BMW Alpina B5 Biturbo Touring
Discussion
VeeTenM said:
I didn't know posting a picture of your car you just bought made you a snob....
Oi chandrew get some more pictures up, specially the back end so I can see your debadging skills you snob.....
I've been called a lot worse things than a snob. Note that I didn't remove the badges, it was ordered that way by the original buyer.Oi chandrew get some more pictures up, specially the back end so I can see your debadging skills you snob.....
Edited by VeeTenM on Monday 6th March 17:30
Whilst I adore it I only use it when I need to do longer trips. It stays in a local car park near my flat. This was how I found it on Sunday after not using it since New Year's Eve. I'm sure some will think letting it get in this state is the height of snobbishness. It's back to normal now.
GrandTourer said:
chandrew said:
The downside of taking a less than subtle approach on my baby version is that with all the ALPINA badging, there's less room for adding my own ;-)
Hi
I nearly bought the Blue one at 555 but it was sold before I had a chance to see it! Lovely car.
Recently bought a B5 second hand and had the rear de badged. I tried to have the stripes removed but was advised that it could damage the paint. The badges and stripes are black.
To the OP, the main reason for de badging is that it reduces the number of aggressive drivers trying to race or hinder you.
I nearly bought the Blue one at 555 but it was sold before I had a chance to see it! Lovely car.
Recently bought a B5 second hand and had the rear de badged. I tried to have the stripes removed but was advised that it could damage the paint. The badges and stripes are black.
To the OP, the main reason for de badging is that it reduces the number of aggressive drivers trying to race or hinder you.
I personally love the badges. Most people have no idea the car does 200mph , if anything I find the Alpina special blue metallic paintwork , silver decals and chrome Alpina badges look awesome and do not result in aggressive other drivers.
People know what the B5 is or they do not. The amusing is there is very little that can up with it on the midrange punch in normal road driving anyway….badges or not.
People know what the B5 is or they do not. The amusing is there is very little that can up with it on the midrange punch in normal road driving anyway….badges or not.
andrewp88 said:
Hi
I nearly bought the Blue one at 555 but it was sold before I had a chance to see it! Lovely car.
Recently bought a B5 second hand and had the rear de badged. I tried to have the stripes removed but was advised that it could damage the paint. The badges and stripes are black.
To the OP, the main reason for de badging is that it reduces the number of aggressive drivers trying to race or hinder you.
I agree that debadging may assist when, for example, attempting to cut back in at the top of a long queue of traffic on a motorway, as BMW and Audi drivers love to do, but on Pistonheads, it would seem that the main reason for debadging a car, and particularly an Alpina, is to tell people that you’ve debadged it. That’s usually followed by “anyway, those who know, know” with a winky face emoji as if to suggest admission to the special club of particularly discerning Alpina drivers.I nearly bought the Blue one at 555 but it was sold before I had a chance to see it! Lovely car.
Recently bought a B5 second hand and had the rear de badged. I tried to have the stripes removed but was advised that it could damage the paint. The badges and stripes are black.
To the OP, the main reason for de badging is that it reduces the number of aggressive drivers trying to race or hinder you.
I’d love to have a new Alpina but I would keep the badges on it. I wouldn’t fancy the go faster stripes to be honest but taking the badges off is silly. I’ve had a number of M cars, all with their badges on just as God intended, and I’ve never been raced or harassed or hindered because I don’t drive in a way that provokes people.
Agreed. I have never de-badged a car nor understood the reverse snobbery of doing so. No one who knows anything about cars could mistake an E63S estate for an E220d or a 520d Touring for a B5 Touring anyway. With or without badges
I bought the blue Touring from Top 555 and love the factory badges and exhaust. The Alpina multi spoke alloys and factory front and rear spoilers make clear the car’s performance regardless of badges and decals.
Each to their own.
I bought the blue Touring from Top 555 and love the factory badges and exhaust. The Alpina multi spoke alloys and factory front and rear spoilers make clear the car’s performance regardless of badges and decals.
Each to their own.
Lovely looking cars on display in the thread I’m a big fan of these Alpina models.
Not a big fan of rebadging myself on my last car (M240i) it was rebadged when I bought it and I had the dealer replace the badge.
My current car (M4) also has all its badges intact. I often find with BMW it’s the smaller engine variants who have the badges removed such as my colleagues 220i
Not a big fan of rebadging myself on my last car (M240i) it was rebadged when I bought it and I had the dealer replace the badge.
My current car (M4) also has all its badges intact. I often find with BMW it’s the smaller engine variants who have the badges removed such as my colleagues 220i
I order my cars without badges where possible. If someone thinks it's a diesel rather than a RS, or a 320 rather than a M3 then all the better as far as I am concerned. And I would do the same with the Alpina.
And I buy boring coloured cars with standard alloys because I like the Q car vibe. And it was easy with some of the early AMG / RS/ M stuff, but not today thanks to more aggressive design.
My favourite was a debadged 1995 3.8 M5 in dark blue. That really flew under the radar.
And I buy boring coloured cars with standard alloys because I like the Q car vibe. And it was easy with some of the early AMG / RS/ M stuff, but not today thanks to more aggressive design.
My favourite was a debadged 1995 3.8 M5 in dark blue. That really flew under the radar.
[quote=chandrew]
I've been called a lot worse things than a snob. Note that I didn't remove the badges, it was ordered that way by the original buyer.
Love the addition of SMTC shield on the lower grill.
Regarding removal of badges, I generally prefer that, as historically this is how cars were sold. I believe manufacturers only started adding rear model names/numbers was so people could show off they had the smarter model than the chap next door. That’s just isn’t how I roll, but each to their own.
I've been called a lot worse things than a snob. Note that I didn't remove the badges, it was ordered that way by the original buyer.
Love the addition of SMTC shield on the lower grill.
Regarding removal of badges, I generally prefer that, as historically this is how cars were sold. I believe manufacturers only started adding rear model names/numbers was so people could show off they had the smarter model than the chap next door. That’s just isn’t how I roll, but each to their own.
For those who own these - they look absolutely stunning and surely about the perfect fit for a do everything car.
I am a generous person so, in the same way we are looking after a friend’s dog, I am prepared to look after your car at absolutely no charge.
I know, you’re welcome.
Yours with significant envy and lust,
Junglie
I am a generous person so, in the same way we are looking after a friend’s dog, I am prepared to look after your car at absolutely no charge.
I know, you’re welcome.
Yours with significant envy and lust,
Junglie
Discombobulate said:
I order my cars without badges where possible. If someone thinks it's a diesel rather than a RS, or a 320 rather than a M3 then all the better as far as I am concerned. And I would do the same with the Alpina.
And I buy boring coloured cars with standard alloys because I like the Q car vibe. And it was easy with some of the early AMG / RS/ M stuff, but not today thanks to more aggressive design.
My favourite was a debadged 1995 3.8 M5 in dark blue. That really flew under the radar.
I agree with you; probably my favourite car was also a debadged 3.8 M5; however it was in Daytona Violet, so probably not that discreet.And I buy boring coloured cars with standard alloys because I like the Q car vibe. And it was easy with some of the early AMG / RS/ M stuff, but not today thanks to more aggressive design.
My favourite was a debadged 1995 3.8 M5 in dark blue. That really flew under the radar.
Perhaps it is also an age thing? In those days there wasn't an AMG or M badge on every other car.
Also, the UK does appear to have a higher percentage of cars in Alpina Blue and Green compared to the continent where greys and blacks seem to be popular.
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