Alpina B10 V8S Touring | Spotted
Not nearly as iconic as an E39 M5, but arguably the superior all-rounder. Here's why...
There’s no denying the E39 BMW M5 is something special. John even went to great lengths to prove it last year with a PH Heroes video jam-packed with stories from when he owned one a few years ago. The lucky swine. He reckons that the mix of old and new, coupled with a V8 engine and manual gearbox are what make the E39 the perfect classic car. And on that basis, it’s hard to argue with him.
But I’m going to have a stab at it, because I’m a sucker for pin striping and creamy leather seats in a way that only Alpina can cater to. So please turn your attention to this stunning B10 V8S Touring listed by Classic Heroes – a fitting vendor if ever there was. Granted, the B10 won’t be the outright driver’s car the E39 M5 is - partly down to it only being available with Alpina’s Switch-Tronic auto ‘box - but the stickered-up V8S does get mightily close to the M5 on performance. If anything, the Alpina may have a slight edge.
On paper, the B10 takes up its usual place in the BMW hierarchy. It does away with the M-developed S62 V8 in favour of the M62 V8 from the 540i, only in a higher state of tune. The displacement increased to 4.8 litres courtesy of a modified crankshaft, while revisions were made to the exhaust and cams. The result was a decent 380hp – just 20hp down on the M5 – but a peak torque figure of 376lb ft that modestly trumps the BMW’s 369lb ft figure. And while M5 has a marginal edge over the V8S in terms of straight-line speed, the buttery smooth shifts of the Switch-Tronic gearbox could be said to deliver better real-world performance.
Without getting too bogged down in how they've been measured, there's also the on-paper revelation that the Alpina weighs less than the M5. Comparing saloon to saloon reveals a 100kg deficit in Alpina’s favour. Even the Touring version we have here is said to be lighter than the M5 saloon, which seems unlikely given all the extra bodywork and heavy automatic gearbox it has to lug around - but there we go.
Of course, in reality, any difference in straight-line performance between the two cars is probably negligible. The way they drive, however, is where the differences likely become apparent. As ever, the Alpina is set up for comfort, in spite of those (big for its time) 19-inch wheels, with the company throwing in its own suspension configuration and Brembo-developed brakes to help it effortlessly devour great distances. And unlike the dark, moody cabin of the M5, this Touring has been decked out with a tan leather interior that’ll have your heart rate on tick over while blasting down a stretch of autobahn in excess of 175mph. So while the M5 is doubtlessly more engaging, the B10 V8S is the more versatile of the two.
It might be the better ownership proposition, too. Mileage doesn’t mean much to an Alpina’s value, with plenty of cars on the classifieds commanding strong money despite logging hundreds of thousands of miles. Condition, however, is the big indicator, and this B10 V8S looks to be immaculate. It’s admittedly covered a short distance by Alpina standards with 93,000 miles on the clock, but the seats look to be in pristine nick and the Alpina Green paint appears spotless. An asking price of £42,000 is comfortably ahead of the M5s currently listed on PH, but at least you can pile on more miles without sweating the depreciation. The perfect usable classic car? Let’s hear your arguments.
SPECIFICATION | ALPINA B10 V8S TOURING
Engine: 4,837cc V8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 380@5,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 376@3,800rpm
MPG: 31
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 2002
Recorded mileage: 93,000
Price new: £63,500 (B10 V8)
Yours for: £42,000
Seems strong money.
Few have gone through CC that are equally pristine at £28-31k...
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2003-bmw-alpin...
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2003-bmw-alpin...
k?!“
3.3 was not very good. Really needed a 6 speed gearbox for relaxed motorway driving. Drank a lot of oil.
The other two were very different. M5 was by far the better car at 9 or 10 tenths driving and suspect would still feel quite competitive today. Not so good the rest of the time.
V8s was a lot more dialled back then the numbers would suggest. I think this car would feel very dated today - a current 540i would run rings around it . 5 speed auto in particular slowed things down.
It is a fabulous sounding engine.
I love the interior… makes such a change to the inevitable black or grey.
£42k for a nigh on 100k mile 5 series estate looks a bit rich to me but that’s todays market… can’t help but think a Merc C63 Estate might be a better bet.
Personally can't stand all the kickdown nonsense, the lack of precise control, the laggy response and the sense of torque being spun away into the ether.
Manual isn't entirely ideal for this car either. But given a modern auto isn't an option, it's a far better choice, though I think Alpina didn't do these (or almost anything else by this point) in manual for the UK RHD market. So they're all hobbled with clunky old school slush boxes.
A lot of so-called modern progress isn't anything of the sort. But one thing that definitely has improved is the auto box. There's nothing charming or involving about an old school slusher. They're just crap.
Probably the more 'real world' quicker car. Some odd styling (pinstripes) and that very odd interior though.
Still, you get those awesome wheels with the valve hidden beneath the centre cap.
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