E30 Zone

Since I moved to Australia a few months back I've been on the lookout for a new motor. Anyway an extremely rare Alpina B3 popped up a few months ago. Originally a Synters car from the Uk, it ticked all the boxes. It needed a few small things sorted out and it was too expensive so I left it.
Anyway I kept pestering the seller, and after the obligatory stroking chin while sucking hard through the teeth trick, and after much kicking of tyres, he dropped the price. Alot.
Delighted with it, certainly one of the cleanest E30's I've ever seen.
So here it is, my new motor, My Alpina B3.

Specs:

Exterior:
- 98,000 miles, with full history
- Zinnobar red
- Alpina B3 2.7, number 200 of 257 built
- 2.7 M20, Alpina cam, 6 branch manifold, Alpina head, Mahle pistons, etc producing 206 bhp and 213 ft / lbs of torque. (Non cat versions produce 210 bhp)
- Alpina Strut brace
- Staggered Alpina alloys 7" fronts, 8" rears
- Alpina 296mm front brake disks and uprated calipers
- Alpina exhaust system (have a receipt from the history for 1600 pounds for a new one when it was replaced a few years ago!)
- Front and rear Alpina Spoilers
- Alpina progressive rate springs and Bilstein dampers
- 3.73 LSD

Interior:
- Genuine Alpina Spec Recaro seats and door cards
- Alpina Steering wheel
- Alpina Gearknob
- Alpina mats
- Alpina digital vent gauge (engine oil temperature, engine oil pressure, diff oil temperature and manifold absolute pressure)
- Alpina instrument panel
- On board computer and check panel
- Air Con
- Rear blind

That's pretty much it. The owner sorted out the things I didn't like before I bought it - tappets adjusted got rid of the ticking and really made it fly, release bearing got rid of a rattle I was concerned about, few bushes replaced to really tighten it up, and the mirrors resprayed.
Anyway, here's a few pics until I get some better ones up.

Nice mate, very nice. Where abouts in Aussi land are you? been to Sydney a few times and thinking of emmigrating over there if the work situation carries on like crap over here.
How much did you pay for her??

Wow, that looks awesome! What did you have to pay for it in the end then? Roughly?

What are the E30s like in Oz rust-wise? Are they normally quite good?

Truely gorgeous!

Ideal colour as well.

So what's the difference between the B3 and the C2? I thought the B3 had an M30 lump (but then I don't really know anything).

Wow, fantastic car you have there. Your lucky to find a decent e30 over there nevermind an alpina!

The housing market over there has been rampant with development for the past 8 years or so. Not sure what it's like now but it got to the point where they were crying out for UK traders to immigrate there!

How's it treating you, do you think you made the right choice?

rav320uk wrote:Nice mate, very nice. Where abouts in Aussi land are you? been to Sydney a few times and thinking of emmigrating over there if the work situation carries on like crap over here.
How much did you pay for her??

I'm in Brisbane mate. You should emmigrate if you can, I love it here - have a look on this site - it helped me alot with all my questions when I made the move - http://britishexpats.com/forum/

aj_mckay wrote:Wow, that looks awesome! What did you have to pay for it in the end then? Roughly?
I ended up getting alot off the price, don't really want to say a final price but it was a fair bit off the price alright.

What are the E30s like in Oz rust-wise? Are they normally quite good?

I looked at a few 325i Sports but they are very rare over here. They normally don't rust at all due to the good weather I found. One thing I noticed is that due to the hot weather is that the paint can be a little iffy on some cars. The last few though were TOTALLY rust free - perfect arches, mint jacking points, perfect scuttles etc.

datourer wrote:So what's the difference between the B3 and the C2? I thought the B3 had an M30 lump (but then I don't really know anything).

B3 took over from the C2 - Alpina thought the C2 name made it sound less than the other "B" Alpina models - B6, B10, B7 etc so it renamed it the B3.

bmwsport wrote:Wow, fantastic car you have there. Your lucky to find a decent e30 over there nevermind an alpina!

The housing market over there has been rampant with development for the past 8 years or so. Not sure what it's like now but it got to the point where they were crying out for UK traders to immigrate there!

How's it treating you, do you think you made the right choice?

Ya hard to find a good E30 here for reasonable money. Yea, talks of uncertain economy like most places now but trades people are still in huge demand as are certain other professions. My missus is Australian, we lived in Ireland for a few years so we made the move back here for good in June. Yea I made the right choice alright, hard to make the initial move as all my family and old friends are back home but now that I'm here I really enjoy it.

I'm in Brisbane mate. You should emmigrate if you can, I love it here - have a look on this site - it helped me alot with all my questions when I made the move

Already scored high on the points system and that was only on me, visas not a problem either and i initially put the application in a year ago.But missus not willing to do it yet as her mum is on her own, but for the kids its the right time to go really, will be there in sysdney around jan hopefully to see if i can get work os sponsered and then atrat working on her again and to take mother in law too.

if that car is sytners is was a C2 all RHD cars were C2. the facelifted LHD cars where B3,


So someone has changed the badges. Factory A/C or retro fit?

Simon13 wrote:if that car is sytners is was a C2 all RHD cars were C2. the facelifted LHD cars where B3,


So someone has changed the badges. Factory A/C or retro fit?

That's the thing Simon, I have all the Documents here showing it's history, B3 number and what it was when it came from Synters in Nottingham, so not sure what that's about.

