Alpina B6 2.8 #151- Topcat- Isle of Man

[TopCat]

We managed to pop yet another ECU the other day (driving my son to school!)

All fixed now with repaired ECU board by (I think) BBR- will also have a spare 061- put in more earth straps from ECU.

Took Herman to a private track day at Jurby - wanted to confirm what I thought about Herman's handling in the dry on a track.

I think I got it right!

Herman is a cruiser and understeers = really have to swing in to get the back out- we had a photographer on site will post some pictures- at times I wished I still kept the kidney displacing KW coilovers!! You will see the roll angles!

Front tyres have too soft sidewalls even at 36 psi cold- thing is the car is far too nice to make it appreciably lighter and quicker- so I shall have to live with it.
but it does prove why this combo did not fare well in competition as compared with an 4 cylindar M10 turbo or not derivative 2002 or 320

Steve turned up in that Loud Mustang- so I went home and brought out Butch- which was FUN! Lovely day I took the Mustang out later - by goodness it is all engine (and not much else!) he told me that it was 10.50:1 347 CID and 563 bhp- certainly felt like it. But simply no brakes, terrible bumpsteer, rock hard steering and suspension- managed to drop the starter halfway round- now that was a noise!

Organiser spun his MGC GT in front of me as Butch bore down! Thought I had on camera- but forgot to switch it on...................

Great fun- days like this are ones to remember what a wonderful life we have on IOM with the facilities and petrol heads at every corner.

[Jeroen]

Haha sounds like you had some great times indeed!

As for the ECU's, you know if its the same section failing on them? Not a common issue but perhaps humidity or old age? A bit similar is a known issue with Motronic ECU's where the power section that switches the fuel injectors fails on a regular basis, had that section replaced preventively on my 320iS's ECU and on its spare.

An M20 is already heavy in the front of an E21 or even E30 so yes, the boat anchor M30 is even worse. Uprated sway bars, a strut brace (if you can find one that fits over your engine) and a replica of the lower Alpina bar that connects the two front sway bar mounts together helps making things more rigid and reduce both understeer and body roll without making the ride too harsh.

But on the other hand it should not be too hard to turn understeer into oversteer with M30 torque just after turn-in, at least that's my experience with B6's.

[TopCat]

Haha sounds like you had some great times indeed!

As for the ECU's, you know if its the same section failing on them? Not a common issue but perhaps humidity or old age? A bit similar is a known issue with Motronic ECU's where the power section that switches the fuel injectors fails on a regular basis, had that section replaced preventively on my 320iS's ECU and on its spare."

Dear J
Sometimes the power of the internet (and your E21 website ) should not be underestimated!
Taht IS EXACTLY what has gone wrong in 2 xECUs!!

The power to the injectors has gone on both occasions- we were thinking it was a poor earth somewhere causing a spike and then shorting on the earths on the injectors- we were looking at changing the alternator

Instead we have added another earth to the ECU- since it had been rubber grommet mounted.

[Jeroen]

Not exactly a decent ground then haha. Well just have another ECU modded and throw it in the trunk. Probably the car will be fine for another 10 years but you better be prepared!

BTW do check the wiring to the injectors as well to rule out the possibility of an intermittent short circuit.

[TopCat]

Thanks for this
we will have a repaired 061 and a spare as well as a spare 74 with differnt Airflow thing (and the original ALpina B9 kit) when all is done

Will keep the spare 61 in the boot!

Yes we have all that Alpina suspension stuff- some really good pictures can be seen here:


The Photographer has posted some lairy pictures on his facebook thingie here:

Yes Herman does Understeer! Not sure how we post up here:



Look at the difference between Butch in cornering attack mode vs Alpina!!

[Jeroen]

Love this one

[Thegs]

Wonderfull pic indeed!

[nas80]

Great pic. You nearly got the front wheel lift there

[TopCat]

Great pic. You nearly got the front wheel lift there

Couldn't go any harder for fear of collecting the poor photographer - who was standing in full view =no armco!

[TopCat]

Dear All
I thought I would share our findings/possible diagnosis on Herman's propensity to blow ECUs
x3 in 3 years!

We now have the best 061 rebuilt but the problem might be stemming from the Bosche injectors that have a peculiar part no (maybe Swiss) and have a v low impedance at 2ohms as opposed to the more normal 17ohms
so we are going to change the injectors as well as ECU and keep my 074 as spare
will keep you posted

[uwbuurman]

Please do!!

[TopCat]

Have changed the injectors for normal 17 Ohm Brit ones

part nos 280 150 714

the Swiss ones that came out are for a Swiss or US car and have v low impedance- something like 2 ohms which was causing the ECUs to blow

So now all sorted

BUT I seem to have lunched my back axle

Wanted a complete 3.45 LSD

I will post in tech are wanted section

[Jeroen]

Glad that's sorted then!

[TopCat]

Herman stars in current edition of Autocar!

[Jeroen]

Pics! And more news on the car?