Chris,
You should really consider sending this restoration record to Alpina when you are done. I can't imagine they would be any less than delighted to see such effort made to save one of their iconic creations. They seem to care about their history as owners in Europe will ship their old cars back to the factory where Alpina will restore them to like new if requested.
E28 Alpina B7 Turbo/1 #0083
Lovely pics!
With this speed, you're gonna finish your B7 before me
A friend of mine owns the B10Biturbo #003, the red Concorde E34. Alpina were delightet when he contacted them, and had some nice emails recieved.
But ofcourse, that car is THE one Alpina that have been most "official" of all Alpinas ever made...
Please let the pics coming all the way here, I enjoy those nice pictures...
With this speed, you're gonna finish your B7 before me
A friend of mine owns the B10Biturbo #003, the red Concorde E34. Alpina were delightet when he contacted them, and had some nice emails recieved.
But ofcourse, that car is THE one Alpina that have been most "official" of all Alpinas ever made...
Please let the pics coming all the way here, I enjoy those nice pictures...
-
unt0uchable
- Posts: 2265
- Joined: Jul 21, 2011 8:05 PM
- Location: Rochester Hills, Michigan
- Contact:
Looking fantastic, Chris!wkohler wrote:Right now, the doors are a little tough to close. I imagine once I put the seals on the body side after the headliner, they might get more difficult. We shall see.
You'll probably have to put up with giving the doors a good tug until the seals break in and conform properly. When I drove mine home, I used the normal amount of effort and figured I had closed the door all the way without a second thought. On the 10 I was thinking; "Wtf, for new seals should there be this much wind noise?" I hit some traffic and was able to slow down enough to open the door and close it harder this time to make sure it was closed all the way. Doh, sure enough!
All I heard then was just the engine purring away. The trade off is so worth the extra effort, it's nice having an airtight, no wind noise seal again. Aah, the little things in life. 
Karl
Couple of "quick" jobs have been taking most of Mike's time lately, so not much has been done. The hood is installed though. Amazing what a difference that makes!
At this point, it's just installed. The cowl insulation is installed as well, but the latches haven't yet been riveted into their respective locations. Once that's done, the cable will be run through and that should hopefully all work well.
And another shot of the rear of the car, as I thought that would be nice.
The headliner guy now has both headliners. No real idea of when he's planning to do it. He's been working on a '40 Ford that has had some real issues, so I imagine he wants to finish that up. Fortunately for me, there's no rush on the car leaving since he's got all of this stands back and the panels are back on the car.
At this point, it's just installed. The cowl insulation is installed as well, but the latches haven't yet been riveted into their respective locations. Once that's done, the cable will be run through and that should hopefully all work well.
And another shot of the rear of the car, as I thought that would be nice.
The headliner guy now has both headliners. No real idea of when he's planning to do it. He's been working on a '40 Ford that has had some real issues, so I imagine he wants to finish that up. Fortunately for me, there's no rush on the car leaving since he's got all of this stands back and the panels are back on the car.
This is exactly why I am following this thread. I know you will meticulously restore this car by making sure that every detail is as correct as possible and not add any cheesy resto-mods or aftermarket parts. Great job on this.wkohler wrote:I'm trying to do this as as accurately as possible.
Best,
RCBMW
Mike called this morning and said the headliner guy, Sonny, had made plans to come by at 3pm today to install the headliner. Super. Of course, I was slightly put off thinking both what it was going to cost and how long it was going to take after hearing what LJ has been going through on his. I managed to get over there around 3:45 and he had half of it finished. The headliner was in, but the hole for the sunroof hadn't yet been made. I undid all of the sunroof mechanicals and showed him what went where. We worked on that part. Everything went pretty smoothly. Couple wrinkles in a couple spots, but looking at them, I suggested they would probably go away once the grab handles and the dome lights were installed. Sure enough, they did.
Since you cannot buy new Grau headliners, Jim's Auto Upholstery sewed this one up out of the correct material for another member. He changed directions on his car and went with an alcantara, so I got the distinct pleasure of purchasing this from him a couple years back. I was under the impression that Sonny had another job and did this stuff on the side after work. Come to find out after I asked him if he knew any local upholsterers I could have sew up a headliner so he could install in the future, he said he didn't know anyone locally that was any good. Oh.
