Status on Alpina models

[Gast Bimmer]

Can anybody give me a status on the current Alpina models? We do not have a lot of cars in the states. But they look great.

Steve

[Anzeige eBay]

Hallo Gast Bimmer,

 

kennst du schon Status on Alpina models (Anzeige)? Dort ist vieles zu finden.

 

BMW Ersatzteile (Anzeige) | BMW Zubehör (Anzeige)

[Seb2]

Hi Bimmer.

Why not check www.alpina.de or http://www.users.wineasy.se/aahl/. Alpina sure makes nice cars check the E36(b8) with 540 tuned engine on 333hp and better tourque then than a M5. Car can make 180mph.

[Gast RolandK]

From my point of view Alpina models are not anymore what they have been in the past. 10 years ago Alpinas were the fastest BMWs you could get but now ...???? M cars are much faster than Alpina models. What sense does it make to buy an Alpina?

BTW, the old E36 M3 (3.2l) was faster than the much more expensive B8 (4.6l). We've tested this several times.

Roland

[Seb2]

I was looking at your old E36 M3 3.2l i have never heard any of those make over 285km/h. So you must have got a gold engine.

Alpina nowdays are comfort cars theres no b8 or turbo cars. But when you see an Alpina it takes your eyes and BMW M cars are most daily sight. But im sure the new M5 and M3 are the fastest. Hey i want a b8 in E46 body.

[Gast RolandK]

Seb, do you know of any "supercar" they are planning? I mean a car as the old B10 Biturbo or the old B6 (e30) models.

The old B10 Biturbo was really funny to drive. Once I had a race against a 850csi. The driver looked so strange as I passed him at 290 km/h. See my story with the B10. (Click here).

Roland

[Seb2]

The only real beast nowdays i think is the 7 serie. Dont know about new models but the line is comfort. I heard the most selling car is the B10 touring with automatic says it all. B10 BI kills them all.

[Gast RolandK]

I see, Burkard Bovensiepen wants to earn his money only with wines in the future.

Roland

[imported_alpina]

hi well there are 2 alpinas here in san fran...mine:) B6 2,8

are you in san fran...i am in north bech area

[FrazerNash]

On 2001-09-15 22:57, RolandK wrote:

I see, Burkard Bovensiepen wants to earn his money only with wines in the future.

Maybe he will! But I´m full of hope that Alpina shows HOW the new 760 can be after a tour threw Bovensiepen´s factory...

[steverey]

Can somebody tell me wy the new alpine B3.3 cabrio(0-100km/h 7 sec.) isn't so fast as the standart bmw 330ci (0-100km/h 6.5 sec). I tought that alpine stand for high preformance???

I saw that the alpine had 280hp and the 330ci had 231hp

Plus it cost as much as a brand new M3 coupe.

I would know what to choose.

[Anzeige eBay]

Hallo Gast Bimmer,

 

schau doch mal hier zum Thema Zubehör für BMW (Anzeige)? Eventuell gibt es dort etwas Passendes.

[xilica]

i have never heard of alpina......... what country they from??

[Seb2]

Germany www.alpina.de Alpina are mostly rebuilt BMWs.

[imported_chico]

From my point of view Alpina models are not anymore what they have been in the past. 10 years ago Alpinas were the fastest BMWs you could get but now ...???? M cars are much faster than Alpina models. What sense does it make to buy an Alpina?

BTW, the old E36 M3 (3.2l) was faster than the much more expensive B8 (4.6l). We've tested this several times.

Roland

i've got a alpina b12 , but that car kills evry M car.

the b12 go's 340 km p/o.

[sherlock]

The question about M Series or Alpina .... never ending story.

They are just totally different cars. They do not play in the same division.

If you love super sport cars, if you need the best chronos ever, if you need a car that looks different and even "macho", if you accept to sacrify some good part of your comfort to the ride, then, the M3 is for you .

If, on the contrary, you like understated - almost too discrete- cars, that are capable of breath taking performance while maintaining a very good level of comfort, and at the same time offering driving sensations (ride, cornering, braking) that stock BMW can not offer anymore, then Alpinas' are for you.

FYI: the last development of Alpina is the B3 3.4, which has the following characteristics:

cyl: 3400 CC

power: 305 bhp

torque: 360 Nm

Max Speed: > 270 km/h

I agree it's not as fast as the M3, but the sensations are just fantastic .

And, oh yes, huge difference: the sound of the Alpina exhaust is absolutely fabulous, much more deeper than M3, almost guttural .

See http://users.skynet.be/QuievreuxBecker/Auto.html for more about Alpina.

[vanquish007]

Alpina ain't what it used to be. They still make damn good BMW's, but M Technic is really catching up and offers more factory backing. Here in Australia, there are very few Alpinas, so I can't say I've seen many, but they seem to have become less distinctive since the mid-1990's.

