B5/D5 BMW Alpina B5 Biturbo TEST

[DeDe]

• Engine: V8, biturbo
• Power: 507 hp / 5500 rpm
• Torque: 700 Nm / 3000 rpm
• Gearbox: 8-speed-automatic
• Tyres: Michelin Pilot Supersport
• Weight: 1997 kg
• Vmax (factory's claim): 307 km/h
• Vmax (at Nardo): 313 km/h
• 0-100 km/h in 4,8 s
• 0-160 km/h in 9,9 s
• 0-200 km/h in 15,4 s
• Quarter mile: 12,8 s (182 km/h)
• Braking (100-0 km/h): 33,7 m / 34,1 m (cold/warm)
• Air temperature when tested: -1 Degrees Celsius
• Price as tested: €105.935,-

+

• Extremely high quality, roomy interior
• Full luxury-, safety- and assistant-equipment
• Comfortable seats
• Very comfy and yet sporty suspension
• Perfect automatic gearbox
• Highly cultivated and very powerful engine
• Top handling despite the huge weight
• Very precise steering
• Great ESP-Sport-mode
• Enormous braking-power

-

• Windnoise
• Expensive extras

Final rating:
5 out of 5 stars.

Scans will come tomorrow.

 

[Zafiro]

Got the new Michelin Pilot Supersport tires

 

[DeDe]

[scans] AMS - BMW Alpina B5 Biturbo

 

[DeDe]

Test - BMW Alpina B5 Biturbo

• Engine: V8, biturbo
• Power: 507 hp / 5500 rpm
• Torque: 700 Nm / 3000-4750 rpm
• Gearbox: 8-speed-automatic
• Drive: Rear-wheel, ESP with 3 settings
• Tyres: Michelin Pilot Supersport
• Weight: 1992 kg
• Vmax.: 307 km/h
• 0-60 km/h: 2,4 s
• 0-100 km/h: 4,6 s
• 0-160 km/h: 9,7 s
• 0-200 km/h: 15,3 s
• Flexibility (80-120 km/h) in 5th/6th/7th/8th gear: 4,2 s/5,7 s/7,6 s/12,6 s
• Hockenheimring: 1.14,5 min
• 18 m slalom: 67,8 km/h
• Braking 100-0 km/h: 35,3 m (warm)
• Price as tested: €105.935,-

I will post the scans tomorrow.

 

[GTA45E]

So if the rumers are true of an Automatic only M5, whats the point of this Alpina B5. Your going to be buying (basically) the same car with a few Alpina extras with a less powerful engine. The price might be higher for the Alpina.

Maby BMW should discontinue the M5 and go with the Alpina B5 version as it`s replacement. lOl..

(Thay might as well plan for an M7 to go toe to toe with the Alpina B7.)

 

[TheDriver]

Concerning for Alpina that this car is still slower than the E63, car that is down a gear and with less torque yet is 1.2s quicker from 0-200km/h and quicker around Hockenheim too. This got me thinking about the M5, it's got 70hp more but it might be heavier and might have the same automatic transmission as well.

The M5 needs the M-DCT because without it I not so sure that an extra 70hp will be enough to claw back those 1.2s, or at best it's advantage would be small.

 

[E38_E30]

Apples and oranges?

Just let me see, if I get your point. You compare a 5-series sedan (F10) with 6-series coupé (E63) to assume what kind of transmission a M5 sedan will need to close a 1.2s gap between these Alpinas from 0-200?

First of all, the 'old' B6s had more torque (and more hp, too) than the B5 BiTurbo: 725Nm vs. 700Nm. Second, the 'old' B6s came standard with a limited slip differential, still an cash option on the new B5 BiTurbo. And last but not least, the 'old' B6s had a more aggressive suspension set-up compared to the B5s and B5 BiTurbo plus a lower center of gravitiy, which could be helpful around a track. And don't forget the weight issue.

Given all those facts, the 1.2s gap doesn't sound too bad to me?

 

[TheDriver]

No, it was the E63AMG I meant, which is apples and apples don't you think.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

So if the rumers are true of an Automatic only M5, whats the point of this Alpina B5. Your going to be buying (basically) the same car with a few Alpina extras with a less powerful engine. The price might be higher for the Alpina.

