E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185
Discussion
That's a fab car. A while ago my dad also looked at an F31 B3 but the tiny discount and the massive wait put him off too.
I really like the E9x B3 models. What the lose in the handbuilt nature of the old engines they make up for in seeming more robust. Two turbos also adds to the fun. Saw this on your instagram page the other day. Looks like an idea daily, and an ALPINA isn't an ALPINA without the stripes I think.
I really like the E9x B3 models. What the lose in the handbuilt nature of the old engines they make up for in seeming more robust. Two turbos also adds to the fun. Saw this on your instagram page the other day. Looks like an idea daily, and an ALPINA isn't an ALPINA without the stripes I think.
sagarich said:
How strange, I rang up to enquire about that one last weekend but they hadn’t updated their site and you had already done the deal.
It seems like my timing was good then because as well as you, someone phoned up while i was viewing it to enquire and apparently someone else just turned up last weekend to view it without calling prior to check if it was still available.BSSBMW said:
Fair points raised regarding the Alpina roaster S.
An LSD can be retro fitted and even hydraulic PAS can be as well.
Head gasket aside the Alpina Iron blocked M52 based engine is a lot more robust than an S54 which themselves are not immune from HG failure.
Indeed, finding the right Alpina can be tricky though due to such low production figures.
I rarely get time to go to any shows these days to be honest but would like to change that in the future.
Dad's E46 M3 ended up having so much money sunk into it. After all the stuff you did in getting it sorted for him, it ended up having the VANOS unit go a matter of weeks later. In the end he paid for Mr VANOS to come down and install "their" updated unit for him. The best bit is also the worst bit, with regards to the S54. An LSD can be retro fitted and even hydraulic PAS can be as well.
Head gasket aside the Alpina Iron blocked M52 based engine is a lot more robust than an S54 which themselves are not immune from HG failure.
Indeed, finding the right Alpina can be tricky though due to such low production figures.
I rarely get time to go to any shows these days to be honest but would like to change that in the future.
I think for all round use, the Alpina Roadster engine is the better option. The extra torque and power band profile makes for a more drivable car, but the S54 with it's revy nature, give more of an "experience". After having so much grunt with my Impreza P1's custom built engine, I have found the S54 feeling (I want to say gutless, but that's not the right word) very alien as it needs to be revved all the time.
Because the Alpina Roadsters were priced around £16,000 at the time, compared to the £10,500 to £12,000 for the Z4MR's, it meant I would have had the funds to get an LSD and have it installed for a long time. I still have a lot of problems with my lower back, so I can't do any work myself to keep some costs down.
In your own experience, have you found much difference in insurance costs between an Alpina and M/// ? I was shocked at how high my policy was for a year, on the Z4MR.
Once a month there is this awesome meet at a Pub (The Black Swan) on the edge of Surrey on a Sunday mornings from 8:30am (the next one is on the 9th June) . I can't remember it's correct name off the top of my head, but you get a really impressive mix of cars there and it's really friendly.
Getting back on topic with regards to your Alpina, are they 100% done over in Germany before coming over, or does Sytner still have some involvement with the conversion on UK cars?
Felix79 said:
In your own experience, have you found much difference in insurance costs between an Alpina and M/// ? I was shocked at how high my policy was for a year, on the Z4MR.
I have found in the past that Alpinas tend to be more tricky and expensive to insure.Felix79 said:
Getting back on topic with regards to your Alpina, are they 100% done over in Germany before coming over, or does Sytner still have some involvement with the conversion on UK cars?
Pretty much since the E36 Alpina B6 3.0, the only thing Sytner did was fit the number plates but they did still continue to offer Alpina styling for non Alpina models so quite a few E38, E39 run of the mill models ended up with Alpina wheels, spoilers and/or suspension.Time for a bit of maintenance.
The B3 uses a ZF GA6HP19Z automatic gearbox which is a variant of the 6 speed box used in pretty much every automatic BMW from mid 00's up until the 8 speed box replaced in on the first of the F series BMW's. Its also used by some other manufacturers such as Jaguar and is a pretty reliable box but is prone to the odd leak from its plastic sump and/or electrical plug sleeve.
BMW say its a 'sealed for life' unit and despite many cars making it to big mileage unopened I and many others are of the view that its not good practice to leave them alone with a change recommended at 80-100K miles so with no record of the B3 being done and it having hit 75k miles it was time to do it.