Few more questions like, "Do you only install headliners" and come to find out he has his own shop. Well, holy crap. $180 later and it's in. I will do a bit more trimming once I have the car back, but, it looks good.
Once that was done, I got to rivet in my hood latches. I used steel rivets, just as the factory did. Definitely harder to install, but the idea is to hold them firmly to the core support. I guess you could get away with Aluminum assuming you use the gun properly, but steel are correct. I learned that from Devinder last year.
Now that the latches were in, it's time to run the new cable.
Mike will adjust the hood, etc.
This guy is back on too!
Glass should be going in tomorrow or Wednesday. I provided the new gaskets, aluminum trim and a lockstrip. I ordered two, but only seem to have gotten one. Oh well, I can do the rears later. Once that's done, Mike is going to do the texture on the rockers and paint the lower lip on the valance and the vertical supports behind the grilles black. He's painted the mirrors, rear door rear window guides, restored the rear spoiler (no photos, since it needs another coat) and the mirrors (they need another coat, too). There are also a couple of minor undulations and depressions here and there that he wants to have his PDR guy handle just to make it that much more straight.
The headliner was a big concern crossed off my list. So, once the glass is in and I "sign-off" on everything, it's time to bring it home.
Since you cannot buy new Grau headliners, Jim's Auto Upholstery sewed this one up out of the correct material for another member. He changed directions on his car and went with an alcantara, so I got the distinct pleasure of purchasing this from him a couple years back. I was under the impression that Sonny had another job and did this stuff on the side after work. Come to find out after I asked him if he knew any local upholsterers I could have sew up a headliner so he could install in the future, he said he didn't know anyone locally that was any good. Oh.
Few more questions like, "Do you only install headliners" and come to find out he has his own shop. Well, holy crap. $180 later and it's in. I will do a bit more trimming once I have the car back, but, it looks good. Once that was done, I got to rivet in my hood latches. I used steel rivets, just as the factory did. Definitely harder to install, but the idea is to hold them firmly to the core support. I guess you could get away with Aluminum assuming you use the gun properly, but steel are correct. I learned that from Devinder last year.
Now that the latches were in, it's time to run the new cable.
Mike will adjust the hood, etc.
This guy is back on too!
Glass should be going in tomorrow or Wednesday. I provided the new gaskets, aluminum trim and a lockstrip. I ordered two, but only seem to have gotten one. Oh well, I can do the rears later. Once that's done, Mike is going to do the texture on the rockers and paint the lower lip on the valance and the vertical supports behind the grilles black. He's painted the mirrors, rear door rear window guides, restored the rear spoiler (no photos, since it needs another coat) and the mirrors (they need another coat, too). There are also a couple of minor undulations and depressions here and there that he wants to have his PDR guy handle just to make it that much more straight.
The headliner was a big concern crossed off my list. So, once the glass is in and I "sign-off" on everything, it's time to bring it home.
-
Mark 88/M5 Houston
- Posts: 8548
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: Far North Houston
-
pleasefixitup
- Posts: 1856
- Joined: Nov 21, 2011 2:40 AM
- Location: Chicagoland, Illinois
-
Eddie in TO
- Posts: 1007
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Looks awesome Chris. 
Do you suppose that headliner guy would like to take a Winter vacation and fly to MA to do my headliner?
That's a great price IMO. I could have him do a 2 or 3, pay for his ticket, and it would be cheaper than having one done at a shop here!
It would be fun watching you shuffle all the e28s and the e34 in the driveway, in order to get this baby in the garage when she comes home Especially now that your up to 6 or is it 7 cars/
-RoyW
Do you suppose that headliner guy would like to take a Winter vacation and fly to MA to do my headliner?
That's a great price IMO. I could have him do a 2 or 3, pay for his ticket, and it would be cheaper than having one done at a shop here!It would be fun watching you shuffle all the e28s and the e34 in the driveway, in order to get this baby in the garage when she comes home
Especially now that your up to 6 or is it 7 cars/ -RoyW
-
unt0uchable
- Posts: 2265
- Joined: Jul 21, 2011 8:05 PM
- Location: Rochester Hills, Michigan
- Contact:
Hemmings Sports and Exotic Cars has a pretty cool restoration feature every month too. I think even with 4 doors, this car fits fine.wkohler wrote:Thanks Craig. That's something I haven't heard of or considered. I wonder if they would care. Might be worth sending them an email or something once its all back together.
