Rav's 1999 B3 3.3 Saloon - Yes I bought it!!

[Rav]

Good point Jolls. I will check asap.

[Rav]

Went out and checked, the bulb warning light is now out and the car is working fine.....Strange.

Still loosing coolant though......

[Charles]

I am hoping that it is a saftey feature, if a head/side light is out the indicator comes on permanantly on the same side.......

Can anyone confirm?

Exactly that.

The intermittent sidelight issue may be a dodgy connection. I would suggest removing the bulb from its holder, clean any corrosion around the base and then reposition in the holder before refitting the holder.

[Rav]

Thanks Charles.....I will check this.

I went out to the car today. I havent used it for over a week due to the Xmas break. Nothing, absolutly nothing....

Battery read 4v and my CTEK charger just didnt want to know.
I used an old audi A8 battery as a jump and the CTEK then recognised the battery and started charging. I will leave it on all night tonight.

Still got the coolant leak and the bm-24 to sort as well as the sidelight bulbs (thanks Charles).

[Rav]

Swapped out the BM-24 radio module for ne i bought from Baris at Carphonics.

An easy job - yes, but i stupidly waited for it to get dark and then started the job.....

Leak from the car was also checked, no liquids found at all. I will continue to use the car and see what happens.

[Rav]

A small update:

I spent Saturday cleaning the car as it was caked in muck and road salt. It doesn’t help living in the sticks.

A quick wash and rub over with some wax to try and help protect the car over the winter. I did the door shuts and underside of the doors, boot recess and engine bay. I just used some Meguairs stuff I have. The car came up really nice.....
The wheels are a nightmare to clean as they are 18" and multiple spokes. But it came up really nice.

The paint is a specific Alpina colour and is lovely. It looks blue, but in certain light conditions flips to a purple. It did this the day i went to see the car in Morecombe - i was sold before i drove it...



In my hast to top up fluids i accidently poured Green VAG PAS fluid into the reservoir instead of the specific Dexron III these older cars need. I read up that the wrong fluid, green in particular would eat the PAS seals especially on the steering rack. After spending the best part of £800 sorting the PAS this was the last thing i needed. It was also cold.....



So, i spent today buying Dexron III from Eurocarparts - SALE55 is the discount code at the moment and a turkey baster (i kid you not) from a local kitchen shop. After dropping the kids at the tutors, i jacked up the front wheels and emptied the reservoir with the turkey baster. Turning the steering lock to lock with the engine turned off bought more fluid into the reservoir. I sucked this out and replaced with new Dexron III. I bled the system and went for a drive. WOW - what a difference new fluid and setting the tyre pressures makes. I was so chuffed, I went for another drive.




I love this car (but perhaps not the 22 mpg I am averaging).

[hap]

Looking good there
Need some more updated ext n int pics pls

[Rav]

Thanks Hap - I will do once i can get the upload function to work on the forum. It just wont work for me!

The car has developed a belt whining sound today. I checked all fluids and eveything seems fine. I will see if my mechanic can take a look at the weekend.

I recall that @Charles mentioned a bearing that might be the culprit?

I also beleive that i might need a new weel bearing as the sounds of the car is getting noisy. Again, i will check when at the garage at the weekend.

[Simon Rose]

love all your posts and the old mag bit on the car!! Epic

[Rav]

Thanks Simon...

I took the 'beast' to my mechanic. When i started the car this morning, no whining sound at all.
Got to the garage, smooth as silk.

He prodded about - nothing to report. He checked the headgasket and nothing to report.

Looking forward to driving her again this evening!

[Rav]

No real reason to post. Except that my work laptop seems to allow photos to be uploaded!

A few for the record:

[Rav]

The dreaded noise is back.

Can anyone steer me to a guide of how to replace the belts, tensioners, idler pullies etc? Ideally with a parts list of what to buy and how to complete the job.

Thanks

[Rav]

MOT time for the Alpina, the first in my ownership. This is always a nervous moment as the MOT the car came with has no provenence.

I was surprised to see that the car passed with only minor advisories. These are:

1. Four new tyres - the Federal 595R track tyres are perished and old in terms of manufacture date.
2. Drop link cover split
3. Amber indicators not amber enough

Other than that, its a pass!

I still need to carry out a service on the car and replace the aux belts and tensioners/idlers.

A quick trawl on Ebay and £15 later, i bought some chrome amber bulbs and switched these over. The drp link cover I will do at service time. Now looking for a set of PS4 tyres - but can find the right size anywhere!

[B3FNA]

Hi Rav,

I started reading from page 1 today all the way to your most recent update. Really enjoyed reading!!

It's good to see so much passion and love for a car Keep them coming!!

[Rav]

Thanks @B3FNA !

This weekend i gave the car a full oil service.

Oil filter
Cabin filter
Fuel filter
6 spark plugs - the proper ones
New oil

I also changed out all the aux belts and tensioners/idlers for new units. The belts were in a shocking state.

Whilst under there i gave the car a brake fluid change too.

Today - I replaced all the rubber seals on the wheel centres. This was a pain and i managed to snap a wheel key again. I have spares, but these are made of chocholate!!

Pictures soon.....