E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Thought we'd tempt out our budding photographers. Share your photos. We'll add different themes from time to time.
bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:08 pm

Image

Another lucky ebay find was the switch which wasn't even advertised as having the blind function, i just got lucky and spotted it had that function!

Image

Vehicle order (equipment list) changed on the car to ad S405 then all control units coded to recognise the change)

Image

And the end result, one erect blind!
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:14 pm

Suspension.... Ride, handling, balance etc. One of the key elements that makes up part of what we love about BMWs being the 'ultimate driving machine'.

In recent times (ok maybe the last 25 years or so) Alpina have been famed for getting the balance right for making a car handle well yet retaining a ride comfort that doesn't try to break your car or spine especially on our blighted UK roads.
Alpina (as well as BMW to a lesser extent) have moved away from using Bilstein shock absorbers to solely using units made by Sachs so pretty much every BMW and Alpina have used Sachs units since the late 90's and Alpina up until the E9x used their own specification Sachs units.

The advent of the E9x B3 and D3, a standard BMW spec Sachs shock absorber was used with the B3 using an Alpina specific spring, the D3 using a BMW spec spring and losing the run flat tyres obviously helped a lot. This in my opinion was a compromise especially on the D3 part.

Fast forward 77k miles and like most Sachs shock absorbers by approx 60-80k miles they are finished.

Image

Image

New OE spec Sachs units and genuine BMW mounting parts acquired to give the original Alpjna spec every chance to enamour itself with me as dare i say it, its not quite stiff enough with compression being ok but rebound not to my liking.
Contemporary road tests naturally drew comparisons to the M3 and testers always picked up on the chassis not quite being as accomplished at the upper echelons.
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:14 pm

Image

Image

The very tired looking parts removed from the B3 to be replaced with new.

Image

The nearside front shock was pretty corroded. After a couple of pumps off the car it started leaking from the seal so it was only a matter of time before it failed in use.

I've yet to put it through an paces since replacing everything so the jury is out on weather i'll stick with Alpina efforts in this department.
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:16 pm

Those of you who own or have owned a modern BMW with direct injection are probably familiar with various misfire faults often caused by failing injectors. When i bought my B3 i checked the warranty history to find it had its high pressure fuel pump replaced at 17405 miles when it was nearly 2 years old and all six injectors replaced at 28253 miles when it was close to 3 years old so great i thought.

After a couple of weeks i started to notice a lumpy idle on cold start for the first second or two which i ignored for a week or so but when i noticed the fuel consumption had dropped from approx 300-350 miles to a tank down to approx 160 miles to a tank it was obvious something was amiss!

A cold start injector test on BMW ISTA resulted in a pass which was not conclusive in the slightest.

Image

Image

Engine cover removed to reveal index code 09 injectors, the latest being index 12.
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:17 pm

Image

Image

Spark plugs removed to reveal a rich combustion mix but what the picture does not reveal is how wet they were with fuel when first removed, all clear signs of leaking injectors.

Image

All six cylinders were inspected for any potential damage but luckily only wet piston tops from the leaking injectors.
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:18 pm

Image

All six 09 index injectors removed.

Image

Six new index 12 injectors, buffers and (not pictured) spark plugs. Injectors coded and adaptations reset i am pleased to report perfect cold starting manners and fuel consumption has returned to approx 300-350 miles to a tank. Happy days.
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

User avatar
Charles
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 8061
Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2003 2:44 am
Location: Oxford

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by Charles » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:53 pm

Very impressive work but I must admit that you lost me at the point you went for the right colour coded loom :!: :!: :!:
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

Bob
ALPINA
ALPINA
Posts: 5517
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 10:37 pm

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by Bob » Thu Aug 22, 2019 12:51 am

Some lovely work there Barry. Going to be a very desirable motor once you’re finished.

No sign of any wood yet then 😉
B3 3.2 TOURING #062

bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Sat Aug 31, 2019 11:58 pm

Charles wrote:
Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:53 pm
Very impressive work but I must admit that you lost me at the point you went for the right colour coded loom :!: :!: :!:
Thanks but i dont follow?
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Sat Aug 31, 2019 11:59 pm

CaesarBob wrote:
Thu Aug 22, 2019 12:51 am
Some lovely work there Barry. Going to be a very desirable motor once you’re finished.

No sign of any wood yet then 😉
Thanks!

No wood yet. Would like piano black to be honest.
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Sun Sep 01, 2019 12:14 am

Image

Image

In the run up to the BMWCC festival at Gaydon i decided to get a couple of things sorted. First up were refurbishment of the wheels as they had been touched up by the seller but looked crap close up. I have used Lepsons many times in the past and their quality is top notch so off the 19's went and came back like new in the correct sparkle silver.

Image

A bit of preventative maintenance and cosmetic improvement at the same time.

All four wheel arches thoroughly cleaned and dressed, brakes tidied up with a bit of paint as a stop gap until a brake upgrade is devised that will fit behind the original wheels.
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

User avatar
Charles
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 8061
Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2003 2:44 am
Location: Oxford

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by Charles » Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:47 am

bss325i wrote:
Sat Aug 31, 2019 11:58 pm
Charles wrote:
Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:53 pm
Very impressive work but I must admit that you lost me at the point you went for the right colour coded loom :!: :!: :!:
Thanks but i dont follow?
It was a tongue in cheek comment about the complexity of the task and my admiration for what you are doing, as it is way beyond my ability.
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Sun Sep 01, 2019 12:24 pm

Charles wrote:
Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:47 am
bss325i wrote:
Sat Aug 31, 2019 11:58 pm
Charles wrote:
Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:53 pm
Very impressive work but I must admit that you lost me at the point you went for the right colour coded loom :!: :!: :!:
Thanks but i dont follow?
It was a tongue in cheek comment about the complexity of the task and my admiration for what you are doing, as it is way beyond my ability.
Ah i see now! It went a bit over my head, it had been a long day! :)
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Sat Nov 02, 2019 9:36 pm

Image

Tagging onto to a Dyno day at Surrey Rolling Road i was keen to see how the N54 was performing at approx 80K miles. With its new injectors, spark plugs and a tank full of V power we had a good chance of making good figures. Alpina are usually conservative when it comes to power figures and they state 360 PS and 500 Nm (355 bhp and 369 lbft) as shown in their graph for the car.

Image

Image

Very pleased to see 358 bhp and 370 lbft! AFR were a touch on the rich side so maybe time for some new O2 sensors and a walnut blast.
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

bss325i
ALPI
ALPI
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:47 pm
Location: Surrey, England

Re: E92 Alpina B3 Biturbo #185

Post by bss325i » Sun Jan 26, 2020 6:02 pm

A bit out of the blue but i have sold #185 on.

It has been a fantastic car and will miss it but i am fortunate enough to be in a position to buy a brand new car so will being going over to the dark side with an F82 M4 competition in an individual paint and interior finish.

I will be back in another Alpina at some point, hopefully later this year an E46 of some sort to replace the 330Ci my wife currently uses.

Jamie the new owner hopefully will show his face and either continue to thread. Seems very keen to continue to look after the car and appreciates it for what it is.
B10 V8/1 #81 plus a few other BMW's.

Previously enjoyed
E46 B3 3.3 coupe #274
E60 B5 #329
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #450
E92 B3 Biturbo #185
E46 B3 3.3 Saloon #114
E34 B10 Biturbo #445
E36 B3 3.0 switchtronic coupe #185
E46 B3S convertible #34
Many other BMW's

Post Reply