Alpina TWR 3.5 | Spotted
Alpina wasn't always the all-singing operation we now know; once upon a time, it needed TWR's help...
Alpina is something of an oddity in the car world. The Buchloe-based firm has been operating as one of BMW’s key tuning outfits since the mid-1960s, and as an independent manufacturer for the past four decades. Yet, as it produces cars in extremely limited numbers, it doesn’t have traditional showrooms dotted around like its now-parent company BMW, instead securing partnerships with dealers to import and sell its wares.
Since 1983, all Alpina imports and sales have been handled by the Sytner Group. But when the German marque first made its way across to the UK, contracts to sell Alpina tuning parts and, in some cases, full conversions were handled by various coachbuilders and engineering firms. Prior to Sytner picking up the contract and running away with it, legendary motorsport outfit Tom Walkinshaw Racing were the custodians of the Alpina license. Cars were imported as full BMW products - as Alpina only produced left-hand drive models from its factory at the time - converted to tuner spec and finished off with TWR badges front and rear. Nice.
Some BMW owners throw Alpina bumpers, wheels and badges on pretty much anything for a little extra street cred, but this car is one of the few examples that won’t send alarm bells ringing when you notice that it started life as a 528i SE. After rolling off the BMW production line in 1982, TWR took a crowbar to its 184hp, 2.8-litre straight-six engine and slotted in a 3.5-litre motor that bumped up the power to 221hp (or that's what the vendor thinks - we reckon it might be closer to 250hp). Other improvements to the 3.5 E28 included new Bilstein dampers, upgraded 284mm brakes and, on a handful of cars, a Getrag five-speed manual gearbox.
TWR even fitted the gorgeous Alpina air dam at the front and slapped on a decal set for the flanks, with blue and green pin striping for the bumper - harking back to the firm’s racing colours. Step inside and you’ll find the upgraded Scheel bucket seats with a cloth finish (which look rather comfy, don’t they?), plus Alpina badging on the steering wheel and wooden gear knob. Look a little closer and you’ll also notice Alpina branding engraved on the steering wheel and printed in the centre of the tacho. It wasn’t just a dolled-up 5 Series; it was a proper Alpina pieced together by a motorsport great.
This car already has a fascinating backstory, but we’re only scratching the surface. It was apparently discovered by a scrapyard owner, who thought the car looked a bit too special to face the crusher and sent it off to BMW specialists Munich Legends for a once-over. Since then, it’s regained its roadworthiness and undergone a full respray while retaining some patina so as to not forget its brush with the crusher. The car’s backstory has been detailed in full here, and will make you want to head to your nearest scrapyard to rescue any car that looks sorry for itself.
Thankfully, Munich Legends has done all the difficult bits (at the expense of our scrapyard hero) and it hasn’t been restored to concours standard, so you won’t feel guilty driving it through a puddle. It’s up for sale at £69,990, not far off the cost of a brand-new B3 Touring. But it’s believed that only 18 examples were made in right-hand drive with the optional five-speed ‘box, with TWR-built cars like these even rarer. So if ever there were an older, British-engineered Alpina to invest in, it’d be one of these.
SPECIFICATION | ALPINA TWR 3.5
Engine: 3,430cc straight-six
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 248@5,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 229@4,200rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 1982
Recorded mileage: 97,000
Price new: £24,100
Yours for: £69,990
This below was his personal car KHR 792X seen in 1988 at Curborough.
The 2nd car, red, was burnt out and lost.
A 3rd silver one was built.
I believe owners of both the silver cars are PH'ers and I also believe both cars are undergoing resto.
Tiff did a road test of this car in period.
See page 5 for the road test.
Re power - I thought the standard 3.5 from the 535i/M535i was 218bhp - why does PH think this one’s at 248bhp? Article doesn’t mention fettling, just engine swap.
Regardless, lovely bit of kit.
At the same (ish) time - my Dad let me drive a 518 he had as his company car. It had the kooky ‘kinked’ up single exhaust, which looked correct compared to the, er, jaunty angle this one is exiting at!
I remember feeling as cool AF in that 5 series, I was a teenager, I drove it to work and got a rollicking for ‘showing off’ by the MD. Son of a motor trader - always meant interesting things could be sampled - often!
It’s these experiences and 100’s more that have been part of my life, so when I hear the EV brigade slating ICE’s in that ‘tone’ they manage to conjure up, I tune out - fast.
Especially the poster that constantly bangs on that mass is ‘insignificant’ and that the only thing that matters is ‘drag’ & frontal area. Argues like 2.7t is actually better than 1.2t. Orwellian double speak.
Drive this and seek out TWR jaaaags as cruise buddies! Cool.
That said - lovely car
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