E39 Alpina B10 V8 individual
Discussion
August 2023
After 150k miles, the drivers seat wasn't looking its best so removal of it to strip it down and replacement of the seat base and back rest foams with new ones from BMW followed by a deep clean of the leather with pears soap to bring back that clean matt finish.
The centre arm rest and gear knob were also looking a bit tired and a scratch on a couple of pieces of the dash trims needed addressing.
All parts refitted and clean up of the other seats with pears soap have lifted the interior to a nicer place to be.
After 150k miles, the drivers seat wasn't looking its best so removal of it to strip it down and replacement of the seat base and back rest foams with new ones from BMW followed by a deep clean of the leather with pears soap to bring back that clean matt finish.
The centre arm rest and gear knob were also looking a bit tired and a scratch on a couple of pieces of the dash trims needed addressing.
All parts refitted and clean up of the other seats with pears soap have lifted the interior to a nicer place to be.
foxdecent said:
Beautiful car, congratulations. I am looking to buy an E39 M5 in the UK (manual of course). I would love to have a chat about anything useful you have learned.
Thank you!The E39 M5 is one of BMW's best cars in my (and many others) opinions so much so that I have owned several now plus the two tourings I built. What I have learnt about them comes for working on them since they were nearly new cars till the present day now they are 20-26 years old and would take some time to talk about them in detail but I try an answer any specific questions via pm.
stickylabels said:
Are the seat foams expensive from BMW Barry? I have comfort seats but the driver's one will eventually need refreshed!
From memory they are about £150 each.
Great car, very rare I am assuming.
I am on my 3rd BMW, having had 2 E36s and currently a mint E46. I wish I had the resources to do what you are doing : but it is great to see work of the highest order being done on such an amazing car.
By the way, kudos for your choice of music as well.... I am a true Simple Minds fan, having seen them so many times.....!!!
Looking forward to more posts on the Alpina...
I am on my 3rd BMW, having had 2 E36s and currently a mint E46. I wish I had the resources to do what you are doing : but it is great to see work of the highest order being done on such an amazing car.
By the way, kudos for your choice of music as well.... I am a true Simple Minds fan, having seen them so many times.....!!!
Looking forward to more posts on the Alpina...
BSSBMW said:
After 150k miles, the drivers seat wasn't looking its best so removal of it to strip it down and replacement of the seat base and back rest foams with new ones from BMW followed by a deep clean of the leather with pears soap to bring back that clean matt finish.
I beg your pardon... pears soap? I've never heard of this method and am intrigued... would you care to talk us through it?I had a couple of E39's but just the cooking 3lt BMW sport facelift in guess what colour? with grey interior. In the end, I had to get rid as the offset pedals were not doing my dodgy right ankle any favours and the wiper set up was also an irritation. I like the red interior mainly because it's not the German's attempt at doing wood which, in my humble opinion, is rubbish. The car is wearing its miles well and reinforces the old adage that a well maintained car that has been used beats a garage queen that comes out to be polished to death once a week. Cracking car.
Paul S4 said:
Great car, very rare I am assuming.
I am on my 3rd BMW, having had 2 E36s and currently a mint E46. I wish I had the resources to do what you are doing : but it is great to see work of the highest order being done on such an amazing car.
By the way, kudos for your choice of music as well.... I am a true Simple Minds fan, having seen them so many times.....!!!
Looking forward to more posts on the Alpina...
Thank you!I am on my 3rd BMW, having had 2 E36s and currently a mint E46. I wish I had the resources to do what you are doing : but it is great to see work of the highest order being done on such an amazing car.
By the way, kudos for your choice of music as well.... I am a true Simple Minds fan, having seen them so many times.....!!!
Looking forward to more posts on the Alpina...
It's a pretty rare car in the grand scheme of things but in Alpina world the E39 B10 V18 was one of the more popular sellers.
I have a broad range of musical tastes but tends to be from 70's- early 00's. I have only seen Simple minds once in concert, but they are one of my favourite bands!
bolidemichael said:
I beg your pardon... pears soap? I've never heard of this method and am intrigued... would you care to talk us through it?
Soft nail brush or micro fibre scrubbing pad, warm water and Pears soap, micro fibre cloths to dry. As simple as that and gets rid of the oily dirt from leather.gtidriver said:
Wow what a lovely car OP, have a look at m539 restorations on YouTube, this guy is amazing and his knowledge is top-notch.
Thank you! I have watch a few of Sretens videos over the years. He posts some great content!d_a_n1979 said:
I think Sreten would learn a thing or 2 from Barry in this sense 
Haha! You're too kind! I have contemplated doing to youtube content at times to be honest.Mad Maximus said:
How did you get on moving the heated seat pad over to the new foam?
Straightforward, its just hog ringed on the the base and swapped over with new hog rings.topaz said:
I had a couple of E39's but just the cooking 3lt BMW sport facelift in guess what colour? with grey interior. In the end, I had to get rid as the offset pedals were not doing my dodgy right ankle any favours and the wiper set up was also an irritation. I like the red interior mainly because it's not the German's attempt at doing wood which, in my humble opinion, is rubbish. The car is wearing its miles well and reinforces the old adage that a well maintained car that has been used beats a garage queen that comes out to be polished to death once a week. Cracking car.
Thanks very much! Yes the LHD wipers are one of the few compromises on the E39 overall design but I don't find them a bother to be honest.Talking of wood......
Some time ago I had acquired a set of Alpina wood which included the gear knob, from another B10 that was broken up. I felt like a change so swapped out all leather wrapped door and dash trims except the centre console piece.
I feel it breaks the interior up a little and I can alway easily swap it back.
You're really inspiring me to get mine back up & running - life's been a bit distracting of late, but it will happen. In other news, Simple Minds are superb, introduced our youngest to them at a festival a few years back, he graduates from uni having done music production on Thursday, I hold them responsible . I'd love to take the B10 up there, but not ULEZ compliant, so the X5 will have to do
. I'd love to take the B10 up there, but not ULEZ compliant, so the X5 will have to do MarkwG said:
You're really inspiring me to get mine back up & running - life's been a bit distracting of late, but it will happen. In other news, Simple Minds are superb, introduced our youngest to them at a festival a few years back, he graduates from uni having done music production on Thursday, I hold them responsible . I'd love to take the B10 up there, but not ULEZ compliant, so the X5 will have to do
Which B10 do you have? The B10 V8's and 3.3's I know are ULEZ compliant and pretty sure the 3.2's are as well. I got mine registered as ULEZ compliant by emailing Alpina for a Certificate of conformity (for a fee) then submitted that to TFL.. I'd love to take the B10 up there, but not ULEZ compliant, so the X5 will have to do BSSBMW said:
MarkwG said:
You're really inspiring me to get mine back up & running - life's been a bit distracting of late, but it will happen. In other news, Simple Minds are superb, introduced our youngest to them at a festival a few years back, he graduates from uni having done music production on Thursday, I hold them responsible . I'd love to take the B10 up there, but not ULEZ compliant, so the X5 will have to do
Which B10 do you have? The B10 V8's and 3.3's I know are ULEZ compliant and pretty sure the 3.2's are as well. I got mine registered as ULEZ compliant by emailing Alpina for a Certificate of conformity (for a fee) then submitted that to TFL.. I'd love to take the B10 up there, but not ULEZ compliant, so the X5 will have to do Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff