Thursday 10th December 2015

Alpina B10 3.5 (E28): Spotted

The fast old 5 Series that isn't an M5, here's why you might want an Alpina B10

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As modern BMWs move towards turbocharging, automatic gearboxes and the ruddy 2 Series Active Tourer, it should surprise no one that the older BMWs are becoming ever more desirable. The cars act as reminders of when BMW made the finest sports saloons, cars that were as desirable on the road as they were successful on track. It was a golden age that collectors are now desperately seeking to relive.

Off-centre exhuast very nice

This is one of those BMWs from the glory days. Except it isn't, because it's an Alpina. So it's a BMW made better, which remains quite a prospect. Even today cars like D3 Bi-Turbo show that Alpina is still at the top of its game for making BMW products noticeably more enjoyable. This car, based on such an iconic 5 Series, should be sublime.

What the Alpina B10 is not, however, is an M5. Whereas the M car used that legendary M88 3.5-litre straight-six, the B10 used the M30 has found in a 535i. But it was far from a regular engine, Alpina fitting a new cylinder head, cam, exhaust and Mahle pistons to liberate 261hp, with torque rated at 254lb ft. Behind an M5, yes, but certainly enough. New Bilstein dampers were added, along with Alpina wheels and bigger brakes.

Inside there were Alpina dials plus and new wheels and gearknob. It was a subtle cosmetic overhaul, as Alpina conversions typically are, but keen spotters would have known - and still will know - that it's something special.

Alpina advertising 80s style

This particular B10 isn't on the standard Alpina wheels, but there BBS-style rims work pretty damn well. There aren't many details in the ad, but then 'multiple show winning car' is certainly a good one to include! That and the fact a box of trophies come included in the sale...

Frustratingly no price is currently listed on the ad, but given the 'Also consider' section has cars around £45K that's probably a good place to start. Conveniently enough the same dealer has an M5 at £50K. Hmm. The Alpina is rarer, the M5 faster. The Alpina is (probably) a little more affordable, the M5 arguably more collectable. It's a fascinating comparison. B10 or M5? Or another fast saloon entirely? Your thoughts always welcome!

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ALPINA B10 3.5 (E28)
Engine: 3,430cc, inline-six
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 261@5,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 254@4,000rpm
MPG: 25.1
CO2: N/A
First recorded: 1985
Recorded mileage: N/A
Price new: N/A
Yours for: POA

See the advert here.

[Sources: Automobile catalogue, Alpina-archive]

Search for Alpinas in the classifieds!

[9e 28]

Lovely car. Disappointing this dealer Avantgarde has started the POA game. They normally list all their prices and always inc mileage.

[Crusoe]

My first boss was brave enough to hand over the keys to his and let me drive the 60 miles back home on the return journey for a company day out. Made my day at 21, loved how keyed in to the road it felt and how well it handled but felt a bit underwhelmed with the power (I had a pug 106 gti at the time). Very smooth power unit but possibly missing a few horses over the years and no multi valve rush for the red line, the dog leg first takes a bit of learning too. I'd probably appreciate it more now, lovely thing but takes quite a bit of effort to keep on the road.

[MDMA .]

Very nice. as stated though, POA. Thought all adverts had to include the price. says offers invited, might put a cheeky bid in ! if he doesn't want low bids, put a price on it. wheels look a little too big for it though.

just re-read it. similar are asking 47k ! no thanks. and how can a 150k mile e28 m5 now be asking 50k from the same dealer ?

a fool and his money

Edited by MDMA . on Thursday 10th December 13:19

[g3org3y]

Lovely stuff. However, needs proper Alpina alloys IMO. Given depth of the dish of the cross spokes (and slight curvature), I'd be surprised if they are the period OEM BBS alloys; they look more like the later BMW/BBS Style 5s.

[Leins]

Nice, but needs to be on the proper wheels IMO


B7 at Essen a few years ago:

[anonymous-user]

Nice motor! These have a special place in my heart.

Very difficult to find a completely unmolested M535i version as they were popular with barry boys for a while.

[MrTree]

Its Missing the front spoiler! it looks a lot better with it like the grey one posted

[Adrian E]

One of the physics teachers at my school back in the late 80s had one in silver - not sure which variant but definitely an E28. Looked lovely on the proper Alpina rims and had an exhaust closer to the B7 pictured. Sounded lovely. Couple of mates were taken out in it on a field trip - apparently it went pretty well too wouldn't be allowed these days, of course!

