What did you do in your ALPINA today?

[Charles]

Opened a can of worms

Took the car in for a new electric fan which had stopped working and uncovered a rotting AC condenser, failing expansion tank mounting plate and a damaged PAS pulley.

Admittedly they are all original parts from 2003 and it's probably best to have discovered them all at the same time but not quite what I was expecting when I left the house this morning.

Another expensive month for the family fleet ...

[polynesian2]

Sorry to hear that but well done, Charles. Always better to attend to these things before they leave you stranded (waterpump on our E91 325i comes to mind- it was on 65k or something so I asked for it to be checked before the annual trip to Spain, a week later it stranded us in France, bank holiday approaching, etc etc). Hope it’s all relatively painless.

[Rav]

I went to the barn where i store my car and gave her a run after just over a month.
It was a nice warm evening and she performed perfectly.
I noted that there are some rot bubble around the arches that need attention and have BMR for a quote.

[EdM]

Took B3 3.3 #180 out of the garage for the first long run of the year over Easter. The sun went in just as I took this, so you don't quite get the full technoviolet pop here.

[Charles]

That's better!

Coolant system refitted and temps back under control.

Couple of pictures to show what we discovered when dismantling yesterday ...

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[Marc 76]

Certainly due Charles- not a great deal of airflow going on there!

[Frosty]

I have a great product I use for cleaning the air sourced heat pump we use for the pool, would likely also work on any debris you have in the filaments.

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[Marc 76]

Been up the Northumberland coast for a few days with the family on board.
D5 was more than capable and plenty of fun too, the kids love those foot to the floor moments

Pictured at Bamburgh castle carpark.

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[Charles]

Certainly due Charles- not a great deal of airflow going on there!

Not something that even crossed my mind in the past but accessing the front of the AC condenser is not a straightforward job, involving removing the bumper and auxiliary fan.

I've made a diary note to check the new one in 19 years or 368k miles - whichever comes first

[hap]

Charles dare I ask the cost of this
Marc car looks nice but you need to get the rear badges now
Need to check this coast castle out someday

[D3orbust]

Been up the Northumberland coast for a few days with the family on board.
D5 was more than capable and plenty of fun too, the kids love those foot to the floor moments

Pictured at Bamburgh castle carpark.

Bamburgh2.jpg

Bamburgh1.jpg

Love the place, if your kids are into Harry Potter etc try Alnwick castle which isn’t far from bamburgh.

[ScooBeeFive]

Pictured at Bamburgh castle carpark.

We've just got back from a week in Wales in the B5. They are just the best family cars ever - how can something so practical and comfortable be so immensely rapid and fun....

[Marc 76]

Marc car looks nice but you need to get the rear badges now
Need to check this coast castle out someday

Hap, not sure i'm ready for that kind of expense

There are a bunch of castles up there, all worth the visit. Its a really nice part of the country especially if you get the weather.

[Marc 76]

Love the place, if your kids are into Harry Potter etc try Alnwick castle which isn’t far from bamburgh.

Yes we did that too- broomstick training and everything haha! Great fun. The state rooms there are absolutely stunning also.

We had a bit of a castle fest actually, Bamburgh, Alnwick and Lindisfarne. All spectacular in their own way!

[Marc 76]

We've just got back from a week in Wales in the B5. They are just the best family cars ever - how can something so practical and comfortable be so immensely rapid and fun....

Great things arent they, i was really appreciating the ride quality on this trip, as per my previous 5's they somehow feel the best on a long run when fully loaded with passengers, luggage and fuel! Smooth as silk and effortless. And of course yours has the enhanced soundtrack too!