How to identify a true Alpina?

[Scooter]

Good reference there , but I don't agree with the upholstery one. While I'm sure most cars got the Alpina marked upholstery, not all of them did, so I don't believe it would be sufficient to say a car isn't an Alpina because it doesn't have "Alpina marked" upholstery.

[AlpinaMan]

Well, all the answers in above are perfectly right, So far we established that the shell or the body is from Alpina, however the most important thing is to find out if the engine is belong to the reference numbers that we point out in above posts such as chasse #, cabin # and the registration # plus the Alpina cosmetics.
How do we establish and cross reference above # to make sure that the engine and other hidden components that we don

[AlpinaMan]

Okay, Firstly to identify the block you should prepare an mechanic’s extension mirror and a flash light to lit the area and look for the stamp marking of your car designation, for example B10 3.5/1 which would be located on top the flat surfaces of engine block where starter motor will be bolted to the opening on engine block.

Secondly, after determining that the block is Alpina, know we should see if the engine’s head is Alpina as well, reason for this is that many times happened that the head must be rebuilt due to over raved engine, etc…., and many mechanics would do the core exchange for a already rebuilt head or other reasons……., so we should know that.

Thirdly, to identifying an Alpina head, you should look for a stamped 5 digit # on the side of the heads facing up just bellow the valve cover between the distributor cap and the breather hose on valve cover. And if you sent that # to Alpina it should correspond with car that they used that particular head.

Finally, the exhaust should have Alpina stamp and part# on headers, down pipes, on catalytic converter, and the silencer as well as the muffler.

The prepuce of this exercise was to provide as much information with the help of other members and making sure when an enthusiast is looking for an Alpina car to purchase, so they could easily identify the real deal.

Sia

[Stirling]

Great post Sia. Now when the auction broker in Japan asks me what I want the inspector to check on the car, I can point him to your post!

[Scooter]

Lots of good info there Alp1na!!!

Originally Posted by Stirling

Great post Sia. Now when the auction broker in Japan asks me what I want the inspector to check on the car, I can point him to your post!

Good idea, but I think you would have to get an independent inspector to look for that much detail. I'm pretty sure the inspectors at the auctions will only look for generic things. I could be wrong, but that's what I would guess.

[AlpinaMan]

All the Alpina from Germany came with the cluster, gear nub, steering wheels as standard items inside the cabin, only BMW Sytner and two other BMW dealer http://www.bmwalpina.co.uk/ww/findad...alpina-hq.html in England would charge to add this item separately since all the items were shipped to Sytner by Alpina to be assembled and accommodate for Britain customers and their cars number would start with 4 digit numbers suck as B10 3.5/1

[Mark in Toronto]

Originally Posted by AlpinaMan

All the Alpina from Germany came with the cluster, gear nub, steering wheels as standard items inside the cabin,

Good point about the cluster AlpinaMan. Correct me if I'm wrong, but codes can be altered on later model cars, e.g., e34 to change or alter the true mileage.

[quattro20v]

Originally Posted by Scooter

Good reference there , but I don't agree with the upholstery one. While I'm sure most cars got the Alpina marked upholstery, not all of them did, so I don't believe it would be sufficient to say a car isn't an Alpina because it doesn't have "Alpina marked" upholstery.

Exactly, I know of two B10 biturbos Alpinas that do not have the Alpina stripes on them. One got M5 seats and the other (mine) has the Alpina-Recaro seats sans the stripes.