Alpina and Borrani (CMR) 13” Steel Rims

[Alpina-A0]

Hi Steve, thanks for all that information!

I just wanted to provide the info what an KBA number is, because that helps a lot to understand.
In Germany there is the KraftfahrBundesAmt, wich is an central govermental offic for vehical registration. For all modifications on cars, it was neccessary to go to the TÜV where every single modification had to be approved and an inspector needed to prove if you car is still street legal with those parts.
As more and more tuners came up, they invented the KBA Number (that must have been around 1972 if I remember correctly) to make this process easier. Therfore a tuner or seller of aftermarket parts could apply for a KBA Number where it was approved under wich circumstances the part was to be used on a specific type of car. Afterwards, the Customer could go to the TÜV, just providing the KBA Number, and the TÜV inspectore could look into a data base of KBA numbers to find out if that Part was streelegal on that specific car.
Therefore a wheel could for example have a KBA Number for several cars, or for example also just for Opel Ascona, no matter if it could be driven on Opel Kadett and BMW 2002 street legal as well!
It also did not matter who applied for the KBA Number. For Example Alpina Bovensiepen is still holder of KBA 40006 and KBA 40005 because they were the first to prove that the CMR wheels fit the BMW 1600-2 and 2002, even thogh those wheels were also availabe for axaple from the Tuner MATTER in the 70s.
(KBA 4005 for example says that those wheels can be driven on the 1600-2 and 2002, but only if the cars have anti sway bars installed)

So this might help to understand a little...

 

Best

 

Michael

 

 

[tjones02]

@ConservKeep in mind the applications with fender flares. Alpina surely used their versions on rally cars with flares. And, 205/60-13 tires weren’t invented yet.

[BritshIron]

@Alpina-A0, @Conserv I've got a newbie question. This set of early aftermarket 20-spoke Alpina wheels just has a KBA embossment, no numbers. I understand that KBA stands for Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, which is the German Federal Motor Transport Authority. When there's only the embossment with no numbers, does that mean the wheels were simply approved for use in Germany at the time of manufacture? Thanks, Aloha, Robert

IMG_1986 (1).heic

[BritshIron]

Sorry, I muffed the photo. Try #2. Mea culpa! RPS

IMG_1986 (1).heic

[Conserv]

47 minutes ago, Alpina-A0 said:

Hi Steve, thanks for all that information!

I just wanted to provide the info what an KBA number is, because that helps a lot to understand.
In Germany there is the KraftfahrBundesAmt, wich is an central govermental offic for vehical registration. For all modifications on cars, it was neccessary to go to the TÜV where every single modification had to be approved and an inspector needed to prove if you car is still street legal with those parts.
As more and more tuners came up, they invented the KBA Number (that must have been around 1972 if I remember correctly) to make this process easier. Therfore a tuner or seller of aftermarket parts could apply for a KBA Number where it was approved under wich circumstances the part was to be used on a specific type of car. Afterwards, the Customer could go to the TÜV, just providing the KBA Number, and the TÜV inspectore could look into a data base of KBA numbers to find out if that Part was streelegal on that specific car.
Therefore a wheel could for example have a KBA Number for several cars, or for example also just for Opel Ascona, no matter if it could be driven on Opel Kadett and BMW 2002 street legal as well!
It also did not matter who applied for the KBA Number. For Example Alpina Bovensiepen is still holder of KBA 40006 and KBA 40005 because they were the first to prove that the CMR wheels fit the BMW 1600-2 and 2002, even thogh those wheels were also availabe for axaple from the Tuner MATTER in the 70s.
(KBA 4005 for example says that those wheels can be driven on the 1600-2 and 2002, but only if the cars have anti sway bars installed)

So this might help to understand a little...

 

Best

 

Michael

 

 

Thank you, Michael. I explained KBA numbers in this thread — not nearly as well and as knowledgeably as you — about 25 “pages” and about 10 years ago… 

 

We certainly needed a refresher — an accurate one to boot 😉 — for our current audience!

