Going for a bit of a cosmetic refresh.

[Simon B]

Ok a little bit embarrassing that the last post on here was 2021. I know I havn't been updatng but didnt think it was that long.

i haven't been completely idle though. There was a brief wobble where we almost parted company with "The Alpina" (Only a matter of a few days in my defence before we came to our senses) . What that did do was make me take notice of the advisories on the MOT and get them sorted.

So I put a new seal on the petrol cap, which had been an advisory for many years, and then got Colin Woods to do the rest of them. He went over the suspension and replaced some parts, along with everything else on the previous advisory list. A couple of new Michelin Pilot Sports were added and a few hundred (many) pounds later we then had a fresh MOT which had no advisories .

So I could then get back to the minor cosmetics which albeit petty were really bugging me. First one on the list was the indicators on the wings which were a bit yellow and cloudy and I thought made the car look old despite how small they are so I changed both of those.This actually made a big difference although the pictures don't show that very well.


Before

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After

Alpina new indicators.jpg (269.99 KiB) Viewed 126 times

I was still struggling with who I can get to do the wheels and that's a large part of why I haven't really moved on. I then managed to kerb the wheels on my other car and the guys who did it did a great job. I spoke to them about the Alpina and they even asked about the colour. I said I wanted them the original Alpina colour and could probably find the details on here . I think I have seen it on a post before so will look back. They go in a couple of weeks to be done. I am still nervous as the wheels are a big deal for me and need to be perfect. I will see how it goes and if it goes well I will put some pictures on and tell you who did them.

I am also going to invest in some new wheel centres to finish them off. I have bought some new ones already but when I went back and found the old ones, and the receipt, I discovered I bought them in 2007 so I probably cant complain that I need some more. They are part number 3613117. Sadly the price has gone up since 2007. Brand new from the BMW dealer in 2007 they were £10 each. I think they are more like £30 each now so £120 but I think they need to be right to finish them off. I have seen you can get replica inserts which could go in the old ones but I am not keen on that I don't think, unless anyone has tried it and had a good experience.

Lastly the inner part of the rear lights that had gone cloudy, and that I had tried to sand and polish are not as good as I want them to be so I am going to replace them with new ones. I expect that to cost another couple of hundred quid but haven't checked yet.

Once that is done I will do the ceramic coat albeit 3 years later than I thought. Hopefully that will get me back to my target of replicating this picture I took in 2007 and seeing if it looks the same.

Alpina2007.jpg (803.25 KiB) Viewed 126 times

[hap]

Hi Simon did the side repeaters pop out plug and play
Be good to hear regarding wheel refurb
Centre badges u can get replica more hard wearing but darker in colour I’d always go oem factory
Ps did u replace the ash tray cover when you did the phone console

Ps was there a mini Alpina meet at woods yesterday ? Someone on Facebook saw a D3 tourer & x2 xd3 wragby to lincs rd
Ta

[Simon B]

Hi Hap

Yes the side repeaters are essentially plug and play. You need to free the clip with a screwdriver and then it just pops out and then unplugs. I think they were about £40 each and are OEM.

I am going to get the OEM centres again. Just need to find the best place to get them from. Have you changed yours recently?

I will update on the wheels when they come back.

Not sure about a meet at Colin Woods but would be interested to going if there was one. I think they might do one regularly according to Facebook. I will check

[Simon B]

Sorry forgot to answer the other question

I didn’t change the ashtray just the phone/coin tray surround and the surround of the rear tray

[Simon B]

Ok so now only 3 and 1/2 years after starting my quick "Cosmetic Refresh" I think I am done

Wheels have now been refurbed and although I had to reject the first attempt, which the company were very good about and did them again completely and without any qualms, they are now looking good. I bought some new OEM wheel centres too. I was a bit disappointed as I had already bought a set of replacement ones but when I dug out the receipt that was 2007 so i suppose I cant complain.

IMG-20240506-WA0025.jpg (256.8 KiB) Viewed 31 times

They do look nice and always finish off the wheels I think.

I then revisited the cloudy back lights which I had tried to clean up with fine sandpaper etc but although it looked better I was never 100% happy them.

IMG-20240506-WA0020.jpg (246.35 KiB) Viewed 31 times

I bit the bullet and replaced them with new OEM ones.

IMG-20240506-WA0023.jpg (223.29 KiB) Viewed 31 times

Quite easy to fit too as long as you are careful with the edges.

IMG-20240506-WA0022.jpg (170.23 KiB) Viewed 31 times

They where just over £100 each but a lot better and worth it I think for the end result. Maybe some people woudnt notice but I did and it aged the car in my opinion and now looks so much better

IMG-20240506-WA0028.jpg (170.23 KiB) Viewed 31 times

So that is it all done now. I have not ceramic coated it yet so might still do that at some point. Other than that I have done all of the things I wanted to get done, Clean MOT with no advisories, suspension has been gone over by Colin Woods and sorted along with other odd bits from previous advisories.

My aim from the start of this was to replicate the picture I have from the first summer we had the car and see if I can make it look as close to that as I can. See what you think

Alpina 2007.jpg (638 KiB) Viewed 31 times

2024.jpg (280.33 KiB) Viewed 31 times

I am happy with the end result and more importantly the boss still loves it. I have probably made it even more difficult to get her to part with it now but that was a struggle anyway so perhaps need to keep it for another 17 years. (There was a brief wobble a year or so ago when it was on the market for about 24 hours)

Thank you for anyone who managed to follow it all to the end and for the valuable advice and input while I was going through it. it also makes you realise how impressive it is when people do a real restoration project. Mine was little more than cleaning it really and putting a few new parts on at the end of the day.

Not sure I have a full restoration project in my locker but you never know I might take one on one day.

[hap]

Good work
Who did the refurb? How did they tackle the valves ?
Ta

[Simon B]

Hi Hap

It was Revive in Lincoln on site at their place. They did a couple of wheels on my EQC and made a good job with the diamond cutting so I gave then the job

I wasnt completely happy with the finish if I am honest but in fairness to them they did the whole process again and it was much better second time. They painted both sides of the centre caps and with the extra paint on the centre caps the centres are a bit tight but there is some adjustment on the bolt that the lock works through so I have adjusted those about half a turn and they fit nicely now.

Not sure what they did with the valves I assume masked them but not sure.

[DogWagen]

That's looking really good Simon

Have a feeling our paths crossed last friday on the High Dike - a flash of dark E46 cab going northbound as I was heading home in the afternoon and that was it...

Your work is tempting me to dig my Cab out from the garage and show it some love...!

Mike

[Fast3000]

Fantastic work Simon. Great to see another B3S E46 getting the love she needs! Well done on going for the OE centre caps - well worth it as they look sooo much better.