BMW Alpina B5 Biturbo Touring
Discussion
chandrew - Many thanks for the helpful and informative ownership summary.
I took the plunge and bought one last week. My first Alpina although I have had E39 and E60 M5s and own a E92 M3 Competition Pack manual so have some experience of performance BMWs.
The B5 is a Touring - 2021 pre LCI, Alpina special blue with white leather, factory rear windows tint and side decals and rear badges in place.
It looks awesome (at least to my eyes). In the UK the overt styling clues work, and do not seem to attract attention. Even with badging and retro side delays (which I love) it still present a far more subtle appearance than anything else I can think of that does 200 mph plus.
The B5 arrival follows over a decade of new Range Rovers and a W12 Bentayga. My E63 S ownership was short lived because whilst a fantastic drivers cat , the ride was simply too hard for everyday city use (even in “Comfort” setting).
I drove the Alpina 120 miles home last weekend from the dealer with a mix of country roads, motorways and city driving. It performs impeccably in each and averaged 28 mpg which is highly efficient for 600 bhp. My previous Bentayga on the same run would have struggled to return 18mpg.
The ride and handling balance on the B5 are superb. The ride in comfort plus is close to the Bentley whilst the handling is in a different league to the SUVs I have owned.
As someone who changes cars yearly I already consider the B5 a “keeper”. I cannot imagine what I would replace it.
I took the plunge and bought one last week. My first Alpina although I have had E39 and E60 M5s and own a E92 M3 Competition Pack manual so have some experience of performance BMWs.
The B5 is a Touring - 2021 pre LCI, Alpina special blue with white leather, factory rear windows tint and side decals and rear badges in place.
It looks awesome (at least to my eyes). In the UK the overt styling clues work, and do not seem to attract attention. Even with badging and retro side delays (which I love) it still present a far more subtle appearance than anything else I can think of that does 200 mph plus.
The B5 arrival follows over a decade of new Range Rovers and a W12 Bentayga. My E63 S ownership was short lived because whilst a fantastic drivers cat , the ride was simply too hard for everyday city use (even in “Comfort” setting).
I drove the Alpina 120 miles home last weekend from the dealer with a mix of country roads, motorways and city driving. It performs impeccably in each and averaged 28 mpg which is highly efficient for 600 bhp. My previous Bentayga on the same run would have struggled to return 18mpg.
The ride and handling balance on the B5 are superb. The ride in comfort plus is close to the Bentley whilst the handling is in a different league to the SUVs I have owned.
As someone who changes cars yearly I already consider the B5 a “keeper”. I cannot imagine what I would replace it.
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.
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.
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