F10 or F11 D5 or B5 - were there any suspension or steering options?

[rs10]

Does anyone know if all D5s and B5s have the same suspension and steering? Or did Alpina, like BMW, offer a bunch of choices?

Thanks!

[Metrics]

F10/11 D5 had VDC dampers as standard. Adaptive Drive optional (adds active roll bars).

F10/11 B5 had VDC & Adaptive Drive as standard.

I think Integral Active Steering was optional on both, but I’m not sure.

[rs10]

Thanks, very helpful!

Shame it's NOT what I wanted to hear . Now, as someone interested in buying an Alpina F11, the inevitable question is which suspension and steering are best (or if it doesn't make much difference).

Maybe it depends on what one wants. For instance, I've no doubt the active roll bars are better on track. But on the road?

In my case, I'm looking for two things: comfort and composure on rough roads, even at city speeds, and fun to drive. But not fun to drive on a track. Not with an F11. And not fun to drive on the road at 10/10ths, which I save for the track (in something with rather less luggage space). But at say 4 to 7 10ths. That means agile, adjustable, precise, predictable, and with good feedback (and not just at 10/10ths, where you have to go to find such things with some of the newer BMWs).

Any views on this?

Thanks!

[Metrics]

What were you hoping to hear?

All I will say is ALPINA are masters of chassis set ups for daily & fast road use. Any F11 ALPINA will fulfill your criteria of comfort, composure and fun. At the very least the car will have VDC which ticks the right boxes for your criteria through Comfort +, Comfort, Sport and Sport + modes.
Adaptive Drive like on the B5 will just take the chassis to the next level up.

ALPINA don’t make cars for 10/10ths - that’s M car domain. Their criteria is to perfect the car at up to 9/10ths, which is where most cars actually get driven on the road.

They are the ultimate daily cars, and you will not be disappointed, trust me!

[rs10]

Well I hope you are right that any and all combinations will work well. But I'm still a bit worried. Something ruined the driving experience on my BMW E61, and while it might be the rear air springs (which the E60 doesn't have), the adaptive steering and anti-roll bars are also leading suspects. But perhaps BMW fixed these things for the F10/11? Or Alpina did?

The safest bet is probably to do without any of these options. But the roll bars in particular seem to have great potential, and E90/91 M3s drove pretty well with them.

If I look at lots of Alpinas for sale and the sellers, like German Porsche dealers, give me the keys and say "have fun for an hour or two", I'd easily figure these things out. But that's not how it's going to work.

[rs10]

What were you hoping to hear?

(I was hoping to hear that Alpina made all the right suspension and steering choices for new car buyers so they couldn't get it wrong, with the result that used car buyers such as myself have it simple.)

[Marc 76]

Id make a list of features split into essential, nice to have and not bothered.

Then sit and wait.

You'll typically see 1 or 2 (3 if you're lucky) F11's come to market in a year, so as and when they do, you can either bite the bullet (likely with some compromises) or wait for the next...

[Metrics]

What were you hoping to hear?

(I was hoping to hear that Alpina made all the right suspension and steering choices for new car buyers so they couldn't get it wrong, with the result that used car buyers such as myself have it simple.)

And honestly, I think ALPINA have made the right choices. As an absolute minimum you will have is VDC and ALPINA springs, and you will appreciate this set up when you drive one. Any other additional chassis options will be a bonus. I also suspect that any F11 you do find on the market will be standard spec - not many UK cars are optioned heavily (unlike German registered examples).

I have a F10 D5 and a G31 B5. Apart from the obvious latest engineering and BMW generation differences, the B5 has Active steering (4 wheel) and Adaptive Drive. My D5 has VDC only. And while there are of course differences, the D5 does a pretty fine job on ride, handling and fun. No complaints from me.

As Marc says, these are rare cars and it’s often a case of taking what comes up. But I’m sure you will be happy, as anything with an ALPINA badge on it is an accomplished car.

[rs10]

And honestly, I think ALPINA have made the right choices. As an absolute minimum you will have is VDC and ALPINA springs ...

I also suspect that any F11 you do find on the market will be standard spec - not many UK cars are optioned heavily (unlike German registered examples). ...

the B5 has Active steering (4 wheel)

Yes, I've no doubt that with just VDC and Alpina Springs it's quite good.

And ah yes, the Integral Active Steering is 4 wheel steering! I was thinking it was just variable ratio steering. Journalists' F10/F11 reviews often mention Alpina improving the 4 wheel steering and I thought it was standard. Any chance it was?

4-wheel steering sounds good, maybe even essential for the agility I'm looking for. But a bit of IAS research led me to an unresolved debate about whether variable ratio steering also comes with IAS or is standard on every BMW F10/11. Variable ratio steering, unless a lot better than on the E61, doesn't sound good.

Similarly, my E61 experience makes me warry of adaptive drive. Metrics, I understand these things work well on your G31. But even if they are rare on UK F11s, I'm in the market for something with left hand drive, so it seems I should figure out whether I (don't) want these things in case, for instance, a German car comes on the market that has them.

[hooneybadger]

Where (which market) are you buying this car? UK or Europe?

[rs10]

Where (which market) are you buying this car? UK or Europe?

Anywhere in Europe where I find the right LHD car.