B3/B4 [Official] BMW Alpina B3 (F30)

[E38_E30]

BMW Alpina B3 (F30)

Now it's official:
http://www.alpina-automobiles.com/en/models-alpina/b3-biturbo.html

Gallery:
http://www.alpina-automobiles.com/en/models-alpina/b3-biturbo/gallery.html

What engine is this? N54? N55?

 

[ACE]

What engine is this? N54? N55?

The B3 is a modified F30 335i, so it'll be an N55 with Alpina modifications.

 

[Levi68]

N55.

 

[E38_E30]

But N55 is a single turbo and ALPINA uses a biturbo layout.

Can't imagine it's affordable for a relatively small company to change the N55 to biturbos?

 

[Levi68]

But N55 is a single turbo and ALPINA uses a biturbo layout.

Can't imagine it's affordable for a relatively small company to change the N55 to biturbos?

And what if the biturbo system is related to the biturbo system of the M3?

 

[Hofmeister]

Definitely N55.
This is an N54:


And this the N55:

But N55 is a single turbo and ALPINA uses a biturbo layout.

Can't imagine it's affordable for a relatively small company to change the N55 to biturbos?

Well, Alpina developed it's very own supercharger for the H1 so I doubt they suffer from a lack of resources, which must surely have cost more than whatever it cost to fit the N55 with two turbochargers. Admittedly the development costs of the H1 were somewhat offset by the fact it was fitted to E6X B5, B6 and B7, but the B3 is Alpinas best selling car. They might also make up some of the development costs with an XB3.....

 

[Giannis]

Definitely N55.

Hmm, what appears to be either a pump or the throttle butterfly is in the same position in both pics and so is the alternator. But the oil cap is in a different position.

And this is a N55 as well:

So it must be a N55. Interesting...

 

[Hofmeister]

Hmm, what appears to be either a pump or the throttle butterfly is in the same position in both pics and so is the alternator. But the oil cap is in a different position.

And this is a N55 as well:

So it must be a N55. Interesting...

Well, I shouldn't have said definitely when it was only based on assumption, itself based on the fact that the two engines looked more similar than the N54 does to the B3's engine. I also thought it was safe to assume that Alpina would use the younger and more efficient engine. However, Alpinas website states the B3 uses a " 2979cc straight-six cylinder engine with high-precision direct injection, Valvetronic and Bi-Turbo charging " ( http://www.alpina-automobiles.com/en/models-alpina/b3-biturbo/powertrain.html ), and the N54 did not feature Valvetronic, which is a fact, as referred to in the press release for the debut of the N55.
Of course, it's entirely possible that Alpina modified the N54 to use Valvetronic and also made other enhancements but not very likely, when the newer, improved N55 was available, IMO

 

[Hofmeister]

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Nothing yet up on Alpina's official YouTube channel, hopefully there will be soon:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ALPINAAutomobiles​

 

[bimmerjph]

Damn, the F30 looks good in that blue.

 

[E38_E30]

Well, Alpina developed it's very own supercharger for the H1

The internet is really full of ALPINA fairy-tales ... don't want to go more off-topic here, but in short: everybody who is interested in the production process of ALPINA cars, please stop by for a moment on the following page, which features an excellent article about one of the last factory tours in 2006 with loads of insight information (and the picture set of the E53 prototype): http://www.thealpinaregister.com/article/2706

As posted in the XD3 thread, factory tours got immediately cancelled after the tons of pictures surfaced online. But they're informative until today and are still online

As for the centrifugal compressor aka Radialverdichter: ASA developed it, later ALPINA joined in and refined it altogether with ASA back in the days of the H1 development. Interesting side note: ASA is owned by the same guy as G-Power: Christian Stöber.

but the B3 is Alpinas best selling car.

Nope. The D3 and D3 Biturbo are the topsellers.

the newer, improved N55 was available

Opinion is deeply divided on this issue when it comes to squeezing out more juice of it.

