Buying advice on E46 B3/S

CharlesM · Post by **CharlesM** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 3:32 pm

Sorry Hap, had a good look on the link, checked the Register for 449 and couldn't find anything.

Post by **Charles** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 3:41 pm

CharlesM wrote:Edit - I'm interpreting, probably incorrectly, that the cost of fitting will be the same as the shocks, ie Â£1000. This is almost certainly wrong, but by the time you add in ancillaries like strut tops etc, you won't be far away.

My fault for not being clear - what I meant was that the cost of fitting either the Bilsteins or the OEM shocks will be the same

Post by **Charles** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 3:44 pm

CharlesM wrote:Sorry Hap, had a good look on the link, checked the Register for 449 and couldn't find anything.

Here

CharlesM · Post by **CharlesM** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 4:04 pm

I should have said I checked 449 on the register but could find no mention of an engine rebuild.

hap · Post by **hap** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 4:31 pm

Sorry not for the saloon but the b3s coupe link

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/142465118190?_t ... 3641.l6368

I believe it's 004 as seen here on register midnight blue demo and fully loaded rebuild at 70k under warranty. Tried link could not get it to load !

CharlesM · Post by **CharlesM** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 5:24 pm

Now all clear - looked it up in the register and it is all explained, thanks Hap!

rattusM3 · Post by **rattusM3** » Fri Aug 11, 2017 11:16 pm

Have now had my B3 3.3 for a year and a bit, bought with 104k on the clock so smack bang in the middle of its mid-life-crisis.

Now with 115k on the clock I have changed the following to bring the car back to its (almost) best ...

- All new suspension bushes, etc.
- All new Alpina dampers and springs along with new top mounts, etc.
- New Alpina spec torque converter through local ZF agent.
- Auto Gearbox oil and filter change.
- Vanos repair/service with improved components/seals.
- Cooling system overhaul as preventative maintenance.

All the above was pretty much necessary work at this mileage so just be aware when buying ... but once done the car is fantastic, the TC I think making the biggest difference.

Oh, at the moment I use 5w30 grade oil and it uses 1 litre every 1200 miles so I may upgrade to the 10w60 as suggested by Alpina and used in the M3.

Hope this helps.

Kev

CharlesM · Post by **CharlesM** » Sat Aug 12, 2017 8:17 am

That's very useful Kev, thank you.

Someone has made contact via PM so my first test drive will be tomorrow.

rc944 · Post by **rc944** » Sat Aug 12, 2017 9:15 am

rattusM3 wrote:Have now had my B3 3.3 for a year and a bit, bought with 104k on the clock so smack bang in the middle of its mid-life-crisis.

Now with 115k on the clock I have changed the following to bring the car back to its (almost) best ...

- All new suspension bushes, etc.
- All new Alpina dampers and springs along with new top mounts, etc.
- New Alpina spec torque converter through local ZF agent.
- Auto Gearbox oil and filter change.
- Vanos repair/service with improved components/seals.
- Cooling system overhaul as preventative maintenance.

All the above was pretty much necessary work at this mileage so just be aware when buying ... but once done the car is fantastic, the TC I think making the biggest difference.

Oh, at the moment I use 5w30 grade oil and it uses 1 litre every 1200 miles so I may upgrade to the 10w60 as suggested by Alpina and used in the M3.

Hope this helps.

Kev

really useful this thanks. did you have the box oil and filter change after the new TC was installed?
keen to learn more about the vanos fix. was it a mr vanos kit? was it noticeably noisy or just preventative?

CharlesM · Post by **CharlesM** » Sat Aug 12, 2017 8:53 pm

After a lot of thought, considering my already absurd fleet, I decided to pursue at short notice a lovely B3 of a body type I don't have at present. So this will be getting some use again next weekend after 18 months in its box. More details to follow when I've completed.

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Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Sat Aug 12, 2017 9:07 pm

Ooh, congrats Charles, look forward to seeing what you've bought.

What constitutes an absurd fleet? Do share

CharlesM · Post by **CharlesM** » Sat Aug 12, 2017 9:12 pm

Less absurd than a year ago when I still had my Allard and my Citroen SM, but two W124 Benzes, a 1970 Mercedes W114 I've completely restored, a BMW E28 M535i, an Alfa GT Coupe 3.2 V6, a BMW E39 528i and a Volvo XC60 (boring but it works). The Alfa, one W124, the Volvo and the BMW E28 are being moved on soon. They need to be...

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Sat Aug 12, 2017 9:31 pm

Sounds like a pretty sensible fleet to me

Good luck with the new purchase, look forward to details.

hap · Post by **hap** » Sun Aug 13, 2017 8:43 am

Don't keep us in suspense reveal all😃

CharlesM · Post by **CharlesM** » Sun Aug 13, 2017 9:31 am

OK, here's the car from its Pistonheads ad. It's a pre-facelift B3 convertible in Alpina Blue. Immaculate, 68k miles, immensely well looked after (tons of maintenance) and an absolute garage queen. I was very happy at how rigid the body was and the colours were absolutely stunning. The owner had had it for over 8 years and was a reluctant seller, who had also had too many timewasters turn up, so I think having made a three hour journey to get there and I didn't dick him around helped. So collection next Saturday (which will necessitate a lot of sorting of my drive).

One of the interior I took with my Iphone and the ad below

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https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds ... le/7435575