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

AG · Post by AG » Sun Oct 07, 2018 11:34 pm

despite being an old car the bills are still based on a car of high value, and being an older car these things will need replacing.

The battery, if its an old unit I'd factor in replacing that when you can.

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Wed Oct 10, 2018 9:35 pm

I found out what the battery drain problem is......

The radio has the usual E46 problems. Removal of fuse 7 and 41 resets faults such as:

Radio refusing to turn on
Radio refusing to turn off
Radio not switching off after the key is removed - yes really!

The radio stayed on, even after the key was taken out (a known fault) and drained the battery. Its dry solder joints - but i just cant find anywhere n the internet where i can find where these joints are.

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Wed Oct 10, 2018 9:51 pm

Finally i got the DVD navigation working. I cheated as i bought a replacement unit from a chap on M3Cutters forum. Fitted this and off it went.

PerryGunn helped me with a snazzy start up screen for the unit specific to Alpina and my car build number! Thanks chum!!!

In the mean time, my original unit is in the process of being repaired. I beleive i have located the fault, so will try this over the weekend. I forgot to take the two transport solder blobs of the optical pick up. So i spent an hour digging back through the unit to get back ot the optic. Its ready now and I will try it at the weekend.

You can read the instructions here if anyone is debating the same repair
https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showt ... p?t=624428

After crashing my daily Audi A4, the Alpina has become the daily and i am using the car for school drop offs, shopping and tip runs. Last week, the children were letting a wasp out of the car when the regulator failed with the window in the down position.

[Picture when the upload tool will work]

The door card was removed using Youtube videos as a guide. I love the hand written stickers from Alpina on the rear of the door cards, describing the materials and colours used and a name of individual who made them.

[Picture when the upload tool will work]

New one on order - but for now some pressure treated timber is zip tied to the old regulator keeping the window shut.

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Wed Oct 10, 2018 9:57 pm

I managed to find some time to enjoy the barmy sunshine today. 25 degrees and its the 10th October!!

Parked her next to her stable mate.

[Picture to be uploaded]

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Sun Oct 14, 2018 5:16 pm

Help!

PerryGunn had kindly given me a nice Alpina splashscreen and I bought a dvd nav to get this working. Perhaps greedily i bought a hybrid tuner from Ebay.

I plugged this in and it didnt work.

I replaced the unit with my old unit and now nothing works. No screen at all. Radio comes on, but no display on the screen.

I feel gutted. The screen does go a little lighter when i put the key into the ignition, but nothing at all displays.

Can anyone help please?

DogWagen · Post by **DogWagen** » Sun Oct 14, 2018 9:14 pm

Hi Rav,

I've had something similar - radio wouldn't work when Bluetooth tried to connect with my phone; the Nav was OK as was the onboard computer. I pulled the fuses for the audio, left it for a while and then reconnected - problem has resolved itself. I think I found the fuse numbers on M3cutters. Long term fix is that I don't use Bluetooth.

Not sure this will work for you but it's worth a try.

Hope it helps,

Mike

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Sun Oct 14, 2018 9:20 pm

Thanks Mike. Im loosing my mojo on the car.

I have booked an appointment with Baris at Carphonics in north london next week, so hope that we can get to the bottom of the problem.

I just want it to work!

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 2:59 pm

Woke up at 05:30 and was on the road by 06:30 on Saturday morning. I went to see Baris at Carphonics to have my in car entertainment repaired.

Got to Enfield by 08:30 after negotiating the cameras on the M25. Baris had a quick look and was able to fix my problems. Whilst I was there, I purchased one of his modified Digital TV tuners. I asked him to repair the radio too as i often had to pull fuses 7 and 41 to get the radio to behave.

I also had my spare Mk4 DVD navigation repaired whilst i waited.

Spent Â£450 with Baris, but should reccoup at least some of that back.

I now have working Digital TV and DAB radio working. Sat nav works and have a spare Mk4 DVD navigation drive. I have a USB in slot, so can add a 32Gb usb stick containing pictures, videos, film and music to play.

I cant recommend Carphonics enough. Baris is excellent to deal with and carries stock, so no need to wait around. He also accepts units by post.

http://www.carphonics.co.uk/

or call Baris on 07958 499151

As a result - I have for sale at the moment, the following items:

1. Mk4 DVD unit - brand new loader fitted by Baris on 20 Oct.
2. Standard Hybrid Digital TV tuner.
3. Analouge TV Tuner.

Please let me know if you want/need any of the above.

jolls · Post by **jolls** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 4:39 pm

Glad you got it sorted in the end!

You have PM.

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:13 pm

@Jolls - replied!

My children were very happy this morning on the school run. They were able to watch Cebebies on the way to school!

Post by **Charles** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:45 pm

Rav wrote:My children were very happy this morning on the school run. They were able to watch Cebebies on the way to school!

Rav - sorry to put a dampener on things but you might want to check the legality of being able to play video/tv whilst moving - see here

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:36 pm

Fair point Charles - I will connect the handbrake connector back up to stop it working whilst moving.

Kids will have to watch TV whilst waiting for thier mum.

jolls · Post by **jolls** » Tue Oct 23, 2018 8:17 am

@PM back to you Rav.

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Mon Nov 05, 2018 4:06 pm

I noticed a knocking under the car especially when driving on those annoying bump strips as you approach roundabouts. It sounded like gearbox mounts. I was terrifed that this would be big costs.

I took it to my garage over the weekend and had a look. It seems that the rubber mounts for the exhaust are broken. New ones ordered and will be fitted at the weekend.

Whilst under there i noticed some general corrosion. Can anyone reccomend what to use on the car to minimise this?

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Sun Dec 09, 2018 3:21 pm

Not sure if anyone actually reads these?

Replaced the exhaust mountings yesterday, didnt take long. Bolts were very rusty.
Whilst under there i used Hammerite Underseal all over the underside of the car.
Next step is to clean the arches, remove the liners. Pressure wash out and use waxoyl to rust proof.

I also bought a new bm-24 radio module as mine refuses to turn off/on on occasion. I have to remove fuses to leave the car.