I Bought One of the Earliest Alpina E30 BMWs Ever Made | 1984 Alpina B6 2.8 M30 Powered E30

Today I am excited to present to everyone another addition to the collection. This time one of the earliest Alpina E30s ever created. The 1984 Alpina B6 2.8 serial number #0003! Meaning this is just the 3rd B6 ever made.The first time Alpina put an M30 inline 6 into an E30! This car has the power, the torque, and most certainly the charm! Once upon a time the fastest 3 series ever created. It started it Germany, then visited Japan, and now it is here with me in the US! This is a special one! Join me on a first walk around and first driving impressions.

[@gertstolk]

From March 1984 till July 1986 they built 261 B6 2.8, two door and four door combined. It was the biggest production run of E30 Alpinas

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Did I say 259? Oops

[@gertstolk]

@@m3nameisjosh464 No worries, keep those great videos coming 😁

[@mufflejoy]

Insanely cool collectable. I would have an Alpina over any standard BMW any day.

[@janekende8627]

Awesome purchase! 😎

[@iantoshkiev]

Great purchase, congratulations

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you!

[@renas5371]

Love it, look forward to seeing more of this! Killing it with the content lately 👌

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you!! I appreciate that!

[@mikesphoenix_e46m3]

wow josh never failing to disapoint so happy you got your hands on another one and hearing you be showing us some maintinance on it cant wait

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you Mike!

[@slowgan325]

Wow nice find!

[@leahcimblanco7799]

Nice find Josh❤️💛🖤💚

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you!! I was happy finding it!

[@robsweekendgarage]

Fantastic find Josh. The B3 was a truly special machine but I love this one a lil more as it’s something you can drive and enjoy. I would be terrified to take the B3 out. Plus this should make some great content for the channel. 2024 is off to one heck of a start for your channel. Looking forward to what else you’re gonna bring.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you Rob!!!! I appreciate that. Completely agreed. The B3 was terrifying to drive haha

[@fabianhaleem3295]

Your taste in the beamer collection...is on point bro...🤞🏽

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Appreciate that bro🙌🏼

[@berwhaletheavenger]

Wow - that is just lovely. You just want to jump in and scream up the road just because. These were announced November ‘83 but the first one was built Feb '84 and the engine is an oddball. Every production 2.8 came with L Jetronic (LE on the 81 onwards cars like the E28) but these used Motronic from the 3.2/3.5. I’m pretty sure it’s because the distributor was too close to the E30 bonnet. Cars with the close ratio box use the 2.93 LSD from the E28 525e but with stronger clutch plates for more grip. 40%? The bigger brakes were (iirc) Mercedes W124 front calipers on Alpina brackets and 296 mm discs. You might have a long range fuel tank as well. They are no faster than a C2.7 but they just sound epic like only an M30 can. I do miss my ’84 C1 2.3 though that had a 2.7 engine fitted later. I drove it like a madman. Unfortunately I only have a parts catalogue for the M20 Alpina cars with some part numbers for 2.8 suspension and exhaust. Japanese cars are always the ones to have. The climate is mild and they don’t chuck all that salt shit over the roads! The best 20+ year old cars come from Japan.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you for the info!! I totally overlooked the fact it has a later style distributor!! Thats awesome. Brakes definitely look unlike any BMW brakes lol. This car does have the auxiliary fuel tank. Forgot to show it! Would you mind sharing the b6 2.8 suspension part #s? Going to replace shocks

[@e28forever30]

Thanks, love to read about vintage Alpina cars. Any idea which camshaft was used in these?

[@e28forever30]

I love it. M30 in an E30 is just sick. I’d love that engine in my E28..

[@m3nameisjosh464]

So awesome!

[@nickychavda]

Those seats ❤

[@m3nameisjosh464]

So good!

[@e30life_91]

nice investment man these are getting rare and rare .. nice video keep it up

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Most definitely!!

[@achimstemmer889]

Very nice! Wish you more cool hours with it. I do own and drive a e30 Alpina B6 3,5 😇

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Im jealous of your 3.5! Im actively trying to buy one!!

[@teamphashash]

Josh man everything Alpina is just special. Look at that odd dogleg pattern on that sick gear knob, the steering wheel and that boot spoiler❤. Sick car man. On the fence wrt the front spoiler though. 😅😂😂😂😂Awesome find nonetheless.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you!! Truly special cars!

[@vagelismarinikas3193]

NICE,MY FAVOURITE CAR IS E34 M5 😁

[@leeh9420]

The dogleg is an amazing transmission - have driven several E24's with them - but they're not bulletproof. They often had syncro issues - Blanton would rebuild them with upgraded Internals, at which point they were the best transmission this BMW's of the era.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Goood to know!!!

[@harveydolden8572]

Chrome bumpers on the e30s always look much better 👌 super cool rare car.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Can’t disagree man!

[@patrickjenkibs2092]

Sweet

[@m3nameisjosh464]

🙌🏼

[@berwhaletheavenger]

Alpina part numbers as requested: prefix all part nos with 9147. Front dampers are 3131135, front springs (same was 3.5) are 31331130046. Rear springs 3353104 and rear dampers 3352113. Diff mount bush 330109, front wishbone bush 3110111. The dampers/shocks are theca same across all Alpina E30 cars as are the rear springs, M30 front springs are different. Most use a standard 18.5 front anti roll/sway bar and a 14.5 rear. Alpina did offer a different rear bar 33 55 111 but I don't know the diameter.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

WOW! Thank you!!!! I appreciate that.

[@lekronus]

Nice find! request - would you be able to measure the width of the cloth sections and distance between horizontal stitch rows on the rear seat upper? I am making one from scratch for my tribute build and would love to get the dimensions right.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I will try and get that for you!

