E30 325i cabrio Alpina sport (mine)

[Fiddy]

Hi guys and gals

I hope you don't mind me asking but I have been thinking about a V8 e30 for a little while now and even though I have a beautiful e30 cabrio I feel it's too nice to put a V8 in if you get me. I'm a stickler for BMW and wouldn't want to change such a beautiful car.

Now I'm not sure on value on this.

It's a 1989 325i with 12 months MOT 6 months tax. As for standard she's in dolphin grey with indigo sports leather interior. Sports gearbox, LSD, no cat, BBS alloys etc.

She has just turned over 106660 miles with full service history.

Cambelt and all fluids have just been all replaced with genuine BMW items.

Full suspension refresh with Bilstein and eibach suspension, Rogue top mounts and BMW bushes. Nothing but the best.

The Alpina sport pack consists of a high lift can, Ecu, exhaust etc which takes the 170bhp up to just shy of 190 I believe.

As for condition it is extremely good with no rust at all. The only thing that lets it down is a rip on the rear window.


Now question is do I sell and get another with a v8 or do I scrap the idea of a v8 and repair the rear screen and enjoy a nice and rather rare e30.

Little picture



Thanks Matt

[Gavla]

Lovely motor! Keep her and get a V8...

[Fastroad]

Alpina pack from synter? or some random mechanic put it in after?

[Fiddy]

From Sytner speced by original purchaser

[Fastroad]

Nice, do the screen and buy a sh*tter for the V8

[pukar]

get another car with a v8, that cab is a lovely car! if it has no rust then it is prbably unique btw, have you driven a v8? i havent yet so cannot advise, but will it be a daily? how is it on petrol? hows is the handling? is it prone to issues?....perhaps a v8 owner can help as those are the things i would want to know if replacing a known quantity like a well balanced factory car/alpina tuned car with a conversion.

[Fiddy]

Thanks guys.

The car is only a weekend car so fuel dosent reay bother me etc but yes I do not want to be buying a pain in the ass.

I do love my current cabrio but I do feel like I should modify her haha. Well atleast nothing stupid.

[Fastroad]

Could always sell the cab and buy a beast

[Fiddy]

That was a thought but I wouldn't know if a value to ask.

[bss325i]

If you put a new roof on it, repaired the dent in the NSR quarter, sorted the very slight bubbling around the rear number plate lights, changed the cracked dash, re dyed the interior after fixing the seat mechs, refurbed the wheels and replaced a few bits of trim to tidy it up i would value it at about £5000.

[bss325i]

Oh and sorted the worn gear linkage.

[magpie]

you know of the car then barry .

[bss325i]

you know of the car then barry .

I owned it in 2007 and sold it to a zoner called steve995i.



He contacted me earlier this year and i went to view it on the Isle of White and found the issues i mentioned i my first post plus the worn out suspension, service and cambelt due, old f ucked tyres and a few things ive forgotten.

The plus points about the car is that body wise it is virtually rust free, tidyish paint, and is a rare Alpina sport pack car with a very good factory spec of,

M technic suspension
LSD
Close ratio sport gearbox
15" BBS
Shaddow line trim
Indigo leather
375mm tech 2 steering wheel

The Alpina sport pack engine was the engine used in the plastic bumper C2.5 and had the 268 degree cam, ECU and alpina exhaust.

Sadly the owner after me (Steve995i) removed the Alpina exhaust and replaced it with a non genuine standard system.

I was going to bid Steve £1500 max on it and i figured another £1600 in parts/paint/tyres/roof etc plus my time and there might have been a profit in it but i decided not to bother as i barely have time to fart let alone take on another project.

I wonder what the BMW dealer that Fiddy works for gave for it in px?

[Fastroad]

A mistake on previous owners part for removing the original alpina exhaust, they do make a slightly different sound

[Fiddy]

Seats have been repaired, and re-dyed along with brand new genuine gear knob, to tidy up.

How hard is it to do the gear linkage as that would be something I would do. Making sure it's in its best shape is something I take price in, when I own a car.

[Simon13]

a bit of pain really re gear linkage. You'd need flexible ruber band fingers. Exhaust and prop are both in the way. So exhuast off and heat sheilds, disconnect the front of the prop also i would, undo the centre bearing and you should be able to get it out the way. Wi'll still be a pain but much easier!

