to mount or not to mount...

[bimmerboy73]

so, i'm planning on mounting an Alpina chin spoiler as part of my resto. I purchased one a few years ago before coupeking and a few others began carrying them. Noticed when i received it that it was slightly different in profile (where it meets the wheel well) than other spoilers i'd seen mounted on coupes. When i asked the seller, he told me that there were a few different styles produced and that mine might have been an early model. When coupeking began selling them, i noticed that what i'd purchased was what he was listing as an E3 chin spoiler, not E9 - since then, i think he's gone to selling only the 'e9' version.

So, two questions ...

1) Is the spoiler i purchased, the more 'streamlined' version, in fact an E3 specific model or was it available for the E9 as well?

2) If it is E3 specific, would it be sacrilegious to mount it to the coupe. i actually dont mind the look of it. The sharper taper at the ends when seen from the front exposes more of the front tires, making the car's stance seem a little wider...

i would just paint it and mount it to give it a wirl but i dont want to drill and unnecessary holes in my car. Not so much concerned about originality because my car already has had the motor /tranny swapped... just dont want to do anything foolish.

Here are the pics i have at the moment of it test fitted prior to paint. will try to find more later:


DSC_5860 by J_Otte, on Flickr


DSC_5861 by J_Otte, on Flickr


DSC_5863 by J_Otte, on Flickr

 

[duane_sword]

was it available for the E9 as well?

for sure this is appropriate for the E9... I can assure you...

 

[bimmerboy73]

duane,

close but not exactly the same. take a look at this pictures. The part mounted on the Bavaria doesn't have the same profile at the edge and there is no vertical surface on the fender to mount through. Also, the edge of the 'e9' spoiler has a slight return toward the wheel well as it wraps - in other words, when looking at it from the side, there is a significant surface that is presented to you. The one that I have (and the one shown on the e3) has no return or wrap whatsoever, just an edge. Also, the mounting lip or edge along the top of the piece is much shorter - cant see this in the picture but its probably 1/2 the width of the 'e9' sample.

Richard

 

[bimmerboy73]

a few more pictures...

completely different profile, edge contour, and attachment.

 

[bimmerboy73]

yet another version... looks like the one I have. this time on an e9.

 

[bert35csi]

This is my E9 spoiler as sold by the H&B BMW (Hardy&Beck back in the day). Have not mounted it since it was bought about 2 1/2 years ago. Most definitely this is an exact and original Alpina copy as Hardy&Beck was a Alpina car and parts distributor back in the 1970's and 80's.

 

[bimmerboy73]

Solved...

mystery solved. The spoiler i have fits both cars, but is made for the bavaria. There are, from what i can tell, at least three versions of genuine Alpina spoilers. One earlier version contoured for the E3, an E9 version and another without the vent openings - not sure whether E3 or E9.

Major difference between E3 and E9 is the contouring of the ends of the spoilers, the e9 spoiler is actually molded to fit the sheet metal contour of the coupe front fender (there's an indentation just aft of the junctions between the valance and front clip / fender - this indent matches exactly the shape of the wheel well mounting tab at either side of the spoiler). the E3 doesn't have this indentation and thus the E3 spoiler has no tab to mount to the surface of the fender, only a return that allows it to be screwed to the inside of the leading edge of the wheel well sheet metal. It still fits nice and snug, just not 'custom' to the E9 sheet metal.

 

[bimmerboy73]

Early / E3 Spoiler

Obvious difference in the shape of the ends...

 

[E911]

The image that bert35csi posted is the same as the ones I have and the outer-upper edges match up well with CSL wheel arches... yours might work well with no arches since it appears to be more tapered at the edges?

 

[73 E3]

If you decide not to mount it and go for the 'e9' version, I'd be interested in taking it off your hands to throw on my Bavaria. Don't want good parts going to waste

Shoot me a pm if you're interesting in going that route.

 

[Birger]

Alpina Spoiler

The last one on the pictures is definetely - if its is not original Alpina - a detailed copy of an Alpina Spoiler.

Birger

 

[bimmerboy73]

mounting it

thanks for all of the input. I made some modifications to the spoiler so that it fits nice and snug and parallel to the ground (2 turnbuckle adjustments that tie back to the frame rails) and came up with a method to mount it that doesnt require any additional holes in the body. priming and painting tonight. fingers crossed