Rav's 1999 B3 3.3 Saloon - Yes I bought it!!

Place to discuss your non-ALPINA car / problems with your car

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jolls
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Post by jolls » Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:29 pm

Rav wrote:Thanks Metrics. I will give that a go and post results.

I made a fool of myself today. The sunroof would go back and forward but not tilt, so i took it apart and the mechanism down. applied voltages using a power pack etc.

My 15 year old daughter cam out and asked what i was doing. I told her and she told me that the button presses inwards as well as sliding forward and backwards.

Argh!!!!
Reminds me of my brother who had a Pug. Reversing up the drive Mum noticed only one reversing light and mentioned it. Brother went to put a new bulb in only to discover it was a blank...
B3 E46 no.265

Rav
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Post by Rav » Sat Jul 07, 2018 1:32 pm

Jolls. - In defence of your brother I did this with reversing and fog lights on several of my cars :oops:

Next task is to remove the rear spoiler to get this resprayed. It has been sprayed in the past and was done poorly. It has bubbled and paint has come away.

Is it an easy to detattch part?
1999 #032 Alpina B3 3.3 saloon (UK Press Car) - Buchloe Beast
2000 Porsche Boxster S - Viola
2015 Audi A4 Avant Ultra - Wife's car
2002 VW Lupo 1.4 16v - Daughter's car

Metrics
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Post by Metrics » Sun Jul 08, 2018 12:33 pm

Rav wrote:Metrics - I tried your technique for cleaning the Alpina stiching on the steering wheels.

WOW. It came up a treat!


Image
Great work Rav, looks fantastic 8)

Did you do the airbag stitching too?

If the leather is worn, you can go one step further - use Gliptone Scuffmaster dye, sponged on in thin layers (taking care to avoid the nice clean stitching.
2019 G31 B5 Biturbo No.299
2012 F10 D5 Biturbo No.13
1993 Mercedes 190E 2.6 Sportline spec
1991 Mk1 Golf GTI Sportline cabriolet

Rav
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Post by Rav » Tue Jul 17, 2018 5:53 pm

Thanks Metrics. The airbag stitching was pretty clean. The picture hasn't caught it.

My PAS pipes were leaking. £344 inc vat and labour has sorted this today. The difference feels good. The mechanic did find a snap on ratchet, socket and extension arm on the under tray!

Looking forward to driving the car again.
1999 #032 Alpina B3 3.3 saloon (UK Press Car) - Buchloe Beast
2000 Porsche Boxster S - Viola
2015 Audi A4 Avant Ultra - Wife's car
2002 VW Lupo 1.4 16v - Daughter's car

Rav
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Post by Rav » Thu Jul 19, 2018 9:48 am

Enjoyed the car for a single day and no upset.

On the way to work this morning, coming through the heavy Swindon morning commute traffic, the steering got really heavy all of a sudden.
I also noticed small puffs of smoke from the side of the car.

The car is running very wide Federal 595-R racing tyres, making the car very heavy to drive.

I called up the garage who replaced the PAS pipes, who tell me that the only part left is the PAS oil cooler.

Is this the long pipe with a single trun in front of the radiator?
Last edited by Rav on Fri Jul 27, 2018 7:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1999 #032 Alpina B3 3.3 saloon (UK Press Car) - Buchloe Beast
2000 Porsche Boxster S - Viola
2015 Audi A4 Avant Ultra - Wife's car
2002 VW Lupo 1.4 16v - Daughter's car

Rav
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Post by Rav » Fri Jul 27, 2018 7:08 pm

Call from the garage.

The oil cooler will be replaced, but the car needs a new condenser for the air con too.

My first big bill - £350 for the PAS pipes and a predicted £400 on the new radiator and air con rad.

R
1999 #032 Alpina B3 3.3 saloon (UK Press Car) - Buchloe Beast
2000 Porsche Boxster S - Viola
2015 Audi A4 Avant Ultra - Wife's car
2002 VW Lupo 1.4 16v - Daughter's car

ali
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Post by ali » Fri Jul 27, 2018 7:52 pm

Rav wrote:Call from the garage.

The oil cooler will be replaced, but the car needs a new condenser for the air con too.

My first big bill - £350 for the PAS pipes and a predicted £400 on the new radiator and air con rad.

