bimmers, Alpina 3/5 series

[Kwik]

Some 5 series links from a German site. 5th link down has some publicity pics showing the various 5 series models from oldest (1972) to the latest e60.
15th link down with Alpina 3.0 liter B7 (155 mph, 0-100 mph 13.7 seconds) & 3.5 liter B7S (162 mph) 5 series cars, fastest 4 door cars in the world
1978-82.

http://www.e12.de/weblinks/15a05000.htm

The engines found in the 1970s 5/6/7 series could also be fitted to the smaller e21 3 series. Here is a URL showing Alpina's conversions for the little 3 series.

http://www.bmwe21.net/alpina.htm

They did a B6 model where they swapped in the 6 cyl 2.8 liter engine normally found in the 5 series. US Alpina agent Dietel Enterprises even created a B6 e21 series with the 6 cyl 3.5 liter turbocharged 252 bhp @ 4900 rpm/280 lbs/ft @ 2200 rpm engine from the European spec 1981-86 e23 745i, they called it the 345i. :)

[FatBastard]

yeah, Alpina is like the Brabus for beemers.
i didn´t read the links though, cause i´m a lazy (fat)bastard, but i remember a B10 model. wasn´t it the alpina version of the 5-series at some point? well, anyway, i heard that the machine was really taken through it´s limits. reliability was crappy. still, it was a great machine while it lasted!

oh, and the B12 (from the 850i) is one impressive piece of machinery too. even if the mods were pretty small, the car felt fast as fuck. (rode one once...) then again, i think the 850i is one of the greatest cars ever, so...

well, as u see, i didn´t have so much to say, but i said it anyway. :rolleyes:

[veXati0n]

*gasp*

so...

arrrrrrg

http://www.bmwe21.net/absc1.jpg

UGLY

To be fair, the M3 is pretty tight. I'd definitely get that or (of course if I had any money to begin with) the M5.

[Kwik]

The B10 was a package associated with the e34 5 series (1988-95), some were normally aspirated 3.5s, some had the bi turbo 3.5.

The e21 Alpina were considered very good looking cars in their day (1975-83) and were designed by Paul Bracq. Putting a turbocharged 3.5 liter engine in the little e21, which is what the 345i was, creates a fast ride. Those Alpina e21s even had a little belt driven rear diff fluid cooler, driven from one of the axle halfshafts. :)

[FatBastard]

wow shit, rear-diff oil-cooler, that´s freaking insane! i mean, as i know, those aren´t used in any other but racing cars!!

still, yeah as i remeber the alpina "top-models" were fast as hell, and even if i generally don´t like the 80s tuning-cars, i really like the looks of almost every alpina car. don´t know why, maybe it is the brand...

here in scandinavia the alpina beemers are really rare, and really, really expensive. still, seing one is believing...

[Kwik]

BMWs were already expensive cars, but Alpina made them even more so. In 1978 their three models Alpina B6 (3 series), and B7 sedan (5 series) B7 coupe (6 series) cost $23,600, $31,500 and $42,100 in 1978 US dollars. That was a great deal of money in those days, 42K is a great deal of money today!! For that you got a hand built car which was registered as an Alpina, not a BMW, and it had it's own chassis number, plus it had the highest top speed for a car of it's kind, but they didn't make very many. :D