| Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo | |
| Manufacturer: | Alpina |
| Production: | 1989 - 1994 (507 built) |
| Assembly: | Germany: Buchloe |
| Class: | Executive car (E) |
| Body Style: | 4-door sedan |
| Platform: | BMW E34 |
| Layout: | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Engine: | 3.4 L twin-turbocharged BMW M30 I6 |
| Transmission: | 5-speed Getrag 290 manual |
| Wheelbase: | 27611NaN1 |
| Length: | 47201NaN1 |
| Width: | 17511NaN1 |
| Height: | 14001NaN1 |
| Weight: | 16950NaN0 |
| Sp: | us |
| Successor: | Alpina B10 4.0 (E34) |
The Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo is a high performance version of the BMW 5 Series E34 executive car manufactured by German automobile manufacturer 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.
Developed at a cost of US$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 standard M30 engine from at 5,700 rpm and at 3,000 rpm to at 6,000 rpm and at 4,000 rpm. A Getrag 290 5-speed manual transmission was specified to handle the power.
Modifications to the suspension included Alpina-specific springs and anti-roll bars. Bilstein shock absorbers were used at the front and automatic-load levelling units by Fichtel & Sachs were used at the rear. Front brake rotors were large discs from UK-based Lucas Girling, bigger even than the pieces found on the E34 M5. Michelin MXX tyres were standard as was BMW's Automatic Stability Control (ASC).[1]
Alpina claimed a 0–100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration 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 five years older car model 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 and ended in August 1994. Production ended due to the discontinuation of the M30 engine by BMW in 1993. The final 50 M30 engine blocks were shipped to Alpina for use in the final 50 cars.[4]
| Model | Alpina B10 Bi-Turbo | |
| Cylinder/Valves | 6/12 | |
| Bore × Stroke | 92,0 × 86,0 mm | |
| Displacement | 3,430 cm³ | |
| Compression | 7.2:1 | |
| Max. Power | 265 kW [257 kW] (360 PS [350 PS]) at 6,000 rpm | |
| Max. Torque | 520 Nm [501 Nm] at 4,000 rpm | |
| Top Speed | 291 km/h (180 mph) | |
| Acceleration 0–100 km/h | 5.6 seconds [5.9 seconds] | |
| Acceleration 0–160 km/h | 12.3 seconds | |
| Acceleration 0–200 km/h | 19.7 seconds | |
| Acceleration 60–100 km/h in 4th gear | 7.1 seconds | |
| Acceleration 80–120 km/h in 5th gear | 9.2 seconds | |
| 1000 m, Standing Start | 24.6 seconds | |
| Fuel Consumption in l/100 km combined | 12.4 liters | |