Alpina B6 2.8 #151- Topcat- Isle of Man

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TopCat
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by TopCat »

Herman
Passed the TEST!

After we fitted a Bicycle MPH digital read out and a small LED torch,
seeImage
and fixed the peculiar Fog lights and the hazard lights and all the other things that have been going on!

Off to get a tax disc any moment (£10)= bliss.........................

And steve is organising those all important number plates next week

Noted that the shortshifter (from a Z3) catches the back of the gear gaiter surround- we will need to move it back a fraction.

Thought it would be end of Oct before we are on the road- looks like Herman has beaten Mark's TWR (to the draw!)
leather door trims look fantastic.

Will post up some photos soon!

Have found a Deko set in silver which should be fitted prior to photos?
Last edited by TopCat on Wed Apr 27, 2016 10:12 am, edited 5 times in total.


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Topcat
Isle of Man Inverness
1980 BMW E21 Alpina B6 2.8
1991 BMW E30 Hartge H26
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by Jeroen »

Congrats! I don't care if it's with or w/o the Deko (I might like it better with) but where are these photooooos? :takepicture
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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TopCat
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by TopCat »

-Photos
they will be coming

but in the meantime why is it that I am unable to drop them direct onto this website??

As you and others may. It all seems a bit of a palaver!

Edit Now managed to sort things:
Image
Last edited by TopCat on Fri Oct 26, 2012 4:48 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Topcat
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1980 BMW E21 Alpina B6 2.8
1991 BMW E30 Hartge H26
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by e21-Mark »

You need to host pics at photobucket or flickr.
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by Jeroen »

Yep, see posting pics topic in general section, top of page
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by TopCat »

Dear Team
Due to popular demand I have now taken some shots of Herman and uploaded to Flickr thingie

Just spent the afternoon travelling back and forth along the TT course dropping off one of my sons for Athletics and collecting afterwards.

Herman is going well
If you recall herman eventually got registered with the B6 35 MAN reg number with Manx authorities after some extremely helpful input from Liam Foley at
BMW Group
Technical Support Analyst
V1-UK-A-2
Ellesfield Avenue
Bracknell RG12 8TA
Phone: 01344 480698
mailto: liam.foley@bmw.co.uk
http://www.bmwgroup.com/
Who, with a bit of help from Buchloe was able to show age and chassis number and that the car was originally sold in Germany etc- Thankyou Liam!

Anyway the current crop of pictures are at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59577851@N03/
Image
Image
Hope this works?
My current view is that Herman is a surprising handful- the road was a little greasey and slippery in parts admitedly. I think we will be looking at some of those top strut mounts from RPM as a way to dial in a bit more neg camber at the front- seems lazy in turn-in.
I also think it is a bit undertyred esp. at the front. I note that a B6 in Germany has 205 50 15 on the front and 225 50 15 on the rears with the original staggered Alpina wheels. We have 195 50 15 front and 205 50 15 (per original).
I should really try a test day or some work on the skidpan? Definitely before Mark comes here and shows me how it's done at Manx Classic 2012!

Mark are you allowed to share some set-up secrets with a competitor??

On an unrelated issue I had forgotten how good the ventilation system is for E21- cool air direct to face and warm air to feet- better than the E30 set up!
Last edited by TopCat on Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Regards
Topcat
Isle of Man Inverness
1980 BMW E21 Alpina B6 2.8
1991 BMW E30 Hartge H26
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by uwbuurman »

nice car!
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2006 BMW 320d touring High Executive
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
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TopCat
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by TopCat »

I thought it might be helpful to outline how much work has gone into getting Herman Test worthy and generally sorted these past 6 months:

Align E28 PAS pump and alternator belts- they were catching
New Coolant fan switch (from E28 M3.5)
replace rear anti roll bar drop links
change over all suspension std Alpina in place of KW coil over setup
New Thermostat (lots of versions tried - not sure which one worked- think it was the M535 B9 one)
Remove and refit new interior (in black leather)
replace all gutter trims (painted satin black)
modify drvs seat to enable move back (to fit in 6 ft 3 inch dvr)
quick release battery terminals
new temp guage sender to enable E21 guage to read e28 sender
wire in bike mph speedo
wire in dual fog lights
new headlamps
new door check straps
set up Motronic system for cold start and running
fit and bond rear spoiler
fit new gas struts rear boot stays
fit and repair rear opening windows (painted satin black)
spare 7x15 and tyre and jack etc
new hazard warning switch
releathered door and interior panels fitted
releathered gauge pack and gearlever surround

just goes to show that even with a good car there are always unexpected things to resolve!
Am very happy with the outcome despite the inevitable dramas involved with old cars!

