Le Touquet B8's get together... - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Thierry ZUNINO · 14th September 2006, 11:17

Hello all,

Imad from London and I got together on July 15 to take advantage of a warm summer day and meet with our B8's for the first time, as with Bruno a few weeks ago.

Imad bought his wonderful blue Alpina B8 in Germany at around 110000kms in excellent condition and made an additive great maintenance direct in Buchloe to change headgaskets and a few details to make the car really perfect. And it is!

It was a pleasure to meet and compare these two rare cars, cars (and us) very happy to be in a refined city as Le Touquet (north of France) in front of beautiful hotels and restaurants seeing the differences between our two coupés:
- slightly different front grills, wheels (hidden locked pressure valve on mine) and rear spoiler with 3rd braking light for mine, for example, Imad's before E36 lifting (1995) and mine after (end 1996)
- my B8 is exclusive "Individual nachblau" coloured, and the paint is on all car surface, even on the "blackson", and there're no "Alpina" or "B8" logos, but dicret Alpina emblemas instead of original Bmw ones. But Alpina blue is wonderful and an original sign of authenticity for a such car.
- Electrical Recaro seats for Imad and sport electrical Bmw for mine, with almost same buffalo leather for both. Recaro are better for tall people as me to find a perfect driving position, and Bmw sport seats are smoother: question of tastes and needs...
- Optional Alpina dials for Imad, not for me: an important check I'd like to have!
- Big bord computer, automatic air conditionned, day/night automatic rear view mirrors for me but rear store and rear parking radar for Imad etc...
- Important thing: I have the Limited Slip Differential and I felt immediatly the difference on corners with Imad B8 in testing a little the car of each other... That's incredible that Alpina didn't put automatically a LSD on a so torquy car.
- My coupé had a firmer and lower (about 20mm) than standard suspension, that gave a knobbly ride that is perhaps a touch harsh at low speed on Paris cobbles (we met at the Arc de Triomphe with Bruno), but felt better at high speed and gave a very precise direction. But it was not practical because too low, so I have today original Alpina springs...
- Important thing for me: the engine sound.
My coupé also has a non-std made-to-measure stainless exhaust that gives a more present engine note, more when the engine is hot after about 20 or 40 kms: I love it.

My coupé has 85000kms this summer, 88500 today in September, but the condition is same for Imad coupé: excellent, thta's normal for an Alpina: Bruno's one, with around 175000kms is always excellent too!

Imad, do you have comments or rectifications to do about my text?

Cheers.

Thierry

greg1234 · 14th September 2006, 11:26

That's interesting - when I spoke to Alpina a few weeks ago they said they could not service customers' cars because they were too busy making new cars...

Thierry ZUNINO · 14th September 2006, 11:45

That's true for the moment: they are very busy with the construction of plenty of D3 (berk)
But when they have time, that's their pleasure to maintain our cars, if it's one time by time: Alpina is a factory, not anything else.

Thierry

IAS · 14th September 2006, 13:22

Thierry,

Thanks for the great write-up. You said it all: both cars are in fantastic shape and are owned by people who are passionate about keeping them in the best condition possible.

To answer Greg's question, my car was not simply "serviced"; I had some serious preventive maintanance done on it which included the change of headgaskets, and since this was an engine-out job, took the opportunity to change the clutch. Also instead of repainting the stone-chipped front spolier, I had Alpina fit a new one. I also instructed Alpina to thoroughly inspect the car and to change any electrical or mechanical part that needed changing. Finally I asked them to "refresh" the buffalo leather interior and change the floor mats.

As you are probably guessing, the bill was significantly higher than what it would have been for a simple service. Greg is right: Alpina don't have the time to service cars. However my car was in for a lot more than an oil change which I am guessing made it a viable financial proposition for Alpina. I was also willing to work around their schedule, which meant that I was prepared to leave the car with them for 3 weeks.

m5 killer · 14th September 2006, 13:42

this will go to politics it all depends on who you are and who you know to get the factory to work on your car at the drop of a hat, so if you phone up the answer you will get is we are too busy.

mill · 14th September 2006, 21:23

Quote:

- Important thing: I have the Limited Slip Differential and I felt immediatly the difference on corners with Imad B8 in testing a little the car of each other... That's incredible that Alpina didn't put automatically a LSD on a so torquy car.

I agree!
I wouldn't miss my limited slip differntial, I can switch off my ASC+T and have incredible grip in the corners

IAS · 15th September 2006, 00:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by mill

I agree!
I wouldn't miss my limited slip differntial, I can switch off my ASC+T and have incredible grip in the corners

I can only agree that a LSD would improve corner handling significantly, but I should add that unlike Thierry's B8, my rear tyres are nearing the end of their legal lives (1-2000km of tread life left) and will have to be replaced within the next few months. Thanks to Rojer I have been able to secure a pair of original spec Michelin PS1 265 35 17 tyres, and will be changing these over the next few months. I will then invite Thierry to have another drive in my car and my guess is that he will find it a lot more grippy.

I have always wanted to equip my B8 with a LSD, but Alpina told me that they don't make them anymore and no longer have any units in stock...If anyone knows where I can get a 25% LSD for my B8 (at a reasonable price), please let me know!

Cheers!

AlpinaB8 · 15th September 2006, 01:22

IAS its the same lsd as for the m3...

IAS · 15th September 2006, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlpinaB8

IAS its the same lsd as for the m3...

Thanks - But why did Alpina tell me they don't make them anymore and that they couldn't sell me one? I would have thought that they would have just told me to go buy an M3 LSD?

Danish · 15th September 2006, 12:46

Imad,
I believe (I am not 100% on this) that Alpina used reinforced gears on the rear differential, and that this is the reason for why they have a complete diff with their part number. I think if you get an E36 M3 diff with LSD and then put in the B8 gears and cooling flange, it will be original.

- Michael

PS: nice meet. I am stuck in Portland right now driving american and japanese cars. Looking forward to blasting down the autobahn