Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo

Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo
Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo
Overview
Manufacturer Alpina
Production 1989-1994
507 built
Assembly Buchloe, Germany
Body and chassis
Class Mid-size
Body style 4-door sedan
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Platform BMW E34
Powertrain
Engine 3.5 litre 6 cylinder twin turbocharged (gasoline)
Transmission Getrag 5 speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,761 mm (108.7 in)
Length 4,720 mm (185.8 in)
Width 1,751 mm (68.9 in)
Height 1,400 mm (55.1 in)
Curb weight 1,695 kg (3,737 lb)
Chronology
Successor E34 B10 4.0

The Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo is a high performance version of the BMW 5 Series E34 executive car built by Alpina. Beginning production in 1989, the B10 Bi-Turbo was based on the 535i and received several upgrades by Alpina, being the fastest production sedan in the world at the time of its introduction. Production ended in 1994 with 507 examples produced.

Based on the E34 535i and developed at a cost of $3.2 million, the B10 Bi-Turbo was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1989.

To build each B10 Bi-Turbo powerplant, Alpina dismantled a BMW M30 engine, replaced the stock pistons with forged Mahle units, installed two Garrett T25 water-cooled turbochargers, and added a Bosch variable boost control with range of 0.4-0.8 bar, adjustable from the driver's seat. Additional modifications helped raise the horsepower of the stock M30 engine from 155 kW (208 hp) at 5700 rpm and 305 Nm (225 lb-ft) at 4000 rpm to 265 kW (360 hp) at 6000 rpm and 520Nm (384 lb-ft) at 4000 rpm. A Getrag 290 5-speed manual transmission was specified to handle the power.

Modifications to the suspension included Alpina-spec springs and anti-roll bars. Bilstein shocks were used in the front and automatic-load levelling units by Fichtel & Sachs were used in the rear. Front rotors were large 13.1-inch discs from UK-based Lucas Girling, bigger even than the 12.8-inch pieces found on the E34 M5. Michelin MXX tires were standard as was BMW's Automatic Stability Control (ASC).[1]

Alpina claimed a 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 5.6 seconds and a top speed of over 290 km/h (180.2 mph)[2], putting it in the same league as a Ferrari Testarossa in terms of performance. In the September 1991 issue of Road & Track, Paul Frère wrote: "For me this is the car … I think this is the best 4-door in the world."[3] Despite a base price tag of 146,800 DM, nearly twice the price of an E34 M5, the B10 Bi-Turbo became the best-selling single model in Alpina history up until that point. The six year production run began in 1989 ended in August 1994 with 507 examples produced. Production ended with the termination of the M30 motor by BMW in 1993. The final 50 M30 blocks were shipped to Alpina for use in the final 50 B10 Bi-Turbos.[4]

Technical data

Model Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo
Cylinder/Valves 6/12
Bore × Stroke 92,0 × 86,0 mm
Displacement 3430 cm³
Compression 7,2:1
Max. Power 265 kW [257 kW] (360 PS [350 PS]) at 6000 rpm
Max. Torque 520 Nm [501 Nm] at 4000 rpm
Top Speed 291 km/h [287 km/h]
Acceleration 0–100 km/h 5,6 s [5,9 s]
Acceleration 0–160 km/h 12,3 s
Acceleration 0–200 km/h 19,7 s
Acceleration 60–100 km/h in 4th gear 7,1 s
Acceleration 80–120 km/h in 5th gear 9,2 s
1000 m, Standing Start 24,6 s
Fuel Consumption in l/100 km combined 12,4

[Figures in brackets refer to Swiss market vehicles]

Performance Test Results

  • 0–100 km/h (62.1 mph): 5,2 s[5]
  • 0–200 km/h (124.3 mph): 19,7 s[6]
  • 0–400 m: 13,2 s[5]
  • 0–1,000 m: 24,6 s[5]
  • 0–60 mph (97 km/h): 5.1 s[7]
  • 0–100 mph (161 km/h): 11.6 s[7]
  • Standing ​1⁄4 mile (402m): 13.6 s @ 107.0 mph (172.2 km/h)[7]
  • Top speed: 179.2 mph (288.4 km/h)[7]

Bibliography

  • (in German) Götz Leyrer, « Fünfer Potenz », Auto, Motor und Sport, #24, 17 November 1989 (B10 Bi-Turbo, BMW M5 and AC Schnitzer S5 3.7 comparison).
  • (in German) HB, « Die B-Handlung », Sport Auto, #5, May 1990 (Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo, B6 3.5S and B12 5.0 comparison).
  • (in German) Götz Leyrer, « Duell in der Wonne », Auto, Motor und Sport, #13, 1990 (B10 Bi-Turbo and Ferrari 348 TB comparison).
  • (in French) « Croisière à 300 à l'heure », Auto Hebdo, #749, 17 October 1990. (B10 Bi-Turbo and Ruf CTR comparison).
  • (in Spanish) Auto Hebdo Sport, #391, November 1990. (B10 Bi-Turbo and Ruf CTR comparison).
  • (in English) Kevin Blick, « Vintage Alpina », Performance Car, November 1990. (B10 Bi-Turbo review).
  • (in German) « Der Sinn des Strebens », Auto, Motor und Sport, #3, 1991 (B10 Bi-Turbo, BMW M5, Opel Lotus Omega and Mercedes-Benz 500E comparison).
  • (in English) « World's fastest cars », Road & Track, #9, September 1991 (sports car comparison: Lamborghini, Ferrari, Corvette ZR4, Ruf…).
  • (in French) « 360CV dans une berline au sommet », BMWorld, #4 (B10 Bi-Turbo review).
  • (in English) « Saloonacy », Classic & Sports car, #1, 2004 (B10 Bi-Turbo and Opel Lotus Omega comparison).
  • (in French) Maxime Joly, Alpina B10 Biturbo e34 (1989 - 1994) : Autoroute racer, automobile-sportive.com, 27 February 2010 (retrieved 9 March 2014).
  • (in German) Alexander Bernt, Alpinas Turbo-Tiere, Auto Bild, 9 June 2011 (Retrieved 7 December 2014)
  • McAleer, Brendan (28 November 2014). "Iron fist in a velvet glove: Alpinas were always posh hot rods". Retrieved 6 December 2014. .

References

  1. ↑ Palevsky, Alexander. "Blown Away". Bimmer Magazine (October 2007): 61–64.
  2. ↑ Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine. Alpina company website
  3. ↑ Paul Frère, « Alpina B10 Biturbo », Road & Track, #3, march 1991 (B10 BiTurbo review).
  4. ↑ Palevsky, Alexander. "Blown Away". Bimmer Magazine (October 2007): 62.
  5. 1 2 3 Sport Auto 1/1990 4-11
  6. ↑ Auto, Motor und Sport 24/1989 12-18
  7. 1 2 3 4 Road & Track September 1991
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