What did you do in your ALPINA today?

[simon13]

Chris Plummer in Aldershot is also very good, ex Barons Master tech if hes not retired. Hes off North lane or used to be. I can recommend Gerry Speechley also

[ttrill]

Chris Plummer in Aldershot is also very good, ex Barons Master tech if hes not retired. Hes off North lane or used to be. I can recommend Gerry Speechley also

I haven’t heard from Chris in a while. Last thing I heard was he’d quite badly injured his shoulder

[simon13]

oh right, he was a motorbike man at heart if they are related possibly

[greenelekta]

Since Saturday, I have spent everyday completely baffled by the weird behaviour of my E39 B10 3.3 Touring. The one consistent behaviour is the complete absence of any interest when I turn the ignition key. It's as though the car has completely forgotten about the existence of electricity.

The battery connections are good and the battery itself is in good condition. It's only three months old and is quite often connected to a smart charger when the car is not in use. A multi-meter has confirmed the voltage is up to scratch.

Waving the multi-meter around has not intimidated the car into working at all. Quite the opposite really because it has taken to taunting me with sudden displays of interior light flashing. This happened when I used a slightly more powerful smart charger (Optimate 5). Going back to the slightly weaker one (Optimate 4) has calmed it down again.

So, I'm on the look out for a good mobile auto electrician in the Farnham, Surrey area. Otherwise it's arranging a transporter to Lee Shannon. Lee actually recommended an auto electrician, Bob Cranham, based in Guildofrd but didn't have any contact details for him. I've searched the internet for any info but came up blank, so I'm suspecting he may have retired.

Get on here and ask on the E39 section (Alpina section is dead) https://forum.bmw5.co.uk/

[Toasey]

Thanks all. Names and contacts duly noted.

I tried my jump starter (NOCO GB40) and it worked! Well, got the car started again at least. And when I removed the croc clips off the battery the positive connection came off as well. Maybe I didn't open the croc jaws quite enough but it's not a good sign and certainly an area of suspicion.

I went for a short run and the only issue I noticed was that the tripometer has zeroised. When I got home I put the smart charger on and it's now reading fully charged. I shall be keeping on close eye on everything for a few days.

Very impressed with the NOCO though. And thanks again everyone, you're great.

[BarryM]

when I removed the croc clips off the battery the positive connection came off as well. Maybe I didn't open the croc jaws quite enough

Well that’s your problem right there, regardless of how hard you yank on a crocodile clip the positive lead should not pull off the battery terminal. You need to tighten up the connection so it can’t be pulled off, I’d double check the negative terminal too.

[woolley11]

Hope it is as something as daft as that - easy fix

[woolley11]

Took my errant B10 out for a 10 mile round run near us - after it chucked its toys out the pram yesterday with a battery issue.

Happy to report she behaved herself

[Charles]

Took my errant B10 out for a 10 mile round run near us - after it chucked its toys out the pram yesterday with a battery issue.

Happy to report she behaved herself

Do you think it was just a loose connection on the battery terminal?

[woolley11]

It must have been something daft as I parked outside a shop for 10 minutes and then nothing when I came out despite it been fine 10 mins earlier

I think it must have been the terminal as there was a little play in the + terminal - once battery charged and terminals tightened as much as I dare it seems to be fine with no issues

[ScooBeeFive]

Took my errant B10 out for a 10 mile round run near us - after it chucked its toys out the pram yesterday with a battery issue.

Happy to report she behaved herself

Looks fantastic Woolley - I do like a B10 Touring.....

[woolley11]

Yes do like the Tourings

Saw one at the Silverstone Auction at Practical Classics show at NEC about 4 years ago - felt then I had to have one as they looked

[D3orbust]

Removed the stupid Ceramic coating that I applied last year (never again)

Machine polished and then applied some ‘old skool’ finish kare hi temp wax topped with Pinnacle spray wax.

[Charles]

Cleaned and waxed the summer set in preparation for the spring switchover tomorrow.

[ScooBeeFive]

Cleaned and waxed the summer set in preparation for the spring switchover tomorrow.

Always an exciting time - I'll hopefully swap mine over this weekend too. What wheels do you run as winters out of interest?