Installed the "wider lower grille effect" mod - what do you guys think?

[nuclearfusion]

Hi everyone,

I got busy and installed the 524td grille panels known as the "wider lower grille effect" detailed on Bruno's www.bmwe34.net site which references this page:

E34 Wider Lower Grille Effect (http://lennon.csufresno.edu/%7Ejag62/grille.html)

Here's the before:

http://www.anthus.net/bmw/spoiler-inserts-before.jpg

and here's the after:

http://www.anthus.net/bmw/spoiler-inserts-after.jpg

Part numbers are:

Left: 51-11-8-168-917
Right: 51-11-8-168-918

They were $CAD 19 each, so probably no more than $US 15 in the States, likely even less.

I know it's not Alpina spec but aside from that what do you guys think of the look?

Enjoy!

Fusion

[Gayle]

I was afraid it was going to be a wide grill with the narrow hood.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/widegrillSmall.jpg

Sigh of relief.

[E34 530]

looks good. Those 2 pieces can be fitted on to any e34 model???

[GJPinAU]

I know it's not Alpina spec but aside from that what do you guys think of the look?
It took me a while to see the difference, luckily I have a large monitor and could compare the pics.
Yep looks fine.;)

[nuclearfusion]

looks good. Those 2 pieces can be fitted on to any e34 model???

To tell the truth I don't know that 100% for sure - but since they fit on my Alpina with not much fuss at all I'd assume that they should go on any E34 without a big problem. As far as I know those blank covers are the same on most of the E34 models, so the ventilated ones should be pretty much universal as well.

It was about 3 minutes per side - a minute or so to pop the cover off, about the same to pop on the new one. Repeat on the other side.

Enjoy!

Fusion

[E34 530]

Just remebered though, I have an alternator cooling duct on the right hand side.

[genphreak]

I know its a simple on off thing but (of I was lucky enough to have a choice about such matters) I'd keep an Alpina dead-on original. :) Sorry to be a spoiler!

btw; is your suspension factory or has it been replaced? What kidn of springs/shocks are you running are they new/old? Just interested re ride-height 'sall... :) nick

[winfred]

hard to see in the dark
http://members.cox.net/wdixon27/spoiler3.jpg
http://members.cox.net/wdixon27/spoiler2.jpg
http://members.cox.net/wdixon27/spoiler1.jpg

[E34 530]

winfred, did you make those ducts yourself, they seem alittle different than the 540 ones. I love the 540 ducts and want to do them to my car.

[winfred]

they are 540 ducts but they are bolted to the bottom of the stock bumper instead of the bumper being cut out for them, then i took a piece of a broken bumper and cut it to fit between them, they were pretty tough and never broke despite being grounded hard a few times, i never got around to installing the ductwork to the brakes and sold the car last year
http://members.cox.net/wdixon27/spoiler4.jpg
http://members.cox.net/wdixon27/spoiler5.jpg
http://members.cox.net/wdixon27/spoiler6.jpg

[winfred]

http://members.cox.net/wdixon27/rivershot.jpg
http://members.cox.net/wdixon27/slanted.jpg

[E34 530]

hmm I see. The middle piece looks damn good for a diy and fits the ducts well.

[E34 530]

sterlingsilber metallic ;) ?? Do you regret selling it??

[winfred]

it was a nice car and was fast but i made a good bit of money on it and needed something more useful, like this
http://members.cox.net/kitlou/rr%20truck.JPG
http://members.cox.net/kitlou/da%20fleet.JPG
if i ever want another ill build another i got that one as a light interior burn, if i can score a m5 or 540 with a stick, or maybe make the boss sell me this and convert it to stick, 94 840 one of the most comfortable seats i've ever sat in, comes wrapped in a farly nice driving car too
http://members.cox.net/kitlou/850.JPG


sterlingsilber metallic ;) ?? Do you regret selling it??

[E34 530]

8 series= my dream car. At my old job they used to deliver cars with the same dually you have. The thing was a beast. Even w/ the stock turbo you could hear it spooling from a mile away :p. You wouldn't happen to have any brake ducts layin around you'd want to sell me would you??

[winfred]

only the twisted nasty remains from wrecks


You wouldn't happen to have any brake ducts layin around you'd want to sell me would you??

[E34 530]

only the twisted nasty remains from wrecks
damn, o well. I keep looking at the pic. of that 8 series you posted. I want one sooo bad. Black is the best color for them too imo.

[winfred]

dark blue but that pic was early in the morning in low light, it's got staggred e39 m5 wheels on it now
http://members.cox.net/kitlou/851.JPG
http://members.cox.net/kitlou/852.JPG
http://members.cox.net/kitlou/854.JPG


damn, o well. I keep looking at the pic. of that 8 series you posted. I want one sooo bad. Black is the best color for them too imo.