Factory A/C too.

Wow! reall nice car!

aj_mckay wrote:Wow, that looks awesome! What did you have to pay for it in the end then? Roughly?

What are the E30s like in Oz rust-wise? Are they normally quite good?

Yeah they are usually in good condition. its finding parts out here that kills you!

tg318is wrote:Wow! reall nice car!

aj_mckay wrote:Wow, that looks awesome! What did you have to pay for it in the end then? Roughly?

What are the E30s like in Oz rust-wise? Are they normally quite good?

Yeah they are usually in good condition. its finding parts out here that kills you!

True, and the falling value of the dollar means importing parts is barely worth while any more.

Looks absolutely stunning mate. Really love the Alpina styling, it compliments the E30's shape perfectly imo and in the best colour

That looks a beaut

Thats a seriously nice car

Absolutely stunning car you got there

Oh my god I've just wet myself Wow, got to be one of the best E30's of the zone. Its now my wallpaper.

That is an awesome B3!

As Si13 has said though B3 2.7 and B3 2.7 Katalisor's were not sold in the uk, they were all C2 2.7's.

Also it is a very high spec for a C2/B3 what with the recaro's, vent gauge (very rare on uk cars) A/C etc.
It screams of an AUS spec car possibly done by these guys,

http://www.alpinaaustralia.com.au/history.htm

Or maybe its some kind of one off by Sytners.

Any history on how and when it came to Aus?

Wow! She is a stunner!

What a beaut, very high spec for a UK car too!!

As stated above though, all UK cars were C2's......

Just noticed it still has the castrol oil label on the rocker cover, these normaly are missing.

Also does it have the long range aluminium fuel tank in the boot?

nothing surpises me with sytners and their alpinas.

My C2 touring has no dash plaque and clocks. Never did from new

I've seen C2's with 15bbs from new and no bodykit or badges from new either. Total plain jane car with just the mechanicals and inside treatment.

There were alot of people with loads of money in late 80's and money talks with bmw!

It also has a KPH speedo on the alpina dials.

UK cars should be MPH.

i expect when it was imported they would had to have changed the clocks, but our MPH ones have KM's on too for driving abroad?!

She is lovely dam sexy!

My C2 2.7 cab has the plaque on the dash above the glovebox which is very unusual but I am told it has always been there!

stunning car mate..

bss325i wrote:That is an awesome B3!

As Si13 has said though B3 2.7 and B3 2.7 Katalisor's were not sold in the uk, they were all C2 2.7's.

Also it is a very high spec for a C2/B3 what with the recaro's, vent gauge (very rare on uk cars) A/C etc.
It screams of an AUS spec car possibly done by these guys,

http://www.alpinaaustralia.com.au/history.htm

Or maybe its some kind of one off by Sytners.

Any history on how and when it came to Aus?

Yea, the car was imported from the Uk 6 years ago by the guy I bought it from. He emigrated here for good and brought the car with him. Have all the personnel import documentation from it here. I have heard of a few odd creations coming out from Synters in the past alright, so maybe this is one of them.

bss325i wrote:It also has a KPH speedo on the alpina dials.

UK cars should be MPH.

The car speedo was in mph, but due to Australian import regulations, it's illegal to have mph and kph together on the one instrument face, so it has to be converted to kph only and the mileage converted to kilometers. Odd but true.

The Yute's a beaut!

The car speedo was in mph, but due to Australian import regulations, it's illegal to have mph and kph together on the one instrument face, so it has to be converted to kph only and the mileage converted to kilometers

Its a longshot but......You wouldn't happen to have the original Alpina mph speedo faces with alpina script would you? Only i'm after a set! as my car lacks them.

I Love it fantastic example

Gussy wrote:

bss325i wrote:That is an awesome B3!

As Si13 has said though B3 2.7 and B3 2.7 Katalisor's were not sold in the uk, they were all C2 2.7's.

Also it is a very high spec for a C2/B3 what with the recaro's, vent gauge (very rare on uk cars) A/C etc.
It screams of an AUS spec car possibly done by these guys,

http://www.alpinaaustralia.com.au/history.htm

Or maybe its some kind of one off by Sytners.

Any history on how and when it came to Aus?

Yea, the car was imported from the Uk 6 years ago by the guy I bought it from. He emigrated here for good and brought the car with him. Have all the personnel import documentation from it here. I have heard of a few odd creations coming out from Synters in the past alright, so maybe this is one of them.

bss325i wrote:It also has a KPH speedo on the alpina dials.

UK cars should be MPH.

The car speedo was in mph, but due to Australian import regulations, it's illegal to have mph and kph together on the one instrument face, so it has to be converted to kph only and the mileage converted to kilometers. Odd but true.

Has it got a catalitic converter?

lovely

That's beautiful, mate.

Just make sure you look after the dash, protect it from the Qld sun & heat!!!

jlb wrote:
Its a longshot but......You wouldn't happen to have the original Alpina mph speedo faces with alpina script would you? Only i'm after a set! as my car lacks them.

No sorry, the car was imported here 6 years ago so the previous owner sold them I'm afraid.

bss325i wrote:
Has it got a catalitic converter?

Yep.

IS088 wrote:That's beautiful, mate.

Just make sure you look after the dash, protect it from the Qld sun & heat!!!

Yea I've got secure underground parking and I'm not planning on leaving it in the blistering heat too much. Spose I'd better get one of those dash carpets. *shudder*