Thursday 1st May 2014

Alpina B7: Spotted

The E65 7 Series gets a whole lot more attractive with over 500hp!

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There's an Alpina D3 arriving at PHHQ today, a car we're rather keen to test. The petrol B3 is a rather fine car, as was the last 214hp D3. Now it's toting 350hp. With an LSD too. A saloon rather than a Touring unfortunately, but you won't see us complaining.

Well it's as subtle as a 500hp E65 could be

The D3 is an Alpina of the new school though, one where mpg is boasted about as loudly as mph. It comes with the territory now of course but that does at least proffer an excuse to delve into the classifieds for something a little more, er, profligate.

How about this? The B7 is Alpina's take on the E65 Bangled 7 Series. Imposing, isn't it? It was never the most discreet of shapes so even Alpina's fairly mild additions (those gorgeous wheels and a couple of extra spoilers) give it a really malevolent look. One suspects it would clear Autobahn lane dawdlers rather swiftly.

Certainly if its appearance doesn't, the B7's performance should do the trick. The B7 was based on the 745i and its 338hp 4.4-litre V8; ample you'd imagine but hardly befitting of the Alpina flagship (actually an appropriate term here given the size of it). So a very clever supercharger was installed by the boys at Buchloe to yield 507hp and 516lb ft. Marvellous.

Hope you like the wood...

As is also the Alpina way, the standard BMW suspension set-up was thoroughly overhauled. In its place sit Eibach springs and Sachs dampers which probably contribute to its fabulous stance as well as sharpen things up dynamically

As super saloons go, it makes for a fairly seductive combination. Rare and fast, plus unique amongst in its contemporaries in not having a factory equivalent. This B7's five owners have clearly thought so as well, covering 122,000 miles over the past ten years. The fuel bills must have made those giant leather chairs all the more comforting...

Some context is probably required before any judgement on value is reached. For £40 less than the Alpina, there's all manner of V12 LWB luxury in this 760iL; quite a few less miles than the B7 too. And for even greater subtlety, how about a W12 Audi A8?

Boo!

But if you're looking at the B7, something with a little extra athleticism is surely more appropriate. This Jag XJR undercuts the Alpina on price (and kerbweight) but lacks its outrageous power. Which of course leads us to AMG. Ideally an S Class would have been chosen but the PH Classifieds lack a suitable B7 rival right now. The CLS55 is perhaps as close as its possible to get.

Those alternatives do make the Alpina look a little pricey, but it arguably offsets that with greater rarity. And there's one thing the B7 has (or in fact lacks) that makes it more tempting than all the above; no speed limiter. To the autobahn!

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ALPINA B7
Engine: 4,398cc supercharged V8
Transmission: 6-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 507@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 516@4,250rpm
MPG: 22 (according tobmwheavenat least...)
CO2: Plenty
Year registered: 2004
Recorded miles: 122,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £15,990

See the original advert here.

[Source: Alpinaarchive]

[Pothole]

Spotted one of these last Sunday in the 'burbs of Leicester. 285/30 21s!!

[Dave G fsi]

Nice rarity and an exclusive motor for sure

Looks a bit 'off' from the front though imo

[AV12]

Likened to a long-range bomber. Don't think it just had 500 horses, though. According to some of the older lot on here, it had more like 600, certainly in the B5 anyway.

[anonymous-user]

Lovely cars.

The supercharger is a known weak spot on this engine and it took Alpina a while to get it right so if it's not had the supercharger replaced already tread very, very, very (very) carefully. Alpina were apparently making a contribution to out-of-warranty repairs as it was as design issue but not sure if that's still the case.

Do not attempt to run one without a cast-iron warranty.

[WTFWT]

charltjr said:

Lovely cars.

The supercharger is a known weak spot on this engine and it took Alpina a while to get it right so if it's not had the supercharger replaced already tread very, very, very (very) carefully. Alpina were apparently making a contribution to out-of-warranty repairs as it was as design issue but not sure if that's still the case.