[fastsaloons.com]

Latest Alpina's

B3 S (3.4L - 305bhp / 276lb ft - 0-60 4.8secs 0-100 11.7secs) 3 series

B10 V8S (4.8L - 375bhp / 376lb ft - 0-60 5.4secs) 5 series

In addition current range :

B10 3.3 (3.3L - 280bhp/ 247lb ft - 0-60 5.7secs) 5 series

D10 bi-turbo (3.0L diesel - 241bhp/368lb ft - 0-60 6.5secs) 5 series

Full Stats on my site (FastSaloons.com)

Regarding the M vs. Alpina discussions. When I test drove my car (B10 3.3) it wasn't the speed that impressed me (although it was fast) it was the suspension / chasis / ride - which were phenominal. I have driven Mitsubishi Evos, Subaru Imprezas, M5s etc... and all I can say is that the Alpina chasis is the most remarkable - it is stable poised but not compromised or harsh.

Also it is a more friendly setup - I took the car round Donnington this year 53 laps and drove off without a care. Compare this to an M5 driver who I chatted to during the day he was on his third set of brakes and already had a 3rd set of tyres waiting to be fitted after he toasted his current set.

Ok you could say my car isn't in the same league but on the track we weren't much different.

I have a B10 3.3 - which is an understandable Alpina - it is a straight 6 (lighter), manual and has rack and pinion steering (which none of the V8 5 Series have). Therefore you get something on par if not quicker than a 540i which is lighter (more agile) and has better steering feel - not to mention the chasis.

The B10 V8 (I have yet to drive the B10 V8S) is a more fundamental decision as it is a direct rival for the M5. The decision is mainly 1. I need an automatic or 2. I need an estate. In my case I needed neither and prefered the M5 hands down.

However again the Alpina was remarkable in that I was travelling just as fast as the M5, but in a stress free manor. Not that this was that attractive to me (I prefered the stress and excitement of the M5) however not everyones like me and so the Alpina gives something unique.

If you want something faster than an M5 go to Hartge or AC Schnitzer both of these companies use the M5 as a base for cars.

The latest B3 S is more of a competitor to the M3 but again gives you the option of different body styles - which is lacking in the M range.

The latest B10 V8S was created mainly to counteract the new rivals to the M5 rather than to address shortcoming to the M5. (Audi RS6, Merc E55, S-type R).

[digger]

yeah the old e30 alpinas were and still are great especially the c2 2.7 and b3 2.8. We don't get many e36,e46 alpinas downunder so i'm not sure if they are better than an m3.

[izzyloveslizzy]

I 2nd that. What's the point with new Alpinas? For me all that matters is performance.

[izzyloveslizzy]

BTW I have a quastion: does Alpina have a contract with BMW (or is it owned by BMW or something) like the Motorsport Company division of BMW? I mean, if not, why does Alpina only modify BMWs? I know this sounds stupid, andsomeone like me should know the answer to a question like this, but this time somehow I don't.... Anyone?

[fastsaloons.com]

Alpina is an independent manufacturer and is not owned by BMW. They do have a close relationship with BMW and get the cars directly from BMW (in bits). They currently make c. 850 cars per year (just over 100 / year in the UK).

The reason for being only linked with BMW is due to history (40 years), reputation (both on road and in racing) and the fact they make complete cars not tune them - for example they use base models not M versions.

They also make a lot of versions:

3-series (B3 s) saloon, touring, coupe & convertable in switchtronic (LHD/RHD) & manual versions (LHD)

5-series (B10 3.3) saloon & touring in switchtronic & manual versions available in both LHD/RHD

5-series (B10 V8s) saloon & touring in switchtronic both LHD/RHD

Z8 (Roadster) in switchtronic

-> that is 29 different variants - not bad considering they make c. 850 cars / year - and that has only recently increased from c. 500.

They will soon add another:

7-Series (B7) saloon in switchtronic both LHD/RHD

Quotes from Official Alpina Web site :

"Because we place more value on perceptible substance than on external differentiation in appearance, we procure the base models for our work solely from BMW, i.e. from a grand brand, one of the best, a highly technologially sophisticated entity in their own right.

A further reason for the continued success of our marque is the unique relationship ALPINA has with BMW, a relationship that has lasted for nearly 40 years. In this intellectual and emotional connection to a large automobile manufacturer producing cars to a high standard with the latest technology, we have a commensurate way of thinking. The result of this cooperation is: the BMW ALPINA."

Hope that answers your question

[izzyloveslizzy]

Yes, that does answer my question. Thanks. I thought it would be something like that but I wasn't too sure why. But if I were Alpina, I would:

1- Modify (or "make") other cars as well as BMW's.

2- I'd modify the hell out of the car and tune it to the point where the engine would have to be replaced with a more powerful one for performance gains.

3- I'd expand operations and make the name of the company bigger than it is (believe it or not, many people don't know what Alpina is.... Sad....).

[imported_felix]

I agree, I have never heard of alpina before. Are they planning to start doing other manufacturers aswell as bmw?

[izzyloveslizzy]

No, they're not big enough for that. Also, they don't seem to take gutsy chances on such things, like Saleen did with their S7.