Looking for advice on Alpina B3 Biturbo

[Vinzzz]

The car is in the middle of the registration procedure here.
I was a bit surprised by the weight of the car (1745 kg).
It seems like the AWD system adds a lof of weight, though on the internet I also read it shoud be 1670 kg.
I am still waiting for the original data sheet of Alpina. Curious to see the amount of kg's they mention on that sheet.
Honestly I have to say that I am a bit dissapointed in Alpina's service. Nowadays they are charging over 200 EURO for this sheet. I've been waiting nearly 2 months now, still no data sheet here. Without the data sheet the procedure is more complicated here (Alpinas till 2009 don't have COC).

[JohnW]

The quoted weight may be dry weight, so excludes all oil and fluids, that counts for quite a bit.
From my memory the M3 is heavier due to the V8 and DCT, yet has aluminium bonnet and carbon roof too.

I think Alpina are winding down their employees a little ready for the move to BMW so things will get slower.

At least you haven’t got the speedo to swap from km/h to miles per hour, or left hand driving on right handed roads, no parts to change there.

[Vinzzz]

Finally it is on Dutch plates! I took it for a ride together with one of my mates owning a M3. B3 meets M3!
Two complete different approaches but in the end we had the common opinion that we want to have them both in our garage!
This E9x series is one of the best kept secrets of the BMW/Alpina line-up (at least for me it was).
They are both are outstanding. Build quality, steering, engine sound, suspension, et cetera: it is all top notch!

[JohnW]

The M3 would have the slight advantage in a straight line, also on the edge of grip cornering with it’s LSD, but the B3 Allrad I would have thought would be far smoother and controllable in real terms on the road, especially in the wet, it would make better progress. I found the DCT of the M3 was a little clunky traffic queues. too.

Both are great cars to own and keep and will both be classics. Both can be expensive mistresses to maintain though. The B3 will always be more exclusive.

[Vinzzz]

Well I brought the car to a specialist. What I thought, it has some serieus issues. Several oil leaks (which I was partially aware of) but the rear absorbers are also so so.
Nothing really to worry about since I put some serious budget aside for it.
What I am wondering, the front suspension was replaced by the previous owner by Bilstein, but the rears do not seem to be Bilsteins. I really want keep the 100% original set up but where I can I find the detailed info? Are those (new) Bilsteins, used for the front, similar to the OEM? What I've read so far is that Alpina has used different set ups for each type of carrosserie and the Awd also seems to have influence on the parts and adjustments. Is there any detailed information available or should I directly send an email to Buchloe? Any advice here?

[JohnW]

The Allrad fronts differ to RWD.

Allrad front dampers are the same as the Xi Coupes:

31316779983
31316779984

In the parts catalogues.

I had the rears changed last year with Sachs equivalent to the OEM as one was leaking and it did improve the ride. So I’ll be looking at similar for the fronts this year, also checking the control and radius arms etc for play and replacing with Lemforder if the bushes have gone.

Bilstein and Sachs are both listed in the parts catalogues for the fronts but for the Saloon RWD model.

[Vinzzz]

Very much appreciated! I would like to keep it OEM and it seems the fronts arent OEM anymore, unfortunately.

But they are brand new so need to think wheather I am gonna back now to OEM or not. Maybe I'll postpone it to next season and renew the whole suspension as a total package. Thanks again!