Burj323

Oh my I just found out the oil filter they fitted at last oil service (march 2011, 7,000 km till now) is WRONG! And I doubt all oil filters that have been fitted in my car were all wrong!
The Radial compressor has been replaced once (at 35,000 km). Really don't know what sort of damage could have done to the present one.
I am not happy. My B5S still has a rough clod start every time I frist start it in the morning, with fluctuating idle. And there seems to be too much oil in the engine. Have to park the car at the dealer again for I don't know how many days to get all these sorted!

doctorUAE

Apologies for the delayed response but I've been travelling... I would push your dealer hard to investigate and definitely push to get Alpina involved in the troubleshooting.

A quick update on my situation. As you know from previous posts in this thread I had AGMC check the compressor for issues and they gave it the all clear. A month or so later the engine light I'd had previously returned. After another large rant from me they took the car in and diagnostics said it was a air/fuel mixture warning.

After a week or so of working with Alpina it was concluded the catalytic converters were the issue and needed replacing. A few days later they phoned with even better news - it turns out the compressor was leaking oil that had in turn damaged the cats. The result - a new compressor AND new cats were required!

When they told me the list price for all the parts, I needed a stiff drink. Luckily, because of the car history and no doubt because they'd given the all clear on the compressor, they gave me 50% off parts and labour. It is still a horrendous number but probably not too bad given the circumstances. Warranty expired Feb last year with not option to extend. 3rd party warranties would not have saved me much.

My guess was that the previous owner made a mistake with the oil filter just before I got it. By the time the filter was changed the damage may have been done.
The pattern leading to this - high oil consumption, warnings etc, does seem to follow your situation but I'm really just guessing. My personal theory is also guess work. It seems many B5/B5s owners have had replacement compressors under all manner of circumstances.

Alpina did warn me about the filter and in my case perhaps it has done for me.

I did consider this failure 'worse case scenario' when I bought the car. Unfortunately it has occurred. However, I console myself with the fact that I got the car at a very good price and the difference with the work is about what I probably should have paid for it. Plus it now has a new compressor which might allay the fears of any future owners.

It still hurts though! (but I still don't regret buying the car in the slightest. I've had some pain but it gives me so much back that I don't resent it. I'm actually picking it up today after 4 weeks in the garage and I can't wait, it's been a long 4 weeks!)

Burj323

Doc.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry to hear the problems you are encountering.
CAT. + Compressor = a lot of money. My SA told me it would cost 20,000 AED for a brand new compressor, part only! And you have to wait for few weeks.
I left my Alpina at the workshop before I took off for a 2 week vacation. Hopefully this would give them enough time to sort out all problems.



Got the email from the SA today for a bit of updates:

1. Fluctuating idling at cold start: all spark plugs need to be replaced and they are waiting for the plugs. ?? I thought the Alpina use the same plugs on BMW 5 series.
2. Oil filter: they told me the oil filter (part no. 11 42 7 542 021) they used was correct. That is the part indicated when key in the chassis number in their system. However they has replaced the old one with 11 42 7 511 161 per Alpina’s instruction.

I have asked them to check the compressor and make sure there is no leak. Luckily my car is still under warranty till Feb 2014. However leaving the car there for weeks is still a big headache.

Hasan Shaikh

The correct oil filter for the Alpina B5 is 11 42 7 511 161.

11 42 7 542 021 is not the correct filter.

Burj323

When I told them they have used the wrong oil filters on my Alpina for the past 50,000 km, they looked at me in disbelief until I showed them the email from Alpina. How can something so simple went wrong?

Hasan Shaikh

Actually that is too complicated for AGMC.

They forgot to tighten the wheel bolts on my friends car when he gave them the car for an alignment and nearly killed him and his family.

Burj323

I have to say Alfardan is far better than AGMC. My question is, the system directed the mechanic to get the oil filter based on the chassis number they put in. And that is a wrong oil fliter which could cause premature failure of compressor, a costly repair. If I don't tell them they will continue to service all Alpina B5/S in Doha the same way.

Hasan Shaikh

I know I have lived in Doha for 3 years.

I believe its a mistake by the tech. He should have used the Alpina chassis number to get the part number. I never had any problem like this with my B5 in Doha.

ASR1

Anyone know where I can find a good Alpina B5 / B5S to buy in Doha?

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BMW E39 M5 - Oxford Green/Caramel Heritage