 

[E38_E30]

But N55 is a single turbo and ALPINA uses a biturbo layout.

Can't imagine it's affordable for a relatively small company to change the N55 to biturbos?

N55 is confirmed. They did change quite a lot. But then again, it's ALPINA and not some chip 'n go shop.

2013 Geneva: ALPINA B3 Biturbo

The design and construction of the excellent BMW 3.0 litre straight-six cylinder (N55) engine serves as a starting-point for a specially cast aluminium crankcase with Bi-Turbo capable flanges. These enable the mounting of two turbochargers along with required oil and water connections and a close-coupled catalytic converter arrangement. ALPINA specific NGK spark plugs and a forged steel high-strength crankshaft guarantee long-lasting stability.

Always-on power delivery and excellent throttle response are aided by an electronically controlled bypass valve system. Specially constructed and de-throttled, i.e. flow and cross-section optimised, air intake ducts guide the air with minimal losses from the air intake via the air filter housing to the turbochargers. On the fuel side, a high-performance high-pressure fuel pump ensures the right throughput. Optimal utilisation of the output is provided by a high-capacity intercooler with flow-optimised collector boxes made from aluminium. Coolant cooler, additional separate coolant and engine oil coolers as well as a high-performance 850w cooling fan ensure the thermal stability of the cooling system in all conditions.

Another thing: can we make the thread 'official'?

 

[Giannis]

Another thing: can we make the thread 'official'?

I just moved all posts after the reveal into this new thread. The other one, contained the spyshots and is now locked.

 

[E38_E30]

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Looks perfect. Sounds perfect. Want one!

 

[Andreas1984]

A brilliant car!

 

[Mr Robert]

Lovely! I wonder if I would need another car?

 

[Hofmeister]

From BMWCar April 2013:
"So, Alpina did the only logical thing, and asked BMW to cast the N55s destined for the F30 B3 differently in order to allow for Alpina to be able to accommodate a twin-turbo configuration. Then there was the small matter of the bespoke intake system, subsequent piping, cooling, Alpina-specific NGK spark plugs and forged-steel crankshaft which has resulted in pretty much a bespoke engine made just for this car."
"while the exhaust system comes from Akrapovic, weighs 7.5kg less than the E9x B3 item, and features an electronically-controlled variable valve that ensures the car is civilised when it needs to be but when pressing on, or when Sport mode is activated, it opens up"
"bespoke springs from Eibach, allowing you to bring the most out of the chassis, which has been further enhanced by the addition of a front strut brace, positioned right at the front of the engine bay, in order to counteract the F30's inherently soft front end."

Chart comparing F30 B3 Bi-Turbo power figures versus those of the E90 B3 S Bi-Turbo

 

[Giannis]

further enhanced by the addition of a front strut brace, positioned right at the front of the engine bay, in order to counteract the F30's inherently soft front end.

 

[Levi68]

From BMWCar April 2013:
"So, Alpina did the only logical thing, and asked BMW to cast the N55s destined for the F30 B3 differently in order to allow for Alpina to be able to accommodate a twin-turbo configuration. Then there was the small matter of the bespoke intake system, subsequent piping, cooling, Alpina-specific NGK spark plugs and forged-steel crankshaft which has resulted in pretty much a bespoke engine made just for this car."
"while the exhaust system comes from Akrapovic, weighs 7.5kg less than the E9x B3 item, and features an electronically-controlled variable valve that ensures the car is civilised when it needs to be but when pressing on, or when Sport mode is activated, it opens up"
"bespoke springs from Eibach, allowing you to bring the most out of the chassis, which has been further enhanced by the addition of a front strut brace, positioned right at the front of the engine bay, in order to counteract the F30's inherently soft front end."

Chart comparing F30 B3 Bi-Turbo power figures versus those of the E90 B3 S Bi-Turbo

So yes, this is the engine base of the M3 F80.

 

[Giannis]

So yes, this is the engine base of the M3 F80.

Huh?