And oil and filter change on an automatic box is considered a wise thing to do on these newer 'sealed for life' units and with the ZF 6 speed box the filter is integral to the plastic sump so this requires replacement along with the oil and as the sump is off its wise to replace the electrical plug sleeve known as the 'mechatronic sleeve' on this box as its one of the places they can leak and to change it means sump off.
This is all common practice for BMW dealers and specialists to ether cure a leak or as part of maintenance or repair but there is a compromise on this job that most places do. When draining the sump of oil approximately half to two thirds of the oil in the complete system is drained out but the torque converter, cooler, lines and the rest of the gearbox is full of old oil so when the drained sump is refilled it mixes with the old oil. Not ideal.
This piece of equipment removes that compromise from a gearbox service as it connects to the oil circuit via the cooler lines and combined with a flush agent and conditioner it completely flushes the whole system of all old oil and replaces it with new and as well as maintaining an automatic gearbox it can also help with some faults and/or poor shifting.
The sump which looked to be original.
The new one along with the sleeve, flush and conditioner.
Sump and sleeve removed.
New sump on, 11 ltrs of fresh oil and adaptations reset has after a definitely smoothed the gear changes in auto mode and ticked a box off the maintenance list. An Engine oil service and brake fluid change were also carried out while up on the ramp despite not being due for anther year but again im not a believer in BMW's extended service intervals and tend to cut them in half.
First of the retro fits, a chance purchase at a (relatively) bargain price was this optional interior mirror wth integral digital compass and 'home link' which is BMW speak for a programable remote for things like electric gates and/or garage doors.
The B3 uses a ZF GA6HP19Z automatic gearbox which is a variant of the 6 speed box used in pretty much every automatic BMW from mid 00's up until the 8 speed box replaced in on the first of the F series BMW's. Its also used by some other manufacturers such as Jaguar and is a pretty reliable box but is prone to the odd leak from its plastic sump and/or electrical plug sleeve.
BMW say its a 'sealed for life' unit and despite many cars making it to big mileage unopened I and many others are of the view that its not good practice to leave them alone with a change recommended at 80-100K miles so with no record of the B3 being done and it having hit 75k miles it was time to do it.
And oil and filter change on an automatic box is considered a wise thing to do on these newer 'sealed for life' units and with the ZF 6 speed box the filter is integral to the plastic sump so this requires replacement along with the oil and as the sump is off its wise to replace the electrical plug sleeve known as the 'mechatronic sleeve' on this box as its one of the places they can leak and to change it means sump off.
This is all common practice for BMW dealers and specialists to ether cure a leak or as part of maintenance or repair but there is a compromise on this job that most places do. When draining the sump of oil approximately half to two thirds of the oil in the complete system is drained out but the torque converter, cooler, lines and the rest of the gearbox is full of old oil so when the drained sump is refilled it mixes with the old oil. Not ideal.
This piece of equipment removes that compromise from a gearbox service as it connects to the oil circuit via the cooler lines and combined with a flush agent and conditioner it completely flushes the whole system of all old oil and replaces it with new and as well as maintaining an automatic gearbox it can also help with some faults and/or poor shifting.
The sump which looked to be original.
The new one along with the sleeve, flush and conditioner.
Sump and sleeve removed.
New sump on, 11 ltrs of fresh oil and adaptations reset has after a definitely smoothed the gear changes in auto mode and ticked a box off the maintenance list. An Engine oil service and brake fluid change were also carried out while up on the ramp despite not being due for anther year but again im not a believer in BMW's extended service intervals and tend to cut them in half.
First of the retro fits, a chance purchase at a (relatively) bargain price was this optional interior mirror wth integral digital compass and 'home link' which is BMW speak for a programable remote for things like electric gates and/or garage doors.
SlimJim16v said:
Nice.
A very minor issue, you need to replace the yellow bulbs in the side repeaters with some silver, clear or rainbow ones from somewhere like powerbulbs.
Thanks.A very minor issue, you need to replace the yellow bulbs in the side repeaters with some silver, clear or rainbow ones from somewhere like powerbulbs.
The 'fried egg' look is not ideal yet the new lamps came with these bulbs fitted. One of the originals had a silver tipped one to prevent that look but my OCD didnt want unmatched bulbs so kept the pair of orange ones in the new lamps. I'll get some silver ones ordered.
A Long weekend away with the wife to Scotland was a good opportunity to stretch the B3's legs on some decent roads which meant a long slog up from West Sussex to Loch Lomond on the first day, then from Alexandria, Loch Lomond to Oban via the Dukes pass and the A811/A84/A85 on day two then across to Edinburgh on day three before heading back down south the following day.