 

Much appreciated! 😉

 

Steve

 

[Alpina-A0]

9 minutes ago, BritshIron said:

@Alpina-A0, @Conserv I've got a newbie question. This set of early aftermarket 20-spoke Alpina wheels just has a KBA embossment, no numbers. I understand that KBA stands for Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, which is the German Federal Motor Transport Authority. When there's only the embossment with no numbers, does that mean the wheels were simply approved for use in Germany at the time of manufacture? Thanks, Aloha, Robert

IMG_1986 (1).heic 2.65 MB · 3 downloads

Normally there should be an number, because only by entering the number the technician is able to get the Paperwork for the wheels. So also if the wheels were aprooved by the very begining of manufacture there should be a number!
 

[Conserv]

On 10/25/2022 at 3:15 PM, Alpina-A0 said:

Normally there should be an number, because only by entering the number the technician is able to get the Paperwork for the wheels. So also if the wheels were aprooved by the very begining of manufacture there should be a number!
 

Michael,

 

I see this occurrence regularly, “KBA” but no number. I’ve always assumed something like: the mold for the rims was manufactured after (a.) the rims were designed to comply, and (b.) the application was prepared, but before (c.) a number was assigned. You can build an inventory and those rims can go out the door as soon as the KBA application is approved. Maybe? 😁

 

In my mind, it’s more common on alloy rims, where the “KBA” is part of the casting, and you cannot simply stamp in “KBA.” It’s part of the mold. Even just the letters announce that the rim has gone through the registration process. Bring paperwork!

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

[uai]

Sorry can't see heic but here are two examples of the early 5,5x13 20 Spoke

Edited October 26, 2022 by uai

[Blue 02]

On 12/22/2021 at 2:07 PM, Conserv said:

I believe the answer to the “Why are there so many color variations on a single brand of rims?” is precisely the same as the answer to “Why are there so many color variations on 2002’s’ subframes and suspension components?”

 

And the answer is….

 

It really didn’t matter much, to either the manufacturer or the original purchaser!

 

In the case of the rims, some owners would be painting the rims whatever color they wished. And no particular color went with every body color. The odd gray-beige factory color appeared to be replaced by a generic silver in the late 1970’s, which was, in turn, replaced with black around 1980, which might have been used until the end of production, ca. 1983.

 

Your second and third photos appear to show Alpina steelies, so Alpina probably had something to say about their color. I have not yet seen an Alpina steelie painted at the factory in that distinctive gray-beige “Borrani shade”, despite CMR being the source of both! And many of the photos above represent post-factory paints. Still, I wholeheartedly agree that two original-paint sets of Borrani’s are unlikely to match each other perfectly.

 

Below is my set of original-paint Borrani’s, in a 5” width! They’re all 5” (R1-484), manufactured October 1972, bought together off of a German ti. And yet there are both (slight) color variations among the four rims and a fairly dramatic color shift from “group photo” to “individual portrait”!

 

I would choose a color for Borrani’s that best blends with my car’s color. To be honest, neither Polaris (my ‘76) nor Inka (my ‘73) goes well with the distinctive gray-beige!

 

Thanks and regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

 

 

Hello

 

Looking to add my "new to me" set to the list.  Just purchased them from a seller who acquired them from Germany, still appear to be in original paint.  Similar in color to your wheels above.

 

I've read this thread a couple times and am still deciding on what color to refinish the wheels!  Is there a code for the "gray-beige Borrani" color you've found close to the original color on your wheels?

 

Thanks - Rich

 

CMR Borrani

13 x 5 1/2

R1-485

6/73

 

 

Edited December 28, 2022 by Blue 02
Photos didn't load, posted them below

[Blue 02]

Hi - I'm not sure how to post the photos so they show in my reply.  Is there a trick to how to do that?

[RFord888]

Convert to JPEG

[Blue 02]

Another attempt!

[Conserv]

7 hours ago, Blue 02 said:

Another attempt!

Definitely the original finish, as you say! I’m not certain anyone here has come up with a precise RAL color to match, although a few people have duplicated the color in conventional paint. I always say, “Before repainting in the early ‘70’s factory gray-beige, make certain your car’s exterior color plays well with it. Some, especially light, colors — such as Polaris metallic — look pretty awful with the gray-beige.”

 

Congrats on your find. The 5 1/2” Borrani’s are especially hard to locate!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[JohnP_02]

@Blue 02 you could have one scanned to reproduce the color and do us all a favor and share it here! Very cool, congrats

[Blue 02]

I'll try to get a scan with the shop I'm planning to use.

Edited December 27, 2022 by Blue 02
Misspelled a word