Any Alpina Beards in the house?

[bmthnick1981]

Went and had a look at this B3 3.0 today;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

It doesn't have;

Blue dials

Front Alpina Splitter

Extra instrument 'binnacle' as this B3 does - http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...

Alpina Stripes down the side

B3 3.0 badges

Does all of the above mean it's not a genuine Alpina?

Have seen the V5 and it shows the manufacturer as BMW. Again, I don't know if this is correct or if it should show Alpina? The V5 does show the cc as being 2997cc.

Car has nearly 160k and looks tired, but if its genuine I might be tempted to have a punt on it and spend a few quid bringing it up to spec. Be nice to save it.

Thanks chaps

[TheEnd]

I have a feeling they only made the blue dials for LHD cars in km/h only, the stripes and the extra dials were optional, and you could choose not to have a front or rear spoiler.

[j44esd]

Worth asking on here: http://www.thealpinaregister.com

Here is a link to the recorded B3 3.0's

http://www.thealpinaregister.com/register/B3/3.0/c...

The direct link shows the cars either side(ish) of the build number (88&93) to have been 1994 cars, so the plaque fits the year (As they are so readily available in fake form on EBay it is worth checking). I see what you mean though, it doesn't look quite 'right' - but as previously stated, many of the missing items were options - you could spec an M3 kit/mirrors on the later E36 Alpina models (Though they just look wrong IMHO) - Other problem is you could spec an E36 with various Alpina items as well... But if it is a 3.0l then that's harder to source!

Maybe give Synter a call http://www.sytner.co.uk/bmw/new-cars/alpina.aspx as they have been the sole UK concessionaires since 1985. If it does check out, then it has to be worth saving! Good luck!

[j44esd]

Actually, looking at No.158 on the Alpina register, interior seems about right:



See here for more pics:

http://www.thealpinaregister.com/photo/B3/3.0/coup...

(I am *not* a fan of that number plate...)

Here is one with the M3 kit: http://www.thealpinaregister.com/B3/3.0/coupe/198

Edited by j44esd on Sunday 31st October 21:50

[hoppo4.2]

Look at the vin number stamped into the strut top under the bonnet. If it's genuine alpina it will have the BMW one crossed out with a big x and the alpina one above it. Look strange but all alpinas I have seen have this including the one u have and my mates

[Jobbo]

My E46 B3S has the BMW VIN crossed out with a series of Xs rather than one big X; I've never looked at an E36 VIN to compare though.

Lack of an Alpina front splitter is odd. They could be removed, I suppose, and there's a fair chance the owner might have knocked it on a kerb and broken it in 16 years, but why not replace that (relatively cheap and simple) if you're keen enough to get a new Alpina cylinder head?

[bmthnick1981]

Jobbo said:

My E46 B3S has the BMW VIN crossed out with a series of Xs rather than one big X; I've never looked at an E36 VIN to compare though.

Lack of an Alpina front splitter is odd. They could be removed, I suppose, and there's a fair chance the owner might have knocked it on a kerb and broken it in 16 years, but why not replace that (relatively cheap and simple) if you're keen enough to get a new Alpina cylinder head?

Yes the lack of splitter, badges and stripes made me question the car. The chap selling it (French Dr) has had it for 10 years and tells me it is now as he bought it and it seems from what some have said above it was possible to spec the car without those bits and pieces.

I've seen the recent invoice for the replacement head and it made my eyes water!

[Jobbo]

Stripes were certainly optional, but I thought the splitter was standard. I don't think there's a single B3 on the Alpina Register without it (other than the ones with M3 front bumpers). The plaque looks genuine though, and the splitter wouldn't be hard to add.

It also doesn't appear to have Switchtronic, which is a shame.

What do you mean about badges? The steering wheel and alloy centres have Alpina badges, but the bonnet and boot of Alpinas have only ever had BMW badges; anything else is aftermarket; never even made in that size by Alpina.

Edited by Jobbo on Monday 1st November 13:10

[j44esd]

Jobbo said:

Stripes were certainly optional, but I thought the splitter was standard. I don't think there's a single B3 on the Alpina Register without it (other than the ones with M3 front bumpers). The plaque looks genuine though, and the splitter wouldn't be hard to add.

It also doesn't appear to have Switchtronic, which is a shame.

What do you mean about badges? The steering wheel and alloy centres have Alpina badges, but the bonnet and boot of Alpinas have only ever had BMW badges; anything else is aftermarket; never even made in that size by Alpina.

Edited by Jobbo on Monday 1st November 13:10

I think he is referring to the B3 3.0 script badge from the boot - again, a good look at the Alpina register cars should tell you if this was always present.

The splitter could be a bump? Or stolen? Maybe a replacement standard bumper?

As I previously posted, they were order-able with the M kit, but this by default removed the front splitter - I genuinely don't know if they could be ordered without this for sure - but again a quick call to Sytner should be able to clear that up - they were quite 'bespoke' in 1994 - even more so than now!

(But I have to confess whilst I have seen plenty without the stripes, and a few with the M kit/mirrors, I don't think that I have seen one without a splitter that didn't have an M kit.)

[j44esd]

hoppo4.2 said:

Look at the vin number stamped into the strut top under the bonnet. If it's genuine alpina it will have the BMW one crossed out with a big x and the alpina one above it. Look strange but all alpinas I have seen have this including the one u have and my mates

Well you learn something new everyday! Thanks for that!

(Sorry OP, but I did not know that, and it's always nice to learn something new! )

[bmthnick1981]

Yep, was referring to the boot badge which reads 'B3 3.0'

I've found a front splitter here on PH for sale for £200, but by the time i've bought that had it painted and fitted, bought a boot badge and stripe kit, had the wheels refurbed and replaced the tyres and tidied up the bodywork I may as well have bought a tidy one!

Thanks for all the input chaps.

[Slurms]

Won't be switchtronic - it's too early - think switchtronic was only on the later cars... 1996 and onwards?

Could it be one of the sytners cars that were built in the UK?

The ones were a selection of Alpina parts were added to a UK 325 by them when it was imported rather than being factory built in Germany and shipped?

[Jobbo]

Alpina launched Switchtronic in 1993, FWIW, though I don't know when exactly it was fitted to the E36.

ETA: there are a couple of earlier B3 3.0s on the Alpina Register with Switchtronic, so I guess it was definitely an option by the time #90 was produced.

Edited by Jobbo on Monday 1st November 16:20

[j44esd]

Slurms said:

Won't be switchtronic - it's too early - think switchtronic was only on the later cars... 1996 and onwards?

Could it be one of the sytners cars that were built in the UK?

The ones were a selection of Alpina parts were added to a UK 325 by them when it was imported rather than being factory built in Germany and shipped?

Those were B3 2.5's though - a 325i with some Alpina styling and engine mods (I looked into buying one of these about 12mths ago) - hence the 3.0l wouldn't have been fitted - they were a just a lightly breathed on (Cam? Induction?) 2.5l M50.

[TheEnd]

The B2.5 was a 325 with all of alpina's outside stuff, and exhaust, but with just cams added.

If it's a German car, the chassis number should start WAPB330 or similar