[soad]

Crusoe said:

My first boss was brave enough to hand over the keys to his and let me drive the 60 miles back home on the return journey for a company day out. Made my day at 21, loved how keyed in to the road it felt and how well it handled but felt a bit underwhelmed with the power (I had a pug 106 gti at the time). Very smooth power unit but possibly missing a few horses over the years and no multi valve rush for the red line, the dog leg first takes a bit of learning too. I'd probably appreciate it more now, lovely thing but takes quite a bit of effort to keep on the road.

There's a later Bi Turbo model, with 360bhp iirc.

[mickyveloce]

I ran an E28 B10 manual in the 90's. It was a nice enough car, but not as nice to drive as the e30 323i that preceded it, and it didn't feel al that quick.

Mine too was missing a front spoiler, and I couldn't find one anywhere. Mine was zinnobar red with Alpina cloth and it certainly looked the part, but proved difficult to sell on because it was just an old barge at the time rather than a classic. I've still got the sales brochures somewhere.

The car for sale looks to have cheapo Dare BBS replicas; the original turbine Alpina wheels would look better.

[sutts]

Lovely, but needs the Alpina Scheel cloth seats, front spoiler and 16" Alpina wheels. It would be close to perfect then,perhaps with some stripes too.

Any wheels over 16" on an E28 starts to look too big IMO. The dodgy replicas currently on this one make it look a bit like it's wearing cheap high heels!

[Vroom101]

I've always liked Alpinas, and this would be right up my alley if my Lotto numbers came up. Definitely would be better on the proper wheels though. Love the offset exhast pipe. Just makes it coooler in my eyes.



Slightly off topic...

Adrian E said:

wouldn't be allowed these days, of course!

It would be fine actually. With parents' consent and the right insurance in place, no problem at all. The paedophile paranioa hasn't got everywhere just yet.
I'm guessing oversteer on wet roundabouts with the kids in the back would be frowned upon though

[dbdb]

A pretty car - wheels aside. A B10 or M5 would be a pleasure to own.

Seeing this reminds me of the time I went all the way down to Nottingham with my dad intending to look at and drive a B10 in the mid 1980s. He had read about them in (IIRC) Autocar magazine and was intrigued enough to consider buying one. My dad took a day off work specifically to see the Alpina, and then intended to look at some Jags afterwards.

When he got there, the salesman told him rather rudely and in no uncertain terms that the Alpina was so special and so hugely powerful that they couldn't let him drive it without a special appointment. The car was so precious they wouldn't even unlock it for us to sit in it. I still have the brochure somewhere that I took away with me as an act of defiance.

My dad bought an XJ6, which he was very pleased with. It still baffles me why the dealer behaved this way towards my dad; I would have thought he was within their 'target' audience for the car.

[rtz62]

4Star Classics, Hexagon, Avantgarde, wave your stick at these and others who are artificially inflating the prices of modern 'classics'.
As said, £50k for an M5? In whose dream is that? Certainly not mine.
And the sad thing is that at that price point cars such as these are being driven away (pardon the pun) from the 'I can juuuuust about afford it' enthusiasts into the hands of 'investors' who are getting 0.001% on their savings and see classics as being a gold-plated way to invest their money.
Again, as said earlier, a fool and his money....

[birdcage]

POA.. Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!

[jontbone]

E28 M5 is probably my favourite ever BMW, this Alpina version would very close on my wish list though.

Always think cars look best with wheels from their era, even if they're aftermarket they should be from that generation.

I saw my old E36 M3 a few months after selling it, the immaculate original wheels had been removed and some monstrous AC Schnitzer style things had been used instead. Ruined it in my opinion.

[Legacywr]

One of my favorite Alpinas, I did breifly own one, but, I wouldn't be going to look at that one!

[bob1179]

My all time favourite five series. However, as mentioned these 'classic' car dealers are over inflating the prices of these cars and putting them way out of the reach of ordinary folk. I'm sure this is a nice car, but for the money I expect they are asking I would want the car to be absolutely perfect. No stupid wheels, the correct period radio, the correct front spoiler fitted and in absolute concours condition with a fully detailed history to give it provenance.

The E28 M5 they have a is a gorgeous car and I remember the last time it was sold. I think last time it went for around twenty grand...

[Amirhussain]

Leins said:

Nice, but needs to be on the proper wheels IMO


B7 at Essen a few years ago:

[MDMA .]

[quote=Leins]Nice, but needs to be on the proper wheels IMO


needs some decent tyres too. not those horrible p6000's