Maby BMW should discontinue the M5 and go with the Alpina B5 version as it`s replacement. lOl..

(Thay might as well plan for an M7 to go toe to toe with the Alpina B7.)

In the past, the ALPINA 5-series based cars and the BMW M5s' have been quite different animals indeed. I assume that this differentiation in character will continue, ALPINA offering the more luxurious and subtle car with more supple ride qualities. More subdued and less ostentatious. Understatment is the rule, Alpina BMWs' seldom leaving the factory with those silly side and spoiler stripes. The signature rims, quad exhausts, luscious interiors and inconspicuous front spoiler identify the cars. BMW M cars have always appealed to a different audience.

 

[Mr Robert]

Yep, the only thing really giving them away are the occational horrible interior combinations... "blue on beige" or "green on purple" - that's the Alpina style

 

[DeDe]

http://img402.imageshack.us/i/amusalpinab5biturbofahr.jpg/

For me this ^ is one of the most beautiful interiors I've ever seen in a press-car.

However I would choose the dark interior with black nappa leather.

 

[Michael]

I used to be a fan of Alpina but that just don't do it for me anymore. You see, the way I see it is that you have regular BMWs and then the M division. That's it. Alpine design has always been nice but it has never wowed me. Also, things may have changed but they usually haven't been much faster than the regular
BMWs and in some instances have been slower. So, why even make them? Brabus makes ridiculous steroid MBs and I could understand that but why Alpina?

Also BMW SHOULD DEFINITELY MAKE THE M5 even if it will be an auto. Come on. It is an M5. The king. How could you leave it to Alpina to make it?

 

[DeDe]

Also, things may have changed but they usually haven't been much faster than the regular
BMWs and in some instances have been slower. So, why even make them? Brabus makes ridiculous steroid MBs and I could understand that but why Alpina?

I have to disagree.

• The new 400-hp Alpina B3 S Biturbo can keep up with the M3 DKG Competition Package easily. It's just as fast on the straightline, has a higher, delimited vmax (300 km/h) and -according to AutoBild Sportscars- on the same type of tires it's only 0,3 seconds slower on the Sachsenring (which is the mini-Nordschleife).

• The B5 Biturbo. Yes, it is slower on the HHR by 0,5 seconds than an E63 AMG with Performance Package (different suspension-setup, ceramic-brakes). Considering the Alpina's 100-more-kg (and 18-less-horsepower) it's a wonderful laptime. According to AutoBild Sportscars the B5 Biturbo is slower up to 200 km/h (+0,6 s), but at 250 km/h it can keep up with the E63. And the in-gear times of the Alpina are sensational! 60-100 km/h in 4th gear is even better than a 911 Turbo S!

As you can see the Alpina is just a bit slower up to 300 km/h than a tuned-E63 AMG.

 

[Human]

BMW Alpina to bring 2011 B5 Bi-Turbo Touring to Geneva

[UPDATE] Alpina has updated their car configurator with the B5 BITURBO Touring SWITCH-TRONIC. Pricing starts at €98,800.

[UPDATE] 4 high-res photos added.

Alpina will be bringing the 2011 B5 Bi-Turbo Touring to the Geneva auto show next week for a debut.

The B5 Bi-Turbo Touring is the wagon variant of the B5 Bi-Turbo sedan model based on the (F10) BMW 5-Series.

Specs are expected to be the same as on the B5 Bi-Turbo sedan variant - a 4.4-liter V8 twin-turbo with an output of 507 PS (373 kW / 500 bhp) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. Transmission is the SWITCH-TRONIC eight-speed sport automatic gearbox from ZF.

Performance numbers are expected to stay the same too, although, Auto Bild reports a slightly slower 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 4.8 seconds compared to the 4.7 seconds of the sedan variant. Top speed on the B5 Bi-Turbo is 307 km/h (191 mph) but Auto Bild reports this Touring will have a 300 km/h (186 mph) limit.

Fuel-economy will be 10.9 liters/100 km compared to 10.8 for the sedan.

We expect more details to follow at the Geneva premiere.


