1989 BMW 3 Series E30 Alpina C2 2.5

A rare site and a very good looking car, the seller's description (and the questions answered during the auction) point to this one being a genuine Alpina vehicle. Surprisingly, the car passed in at auction at $18,000 in Ebay Australia in July 2017, with no bids. We had expected to see offers over $20,000.

This is what Alpina called a ‘retrofit’ and was commissioned and built in October 1989 by Bavarian Motorsports Australia Pty. Ltd. in Sydney for a doctor from Adelaide who had it for many years before he sold it to a Chief Finance Officer in the energy industry and he was the person I purchased the car from in August 2011.  The next owner will be the 4th. owner in 28 years.  A brand new Australian delivered vehicle was purchased to make this build. If my memory serves me correctly, back in the day all right hand drive Alpinas were converted in RHD countries being South Africa, England and Australia under a licence agreement with Alpina. LHD cars were built in the Alpina factory.

With the car goes a pretty comprehensive file of some of the history including the original correspondence to the original owner stating conditions of the warranty and other things such as the Alpina engine number (C2xxxx) C2 being the designated model and the Alpina number 34 which is also recorded on the Alpina Speedo. The car also has the official Alpina plate in the centre consol stating it is car E30 370 and the usual Alpina gear-knob and steering wheel.

I have some documentation from the Alpina factory confirming the engine providence including the Alpina head serial number which I didn’t know existed and needed their advice on where to find it!  Once I confirmed this number Alpina sent me a build sheet of the engine.

This car has not been fiddled with and retains the original 16 inch Alpina wheels (including spare), body stripes and front skirt, upgraded (and brilliant) Alpina B6 brakes, Limited slip differential, excellent black leather Recaro interior, Koni adjustable front suspension, stainless steel headers and exhaust  Alpina 2.5 litre motor. Correct cockpit gauges and leather interior.  I thought the car looked a little narrow gutted and had a pair of Zender side skirts professionally fitted which really compliments the car.  

Currently it is fitted with a driver’s Recaro race seat with a genuine Recaro E30 seat mounting kit.  The original seat goes with the car. The dash top has no cracks.

There are a couple of things to attend to.  The original radio was removed and replaced with a later model unit and I’m not even sure if it works as I haven’t used it but there is an original radio included in the deal. Secondly the aircon could do with a recharge and thirdly there is an intermittent noise in the gearbox that can be heard with the engine running and car in neutral which disappears when the clutch is engaged and my BMW man tells me it’s a lay shaft bearing and not a concern.  This can’t be heard when driving and finally the electric fuel pump has an annoying whine and I wanted to change it however BMW man tested the pressures and said I would be wasting my money.   I did buy another pump and it also goes with the car although the whine isn’t evident while travelling.