Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
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- ALPINA
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- Location: Shropshire
Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Hi All,
I'm due to collect my first Alpina tomorrow - an F11 B5 Touring. It's Number 135 which I've seen is already featured on the register section of the site.
I've been a huge BMW and Alpina fan since I was a kid - I had a picture of Frank Sytner in an Alpina 635 in my room back in the day. I've had a couple of BMWs before - a 130i with some mods from Birds and I'm now swapping from a manual F11 535i Touring - probably as rare as the B5 in the UK!
To say I'm excited is an understatement. I'd never driven an Alpina before my test drive, and despite the 540bhp V8, it was the ride and handling that really blew me away. It was unbelievable.
Are they many other F10/11 B5 owners on the forum? I can see there were only 7 Tourings registered in the UK. It would be great to get any tips/advice/information that you could offer.
Cheers,
Paul.
I'm due to collect my first Alpina tomorrow - an F11 B5 Touring. It's Number 135 which I've seen is already featured on the register section of the site.
I've been a huge BMW and Alpina fan since I was a kid - I had a picture of Frank Sytner in an Alpina 635 in my room back in the day. I've had a couple of BMWs before - a 130i with some mods from Birds and I'm now swapping from a manual F11 535i Touring - probably as rare as the B5 in the UK!
To say I'm excited is an understatement. I'd never driven an Alpina before my test drive, and despite the 540bhp V8, it was the ride and handling that really blew me away. It was unbelievable.
Are they many other F10/11 B5 owners on the forum? I can see there were only 7 Tourings registered in the UK. It would be great to get any tips/advice/information that you could offer.
Cheers,
Paul.
Paul
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Congratulations Paul, I did also check that car out and test it, but in the wet with merely vapour in the tank;-)
Enjoy the ride.
Enjoy the ride.
D5 F11 Touring #107
B8 Touring #21 SOLD - but regretted
B8 Touring #21 SOLD - but regretted
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- ALPI
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Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Congratulations Paul, I've got the old Touring (B5 E61 #007) and I'm sure you will love yours.
Handling and ride is what it's about as much as the monster torque and the previous owner of mine had suspension from Birds as part of the big restoration project to bring her back to feeling like a new car.
Sadly this year of course Alpina gatherings at various events have been cancelled but I hope to get a nose at yours in the near future. I'm not far from Reading if you are down this way having mentioned Birds doing work on your previous car.
Have a great weekend, but then how could you not with the new arrival! Fast estates rock.
Cheers, Jules
Handling and ride is what it's about as much as the monster torque and the previous owner of mine had suspension from Birds as part of the big restoration project to bring her back to feeling like a new car.
Sadly this year of course Alpina gatherings at various events have been cancelled but I hope to get a nose at yours in the near future. I'm not far from Reading if you are down this way having mentioned Birds doing work on your previous car.
Have a great weekend, but then how could you not with the new arrival! Fast estates rock.
Cheers, Jules
Alpina B5 E61 2005 Touring #007 Special Toy Malachite Green with Caramel Merino Leather. Quaife LSD upgrade
Volvo XC90 D5 2011 Daily
KTM 990SMT 2013 Summer Toy
Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa 2002 Summer Toy
Kawasaki ZXR750 1993 Summer Toy
Kawasaki ZX6R 1999 Summer Toy
BMW X5 F15 2014 30d M Sport Daily for the other half
Volvo XC90 D5 2011 Daily
KTM 990SMT 2013 Summer Toy
Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa 2002 Summer Toy
Kawasaki ZXR750 1993 Summer Toy
Kawasaki ZX6R 1999 Summer Toy
BMW X5 F15 2014 30d M Sport Daily for the other half
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- ALPINA
- Posts: 1225
- Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 3:40 pm
- Location: Shropshire
Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Cheers Guys.
Frosty - did you drive it recently then, or when it was for sale a previous time? I had an alert set on Autotrader but for some reason it hadn't emailed me when it was listed. I check manually every few days anyway so didn't think it had been listed for long, but we were away at the time so I couldn't view straight away.
Jules - nice to hear from another B5 Touring owner! I'm based in Shropshire, but obviously Birds are one of the go to places for BMW. They fitted a Quaife LSD along with carbon intake and BMW M Performance exhaust to my 130i. Was a cracking car. My B5 doesn't appear to have been specced with an LSD so will have to see how that goes - another visit could be in order. It was also virtually silent - not sure if there are settings to open the exhaust valves at all, or that's just how they come? Must admit, it would be nice to have a bit more V8 rumble.
I'm definitely looking forward to attending some Alpina events - hopefully the world resumes some kind of normality next year. I've been to the BMW owners club day at Gaydon a few times in the past - it's always a good event. Do you have any/many Alpina Register get togethers?
Paul.
Frosty - did you drive it recently then, or when it was for sale a previous time? I had an alert set on Autotrader but for some reason it hadn't emailed me when it was listed. I check manually every few days anyway so didn't think it had been listed for long, but we were away at the time so I couldn't view straight away.
Jules - nice to hear from another B5 Touring owner! I'm based in Shropshire, but obviously Birds are one of the go to places for BMW. They fitted a Quaife LSD along with carbon intake and BMW M Performance exhaust to my 130i. Was a cracking car. My B5 doesn't appear to have been specced with an LSD so will have to see how that goes - another visit could be in order. It was also virtually silent - not sure if there are settings to open the exhaust valves at all, or that's just how they come? Must admit, it would be nice to have a bit more V8 rumble.
