Alpina B5 (F10) | Spotted
Time is almost up for Alpina as we know it - time to remember the good old days (of not very long ago)
With so much else going on in the world, it can be easy to forget that we’re a matter of months from Alpina finally and officially becoming part of BMW. The deal was done more than three years ago now, and with little news since it would have to be assumed that the integration process is going through without a hitch. Come January 2026, Alpina will cease to exist as a separate entity after decades on its own. Crumbs.
Because there haven’t been any updates, exactly what the future holds for Alpina isn’t clear. Back in 2022, it spoke of ‘regulatory demands’ and a ‘politically-driven transition to electric mobility’ - little did anyone know what was to come - as part of the reason for selling up. From next year the Bovensiepen name will focus on classics and 'different exciting new mobility solutions'; BMW spoke, of course, of the acquisition being a perfect fit. Alpina never applied its expertise to a BMW EV, and its dalliance with four-cylinder diesels was short-lived. A battery-powered BMW Alpina would certainly put a cat among the purist pigeons.
A mighty powertrain has been a matter of course virtually since day one and continues to define the brand. This F10-era B5 absolutely ticked that box, offering up more than 500hp and 500lb ft before the arrival of the contemporary M5. Using the 550i’s 4.4-litre N63 twin-turbo V8 as a base (not BMW’s best-loved V8, but capable of plenty of power), Alpina hand-assembled them at Buchloe before they went to BMW and made changes including the fitment of Mahle pistons, new turbos and reinforced cylinder heads. It’ll be the best an N63 can be, put it that way.
But speed is only part of the Alpina magic, however impressive a 198mph top speed was on its own. The springs, dampers and arms were modified, as was the steering, for a more connected yet comfortable drive. The interior was lavish, the wheels identifiable from a hundred paces; the B5 was the archetypal Alpina overhaul.
This must be one of the very first, as it’s on a 2011 reg, and has been driven 74,000 miles by just one owner since then. Not only did they do a fine job of speccing it when new - Sophisto Grey with Beige, the Classic wheels - they looked after it beautifully; ‘serviced and maintained without cost’ is the advert claim.
It really does look like a stunning example, without a single MOT advisory ever and showing just one fail since 2014. The Lavalina leather is in excellent condition, as are the wheels and the decals; there can’t be many, if any, around better than this. It’s easy to be fairly certain on that because apparently just 20 right-hand drive Alpina B5s like this ever came to the UK. And only 320 were made in total, against thousands of equivalent M5s. Gets better, too, as B5 #127 has just been treated to a big service, meaning it’s riding on new tyres, discs and pads - not a small investment on any car, let alone a two-tonne, 500hp BMW. The air con has been refreshed as well, so it’s all set for summer. While £30k probably looks a lot for an old 5 Series that’s not an M5, we know different. It’ll continue to work its charm for a long while yet, whatever the future holds for Alpina.
SPECIFICATION | ALPINA B5 (F10)
Engine: 4,395cc, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 8-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 507@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 516@3,000-4,750rpm
MPG: 26.2 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 252g/km
Year registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 74,000
Price new: £69,995
Yours for: £29,925
But their position seemed under threat, rewind 20-30 years ago the difference between Alpina and BMW was clear.
Want ze zingy sporty BMW, go for the M cars.
Want it better, more subtle and refined, go Alpina.
Now M cars are less sporty with slush boxes, 4wd, 2ton weight etc and especially if both brands went more electric, then there's much less of a differentiator.
Is my memory playing tricks on me but didn’t Clarkson et al have one of these compared to an M5 around the ‘eboladrome’ on ‘The Grand Tour’, and it stacked up favourably?
If the facelift wheel (one of the best looking/feeling airbag steering wheels BMW AG have produced) won’t fit, the early F10 M5 wheel will.
But their position seemed under threat, rewind 20-30 years ago the difference between Alpina and BMW was clear.
Want ze zingy sporty BMW, go for the M cars.
Want it better, more subtle and refined, go Alpina.
Now M cars are less sporty with slush boxes, 4wd, 2ton weight etc and especially if both brands went more electric, then there's much less of a differentiator.
Fast forward to the present day, and BMW have a car to fill the majority of those niche gaps with an off the shelf product.
It’s just a shame they’re all pig ugly and no longer feel like a quality product …
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