2012 BMW 535

2012 Alpina D5

130,500 miles

FSH

Bought in March

Serviced and timing chain replaced at start of ownership by BMR.

Fantastic car

I get stopped an asked about this car more than my Cayman GTS.

It's been lightly used on the motorway in my short ownership, cared for and ready for the next owner to enjoy.

I am relocating to California so needs a new home. I have ticked the petrolhead box, owned an Alpina, perhaps you can too!

Alpina D5 BiTurbo (F10) for sale – the proper 3.0 straight-six twin-turbo diesel with 350hp and a big chunk of torque going through the 8-speed auto to the rear wheels. Same spec as the well-known PH “Spotted” car, but with 130k miles on it, doing exactly what these were built for: long, fast, comfortable journeys rather than school-run duty.

If you know Alpina, you’ll know what this is about: effortless shove from low revs, really calm and quiet at motorway speeds and easily 40–50mpg on a steady run. It’s more grown-up than an M5 – softer ride, less shouty, but still properly quick when you want it to be. Classic Alpina touches are all there too: subtle bodykit, multi-spoke wheels, discreet badges and a quality 5-Series cabin that still feels like a nice place to spend hours in.

At 130k it’s nicely run-in and still feels tight, with the engine pulling hard and the gearbox doing its thing smoothly in the background. It’s a rare car and they’re not making any more like this – a genuinely fast, comfortable mile-muncher that doesn’t cost a fortune to run. Ideal for someone who does proper mileage and wants something a bit special, without shouting about it.