RIP D3 no 317

[orangenick]

So, following the breakdown saga it appears that this is the bitter end of my D3. I've just heard back from the garage and the fuel pump has broken and looks to be too expensive to repair. Between 4000 and 7000 is the estimate.
My question is do I sell it as a whole car or break it for parts? What would it be worth as a whole, 2011, touring, 147000 miles and non running?

[JASV8S]

That just seems unbelievable for a fuel pump job. Sounds more like the costs for supercharger work that some members have discussed on the forum, albeit on different models. Other than a catastrophic engine failure I would not have thought there was any mechanical failure that could write off a car like this. A real shame and I feel sorry for your predicament.

[orangenick]

Seems the injectors all nee replacing as they have been damaged and both fuel pumps have metal filings in them. He thinks the engine needs to come out to replace the fuel pump. The fuel tank needs to be removed and cleaned out. And so on. I don't think the D3, much as I love it, is ever going to increase in value or even hold it's value enough to warrant a bill of this size! Heartbreaking, I've wanted and Alpina since I was a teenager. Maybe I'll have one as a second car at some point.

[Jules Sunleu]

Ouch, that is a very wide estimate but I suppose they are allowing for what else they may find if metal filings have found there way into the inner workings

If this was me I'd look to see what the car is normally worth when working before then deciding on a sale as a whole or parts. Did the garage say how much of the 4-7k was parts and how much was labour? - if not I'd ask them to estimate as if a lot of it is labour there may be someone out there with good spannering skills (or a mechanic) that would want to buy the whole car to fix themselves as a personal project. If a large part of the repair cost is parts, and no guarantee that something wouldn't be missed that could wreck things again on start up, then I would guess that breaking for parts as-is may be a better path forwards. Such a shame, I hope someone else on here can help more.

Cheers, Jules

[Yad3100]

This just seems outrageous.
From some quick research:
A new pump is £700. Injectors are 180 each, but you could get second hand ones or get the original ones cleaned. A replacement fuel tank is sub £100. This means 1500 in parts

The bmw service guide says 5 hrs to change pump and 6 hrs for injectors. I would estimate 2 to 3 hrs to change the tank. Let’s say 15hrs total, so what’s their hourly rate, £150?

I would suggest a second opinion before you commit to a decision. Try a good specialist, if they are not local the cheap transportation can be obtained if you can wait as there are a number of websites to allow people to gather return loads. Try Autohaus in York, they are 2 ex bmw senior technicians and have done stuff for me that were too big. Always found them to be realistic and effective.

[AG]

I agree, thats a huge cost to be plucked from thin air. But we are talking old BMW's though and some pumps like the diesel pumps can be pricey.

How frequently do fuel pumps break inside? New one on me (but then again its a mechanical item!)

I'd be talking to those that know their diesel BMW's and maybe one that has dealings with the Alpina specific brand. Someone like BMR? I know these are a distance from you but it'll cost little to speak to someone to either corroborate their findings or to look at options that might be open to you.

http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk/m-power/

To add, you won't want to go down the route of breaking a car, thats a major pain, you need lots of space, time to take things apart and buyers are fussy and it can be fraught with problems. I'd sell it complete if thats the route you'd go down.

10year old n/r average miles BMW Alpina, possibly between 2 and 4k? Who knows until you advertise it.

[JASV8S]

I agree with AG that getting a second opinion from one of the more knowledgeable specialist independents that deal with BMW & Alpina. Although I am even further away and not able to use BMR or CPC I have only ever read good things about them. If they could give you a better prognosis, the cost of getting your car transported to them would not be that expensive and the overall outcome might be better financially for you.

Wishing you better luck.

[BarryM]

If you like Alpinas as much as most of us then don’t give up too easily, def get another quote for the repair

[orangenick]

So far I've spent almost 1000 on transporting the vehicle between garages and diagnostics and no where else wanted the job. Inspite of how much I love the car I'm running out of time and money. I've been offered 4000 on ebay and will probably take that. Truly heart braking.

[AG]

wheres the ebay ad, can't find that listing?

[orangenick]

Sold it last night and took a deposit

[Yad3100]

Well done, good luck finding a replacement

[Bob]

It's a shame, but in the circumstances, probably the best/easiest solution.

[164 coupe]

Such a shame if it ends up as spares. It seems such a drastic scenario for what on the face of it looked to have been a straightforward fuel pump issue but I understand the implications of the fuel system being contaminated with the metal filings etc. Sad situation.