Alpina B3 3.3 Coupe no 88

[polynesian2]

Sent you a pm, Simon. No way I would charge you after all the information and inspiration you provide on here.

Probably good to record somewhere outside of my brain that the MAF on the 3.3 is the one used in the M54 330i. I have an airbox and MAF from a B10 as well but that one doesn't show a part number. It does differ in having resistors on the platinum filament, whereas the B3 units just have wire.

I did notice that the throttle was a bit gunked up with a black residue. Now that I've reassembledbit all, should I be cleaning that, is there any real world benefit to doing so, any risk (to the cackhanded ones of us), and any specific products to use?

[simon13]

You're too kind!

I'd of thought removing the old hard grease and re applying some new stuff will do no harm. As to whats correct to use i don't know!

I thought that 3.3 cars were 328i based and 3.4 were 330i based. Or was there a period where the 330i was out before the 3.4 alpinas? I reckon there is a period of overlap. Only because the 328 and 330 have different part numbers for the MAFs. I'm sure they are the same size

[Sab]

Great thread!
Hope the car is going well.

I’ve decided to try eta who are going to replace the suspension(going back to factory oem), front and rear lower wishbones, ball joint, drop links, F/R subframe bushes and diff bushes.

[polynesian2]

Sab, you're in good hands at ETA!

Again this week I reconfirmed my decade long rule that tyres are for replacing due to punctures and never due to wearing out. Two PS4 tears due to another bloody screw through the edge of one. London's building work (including our own probably) has cost me a fortune in tyres.

No wildly exciting shiny tyre picture as the uploader isn't working on my phone again.

[Sab]

Thanks pal.

Seeing the top notch work carried out on your car gives me complete peace of mind the car is with the right engineers.

[Mr Scruff]

So, here's a random bump of an old thread. I bought #88 from Damien back in May 2019 - though without the big brake kit as a) that was more than I needed, and b) it was cheaper without!

My intention is still to gently refurb, replace and upgrade as I go. Now on 164k there's still a lot to be done, despite the PO investments. So far #88 has had new window fixings to sort the dropping offside front window, two new front tyres, some cosmetics (with more to come) and a new rocker cover gasket. Interested to note that it had been replaced not so long ago, however this time I also had to replace the cracked rocker cover too.

So far I've spent more £ than driven miles, but that's primarily as it's a second car that doesn't get driven much!

[Mr Scruff]

So this afternoon I had #88 transported across to Phil and the team at CPC. Won't be looked at til tomorrow but in the meantime I'm pacing like an impatient father.

https://thealpinaregister.com/forums/vi ... 30#p196530

[Mr Scruff]

Got the car back from CPC yesterday.

Seems it wasn't a head gasket (thankfully!). 3 of the injector seals/buckets had detached themselves and gone through the engine - they had a camera in there and found no trace of them, but also no damage either.

They've replaced them and all seems to be up and running again, though still not sure where the fluid leak was from! They've checked and given it a clean bill of health otherwise.

[Henry]

A good result really, if the injector seals failed I’m amazed you didn’t smell fuel. Are they talking about the "o" rings or something else.

[Mr Scruff]

Invoice references 'Injector seals and buckets'.

Didn't smell any fuel, car just broke down on my driveway though, so I didn't particularly run it (other than to put into garage).

Preaching to the converted, I know, but there's something about this car that has got under my skin so very pleased it's sorted without too much expense. In a couple of weeks it's having some leather restoration work, and then the bodywork is scheduled to be completely sorted in Feb. By the time that's done I will have paid more than the cost of the car in upgrades and repairs!

My prior 'fun' car was a Porsche 911 (996) which was sold to pay for a house extension. While that also cost quite a lot to keep in top condition I got the money back when I sold it - hoping to be in the same situation with the Alpina, though no plans to sell it.

[Henry]

The reason I mentioned smell was that I chased a fuel smell/whiff on the m3 for 2 years, changed everything that had a joint on it without success. Finally on a cold start (luckily) 3 injectors spewed petrol all over the engine because the o ring seals had failed. Felt such a dickhead cos I never even thought of that.