I'd recommend a ramp to ease the pain

[Fiddy]

That's cool

I like a challenge plus I have a 4 post ramp

[Grrrmachine]

There's a complete gear linkage overhaul guide in the Wiki:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ar_Linkage

and all the part numbers, along with a recommended shifter upgrade, are listed here:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... conversion

[pony]

A mistake on previous owners part for removing the original alpina exhaust, they do make a slightly different sound

Not being funny but what sort of previous owner takes off the old original rare exhaust ?

Seems like is a good car and doesn't need to much money spending to make it nice.
Bodywork issues are usually very expensive whereas mechanical issues are generally a lot cheaper

[pacerpete]

A mistake on previous owners part for removing the original alpina exhaust, they do make a slightly different sound

Not being funny but what sort of previous owner takes off the old original rare exhaust ?

Seems like is a good car and doesn't need to much money spending to make it nice.
Bodywork issues are usually very expensive whereas mechanical issues are generally a lot cheaper

I am sure he would not have taken it off, more than likely at nigh on 20 years old it fell off and he baulked at the idea of £2000 + for a new system to fit on his £2000 car, as most would.

[B7]

A mistake on previous owners part for removing the original alpina exhaust, they do make a slightly different sound

Not being funny but what sort of previous owner takes off the old original rare exhaust ?

Seems like is a good car and doesn't need to much money spending to make it nice.
Bodywork issues are usually very expensive whereas mechanical issues are generally a lot cheaper

I am sure he would not have taken it off, more than likely at nigh on 20 years old it fell off and he baulked at the idea of £2000 + for a new system to fit on his £2000 car, as most would.

IIRC, the exhaust was showing signs when Barry had it. if you also think the one of Si's C2 Touring, had also seen some repair work when he first had it, they were at that time, after 18-20 years, on their last legs.

Wasn't Steve going to have one made to match the originals?

[pony]

If this car is rust free then getting a new original Alpina exhaust wouldn't exactly be a moneypit.
Imagine putting a £2k exhaust on a very rusty e30 now that isn't a good idea

[Simon13]

They're NLA and have been for some time, they used to make them in batches of 6 but you had to pay and then wait months years for all the orders to come in.

They were more like £1000

[Fastroad]

Personally I think this effects the price when selling the car.

[Fiddy]

I would say not having the exhaust it's a huge setback it's obviously a shame but the Cam and Ecu are much more importance to me.

I'm tempted by an eisman exhaust which agaij would be a very nice addition.

[pukar]

the alpina exhausts were 50mm i think (by janspeed iirc). do the eisenman ones come with straight exit pipes or are they angled?

has anyone made a good copy of the original?

[pacerpete]

Personally I think this effects the price when selling the car.

If it was a £100,000 10,000 km proper Alpina B6s, yes. On a 100,000 mile Sytner converted 325 convertible , hardly, especially if replaced with a quality system. Obviously if a Scorpion DTM stylee system is fitted, that would not do the car any favours, in any way .

[bss325i]

The alpina exhaust were made by boysen, only the rhd alpina exhaust manifolds were made by janspeed on commission by sytner for their conversions.

[Fiddy]

Personally I think this effects the price when selling the car.

If it was a £100,000 10,000 km proper Alpina B6s, yes. On a 100,000 mile Sytner converted 325 convertible , hardly, especially if replaced with a quality system. Obviously if a Scorpion DTM stylee system is fitted, that would not do the car any favours, in any way .

Completely agree. If it was a full 2.7 then I would be looking for original. This is still a rare upgrade so no rubbish will be put on. Only top quality for me but as long as it has been done to a high standard it won't affect it's price.

[Fiddy]

Would anyone recommend a nice exhaust system

[bss325i]

Genuine BMW 325i system with a btb manifold or an Alpina system.

Avoid scorpion.

I have no experience of eisenmann on an E30 but they are very good for E46's.

[Fastroad]

What about supersprint or Milltek??

[bss325i]

Pass, never seen one on an M20 E30 so cant comment but super sprint do make some good exhausts.

[Fiddy]

Had a supersprint on my race civic was loverly

[Fastroad]

Pass, never seen one on an M20 E30 so cant comment but super sprint do make some good exhausts.

I never seen them on an M20 E30 either but are good on the E30 M3