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An exceptional example offered for sale after an exacting restoration using genuine Alpina and BMW parts where available.
Car: Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo
Chassis: B750445
Registration : L669 WNJ
Mileage : 130,000 miles
RFL (12 months) : £280
Colour : Diamond Black Metallic (181)
Interior : Black Buffalo (0406) Recaro Leather Sports Seats - Heated and Electric
The Alpina B10 BiTurbo is a very high performance version of the BMW 5 Series E34 executive car manufactured by German automobile manufacturer Alpina.
This is car No.445 of 507 B10s, one of the last narrow grille built cars, specified in Diamond Black metallic paint and in stunning condition.
There are many staggering statistics around this legendary car. One of them is that it was nearly TWICE the price of the BMW M5 E34 when launched in 1989, as perhaps befitting a car that was the fastest production sedan in the world at the time of its introduction. The relative pricing to the M5 still holds true today.
Staying with the statistics, the BMW M5 at launch carried a 3.6 litre 311bhp 266 lb-ft engine with 0-60mph at 6.4s and top speed of 157mph. By comparison Alpina modified the BMW M30 engine, replacing the stock pistons with forged Mahle units, installed two Garrett T25 water-cooled turbochargers adding a Bosch variable boost control with range of 0.4–0.8 bar, adjustable from the driver's seat.
Power of 355 bhp and a torgue figure of 384 lb-ft gave a 0-60mph acceleration time of 5.1 seconds and a top speed of over 180 mph), this being similar to a Ferrari Testarossa in terms of performance, but in a 4-door saloon of which Paul Frere of Road & Track Magazine wrote: "For me this is the car … I think this is the best 4-door in the world.”
For the transmission a Getrag 290 5-speed manual gearbox was specified to handle the power with modifications to the suspension including Alpina-specific springs and anti-roll bars. Bilstein shock absorbers at the front and automatic-load levelling units by Fichtel & Sachs were used at the rear (and have been fully rebuilt on this car). Front brake rotors were large 13.1 in discs from UK-based Lucas Girling, bigger even than the 12.1 in units found on the E34 M5. The rear axle was strengthened and a Limited Slip Differential installed. The R+D budget of the B10 Bi-Turbo was such that nothing was left to chance in terms of delivering the performance. BMW's Automatic Stability Control was also fitted. Other additions were an Alpina Engine Oil Cooler and reinforced power supply.
Michelin MXX tyres were standard fitment on 17” Alpina specific alloys (235mm front, 265mm rear). Note that 265mm tyres are no longer available and the car now wears a brand new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4s of 235/45/17 at the front and 255/40/16 rear.
For the interior Recaro Sports Seats (leather clad in this case with stunning Alpina striping) and Momo steering wheel are both purposeful and beautiful. Additional instrumentation as one would expect of such a high performance car extends the binnacle to take care of oil temperature and pressure, turbo boost and even rear axle oil temperature.
Production ended in 1994 with 507 examples produced (all LHD), a commercial success but still a rare car by any measure. The example offered here is from that final year of production.
Built and signed off at the Alpina factory in October 1992 this example resplendent in Diamond Black Metallic paintwork and black leather interior (with green/blue Alpina detailing) was first registered at BMW Stuttgart on 21st January 1994 who also took care of the running-in service (in May 1995) and first oil service at 9580km in September 1997, Inspection 1 at 23691km (January 1998) and another oil service at 38059km.
By September 1998 the car had been imported to the UK (registered 14th May 1998) and care by highly respected BMW and, importantly Alpina specialists followed:
Beyond this there are numerous invoices for parts and work in the period 2012-2014 thoroughly documented by the then owner. This is backed up with images and commentary on the Alpina Register forum and included rebuilt turbos, replacement engine mounts and clutch system, rebuilding and refurbishment of inlet manifolds and fuel injection system and replacement of heat shields. The air-conditioning condenser and dryer were also replaced. This work in itself was a major undertaking of proactive and preventative work before the subsequent restoration that followed in 2019.
As the car was stripped down for this work, the images show the excellent condition of the car at this time in 2013 in terms of chassis and mounting points etc.
If you are planning to view this vehicle, which we highly recommend you do, please add an additional hour or so to peruse the history folder.
The MOT History shows only minor fails and advisories (mainly consumables and mainly clean passes) backs up the regular care and maintenance detailed above. All MOT Certificates are present in the folder. A fresh clean MOT was applied in January, expiring in 2022.
The above is only part of the story though. It brings us to early 2019 when the owner contacted renowned Alpina specialists BMR Performance in Crawley with a view to carrying out a full mechanical and bodywork restoration. Keeping in mind this was an incredibly well maintained and loved E34 to begin with (and given the list of works above) but this is what goes into restoring one to as close to as-new condition as possible.
The initial Alpina and BMW parts estimate (excluding body panels) was around £5600 with labour costs around the same and body shop labour around the same again (all plus VAT). It is of no surprise that these numbers were exceeded on the bodywork side especially.
Genuine BMW panels were supplied (all 4 doors and bumpers and sills) approaching £4K and the bodywork layout and other parts required added another £16K.
On the mechanical side every nut and bolt and washer is itemised and final bills totalled around £18K. Most recently a further £2.5K was spent taking care of the finer and final details.
In March 2021 BMR carried out a full Inspection II Service and any other work required to get everything A1.
In short we have here a restoration by perfectionists totalling some £40K+. A better E34 5-Series would be hard to imagine. That this is an Alpina Bi-Turbo the stuff of folklore and whose only real contemporary rival was the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton, makes for a very special vehicle indeed. Available at a little over the restoration cost before taking into account the full history and maintenance file this likely represents a unique opportunity.
There may only be 2 or 3 examples of this highly-engineered yet very drivable super saloon available for sale in the world at any one time. Please compare this with any others in terms of value for money, condition, history and provenance.
Stamped Service Book, User Manual and specific B10 Bi-Turbo instructions are included in BMW wallet along with two keys and two working remotes for the period Toad Alarm and Immobiliser system.
Exceptionally well equipped with Dual Automatic Air-Conditioning, electric slide and tilt sunroof. rear and side sunblinds (the rear is electric and working), Headlamp Washers, Interior Light Package, HiFI and CD system. Practically every factory option was specified on car 445 when new.
Many think of the E34 BMW M5 as the pinnacle of the 5-series. The Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo was and remains on another level and is far more exclusive and also dare we say a more discerning choice.
Any inspection welcome and particularly to the underside and paint and bodywork which present largely as-new. We have full ramp facilities available. Mechanically there are no faults as a test drive for serious enquirers will attest.
Rarely available - exceptional value given the quality of restoration.
For sale on behalf of the current owner.
Please email us for more details.
Year 1994
Mileage 130K
Bodystyle Saloon
Engine 3500 cc
Power 355 bhp
Transmission Manual
Drivetrain Rear wheels
Fuel Petrol
Doors 4
Seats 4
Emissions n/a
Fuel Consumption (urban) n/a
Fuel Consumption (extra urban) n/a
Fuel Consumption (combined) n/a
Insurance Group
0 - 60 5.1 seconds
Top Speed 180 MPH
Classic Modern Cars Ltd
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