Chris, by "lockstrip" do you mean these chrome pieces?wkohler wrote: Glass should be going in tomorrow or Wednesday. I provided the new gaskets, aluminum trim and a lockstrip. I ordered two, but only seem to have gotten one.
51311820624
I have two if you want to use one now and order another for me.
-Andy
-
Das_Prachtstrasse
- Posts: 5616
- Joined: Sep 10, 2006 7:06 AM
- Location: Melbourne, Doooown Under
I've always wanted to witness that exact scenario. Tough luck for you, though.wkohler wrote:... glass guy. He got into an accident on the freeway. Super.
When you removed the glass initially, did the headliner sag once the glazing was removed or was it so pressed in there, it kept tension? About to pull the windscreens out on my car and am hoping not to have too much trouble getting them back in again, headlining wise. I've done plenty of windscreen fitting in my line of work, but the ole rope trick might be a challenge if the headliner sags.
Your project is coming along tremendously, Chris. Inspirational work.
-
Adam W in MN
- Posts: 5053
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: Don't waste my motherf***in' time!
- Contact:
Thanks! Somehow I thought this was pretty simple, but looking back on just this process, there is a lot to it. I still didn't go "all-out."
As for getting it in the garage, it won't be that bad, all that's in the driveway right now is the 528i and the 533i (well, the touring when I'm there). The 745 is in the back yard and both M535s in the garage. Shouldn't be too difficult. Fuel tank is the first thing to go back in. Oh joy.
It was actually pretty tough to get a hold of Sonny at first. After a few calls, we finally caught him. He's very busy and only did mine because he knew we were serious and weren't going to waste his time. Pretty quiet guy. Definitely a nice guy though. I doubt he'd make the trip though. Haha.RoyW wrote:Looks awesome Chris.
Do you suppose that headliner guy would like to take a Winter vacation and fly to MA to do my headliner?
It would be fun watching you shuffle all the e28s and the e34 in the driveway, in order to get this baby in the garage when she comes home
-RoyW
As for getting it in the garage, it won't be that bad, all that's in the driveway right now is the 528i and the 533i (well, the touring when I'm there). The 745 is in the back yard and both M535s in the garage. Shouldn't be too difficult. Fuel tank is the first thing to go back in. Oh joy.
So, the first glass people got into an accident, which ruined our appointment. Fine. They came back the next day. I asked Mike to call me. He said he'd call me when he saw glass going into the car. I didn't get a call until 4pm. He said they gave it a shot, but it was too much for them, so they left. Another guy came, looked at the car and left. Finally, he got a hold of a guy who does nothing buy old stuff. He was on his way to do a '57 Chevy when Mike called. Said he'd swing by after. Mike said he'd follow up with me. No call for the rest of Wednesday. Nothing on Thursday until 7pm. I was in the area Thursday afternoon, but didn't want to just drop in, after all, Mike's been busy with a lot of little jobs and I'm not wanting to annoy him. He calls me at 7pm and said he's just leaving the shop. The windows are in and they took many, many hours. Said the glass guy kept insisting that this car had been wrecked and nothing fit. They both worked at it and got the glass in. Then he said it was the best he could do. Oh no. Said he was going to shoot the black on the rear valance, rockers and behind the grill this morning (Friday), and I could see it this afternoon.
I couldn't eat anything last night. I was really worried about how it would look. So, I kept waiting and waiting for a phone call. Read every thread I could find on windshields and what people have been dealing with and figured it can't be that bad. Looks like everyone has had a hard time, but they work out eventually. Finally, I'm getting annoyed. I call him at 4pm and he said he was just going to call me. I said I was sorta on that side of town, ready to go back to Phoenix and could be there in 30 minutes.
Hmmm. Rear spoiler is on. Looks good.
Looks like a window there.
Windshield made in Germany. Green tint with the darker green band. Heard of some folks getting OE windshields from Columbia.