[nuclearfusion]

btw; is your suspension factory or has it been replaced? What kidn of springs/shocks are you running are they new/old? Just interested re ride-height 'sall... :) nick

Hi Nick,

My car has the Alpina suspension as installed at the factory: Alpina springs, Alpina-custom Bilstein shocks, Alpina anti-sway bars, etc. No mods on any of that stuff at all. The car has 120k km's on it (about 75k miles) and still very firm & supple so fortunately the matter of service/replacement of the suspension components hasn't come up yet.

If I were to face that I suspect I'd try to keep the feel and height as close to the original setup as possible. It's currently "comfortably firm" - so in my mind close to optimal with the Alpina 17" wheels. Seems like it might be a bit harsh on this setup with any bigger wheels and shorter sidewalls. I'll know for sure in a short while since a friend of mine who also has a B10 is putting a staggered set of 18" E38 M-Parallels on his car. That will take 35-series tires in front, 30-series in the back.

Enjoy!

Fusion

[Jon K]

...



Winfred - where did you get the brake ducts? Where can I get them new? Any old bumpers you wouldn't mind chopping a piece off of? I actually like that - looks like an addon spoiler.

[E34 530]

Jon, you can get them at the dealer.

http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/upgrade/540_ducts.asp

[winfred]

i got those off a crunched car and don't have any more repairable ducts at the moment, i do have some crunchy bumpers but any old e34/32 chunk-o-bumper will work if you have a parts car in your neck of the woods
i didn't want to hack up my bumper to just have a 540 bumper when finished, that was probably one of the most unnoticed but best loved mods i did, it blended in so well it needed to be pointed out to regular joes and i don't think anybody saw the diesel ducts that were on it when i got it, if i ever have another e34 i am building another


Winfred - where did you get the brake ducts? Where can I get them new? Any old bumpers you wouldn't mind chopping a piece off of? I actually like that - looks like an addon spoiler.

[genphreak]

Thanks for the details... I really wouldn't want to be your friends ass... 18s are wrong most peeps with them say, and 17s are bad enough really. The suspension practically disapppears for most people that lower them more than an inch and a half. Yours is seriosuly low at the front and looks M-tech height at the back. Staggered on that setup (would) dial in excessive oversteer depending a little on torison ratio between the sway bars Front:Rear. If your ride is managable atm I would not change anything (as you probably aren't) as it is clearly a fine balance that most people get somehwo wrong. This is why the Sashs kit is so good for most; it has that careful balance and is not a hack-job.

If I was your freind (apart from scrapping the 18s in favour of 17s) I'd research the part numbers on his rear trailing arms to see if Alpina changes none, some or all of their cars to M-tech rear arms and bushes, as this is how the M-cars have staggered wheels setup and he will definately need it to maintain the right camber settings back there.

On that note, it'd be real interesting (for us) to know if ALpina uses the rear axle carrier (ie entire subframe) from the M5 or if they use the standard e34 one (perhaps modify it themselves even), if you guys are could ever figure a way to work that one out :)

We would really like to know the difference between them actually.

It is interesting that BMW have literally dozens of spring combos for the e34, (just ask Phil Sanderson... :p ) and at least 6 differnt types of shocks that go with them which most people refer to as 3 types (not including Alpinas) whereas in reality there are even regional differences between models. Love that car alpina, she's awesome mate :) Nick

[nuclearfusion]

Thanks for the details... (snip) Staggered on that setup (would) dial in excessive oversteer depending a little on torison ratio between the sway bars Front:Rear.

Interesting that you say that. The stock Alpina setup I have on my car is 8.5J on the front (235/45/17) and 9.5J on the rear (265/40/17). No excessive under or oversteer. The car is very neutral - it fact it's quite easy to steer on the throttle. This likely due to the heavily engineered suspension setup (springset/shocks/antiroll bars/wheels/tires/etc.) all designed as an integrated system by Alpina.



If your ride is managable atm I would not change anything (as you probably aren't) as it is clearly a fine balance that most people get somehow wrong.

Right you are - I like it as is and don't plan to modify it. To steal a quote from Alpina, "Performance without the performance" is just about right by me.



If I was your friend (apart from scrapping the 18s in favour of 17s) I'd research the part numbers on his rear trailing arms to see if Alpina changes none, some or all of their cars to M-tech rear arms and bushes, as this is how the M-cars have staggered wheels setup and he will definately need it to maintain the right camber settings back there.


Presumably the trailing arms and bushings are all part of the suspension package built by Alpina (as I mentioned the staggered wheelset is factory original)

As far as I know the subframe is standard E34 although it could of course be M5. Since the B10 was designed and built pre-M5 I'd be guessing its' likely the standard E34 unit (albeit perhaps with Alpina mods).



Love that car alpina, she's awesome mate :) Nick

Thanks much - I like it too.

Here are some photos: My E34 Alpina B10 (http://www.anthus.net/bmw/b10/)

Enjoy!

Fusion