R
As predicted on the other thread.
Spend a few extra quid and make sure you don't end up with a pikey cheap radiator thrown in there.
Well worth the money to get a decent one fitted
simon13 wrote:the radiators tend to bow at the bottom when they are ripe! or the top. You can buy rads with ali ends instead of plastic. Cheap ones like EIS from euros leak from the word go. Get behr or valeo

Its a standard 330i radiator. Header tanks are a famous victim also to splitting....while your there!
B3 3.3 Coupe #090
D3 2.0 Biturbo Touring #098

Rav
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Post by Rav » Fri Jul 27, 2018 8:38 pm

Thanks Ali.

Image

Bulging radiator. I will ensure a good quality part is bought and added to the car.

FFS - Imgur is making me angry.

Clicky here -https://imgur.com/qSRSGSm
1999 #032 Alpina B3 3.3 saloon (UK Press Car) - Buchloe Beast
2000 Porsche Boxster S - Viola
2015 Audi A4 Avant Ultra - Wife's car
2002 VW Lupo 1.4 16v - Daughter's car

Rav
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Location: Marlborough

Post by Rav » Sat Jul 28, 2018 2:15 pm

Visited the car at the garage today...

Poor Alpina - UK Press car 2000.

Image
1999 #032 Alpina B3 3.3 saloon (UK Press Car) - Buchloe Beast
2000 Porsche Boxster S - Viola
2015 Audi A4 Avant Ultra - Wife's car
2002 VW Lupo 1.4 16v - Daughter's car

Rav
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Location: Marlborough

Post by Rav » Wed Aug 01, 2018 8:15 pm

Garage put the car back together today. They called to let me know that one headlight washer was un operational. £89 for a new part whilst the front of the car is off.

I have given the go ahead as I was told that xenon lights with headlight washers must work.

R
1999 #032 Alpina B3 3.3 saloon (UK Press Car) - Buchloe Beast
2000 Porsche Boxster S - Viola
2015 Audi A4 Avant Ultra - Wife's car
2002 VW Lupo 1.4 16v - Daughter's car

ali
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Post by ali » Wed Aug 01, 2018 8:29 pm

Rav wrote:.

I have given the go ahead as I was told that xenon lights with headlight washers must work.

R
MoT fail if the washers don't work with xenon lights
B3 3.3 Coupe #090
D3 2.0 Biturbo Touring #098

Rav
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Post by Rav » Wed Aug 01, 2018 8:55 pm

Ali - Yes this is what i heard, but what is the thiinking behind this? Xenon are brighter than standard units anyway?
1999 #032 Alpina B3 3.3 saloon (UK Press Car) - Buchloe Beast
2000 Porsche Boxster S - Viola
2015 Audi A4 Avant Ultra - Wife's car
2002 VW Lupo 1.4 16v - Daughter's car

ali
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Post by ali » Wed Aug 01, 2018 9:07 pm

The dirt on the lights has the potential to diffract the light to directions that it shouldn't causing potential danger to oncoming drivers as they are so bright
B3 3.3 Coupe #090
D3 2.0 Biturbo Touring #098

Metrics
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Post by Metrics » Thu Aug 02, 2018 11:04 am

Don't worry Rav, the nature of these cars is niggles and bills, but hang in there as they're worth it.
It won't be a endless process.
2019 G31 B5 Biturbo No.299
2012 F10 D5 Biturbo No.13
1993 Mercedes 190E 2.6 Sportline spec
1991 Mk1 Golf GTI Sportline cabriolet

Rav
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Location: Marlborough

Post by Rav » Fri Aug 10, 2018 2:40 pm

Thanks Metrics.

I'm due to collect the car today/tomorrow.
The radiator has been replaced as well as the PAS oil cooler and pipes. The air con should now be working as the radiator for this has been replaced and the suspension has been raised a smidgen as the Tyre was catching the arches.

I am looking forward to driving her again, but terrified of the bill.
1999 #032 Alpina B3 3.3 saloon (UK Press Car) - Buchloe Beast
2000 Porsche Boxster S - Viola
2015 Audi A4 Avant Ultra - Wife's car
2002 VW Lupo 1.4 16v - Daughter's car

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