Source: Auto Bild



Read more: BMW Alpina to bring 2011 B5 Bi-Turbo Touring to Geneva

 

[E38_E30]

No, it was the E63AMG I meant, which is apples and apples don't you think.

Ok, my bad.

The three letters AMG make a lot of difference to the term 'E63' on a BMW board

 

[TheDriver]

Ok, my bad.

The three letters AMG make a lot of difference to the term 'E63' on a BMW board

Sorry I didn't think about it that way, to me E63 always refers to the big Merc. Will try and make my comments clearer in future.

 

[Michael]

I have to disagree.

• The new 400-hp Alpina B3 S Biturbo can keep up with the M3 DKG Competition Package easily. It's just as fast on the straightline, has a higher, delimited vmax (300 km/h) and -according to AutoBild Sportscars- on the same type of tires it's only 0,3 seconds slower on the Sachsenring (which is the mini-Nordschleife).

• The B5 Biturbo. Yes, it is slower on the HHR by 0,5 seconds than an E63 AMG with Performance Package (different suspension-setup, ceramic-brakes). Considering the Alpina's 100-more-kg (and 18-less-horsepower) it's a wonderful laptime. According to AutoBild Sportscars the B5 Biturbo is slower up to 200 km/h (+0,6 s), but at 250 km/h it can keep up with the E63. And the in-gear times of the Alpina are sensational! 60-100 km/h in 4th gear is even better than a 911 Turbo S!

As you can see the Alpina is just a bit slower up to 300 km/h than a tuned-E63 AMG.

Thanks for posting that and correcting me. I guess I was speaking more from the past. I remember Alpina being stuck in using old BMW v8 engines and they weren't tuning them as best as possible. I guess there is room to accept Alpina after all. Thanks

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Alpina design has always been nice but it has never wowed me. Also, things may have changed but they usually haven't been much faster than the regular
BMWs and in some instances have been slower. So, why even make them? Brabus makes ridiculous steroid MBs and I could understand that but why Alpina?

Also BMW SHOULD DEFINITELY MAKE THE M5 even if it will be an auto. Come on. It is an M5. The king. How could you leave it to Alpina to make it?

I used to wonder the same thing about Alpina, but now I think I have it figured out in my head. Unlike Brabus - which as you rightly stated - inject a serious amount of steroids into a Mercedes, Alpina is not an all-out push-it-to-the-max tuner (doof doof music anyone?!). I view Alpina is a mix between BMW M and BMW Individual. They give a BMW an impressive improvement in performance, but not to the level that BMW M go to (probably because Alpina don't have the budget to do so, and some form of agreement they have with BMW)...and at the same time include a level of interior refinement and class that is characteristic of what BMW Individual can do to a BMW.

It's fast class! Faster than your 550i, and more luxurious as well. You definitely would not be able to say that for Brabus or other performance-only tuners.

The understated styling is again an emphasis on the luxury portion of the equation, though the large rims and quad exhausts let you know there's that proverbial wolf hidden underneath that Moreno wool tuxedo. Also, another point of Alpina vehicles is the exclusivity factor. They certainly don't sell anywhere near as much as their respective M cousins, so that gives it an added sense of premium motoring.

Would I pick an Alpina B5 over an M5? No, because at my age I'd be more interested in the superior performance of the M5....but give me another 40 years and maybe I'd put a greater emphasis on the uber-luxury cabin of the Alpina and be more than happy with its still-impressive performance.

 

[DeDe]

probably because Alpina don't have the budget to do so, and some form of agreement they have with BMW

I think there is some kind of agreement.

Btw. Has anyone ever wondered why so many sources calls it 'BMW Alpina' instead of Alpina?

 

[TheDriver]

I think there is some kind of agreement.

Btw. Has anyone ever wondered why so many sources calls it 'BMW Alpina' instead of Alpina?

AMG was purchased by Mercedes some years ago but I don't think that has happened here.

Is there not very close ties between Alpina and BMW, I'm sure I have read comments that state Alpina get pre-production models to develop and test along side BMW themselves and is it not true that some Alpina parts are added at production line level before the cars are delivered to Alpina themselves for further work?