Project B3 3.3 Coupe Number 004 Begins!

DannyB3D3 · Post by **DannyB3D3** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 5:23 pm

Hi all,

Some of you may be aware that recently I had to sell my pride and Joy Japan Red 2002 E46 B3 3.3 Convertible number 234 which I literally sold the day after it was advertised for a respectful Â£13000 so it did do me very proud. Thanks to that car I was able to pay off a few debts and take some pressure off and I still had some money left over so the hunt for a project began. I was very fortunate to quickly come across a 2000 'W' B3 3.3 Coupe number 004 (which I believe is the oldest recorded on here on the register now) that needs someone like me to show it a bit of love and make it great again. It has done 168000 miles and runs sweet with an excellent service history. Here are some pics:

As you can imagine it is in need of some love and isn't a patch on my red one but is a great project and fills the hole for me! I am pretty pleased with it for only Â£4000! I have already started and removed the aftermarket LED lights and fitted original lights back the next thing is the front indicators and grilles back to standard and the front and rear badges back to BMW ones and fit 4 new wheel badges but they are pretty minor things really! It needs a new battery and some body work but no signs of any major rust which is great news! Mechanically it seems fine and everything works, even has electric rear blind and sunroof!

I will keep you all updated of the progress, it's going to be a long term on-going project.

Hope you like it!

Dan

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 5:38 pm

Fantastic - Welcome back Dan!

Your new car looks great - I am glad that you are returning it back to original specification. I have a B3 3.3 #032 saloon which i have recommissioned after a long period off the road.

Its a great car and I am sure that you will have fun restoring her back to her former glory. They do tend to leave a big dent in the wallet though, but you can offset costs by ebaying the old non OE parts.

Keep us up to date with your work. I am now just using my car as a daily and will lavish her again in the summer.

Is your Japan red car on the register somewhere?

DannyB3D3 · Post by **DannyB3D3** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 5:48 pm

Yes mate it is on the register and I did a post on here about a week or so ago saying about selling it so search my posts. Stunning magazine featured car! I do also have my D3 BiTurbo Touring which is my every day car so will always still be an Alpina owner and driver!

Thanks for your kind words I am hoping to try and keep costs down with the parts buy doing exactly that and buying used OE parts. The bodywork will be the most expensive part!

MickB3 · Post by **MickB3** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:28 pm

Nice one

I don't understand the Alpina numbering?
I have a W 2000 that was built in February and registered in June No 329 ??

DannyB3D3 · Post by **DannyB3D3** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:49 pm

Not sure but I know each style of body i.e coupe, convertible, saloon etc will have it's own production numbers. The E46 saloon was out a year or more earlier than the Coupe and is probably the highest produced version of any Alpina model so they may explain it..

hap · Post by **hap** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 8:01 pm

Nice spec remember it for sale last year on eBay
Are you going to get the wood back inside

DannyB3D3 · Post by **DannyB3D3** » Mon Jan 21, 2019 9:27 pm

hap wrote:Nice spec remember it for sale last year on eBay
Are you going to get the wood back inside

Yes definitely putting wood back

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Tue Jan 22, 2019 1:09 am

Good luck Danny, nice to see #004 being shown some tlc.

As hap said, remember this looking for a new home from last summer.

DannyB3D3 · Post by **DannyB3D3** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 2:29 pm

Hi all, I have now swapped the awful aftermarket indicators back to original ones as well as the rear lights. Here is what it was like before:

Here it is now:

Next job is to put original chrome grilles back on it and front and rear BMW badges. I have also put 4x non genuine new centre cap badges on which look ok for now. Nearly Â£50 on centre cap badges isn't the top of the cars priorities at the moment!

hap · Post by **hap** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 11:06 pm

Much better they do make the headlights look old if you know what I mean
Are the white lenses oem?

DannyB3D3 · Post by **DannyB3D3** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 11:09 pm

Yeah they are original and this is how it would have been when new

hap · Post by **hap** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 11:20 pm

I think once the chrome grill is back on it will look spot on
Has it alpina floor mats ?
Sytner dealer sticker in the rear would look cool
I have my tax disc holder still in place with an old ticket just to keep it in theme of that year

hap · Post by **hap** » Sat Feb 09, 2019 11:23 pm

Any more progress ?

simon13 · Post by **simon13** » Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:37 am

first job is to lose those pony ebay badges on bonnet and boot!

DannyB3D3 · Post by **DannyB3D3** » Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:12 pm

Hi all!

Lots more work done! I have removed the silver trims and fitted lovely Burr Walnut Wood including the gear knob, Original chrome grilles, fixed the broken ceiling alarm sensor, fitted new wiper blades, replaced the missing hazard triangle and fitting, bought genuine E46 Coupe mats (unfortunately not Alpina ones but good luck finding them ay!) and removed the dodgy badges! I have also fitted my personal plate and today I am hoping to fix the rear parking sensors!

Pics:

Really pleased with the progress so far! Loving the car in and out now it is back to how it should be!

Will let you know how I get on with the parking sensors!

theALPINAregister.com

Project B3 3.3 Coupe Number 004 Begins!

Project B3 3.3 Coupe Number 004 Begins!

New clear indicators now fitted!