E30 Zone

hi i recently bought a e30 cab alpina, how do i identify that i have a alpina engine in my car, the engine looks the same as a 325i except the heads and manifold are black. what identifying characteristics do i look for to know that its a alpina engine or not ( eg: serial number/ markings etc )? info highly appreciated anyone.

If its meant to be a C2 2.7 engine it should have a number begining with C2 stamped where the engine number is on the block.

C2 and then have the last 7 digits of the chassis number of the base car. If it's a RHD sytner conversion

If its alpina then it should have history to prove it from the service book!

4 digit stamp on the head at the front between the inlet/injector rail and rocker cover. It's next to a raised small flat section. It's very hard see and will be dirty, you need a torch really

hth

I'm sure this is the right head stamp



Just underneath the fuel pressure regulator (ish)

My engine number is C1/6359, and is stamped just to the right of where the original engine number should be. I've just looked at the original Sytner service book and this information tallies with that exactly.

What throws the spanner in the works is that his number has nothing to do with my chassis number and doesn't begin with C2

It must be right as it's in the original stamped papers for the car

Maybe it's a prefacelift thing?

old_skool_2002 wrote:My engine number is C1/6359, and is stamped just to the right of where the original engine number should be. I've just looked at the original Sytner service book and this information tallies with that exactly.

What throws the spanner in the works is that his number has nothing to do with my chassis number and doesn't begin with C2

It must be right as it's in the original stamped papers for the car

Maybe it's a prefacelift thing?

If engines and blaupunkts could talk !

old_skool_2002 wrote:Maybe it's a prefacelift thing?

Mine is equally confusing, it doesn't match with the V5 either. It's got the four numbers in the head, though.

The dark art of Alpina identification, eh?

pacerpete wrote:

old_skool_2002 wrote:My engine number is C1/6359, and is stamped just to the right of where the original engine number should be. I've just looked at the original Sytner service book and this information tallies with that exactly.

What throws the spanner in the works is that his number has nothing to do with my chassis number and doesn't begin with C2

It must be right as it's in the original stamped papers for the car

Maybe it's a prefacelift thing?

If engines and blaupunkts could talk !

Don't even go there Pete!

kidsinister wrote:

old_skool_2002 wrote:Maybe it's a prefacelift thing?

Mine is equally confusing, it doesn't match with the V5 either. It's got the four numbers in the head, though.

The dark art of Alpina identification, eh?

Would Sytner themselves know the answer any more?

old_skool_2002 wrote:Would Sytner themselves know the answer any more?

They're cagey about giving out info these days, though I have a letter from them from the early 90s confirming the spec of mine.

Damo that picture is right on the money! RE the block thing. What i've said rings true for the facelift chariots. Only the lord knows the logic for the older stuff. Sytners made it up as they went!

Alex the V5 won't tell you anything apart from the base car model and chassis no.

Simon13 wrote:Alex the V5 won't tell you anything apart from the base car model and chassis no.

Indeed, but the V5 engine number starts with 225 as you'd expect, whereas the block number doesn't... Must have been a coincidence.