Have decided to sort out my drive (flatten it) and stick to the tyres as they are (that hit the middle)
Regards
Topcat
Isle of Man Inverness
1980 BMW E21 Alpina B6 2.8
1991 BMW E30 Hartge H26
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by Jeroen »

Always more work than you think! Anything left on the to do list for now?
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by e21-Mark »

TopCat wrote:Dear Team

My current view is that Herman is a surprising handful- the road was a little greasey and slippery in parts admitedly. I think we will be looking at some of those top strut mounts from RPM as a way to dial in a bit more neg camber at the front- seems lazy in turn-in.
I also think it is a bit undertyred esp. at the front. I note that a B6 in Germany has 205 50 15 on the front and 225 50 15 on the rears with the original staggered Alpina wheels. We have 195 50 15 front and 205 50 15 (per original).
I should really try a test day or some work on the skidpan? Definitely before Mark comes here and shows me how it's done at Manx Classic 2012!

Mark are you allowed to share some set-up secrets with a competitor??
Must have missed this, sorry.

I just went with suggestions from Ben & Jason but would definitely go with RPM topmounts for some added camber. I would also consider firming things up with stiffer springs. I'm running 600lb fronts on track and the difference is night & day. It's nowhere as hard as you'd imagine and still pretty compliant too! MIB is only running 195/50's all round although I plan to go to 205 or 215 rears once I swap in the decambered beam and e12 slipper.
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by TopCat »

Jeroen wrote:Always more work than you think! Anything left on the to do list for now?
All that remains:

Fit Alpina Stripe kit when it arrives
Change rear window
Carpet in boot- have made a template
For Autostyle:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220738109055? ... 1423.l2649

Main beam tel tale inop
Sort out some neg camber with RPM topmounts (for Classic in April)- no urgency
Perhaps get a far simpler alarm/central locking system that doesn't drain the battery

And THAT IS IT!!
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Topcat
Isle of Man Inverness
1980 BMW E21 Alpina B6 2.8
1991 BMW E30 Hartge H26
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by TopCat »

Mark are you allowed to share some set-up secrets with a competitor??
[/quote]

Must have missed this, sorry.

I just went with suggestions from Ben & Jason but would definitely go with RPM topmounts for some added camber. I would also consider firming things up with stiffer springs. I'm running 600lb fronts on track and the difference is night & day."Quote

What are Ben & Jason's suggestions please?
Regards
Topcat
Isle of Man Inverness
1980 BMW E21 Alpina B6 2.8
1991 BMW E30 Hartge H26
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by TopCat »

One mod we did achieve was the fitting of a Fritz Bits Z3 shortshifter

But only upside down!

in normal position we couldn't get 2 gear easily!

now turned around 180 degrees it is fine

although it is finer in the east-west plane as well as North-south- means that Reverse is perilously close to first
Rather like a Moss gearbox in those early Jags
Drove a Jag Mk 1 (Coombes modified) back from Goodwood with this gearbox- trick is to go into second before engaging first so as to ensure no nasty surprises for the guy behind you at the lights!
Regards
Topcat
Isle of Man Inverness
1980 BMW E21 Alpina B6 2.8
1991 BMW E30 Hartge H26
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by TopCat »

Now I seem to have mastered the photo thingie I will post some pictures of Herman below in current form (with the Deko Stripes) etc:
Image
Image

and even caught Apollo the Burmese's attention (briefly!)
Image
Last edited by TopCat on Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:01 am, edited 2 times in total.
Regards
Topcat
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1980 BMW E21 Alpina B6 2.8
1991 BMW E30 Hartge H26
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Re: Alpina B6 2.8 No 151

Post by Jeroen »

Really sad it doesn't look like a factory original E21 anymore. Let me help you and take it off your hands for 500 quid :whistle
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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