[@uzernaim1648]

wild car. also thats a tiny radiator, does the electric fan sit infront of it, or no fan?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Electric fan sits in front!

[@imSchwaggy]

Should do the headliner in a matching material it would look super slick. (Not the alpina stripe but just that dark color the seats have).

[@m3nameisjosh464]

That would be cool but can imagine its impossible to find such fabric. Gotta keep it original anyway😅

[@imSchwaggy]

@@m3nameisjosh464 for future reference I do believe they sell it. Someone did an g8x m2 or m4 interior (or both) with this style fabric. Saw it on ig not long ago. They actually had the stripe(s) tho.

[@Hosenhoffen]

They absolutely hate sitting around, I was chasing rough running in my E30. I did everything I could think of to it. I needed to take it to work cause the X5 was throwing a hissy fit as it does... So I am driving down the highway, it just doesn't feel right, kinda bogged down, and then it loudly coughs, KABOOM, and it instantly felt better and ran right and drove like it should.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Im tellin ya man they heal themselves once driven!!!!

[@richardvand.3925]

Great car! What’s next? A E34 B10 3.5 is a gem too, trust me I have one and it is very different compared to a 535i it is based on. You can’t go wrong with an Alpina

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Lookin for a biturbo😅

[@richardvand.3925]

They are fantastic but also quite a bit more fragile and maintenance can result in frequent NLA disappointments I am told

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@richardvand.3925 yepp sounds about right haha

[@DannysGarage]

Is that how the stock suspension sits? Seems like an insane amount of rake to me, like the front is sitting fine but then the rear is jacked waaay up.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Actually opposite, front is too low. Going to refresh suspension.

[@efl5775]

What size of tire you got?

[@juancorrea9037]

Is that E30 as noisy as the regular one when it comes to the plastic pieces inside and the wind sounds? Even if is not, It's a beautiful machine.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I think the Alpinas are less noisy, possibly because recaro seats rattle less, or the cloth component deaden sound more, or just lower mileage nicer cars haha

[@grahammj1yt]

What RPMs were you hitting on that drive?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Almost all of them🫡

[@gertstolk]

You can find all Alpina facts in OAL-BB 50, the Alpina Book

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Yup I have the excerpt with #s. Archive #s are off online

[@craigpilgrim5793]

I got an e28 Alpina B10 (m30b34). It's great fun, but an Alpina in a lighter e30 would be hilarious.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

An absolute riot!

[@tiitsaul9036]

Are these correct size tires? They look a bit chubby. Liiks like it has been sitting outside for a while. Drivers seat leather has deied up. The dash must've been covered. Otherwise it would've been cracked.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Tires may be a bit big, haven’t checked the sizes off top of head!

[@StacheCam]

2.7 comes with timing belt so throw that one away 🤝😂

[@m3nameisjosh464]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@xprayforapugx851]

😊what do you do for work?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Everything you see on my channel sir!

[@brenden0311]

We keeping this one Josh?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I keep everything until it sells. How else will I get the next Alpina??

[@SuperDickiedavies]

Back in the early 90’ dad was running an E30 M3 and a C2 2.7. Fond memories. M3 is on point but the M20 with 210bhp was such a nicer lump.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

MANNN he was livin the life!!! Insane combo!

[@SuperDickiedavies]

You got yourself a real gem there. Will be looking forward to your uploads ❤

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@SuperDickiedavies thanks dude!

[@clayp.e30_v86]

The digital guage in the centre vent is not original as is the strut brace. Id say the owner in japan fitted them

[@clayp.e30_v86]

The check panel in the roof lining is original however

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Im aware strut brace isn’t original. But what do you mean the digital gauge isn’t original? This is standard on all Alpinaa

[@clayp.e30_v86]

​@@m3nameisjosh464had a brain fart last night ignore 😂

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@clayp.e30_v86 😂😂

[@clayp.e30_v86]

​@m3nameisjosh464 she's a great little car. Super find.! P.s, pressing question 👀, driven your frankenmotor yet ? How do you rate it over the m60 ? 👀

[@josvandencamp8441]

Alpina did not buy complete BMW's. They bought the parts and build the cars themselves. Alpine is registered as a separate manufacturer.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

You are unfamiliar with the early history of Alpina then. Prior to 1988 they bought full cars and redid them, in 1988 when the M3 came out they could no longer compete with the price because of this method, which is when BMW began sending them half complete shells.

[@shadyninja1]

It's not a V6 engine it's a straight 6 engine

[@m3nameisjosh464]

You dont listen or?? B6 B6 B6 B6 WITH A B. Not a V

[@ALLvideogamesFANBOY1]

Bro always skips the exhaust/ cold start clips in his videos.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I LITERALLY TRIED FILMING FOR THIS VIDEO AND FORGOT TO RECORD😂

[@bastianauser2035]

BMW with UGLY Ferrari badge on the steering wheel is like Ferrari 500 with ugly Porsche sticker attacked to front wheel. I DO NOT LIKE ALPINA STICKER GARBAGE ON BMW3. It makes whole car really UGLY.

[@bastianauser2035]

@youtube - stop playing me ugly Alpina BMW videos

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Its not an Alpina sticker though, its a real Alpina lol.

[@bastianauser2035]

@@m3nameisjosh464 My man - your Alpina sucks. Give it to me as gift so I can place a BMW sign onto the steering wheel so it will look like a real car. Thank you. I don't have a money to pay you, but I promise I will like my new car and will get one the right badge.

[@dylanrc2994]

😮 m20?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

M30

[@dylanrc2994]

With timing belt

[@m3nameisjosh464]

No timing belt here!