The Alpina B10 is the 5 Series from Alpina in three generations. The E34 B10 Bi-Turbo, introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1989 and produced until 1994 in 507 examples, was the fastest production saloon in the world at the time of its introduction.
Alpina B10 at a glance
| E28 B10 3.5 (1985) | based on the 535i, the 3.5 L six of the B6 3.5, 192 kW (261 PS); 77 built |
|---|---|
| E34 B10 3.5 (April 1988 – 1992) | 535i with a reworked M30: Mahle pistons, modified head and new camshaft, 187 kW (254 PS); 572 built |
| E34 B10 Bi-Turbo (1989–1994) | two water-cooled Garrett T25 turbochargers and variable boost control (0.4–0.8 bar); 507 built; developed at a cost of US$3.2 million; shown at Geneva in March 1989 |
| E34 B10 4.0 (from April 1993) | first eight-cylinder B10, modified BMW M60 V8 of the 540i, 232 kW (311 hp); 49 built |
| E34 B10 3.0 Allrad (October 1993) | based on the 525ix, 3.0 L six with 170 kW (231 PS); 64 sedans and 70 Touring |
| E34 B10 4.6 (from March 1994) | enlarged 4.6 L V8, 250 kW (340 PS); 27 saloons and 19 Touring |
| E39 B10 (January 1997 – May 2004) | sedan and Touring; 3.2 and 3.3 L sixes, 4.6 and 4.8 L V8s (340 to 375 PS); D10 Biturbo diesel from February 2000 |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only, so the figures could not be cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Alpina B10
In 1985 Alpina launched the B10 3.5 based on the BMW 535i (E28), replacing the B9’s 3.45-litre engine with the 3.5-litre six of the B6 3.5. The B10 Bi-Turbo of the E34 generation was based on the 535i and was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1989; as tested by Road & Track it was the fastest production saloon in the world at the time. To build each engine Alpina dismantled a BMW M30, fitted forged Mahle pistons and two Garrett T25 turbochargers and added a Bosch boost control adjustable from the driver’s seat. It also received Alpina springs and anti-roll bars, Bilstein dampers at the front, Fichtel & Sachs level control at the rear and large front disc brakes.
When BMW’s M30 engine ended production in 1993 Alpina had to drop the B10 3.5 and B10 Bi-Turbo, and in April 1993 launched the first eight-cylinder B10 with the modified M60 V8 of the 540i. The E39 B10 was built from 1997 to 2004; in February 2000 Alpina introduced the D10 Biturbo, its first six-cylinder diesel, a 3.0-litre twin-turbo unit with 247 PS and 500 N·m that was at the time the most powerful diesel saloon in the world.
Design and features
- B10 Bi-Turbo: two water-cooled turbochargers with driver-adjustable boost.
- Brakes: 332 mm Lucas Girling front discs, larger than those of the E34 M5.
- E39 B10: reworked suspension with modified springs and Sachs dampers; sixes of 3.2 and 3.3 L and V8s of 4.6 and 4.8 L.
Alpina B10 versions
- B10 3.5, B10 Bi-Turbo, B10 4.0, B10 3.0 Allrad, B10 4.6 (E34).
- B10 V8 and V8 S (E39): with 340 to 375 PS.
- D10 Biturbo (2000): the first Alpina six-cylinder diesel.
More Alpina models are in our Alpina collection, for example the B9, the B12 and the D5.
Alpina B10 questions and answers
How many B10 Bi-Turbo were built?
507, between 1989 and 1994.
Why was the B10 Bi-Turbo famous?
It was the fastest production saloon in the world at its introduction in 1989, as tested by Road & Track.
What was the first Alpina diesel?
The D10 Biturbo of February 2000.
Sources
- Alpina, English Wikipedia: E28, E34 and E39 B10
- Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo, English Wikipedia: B10 Bi-Turbo details
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