nath

Thanks- I’m keen to get rid of any light weight flywheel anyway so am keen to source an original one, and certainly also check the timing…

Latest update: Tried another ECU, no change, at least I have a spare now. Compression tested all cyls- all within 5% , about 170 psi. So I'm left with I'd say a smoke test to be done, a re- check of the dizzy, and the biggest question, is the flywheel indeed non-original and is the reference peg in the wrong place... Anyone got a PFL 325i flywheel available? Nath

Fuel pressure regular checked swapped no fault, AFM tuned no change really. Vacuum leaks meticulously checked(not smoke tested but well checked and sealed). All new leads resistance checked, and crank reference and speed tested ok. TPS good. I think it has a lightened flywheel and hefty clutch, with a yuck rattle/chatter off throttle/coasting. Perhaps the lack of inertia could contribute to lumpy idle? Or maybe the timing belt is a tooth off?

Disassembled the front seats in the E30 as there were a few niggles, sorted all excluding the stuffed backrest shocks, which will be replaced one day. The drivers side backrest bolster had broken and missing plastic piping and a split wide open seam for a few inches. I sewed a new run of piping using the original nylon core around some spotlight vinyl, then sewed that into the two parts of leather using the existing holes so as to not make a ‘tear here’ line(leather needles have a blade which cuts as opposed to separates the fibres). Happy with result.

Mm yes- in the service history (done about 25,000km in last 20 years) the afm was tuned with an analyser but I feel like the car still smells like a fume machine. Will keep looking for vacuum leaks, but feel that they tend to give an unstable/surging idle more than this very distinct short sharp lumpiness? May as well get or borrow a different coil to rule that out- doesn’t seem to be available locally new?

Thanks SJ, I think you may have had his car in before? I’m keen to get her as nice as the B3, so one step at a time. Gotta sort out some original wheels first…

I recently had fully lined up a good E30 Alpina in the UK to import, and a donor car here for parts or shell. Then my father passed away unexpectedly and with that upheaval the big project wasn't a good idea, so I grabbed a local 1987 M325, with a few things that need ironing out. Stumbling idle. The car idles at a steady speed wherever set, but has a distinct stumble/misfire. No issues apparent at speed but it may be masked at those revs. Idles as if it has a lumpy cam. Valve clearances have been done Spark plugs replaced dizzy cap checked/cleaned- was new 10,000km ago injectors were apparently serviced and found to be clogged or grubby, fuel filter has been changed, presumable after that. All injectors are actuating. Vacuum leaks checked to a simple level, intake boot appears new as do various other parts. AFM has no flat spots and tests with steadily increasing resistance. Spark is apparent at all plugs Car has the two crank sensors on the bellhousing, an unexpected hall sensor on the harmonic balancer with cable up to the OBD plug(smooth rimmed balancer, where is the sensor picking a signal from?) and a sensor on one spark plug lead plugged to nowhere, I presume for facelift cars with newer motronic. That is really my core interest. The metallic rattle from under the car could be an undisclosed lightened flywheel, a crappy input shaft bearing, throwout bearing or clutch springs, or simply the effect of a misfiring idle on those components. Am happy to have them all replaced. Could the ECU (Motronic 1.0) cause this, even though the car basically runs well and there is no major misfire? Could the coil cause it? I'd not imagine it could being as it generally gets spark to where it needs to go. Thanks Nathan

Fitted my new spoiler… Paid a pretty penny for it from Alpina to replace my (probably fitted at dealer when new) M3 item, only to find that the sedan spoiler is the same as coupe and I could have used the one I found on a Jap import 318iS coupe a couple of years back! Ah well. Will probably replace the boot with a non-spoiler one and have it repainted, as the holes are very different to the M3 ones.

Hi, as per title, my 1998 E36 sedan has the manual and service book but that's all. Does anyone have the Vinyl folder and perhaps the other guff (radio instructions etc) that I could put these in/with? Thanks Nathan Auckland

Ok after driving it for a couple of days, it does seem more comfortable. It’s also worth saying that I don’t drive it like I stole it and keep within a low rev range. The clutch and flywheel are ‘oem equivalent’ DMF from Exedy. Same spec as for M3.

Description about as tasteful as bonnet-up photo at Waikumete.

Got a toot, wave and a 👌 from a Jaguar driver who pulled alongside me on the motorway when I was taking the Alpina for breakfast today, feel good moment!

Well put. I’ve sort of popped out the other end of my first e30 in 2004 at 18, and ended up owning various great examples. They were old fashioned but neat in 2004 and largely haven’t changed image all that much. I’ve been looking for a really good example for a while, and find that the ownership is still pretty young and often unrealistic about condition. I’m happy to pay for the right car(where is that Alpina-engined tech2?) but only at fair market as opposed to the “put a price up and see where it lands” examples with race seats, strut braces and aftermarket steering wheels. The e36 is a great drive but just missing that basic, chrome look and feel.

I went ahead and ordered a CDV / lock valve and fitted it. No perceptible change, perhaps it’s just a heavy clutch.

Good work! Perhaps I should list the B3...

Cool, you have a B11?

Find me a nice m325 or a base spec black plates coupe that I can keep original. Maybe I need to let the B3 go

Beautiful car, perfect combo of paint, amber indicators, mtech trim and thick wheels. A great, 1990s sports look

I need to get an E30 to do things like this! Now wheres that one with the Alpina 2.7...

The images perhaps suggest that it has encountered the business in Oz who were licensed importers of Alpina gear- but aside from the stripes, the single exhaust suggests nothing extra under the hood.

Kerbed the crap out of a rear wheel on the B3 today, very disappointed with myself!

File photo

Excellent, I'd love to see it

I need to stop using my nla Alpina mats; does anyone have some nice E36 fitment mats that I could buy? Sedan, but probably same as coupe for front. Perhaps other generation 3 series mats may fit too. I'm in Auckland.

My c250 did this a few years ago on the motorway once or twice and felt like we had been hit from behind it was so hefty. Nothing came up on the scanner at Auckland Mercedes so they replaced the crank sensor anyway and it fixed the issue. Replaced under their warranty, followed by a major component of the radar system replaced under their warranty a year later by them. A couple of pretty bad experiences with them if anyone asks!