Thursday 16th February 2012

Spotted special: an Alpina extravaganza

We find some delicious BMW based loveliness to dribble over

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Aside from a curious weakness for lairy-coloured wood interior trim and occasionally dubious body graphics, Alpina has always been the go-to brand for the gentleman looking for a more subtle brand of performance BMW.

While BMW's M division has always busied itself with hyperactive throttle response and handling, Alpina has taken a somewhat more lugubrious approach to performance, often eschewing manual gearboxes and high-revving naturally aspirated engines (or enlarging N-A motors).

Combine that with the cars' rarity value and the fact that, since the late 70s, Alpina has had the status of a manufacturer in its own right rather than just a specialist tuner, and you've got a rather appealing recipe.

Which is why both myself and Garlick found ourselves dribbling over Alpinas in the PH classifieds the other day, Mr G from the position of a Merc-loving bargemeister, myself from the angle of a BMW lover.

And what we found was a treasure trove of dribbleworthiness in signatures multi-spoke alloys, ranging all the way from 3 Series to 7 Series.

How about an E30-based C2 2.7 for starters? According to the vendor, this is one of just 30 or so pre-facelift C2 2.7s, so it's pretty rare. This right-hook, UK-supplied car (try saying that about an original M3) even has a 1986 bill of sale with it, showing a cost of £7K for the conversion. That's in addition to the price of the 325i Sport the original owner would have needed to buy in the first place - almost makes the £12,995 the current seller wants seem reasonable...

We also found a trio of 5er-based beauties in our trawls. The first was this E28 5 Series. The vendors call it a B2.5, but we don't actually quite know what that means (somebody can surely elighten us). Whether it's therefore not one of the full-house B9s or B10s (the badges certainly suggest not) we don't quite know, but we are certain that it looks stunning in Henna Red and that a mere 29,000 miles and some serious history make it sound like quite a catch.

Our next 5 Series spot is a bit more of a known quantity, a 1991 B10 Biturbo. Moving a little more up to date, this not-so-little 1991 beauty provides a solid 360hp and 380lb ft from its twin-turbo six. Which is enough to comfortably outgun a contemporary M5. But then again a 1991-vintage M5 probably won't cost you £19,995...

If you want subtlety, however, the final 5er we spotted could well be just the ticket. It's an early E39-based B10, which means 340hp from a 4.6 V8, and only a set of 'those' alloys' to mark it out as special - this is a BMW that takes the art of de-badging to a new level. It's even temptingly affordable, with a price tag of just £5,995, possibly a result of the car's 139,00 miles, but not bad considering it was originally £75,000-worth of vehicle.

But if you want bangs for your buck, how about 12 cylinders of 350hp E32 B12 for just under four grand? Okay so it's not been run for a year, and has been sold pending a deposit, but blimey, it's a lot of Alpina for the money...

[Colt91]

I saw a few of these for sale on PH recently! Stunning bits of kit!

[steveb8189]

Is it just me or in that first picture does the car seem to ride higher on the left? Got me thinking, do manufactures set up suspension to be correct with just a driver onboard?

[pSyCoSiS]

Stunning cars those Alpinas.

I once drove a 1986 C Reg E30 C2 2.7 Alpina when I was at uni, complete with the 'snow plough' front spoiler!

Very quick car, which wheel-spinned in third gear.

Love the B10 Bi-Turbo, one of my all-time favourte cars.

They have a real sense of character about them, and are rare to say the least.

And those wheels - an all-time classic, which fetch silly money these days!

[Aizle]

In before the title.

[Munich]

oh, that E32 B12 makes me dream. That is the perfect example of car where the devil on the one shoulder is screaming, "Buy it!" but the angel on the other shoulder is saying, "Don’t be stupid. Remember you have to put food on the table". It's at that price point where you think, "Bargain! No reason why I shouldn't buy that." But you just know, deep down inside, the petrol bills a lone will bankrupt you.

[simonigrale]

I worked at Sytner Nottm for many years and have had the pleasure of driving most Alpina models. The ones that stand out for me the most are the B10 BiTurbo, the E38 B12 6.0 E KAT and 8 Series B12 5.7 with rear wheel steering which I covered around 1000 miles in.

[Fluid]

I'm sure the second to last link in the article is ment to be this car.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2927916.htm

[Gorbyrev]

Neighbour had a B10 for small money and miles - lovely motor. Cheaper than an equivalent M5 or M3.

[sam303]

I had a B3S - 3.4 litres and 305bhp (and that's being conservative with the bhp... I saw a dyno graph of another owner's car that showed 320bhp) and it remains the best car I've owned.

Don't know why the article says that Alpina 'eschew' large naturally aspirated engines - maybe they do these days but that 3.4 N/A was an absolute peach. Much more go than the standard BMW 3.0 (nice as that is) and with a truly sumptuous noise - induction growl and top end snarl. Wonderful. Miss mine so much I can't bring myself to remove it from my profile pic...

[Graebob]

Sorry to be a nerd, but your link to the E39 based B10 is a link to the ad for the '91 E34 car.



People are usually so proud of finding these errors, I just feel embarrassed for being so pernickity

Edited by Graebob on Thursday 16th February 12:02

[Limpet]

The B10 Biturbo is one of my all time favourites as well. Lovely mix of power and subtlety (boot badge aside).

I still love that E34 shape, even today.

[900T-R]

That E39

[fake7]

This one lives near me. It hasn't moved for ages, and looks a bit sorry for itself.



But is it real? it's got the "look" and the right wheels (and an interesting reg), but no badges to give it away.
What model do you think it is?

[Riggers]

Fluid said:

I'm sure the second to last link in the article is ment to be this car.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2927916.htm

*cough* it is now...

[anonymous-user]

I've got an e46 B3 and it's a great car. Just got it back after a big service and having the wheels refurbed. Also getting the 'dubious' silver stripes put on it soon

[SWoll]

Strange oner for me as a BMW fan but the Alpina models have never been my cup of tea. From a driving standpoint I'm sure they are great but aethetically I think they are quite poor.

Cartoonish body appendages, horrible "pinstripe" stickers, and I've always found their turbine wheels too fussy as well.

[Rob Crutch]

A few years ago I went to see friend of my Uncle who had a few interesting cars, amongst them was a henna red B9 that someone had brought in to him for some head work following a cam failure years before only for them to abandon the car with him when the price for the cam came in. I tried to buy the car off him but was told he wouldn't sell in case the owner ever did come back, shame as the car has probably rotten away completely by now.

[Affalterbach]

To see some classic Alpina's for sale follow the link below and click 'Angebote'

http://www.kleissler-automobile.de/

[fluffnik]

fake7 said:

This one lives near me. It hasn't moved for ages, and looks a bit sorry for itself.



But is it real? it's got the "look" and the right wheels (and an interesting reg), but no badges to give it away.
What model do you think it is?

I believe it's a real B10 3.5.

It shows up for sale from time to time...

[Luca Brasi]

Lovely stuff, proper BMWs. Shame most of them are $$$$$ when it comes to running costs.