D3 Bi Turbo Maintenance DIY Sticky?

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shaziman
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D3 Bi Turbo Maintenance DIY Sticky?

Post by shaziman » Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:16 am

Hi all,

Being a relative newbie to the 'modern' Alpina world and trying to do the maintenance myself, i have found it very time consuming to find out all the maintenance items and tools required for the D3BT.

An example of this was trying to find out what oil filter tool to use for the BT. As far as i am aware, MT come with a hex, so easy enough to try sockets and find out, or measure, but when it comes to diameter and flutes for the oil cap, not so easy, although not impossible. Taking a long time and not being able to find anyone whom would let me try one of 3 14 flute tools, i ended up in Halfords. After 3 failed attempts at stores showing stock and not having any, i found one and a nice chap whom would let me try one out and luckily it fit.

Another one was the fuel filter change process, on a run of the mill diesel, airlocks are a problem so you need to bleed the diesel through, Not so with these cars, just change and it will self bleed after a quite a few cranks. Needless to say, they didn't put it in a DIY service friendly place.

Does anyone know of a thread which would detail al this? As these cars are now over 10 years old, they will fall in to owners hands where they will use local garages, or do it themselves and we all know what lack of knowledge can do to these cars!

Edit: I know that these cars are on CBS, this is not a question regarding when, but how to! :)
1995 E36 B3.0 Convertible (rebodied)
1996 E36 B3.2 Touring No:20 - 1 of 5 made
1997 E36 B3.2 Touring No:36 - 1 of 5 made
1999 E36 323 Sport Touring
2011 E92 D3 Bi-turbo no.246 (santorini blue)
2019 Fiat Fullback
2020 Mini Countryman SE (PHEV)
Alpina, BMW and Detailing Enthusiast

Wellsy
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Re: D3 Bi Turbo Maintenance DIY Sticky?

Post by Wellsy » Tue Jan 18, 2022 12:56 pm

Hi,

I think one thing I always remember is the D3 BT is an Alpina but it is also heavily reliant on BMW off the shelf parts. For example I am also a member of an E9X forum, and also a 1 series forum.

In the E9X forum I can look out for general E9X issues, specifically for me E90.
In the 1 series forum I am looking for and asking questions about the 123D engine. For example I recently changed my inlet manifold and there was a great write up on the 1 series forum on how to do it and what to watch out for.

Do you have the D3 BT Parts Catalogue, it doesn't list specific tools, but can help make clear what parts are needed and then using that to determine which tools etc.

When using garages, luckily for me my neighbor owns and runs a garage at the end of my road and he is really helpful, but also interested in the car and making sure its right. So takes the time to check parts etc.
Outside of that I have learnt from a recent fault with my car that Alpina's need to visit a specialist when things are not quite clear. I recently needed a complete DDE reprogrammed so spent the day at BMR in Crawley. They were able to fix an issue a general garage would not even get close too.

Clearly also the D3 and D3 BT are relatively more abundant than some of the other Alpina models so there are a few of us here that may be able to help.

Cheers Mark.
E90 D3 Biturbo 2009 No114
Black with Gold Decals
Piano black interior trim (looking for trim with Gold inlay, watch this space :P )
Upgraded Stereo system

shaziman
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Location: Nottingham, occasionally S.Wales

Re: D3 Bi Turbo Maintenance DIY Sticky?

Post by shaziman » Tue Jan 18, 2022 3:40 pm

Thanks Mark,

Yes i am aware of the E9x and 1 series forums, but what i noticed is amongst the 1 series, the 123d isn't all that common and therefore info is limited, although what is there is good. E9x forums i find are mostly for bit that Alpina haven't used, such as runflat tyres but is only useful for interior or basic suspension stuff, which in principle for all 3 series BMW's.

Yes i do have the parts catalogue, thanks to this forum for this, which has helped, but for specific tools, the part number reveals no technical specs for you to make or obtain your own. i.e. Oil filter removal tool pn:xxxxxx, rather than 76mm 14 flute tool.

What i am after is a one stop thread for all things D3BT that covers the bulk of the DIY owners needs.

Maybe i will have to start one! LOL
1995 E36 B3.0 Convertible (rebodied)
1996 E36 B3.2 Touring No:20 - 1 of 5 made
1997 E36 B3.2 Touring No:36 - 1 of 5 made
1999 E36 323 Sport Touring
2011 E92 D3 Bi-turbo no.246 (santorini blue)
2019 Fiat Fullback
2020 Mini Countryman SE (PHEV)
Alpina, BMW and Detailing Enthusiast

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Charles
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Re: D3 Bi Turbo Maintenance DIY Sticky?

Post by Charles » Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:22 pm

shaziman wrote:
Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:16 am
Does anyone know of a thread which would detail all this? As these cars are now over 10 years old, they will fall in to owners hands where they will use local garages, or do it themselves and we all know what lack of knowledge can do to these cars!
If these sort of threads are written then I am happy to set up a new section and/or mark the threads as "stickies" so that they appear at the top of the appropriate existing section.
shaziman wrote:
Tue Jan 18, 2022 3:40 pm
Maybe i will have to start one! LOL
We have the means, we just need the content!!!
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

shaziman
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Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 1:59 pm
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Re: D3 Bi Turbo Maintenance DIY Sticky?

Post by shaziman » Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:14 pm

Thanks Charles! Lets see a few more replies and then i will start to get the content as time goes on and add to it during ownership
1995 E36 B3.0 Convertible (rebodied)
1996 E36 B3.2 Touring No:20 - 1 of 5 made
1997 E36 B3.2 Touring No:36 - 1 of 5 made
1999 E36 323 Sport Touring
2011 E92 D3 Bi-turbo no.246 (santorini blue)
2019 Fiat Fullback
2020 Mini Countryman SE (PHEV)
Alpina, BMW and Detailing Enthusiast

shaziman
ALPINA
ALPINA
Posts: 1389
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 1:59 pm
Location: Nottingham, occasionally S.Wales

Re: D3 Bi Turbo Maintenance DIY Sticky?

Post by shaziman » Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:31 am

No Further comments, so i will start to collate things and generate a post.

@charles, do you want to start a section , or should i post it in "car care and detailing?"
1995 E36 B3.0 Convertible (rebodied)
1996 E36 B3.2 Touring No:20 - 1 of 5 made
1997 E36 B3.2 Touring No:36 - 1 of 5 made
1999 E36 323 Sport Touring
2011 E92 D3 Bi-turbo no.246 (santorini blue)
2019 Fiat Fullback
2020 Mini Countryman SE (PHEV)
Alpina, BMW and Detailing Enthusiast

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Charles
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Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2003 2:44 am
Location: Oxford

Re: D3 Bi Turbo Maintenance DIY Sticky?

Post by Charles » Wed Jan 26, 2022 1:32 pm

shaziman wrote:
Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:31 am
No Further comments, so i will start to collate things and generate a post.

@charles, do you want to start a section , or should i post it in "car care and detailing?"
If you start a new thread/topic then I can locate it most appropriately. Please start it in the "Care and Detailing" section for now with a model specific title eg "E9x D3 widget replacement thread" (or something like that, so that it is easily identifiable for what it is.

C
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

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