Do not attempt to run one without a cast-iron warranty.

Had a good look at a B5, but the above advice led me into a CLS55 which seems (touch wood) pretty bulletproof.

[31mph]

That is lovely

[405dogvan]

That A8 could be the best sleeper of all time - it looks like a taxi!

[montello]

Did you miss this S55 or does it have too many miles? It's got enough go and it's a cheap.

[fulham911club]

Saw one on the Embankment on my way home last night

[Liquid Tuna]

The back looks a bit naff with that spoiler. Looks good with those wheels though.

[GTEYE]

The Alpina bits might be good, but the 7 Series underlying them is absolutely hideous.

Bangle at his worst IMHO.

Good future shed of the week though...

[pSyCoSiS]

I really love the E65 7 Series, and it has totally grown on me over the last few years. It has some serious presence, especially in the right colour.

You can pick them up dirt cheap and they represent staggering value for money.

I would actually have this over ALL of the alternative models mentioned in the article....

Edited by pSyCoSiS on Thursday 1st May 16:46

[crostonian]

Fabulous and so much more exclusive than any of the alternatives mentioned in the article, although doubt whether it could sway me away from a Quattroporte.

[k-ink]

WTFWT said:

Had a good look at a B5, but the above advice led me into a CLS55 which seems (touch wood) pretty bulletproof.

The CLS is also far easier on the eye

[The Obeast]

I never understood the dislike of the bangle beemers, I actually like this shape 7. But I don't think the colour is doing this car any favours.

[Axionknight]

Looks crap in my opinion, but I bet no one would see THAT coming at the lights in an impromptu race and for that alone it has to be applauded.

"co2 - plenty", made me chuckle.

Edited by Axionknight on Thursday 1st May 18:40

[Outrun]

I very nearly bought this car a few years ago but passed on it, losing my deposit, as it wasn't as clean as i'd been led to believe. Luckily i managed to find a facelift model a few months later which was perfect. To this day its still one of the craziest cars i've ever driven. Nearly as comfortable as a Phantom but when you put your foot down all hell broke loose. The feeling of acceleration was akin to an airliner at takeoff and there was no let up until you were more than double the speed limit. Alpina engineers told me that they had tuned the exhaust note to sound like a Riva boat and that most engines were putting out and between 530 and 570 bhp. They just weren't allowed to advertise these figures as BMW didnt want the M5's limelight being stolen!

I visited Alpina shortly after buying mine and was treated like a VIP. The new B7 Bi-Turbo had just been announced and i was given the keys to chassis number 002 (the press car) and told i had an hour. This was before the majority of press had driven it! The newer car was great and even faster, i reached 175mph on the Autobahn before chickening out but it lacked some of the character of the supercharged H1 engine in the E65.

A great car that i should never have sold..

[Stedman]

WOOF. They look so special on the road.

I just saw an E60 B5 with the plate M5 NEA, which made me chuckle

[Leins]

Very nice, but was kind of hoping it was going to be an E12

[derin100]

I'm not saying (or rather, no longer saying) I'd never have one, as time has mellowed my indignation and possibly I don't care so much, as I used to about 'looks' in what is undoubtedly a hugely capable car.

But...and it's a big "but"...that is (still) one shockingly, ugly motherfker of a car! And I drive a 7-Series as my daily car!

When I bought it, the seller described it as "The last good looking 7-Series...". I'm kind of inclined to agree with him:



Up until this point BMW 7-Series just got better and sharper looking...that is until Bangle dropped this blob of turd on us!

The engineers did their side of the bargain and made a hugely capable and refined car. The Interiorists did a great job.....and then Bangle did his bit!

Bangle was a style disaster for BMW from which they're still trying to recover...with only limited success. The evidence is the fact that what other head of design at the company can anyone name before or since? Remember his notority wasn't for success...it was for people being SO disappointed with what he did.