
Took the car home and after some quick searches reckoned the over enthusiastic jet washer had drowned the Logic 7 amp in the boot.
I removed the boot linings and found the amp, sure enough it was covered in water marks. I managed to get a replacement unit of eBay and as no coding is required is a nice easy job. Sound restored and lesson learned.
Since then it has been used mainly for long haul duties down to Devon and North Yorkshire with a few pleasure drives in between.
It has been sidelined a little now a new toy (Maserati Gransport)
has arrived which is fine.
They are such different cars, the Alpina is far more refined, plusher ride, sophisticated and quicker too but the Gransport, although still a GT is far more nimble and quicker steered and more a fun car on the twisties.
The Maserati is more of an event due to the great engine dominating everything whereas the Alpina gets on and crushes everything with just consummate ease and zero fuss.
Here is the new sidekick.
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