m5 or alpina B10

[DJ635]

which is better m5 or b10 alpina im tempted by both but want to (if i do) get the best performance...

[rassi]

Do you prefer manual (M5) or automatic (B10)? Really comes down to that question...

[drivin_me_nuts]

B10 more a crusier (albeit with a wickedly fast one). Depends if you want the pleasure of changing gears or the auto experience. I will tell you this though the M5 (E39) model at least is not a flawless object and there are many known and irritating problems with it that can be VERY expensive to put right. Vanos, leaking diffs to name but two.

Hourses for courses and all that, but personally I think the M5 is a flawed car both in E39 and in its latest guise. E39 - way too many faults that just should not have been there. Also be aware that if you are planning to buy one under BMW warranty , both will be very expensive to cover over 60K.

That said, bot drive well, the Aplina is a softer setup (i think). Ones like being hit by Tyson, the other like being hit by Ali. Choose the fighter of your choice!

[M5Dave]

The earlier E39 M5s tend to suffer more from these faults than the later cars. By the time the facelifted cars arrived around October 2000, the piston rings had been revised to cure the oil consumption, and the vanos unit had been modified to cure the rattle.

I've only had my car for 4 months but I've had no problems so far, it's very fast, handles superbly and isn't even too bad on fuel(about 22mpg).

[Monster26]

If I had to swap my B10 3.3 for either the B10 V8 or M5 it would the Alpina. Can't beat being different and the feeling your getting into something special.

Have a look at www.thealpinaregister.com

Mark