I'm definitely looking forward to attending some Alpina events - hopefully the world resumes some kind of normality next year. I've been to the BMW owners club day at Gaydon a few times in the past - it's always a good event. Do you have any/many Alpina Register get togethers?
Paul.
Paul
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Congratulations on your new Alpina, looks great. I am in Worcestershire so just the next county to you. Not too many in these parts, there is a few regulars in the West Midlands but you’re not likely to run into too many Alpina’s and even less B5 tourers! Enjoy.
Range Rover SDV8.
E64 B6s #100 Cabriolet (Now Sold)
Maserati Gransport
E64 B6s #100 Cabriolet (Now Sold)
Maserati Gransport
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- AL
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Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Enjoy your new motor . I love the wagons....
Simon Rose Msc Bsc Hons MCOptom
Alpina F31 D3 Bi Turbo Touring #218, build 01/06/2016
Mediterranean Blue/Oyster Dakota Leather, black trim, Registered April 2018
Alpina E85 Roadster S #19 Silver /Black Leather/ Lux Registered 2004, Press launch Car.
Porsche 911 996 Targa Silver/Black leather, manual, registered 2002.
BMW f800r, Motorsport Red, white and blue, registered 2019.
Alpina F31 D3 Bi Turbo Touring #218, build 01/06/2016
Mediterranean Blue/Oyster Dakota Leather, black trim, Registered April 2018
Alpina E85 Roadster S #19 Silver /Black Leather/ Lux Registered 2004, Press launch Car.
Porsche 911 996 Targa Silver/Black leather, manual, registered 2002.
BMW f800r, Motorsport Red, white and blue, registered 2019.
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- ALPINA
- Posts: 1225
- Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 3:40 pm
- Location: Shropshire
Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Thanks both! Yeah they are certainly a rare sight although to be fair there’s a guy just down the road with a nice E91 D3 Touring. I’ll have to try and say hello.
Not long now - I can’t wait!
Not long now - I can’t wait!
Paul
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
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- ALPINA
- Posts: 1225
- Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 3:40 pm
- Location: Shropshire
Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
I collected it this morning from Sytners in Coventry. It’s amazing - I’m so happy! Looked fabulous all cleaned up.
I already love it’s dual personality - on the motorway home, I left in in Comfort and Auto and just wafted along. It returned just over 30mpg. But then select sport and show it a B road and it really goes. Body control is amazing despite retaining a supple ride and the mid range over taking ability is breath taking! I can’t believe I own it - every journey is going to be such an event.
I already love it’s dual personality - on the motorway home, I left in in Comfort and Auto and just wafted along. It returned just over 30mpg. But then select sport and show it a B road and it really goes. Body control is amazing despite retaining a supple ride and the mid range over taking ability is breath taking! I can’t believe I own it - every journey is going to be such an event.
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Paul
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Welcome to the magic that is Alpina.
Range Rover SDV8.
E64 B6s #100 Cabriolet (Now Sold)
Maserati Gransport
E64 B6s #100 Cabriolet (Now Sold)
Maserati Gransport
Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Brilliant and welcome!
Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Congrats she looks alot better there than the Sytner pictures, they need a new camera man! A beast.
Got any more on the old manual 535i wagon? What have you done with it?
Got any more on the old manual 535i wagon? What have you done with it?
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- A
- Posts: 52
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Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
lovely machine that!
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- ALPINA
- Posts: 1225
- Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 3:40 pm
- Location: Shropshire
Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Thanks for the comments!
To be honest, Sytners just hadn’t cleaned it properly since they’d had it. It’s a pet hate of mine, but no main dealers seem willing to prepare a car before it is sold. In contrast, specialists detail them to within an inch of their life which surely helps with the sell. There were some sticky marks on the leather etc which surely would have been easy to sort before you let potential customers out in it.
I went to view an S6 at an Audi main dealer about 6 years ago and that was a complete mess. I’d driven 2.5 hours to get there and they had made no effort. I walked away and it was just after that my 535i came up, so was obviously meant to be.
Speaking of which, it’s back up for sale.....
https://www.rucars.co.uk/vehicle/bmw-53 ... 3400fb4798
To be honest, Sytners just hadn’t cleaned it properly since they’d had it. It’s a pet hate of mine, but no main dealers seem willing to prepare a car before it is sold. In contrast, specialists detail them to within an inch of their life which surely helps with the sell. There were some sticky marks on the leather etc which surely would have been easy to sort before you let potential customers out in it.
I went to view an S6 at an Audi main dealer about 6 years ago and that was a complete mess. I’d driven 2.5 hours to get there and they had made no effort. I walked away and it was just after that my 535i came up, so was obviously meant to be.
Speaking of which, it’s back up for sale.....
https://www.rucars.co.uk/vehicle/bmw-53 ... 3400fb4798
Paul
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
wow, that must be literally the only one. A unicorn in the modern motoring world. That will have the N55 engine? You could tune that up to decent power. It wouldn't be an M5 but then it wouldn't have the F10's chocolate engine either
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- ALPINA
- Posts: 1225
- Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 3:40 pm
- Location: Shropshire
Re: Hello! New F11 B5 Owner
Yes, it was the N55. Was a cracking car - very different character to the B5. Felt more highly strung - really liked to rev to the limiter through the gears, almost didn't feel turbocharged in its power delivery. The B5 is just a mid range sledgehammer in comparison.
Paul
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue