My E32 Alpina restoration story

[Alpina SAM]

Here's the story thus far.

04' Holy shit I found an Alpina !!!! Purchased the car in Oct saying goodbye to trusty 91' 525is Vanos silver grey ( nice car only 90,000 ks when sold)

New Hood lining, Original was sagging. (As one would after having lived in nth Qld for a good 6 years or so)

New Fan clutch

Window Tint & Cyclops alarm system (with a trap door so to speak.. Hee Hee.) (The tint shop. West melbourne)

Alpine Car Audio system (Of course)
MP3 head unit
2 x amps
4" 2ways for rear
& 10" sub in boot
Split system for front

05' I took the car off the road as I was living & working in City.. Bought a piece of shit corolla 4wd to get around in.

06' Snapped couldn't handle the corolla any longer. Started 2 new business'

Rebuilt Alpina Tuned Bilstein shocks (Bilstein Racing AKA Heasman shock absorbers NSW)

New Battery
New rear sway bar link bushes
New rear control arm link rods
New front castor rod bushes
New front lower control arm bushes
Electrical work to reinstate driving (fog) lights

Did a few runs to Falls Creek.. wow handling +++!!!!! Had to buy some winter wheels though as chains wouldn't fit under the Guards with the 275/40/17s at the rear.

Drove to Qld for xmas.. awesome run on the hwy with the odd "accidental squirt" on some good long straights.

07' Didn't drive much bought XT Forrester for work & back etc.

08' Ready to really get stuck in to the restoration.

Purchased E32 Apineweib 735i Written off for a donor car.

The fun begins!!!!!!!!

Have swapped over bonnet from spare parts car 3 weeks ago.

Put car in to Prestige City Garage (George) for a bit of a nip & tuck!

New items:
L & R front control arm & ball joints
L & R front control arm lower bushes
L & R front castor bushes
New drag link
new idler arm & bushes
L & R front castor rod & ball joints
4x tie rod ends
Front brakes & rotors

Now for the exhaust system
followed by engine & drive line seals & replacement mounts
& Air con & & & ha ha!



Falls Creek 07 Front spoiler now off car for either repair or replacement
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00057.jpg



New front suspension bits
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00055.jpg

Another pic new suspension bits
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00054.jpg



Wheels off & Bonnet swap
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00021.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00022.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00025.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00026.jpg

[Alpina SAM]

The Garage

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00129.jpg

New Angel eyes
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00128.jpg

Need to calibrate these tomorrow night, but they look pretty good.
Christine (The car) not so sure if she likes them yet, as she was playing silly buggers the other night not wanting to switch them on- only lighting one side- only low beam- only when fog lights on- one side drop out when indicator on etc etc.

They are wired up properly, its just that I have a car with a bad attitude!


One day later.,

Tried lights again today, apart from still requiring calibration they're all working as they should... hmm

Guess she's decided to keep em!
Edit/Delete Message

[Alpina SAM]

Feb 08


Wheels should be finished today or tomorrow.

Pics pre resto.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/rim2b4.jpg


http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/rimb4.jpg

[Alpina SAM]

Mar 08

After sending wheels back a first time the wheels are back again, still not 100% so i won't recommend New way wheels in Heidelberg to anyone. Just waiting on the new wheel badges from Germany.

New rubber:
Front 235/45/17 Marangoni's (pretty sticky suckers too)
Rear 265/40/17 Hankook Ventus S1 Evos


Amazing how much skinnier 265s look compared to the 275s.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00135.jpg

Steam cleaned engine bay this week.
Sorted out oil leaks which after an inspection at Northern BM turned out to be pretty minor. Only needed to replace cylinder head rear seal, plate gasket & a breather hose.

[Alpina SAM]

21/04/08

After a weekend of tinkering, parts car slowly disassembling !

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00070.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00069.jpg

Dropped off the Alpina to Panel shop today

[Alpina SAM]

May 08

Ok so the car is now in the shop & has been for nearly a month.

A few minor repairs to be completed body wise including recent car park bingle thanks to mr or mrs ?????????.
Rebuild the front spoiler which was in pretty bad shape thanks to the previous owners & some nearly 20 years on the road. Some minor rust in rear window sill. We are doing a full, hopefully back to pretty much concourse respray.

Here are some photos I took today.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00111.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00112.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00113.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00114.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/alpinasam/DSC00115.jpg

[dmurton]

I can't wait to see this beast in action. It looks like it will be in mint condition, when finished.

Keep up the good work, it pays off in the end, every time you turn the key.

David