It has given me a taste of Scottish roads and will most definitely head further north in the future.
B3 never missed a beat and has shown what a broad talent this car has from refined comfort eating up the miles yet being able to grab it by the scruff of the neck and flick it up and down the box through the twisties as well as being able to pass a line of slow moving traffic with its great low down shove of torque.
It also sounds great for a turbo six when you wind up the RPMs with none of the synthesised engine noise nonsense pumped in to the speakers like newer BMW's have.
The trip has highlighted the need for an LSD that bit more tough!
After the road trip it was time for a bit of cosmetic TLC. Mark at Marells detailing who started the paint correction before the application of the Deko set set to work completing the rest of it before applying a coat of wax.
The high gloss shadow line trim and rear lights got some attention as well as it was all covered in swirls and scratches
The obligatory beading shot.
The high gloss shadow line trim and rear lights got some attention as well as it was all covered in swirls and scratches
The obligatory beading shot.
rayyan171 said:
Looking perfect.
With the mirror compass, did you retrofit it with HBA, or does the car not have it in the first place?
Also, what was done to sort those lights? Have some silly swirling on the rear lights of the Audi.
Thanks!With the mirror compass, did you retrofit it with HBA, or does the car not have it in the first place?
Also, what was done to sort those lights? Have some silly swirling on the rear lights of the Audi.
HBA?
Lights were just machine polished by the guy who did the rest of the car.
BSSBMW said:
Thanks!
HBA?
Lights were just machine polished by the guy who did the rest of the car.
HBA - High Beam Assist - that little camera which changes the beam of the lights according to oncoming traffic. Being an Alpina I think it came as standard, although not too sure, and seeing that it is the mirror with homelink and a compass it may have it anyway. HBA?
Lights were just machine polished by the guy who did the rest of the car.
Good to know that the lights are an easier job than thought, may find a good detailer to do them.
rayyan171 said:
HBA - High Beam Assist - that little camera which changes the beam of the lights according to oncoming traffic. Being an Alpina I think it came as standard, although not too sure, and seeing that it is the mirror with homelink and a compass it may have it anyway.
Good to know that the lights are an easier job than thought, may find a good detailer to do them.
I see. Mine does not have HBA and i have not retro fitted it, some coding and wiring is required to do this.Good to know that the lights are an easier job than thought, may find a good detailer to do them.
I only wanted the mirror fore the compass and homelink anyway.
BSSBMW said:
I see. Mine does not have HBA and i have not retro fitted it, some coding and wiring is required to do this.
I only wanted the mirror fore the compass and homelink anyway.
Fair enough. Has given me a good idea however, will keep a lookout for one as luckily for this period of BMW a lot of parts were shared, nowadays even interior mirrors are starting to differ.I only wanted the mirror fore the compass and homelink anyway.
I've never really been a private/cherished number plate kind of person and tend to appreciate area code identifiers on standard UK registrations such as the FJ for Nottingham on the new style plates or GO for South London on a prefix pate which my E30 325i has. The Bi turbo has had a plate change or two though so i did a search on a few plates and to my surprise this popped up as available!
Now only serious Alpina aficionados will acknowledge what relevance it has which i like. OAL is for cars registered in the Ostallgau region of Bavaria where Alpina are based in the town of Buchloe and the prototypes and press cars bare this on their plates. B1 reads like BI short for Biturbo so was happy with that as B3 OAL is on another Alpina already, an E46 B3 which i happened to spot out in the wild about 6/7 years ago.
LHD press car B3 biturbo #002
RHD press car B3 biturbo #004
BSSBMW said:
I've never really been a private/cherished number plate kind of person and tend to appreciate area code identifiers on standard UK registrations such as the FJ for Nottingham on the new style plates or GO for South London on a prefix pate which my E30 325i has. The Bi turbo has had a plate change or two though so i did a search on a few plates and to my surprise this popped up as available!
Now only serious Alpina aficionados will acknowledge what relevance it has which i like. OAL is for cars registered in the Ostallgau region of Bavaria where Alpina are based in the town of Buchloe and the prototypes and press cars bare this on their plates. B1 reads like BI short for Biturbo so was happy with that as B3 OAL is on another Alpina already, an E46 B3 which i happened to spot out in the wild about 6/7 years ago.
LHD press car B3 biturbo #002
RHD press car B3 biturbo #004
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