F30 LCI D3 BiTurbo #429

[Bob]

Thanks for the thoughts gents.
Had a look at it today and looks really nice, would look even better with a good clean you're right Matt. Definitely a contender. I like the HUD, neither of my previous 2 Bi-Turbos had this and never thought i'd wan't it - but i love a gadget Love the sunroof, a must for me, like the 20 inch wheels, much better to look at than the 19s (until you need to replace a tyre) and while the rear seat not folding is a pain, I only ever used it to take a bike and it's nothing a cheap back rack won't solve. Needs the windows tinting at the back i reckon to finish it off as well.
Something to sleep on....maybe I'll be back in the Aplina club sooner than i planned

Did you do a deal Ian? See it’s no longer for sale

[iant]

Yep, I am now the owner of a Red D3 Not picked it up yet but looking forward to being back in an Alpina. Will feel very different to the S5 i'm driving at the moment thats for sure..

[Bob]

This is back down at BCA Blackbushe on the 16th. Looks to be sold by the same dealer that had it down in Southampton before Iant bought it (did the deal fall through?). Hope it wasn't anything serious.

D3 BITURBO [F30 LCI] #429 A75 - Melbourne Red/LCL3 - Black Dakota w Red Stitch Leather; 2017_17; £25.9k; 55k; Auction

[iant]

I did buy it, had it for less than 24 hours and returned it.

In short the steering wasn't right, it just felt a little off, a bit twitchy, and having had a couple before i knew how it should be. I took it to Micheldever tyres the morning after i had picked it up to get the tracking checked and it was spot on, however they found the 2 front tyres were in need of replacement (1 had a massive nail and the other had 2 cuts on the edge). I wasn't about to spend £500 on 2 new boots so took it back for them to sort. On the drive back to Southampton noticed when accelerating reasonably quickly the car pulled to the right, just like when you overtake, when you eased off it drifted back to the left.
I left it with them for the best part of a month, the Toyota / Lotus guys couldn't find anything wrong so it went to BMW in Portsmouth (owned by the same chain that were selling it). After a week with the "master technician" they came back and said everything is fine, it's no problem. In fact they said it was due to the LSD and as they hadn't got another to compare it to gave it a clean bill of health.
I had assumed it was a knackered bush or mount, but they said they checked them all and everything was fine.
Anyway as they couldn't diagnose the fault let alone fix it i told them to keep it and took my old car back. There is something wrong with it, but who knows what. All i can say is its been serviced, had 2 new tyres, had the air con re done and some paint chips on the bonnet done which is great, but if it doesn't drive like an Alpina should whats the point hey...

[churchie386]

I had a very similar issue on a E90 Bi-Turbo.

4 wheel alignment was spot on - confirmed on two different Hunter machines. Rear tyres were new Michelin Pilot something (Synter had to pay for these just days after I took delivery because they supplied the car with Yokohams of an incorrect load rating). Front tyres were matched Michelins in good condition. All pressures were correct. And yet,like yours, with the steering wheel level, it pulled to the offside under acceleration, and drfited to the nearside when not (the left drift is expected due to road crown and gravity).

Well it wasn't the LSD it didn't have one, so what was it?

In the end I swapped the the rears left to right (no other changes) and the car now pulled to the nearside under acceleration. So one of the tyres had a problem (conicity I think its called). Anyway, two more new were fitted (could have done one) and all was good.

Did the dealer try swapping left to right at the rear?

[iant]

We tried that when i got the wheel alignment done, thats how I noticed the fronts were knackered and needed replacement. It didn't alter the handling issue at all, with the tyres swapped it still pulled to the right. All 4 tyres are now new (the rears had already been done). Very odd, i'm sure someone with patience could find and solve the issue, but if two garages hadn't been able to even pin point it I wasn't keen enough to try, easier to just find another car.

[Frosty]

That is a shame, it is a nice looking car. I wonder if the issue described will be disclosed otherwise some other poor soul will be wrestling with the same problem.

[iant]

That is a shame, it is a nice looking car. I wonder if the issue described will be disclosed otherwise some other poor soul will be wrestling with the same problem.

Part of me thinks that's why they didn't admit there was a fault, as if they did there would be a requirement to disclose it. They admit it did it but not that it was a fault.

[Bob]

Sorry to hear that Ian, such a shame but as you say:

if it doesn't drive like an Alpina should whats the point hey...

I assume it's not had any accident damage, did you get an HPI certificate when you bought it?

[iant]

Sorry to hear that Ian, such a shame but as you say:

if it doesn't drive like an Alpina should whats the point hey...

I assume it's not had any accident damage, did you get an HPI certificate when you bought it?

Yep, they had done one and i did one myself as well. It looked straight, all the gaps were as you'd expect, engine bay looked right, nothing to give away any damage. That said, the fact two tyres were shot, plus a load of deep stone chips appeared once they Jet washed it on the bonnet suggested it hadn't been loved.

I will continue to look for a replacement and may consider a new D3 / B3, be nice to see and drive one, wonder when they will arrive in the UK..

[ttrill]

Sorry to hear that Ian, such a shame but as you say:

if it doesn't drive like an Alpina should whats the point hey...

I assume it's not had any accident damage, did you get an HPI certificate when you bought it?

Yep, they had done one and i did one myself as well. It looked straight, all the gaps were as you'd expect, engine bay looked right, nothing to give away any damage. That said, the fact two tyres were shot, plus a load of deep stone chips appeared once they Jet washed it on the bonnet suggested it hadn't been loved.

I will continue to look for a replacement and may consider a new D3 / B3, be nice to see and drive one, wonder when they will arrive in the UK..

Synter's B3 Touring demo is plated up at burchloe and awaiting shipment so not long!

[Frosty]

Sorry to hear that Ian, such a shame but as you say: I assume it's not had any accident damage, did you get an HPI certificate when you bought it?

Yep, they had done one and i did one myself as well. It looked straight, all the gaps were as you'd expect, engine bay looked right, nothing to give away any damage. That said, the fact two tyres were shot, plus a load of deep stone chips appeared once they Jet washed it on the bonnet suggested it hadn't been loved.

I will continue to look for a replacement and may consider a new D3 / B3, be nice to see and drive one, wonder when they will arrive in the UK..

Synter's B3 Touring demo is plated up at burchloe and awaiting shipment so not long!

Yes I saw that too, nice looking car for sure!

[Jonnywishbone]

Yep, they had done one and i did one myself as well. It looked straight, all the gaps were as you'd expect, engine bay looked right, nothing to give away any damage. That said, the fact two tyres were shot, plus a load of deep stone chips appeared once they Jet washed it on the bonnet suggested it hadn't been loved.

I will continue to look for a replacement and may consider a new D3 / B3, be nice to see and drive one, wonder when they will arrive in the UK..

Synter's B3 Touring demo is plated up at burchloe and awaiting shipment so not long!

Yes I saw that too, nice looking car for sure!

Are there pics available?

I've got a G21 B3 on order and the chap at Sytner HW very kindly offered me a test drive when they get hold of it, which is pretty decent since I didn't ask and it's not going to make a difference to me anyway!

[Frosty]

[Jonnywishbone]