The windows look absolutely HORRIBLE. I've never seen anything so bad in my entire life. My seals, my trim - all ruined. $600 worth completely ruined. Seals are melted and ripped. The trim is all scratched and bent. Absolutely horrible. Mike said I didn't have to pay for it. Great. You haven't seen pissed off until you show me this and then make me pay for it. That said, I didn't know it wasn't included in what I paid him for the paint job. Issues I decided not to press at the time. The only positives here is that the glass didn't get destroyed, the headliner wasn't damaged and I didn't have to pay to have someone ruin my stuff. I didn't pay the kid in the Jetta to run into my E12 either. Glad I can get these services for free.
Those are just a couple of examples of the excellence throughout the installation. I've got rips in the seals, more melty bits and tons of scratches and damage to the trim.
I tried really, really, really hard not to get super pissed off. I understand the guy had a hard time. I know Mike is not a glass person. He did his own glass in his E30 M3, but yeah, that's different. I must have told him five times that if he had ANY questions, issues or concerns to CALL ME! If it can't be done, it can't be done. I'll have someone do it at my house. Now, all I've got is a bunch of fucked up shit on a car I don't even want to finish, let alone look at. Obviously, getting upset at him isn't going to fix it and he certainly is not going to replace the stuff that was ruined. What's it going to accomplish? I cannot afford to spend $1,000 to fix stuff I already paid for.
Everything had gone very well so far. Mike had been great to work with, the quality of the work was good (though I don't know WTF is up with that area under the lower left corner of the rear glass) and everything seemed to go according to plan. Everyone has stuff that needs fixing with a paint job, but I didn't expect it would be my parts that would get ruined and I'd have to re-buy them all and take a gamble with someone else to do the work.
Apparently, it's coming home tomorrow where it will most likely just sit in the garage unfinished under a car cover for who knows how long.
Sure, you probably think I'm over-reacting, but with the amount of money I have into this project, I can assure you I'm not.
I couldn't eat anything last night. I was really worried about how it would look. So, I kept waiting and waiting for a phone call. Read every thread I could find on windshields and what people have been dealing with and figured it can't be that bad. Looks like everyone has had a hard time, but they work out eventually. Finally, I'm getting annoyed. I call him at 4pm and he said he was just going to call me. I said I was sorta on that side of town, ready to go back to Phoenix and could be there in 30 minutes.
Hmmm. Rear spoiler is on. Looks good.
Looks like a window there.
Windshield made in Germany. Green tint with the darker green band. Heard of some folks getting OE windshields from Columbia.
The windows look absolutely HORRIBLE. I've never seen anything so bad in my entire life. My seals, my trim - all ruined. $600 worth completely ruined. Seals are melted and ripped. The trim is all scratched and bent. Absolutely horrible. Mike said I didn't have to pay for it. Great. You haven't seen pissed off until you show me this and then make me pay for it. That said, I didn't know it wasn't included in what I paid him for the paint job. Issues I decided not to press at the time. The only positives here is that the glass didn't get destroyed, the headliner wasn't damaged and I didn't have to pay to have someone ruin my stuff. I didn't pay the kid in the Jetta to run into my E12 either. Glad I can get these services for free.
Those are just a couple of examples of the excellence throughout the installation. I've got rips in the seals, more melty bits and tons of scratches and damage to the trim.
I tried really, really, really hard not to get super pissed off. I understand the guy had a hard time. I know Mike is not a glass person. He did his own glass in his E30 M3, but yeah, that's different. I must have told him five times that if he had ANY questions, issues or concerns to CALL ME! If it can't be done, it can't be done. I'll have someone do it at my house. Now, all I've got is a bunch of fucked up shit on a car I don't even want to finish, let alone look at. Obviously, getting upset at him isn't going to fix it and he certainly is not going to replace the stuff that was ruined. What's it going to accomplish? I cannot afford to spend $1,000 to fix stuff I already paid for.
Everything had gone very well so far. Mike had been great to work with, the quality of the work was good (though I don't know WTF is up with that area under the lower left corner of the rear glass) and everything seemed to go according to plan. Everyone has stuff that needs fixing with a paint job, but I didn't expect it would be my parts that would get ruined and I'd have to re-buy them all and take a gamble with someone else to do the work.
Apparently, it's coming home tomorrow where it will most likely just sit in the garage unfinished under a car cover for who knows how long.
Sure, you probably think I'm over-reacting, but with the amount of money I have into this project, I can assure you I'm not.