The Alpina C2 was an E30-based 3 Series modified by Alpina in the 1980s around variants of the BMW M20 engine. The first C2 combined the wider bore of the M20B25 with the slightly larger crankshaft of the M20B23, creating a 2,552 cc engine with 185 PS; 74 units of it were built.
Alpina C2 at a glance
| First C2 | M20B25 bore with the 76.8 mm M20B23 crankshaft, 2,552 cc, 185 PS (136 kW), 265 N·m; 74 units |
|---|---|
| C2/1 2.7 (February 1986) | 2.7 L engine with the dimensions of the M20B27, uncatalysed, 210 PS (154 kW) at 5,800 rpm; E30-based, four-wheel drive available |
| C2 2.5 (C2/3) | based on the 325i, M20B25 with few changes, 140 kW (188 hp) and 235 N·m |
| C2/2 2.7 (and early 1987 B3 2.7) | M20B25 block with the ETA (325e) crank and rods; compression 10.1:1 (731 head) or 9.6:1 (885 head, catalytic converter versions) |
| C2/1 2.7 engine | 325e eta block, crank and rods with custom flat-head Mahle pistons and a modified “200” casting head with bigger valves |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only, so the figures could not be cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Alpina C2
An interesting variant of the M20 engine was Alpina’s C2. The first C2 combined the wider bore of the M20B25 with the slightly larger crankshaft of the M20B23 to create a torquier 2,552 cc engine of 185 PS and 265 N·m, of which 74 units were built. The larger 2.7-litre unit was introduced in February 1986 in uncatalysed C2/1 form, with the dimensions of the M20B27, and developed 210 PS at 5,800 rpm; it was first installed in the E30-based Alpina C2 2.7, which was available with four-wheel drive.
Later C2 2.5 models (C2/3 2.5) were based on the 325i, with the M20B25 engine modified very little compared with earlier cars: the cylinder head was decked to raise compression, ported and polished, and the engine control was remapped, for 188 hp and 235 N·m. The C2/2 2.7, like the early 1987 B3 2.7, used the M20B25 block with the ETA crank and rods and a redesigned intake manifold.
Design and features
- Engine work: decked, ported and polished heads, custom pistons by Mahle and remapped electronics.
- Drive: the C2 2.7 was available with four-wheel drive.
Alpina C2 versions
- C2 2.5 (first C2) and C2/3 2.5: the 2.5-litre cars.
- C2/1 and C2/2 2.7: the 2.7-litre cars, including a four-wheel-drive version.
- B3 2.7 (1987): the successor, similar to the late C2/2.
More Alpina models are in our Alpina collection, for example the C1 before it and the B3 after it.
Alpina C2 questions and answers
How many of the first Alpina C2 were built?
74 units.
How much power has the C2 2.7?
210 PS (154 kW) at 5,800 rpm in uncatalysed form.
Was there a four-wheel-drive C2?
Yes, the E30-based C2 2.7 was available with four-wheel drive.
Sources
- Alpina, English Wikipedia: 3 Series based Alpinas, C2
