Alpina, the storied German tuner now fully owned by BMW, left a lasting mark on the automotive world with a series of road cars that balanced performance, comfort, and restraint. The 10 best Alpina road cars, drawn from decades of production, show how the company turned already capable BMWs into something more polished — and sometimes faster than a Ferrari.
An E24 that set the tone
The Alpina B7 Turbo (1984) remains a defining car for the brand. Based on the E24 635CSi, it packed 326 horsepower and hit 62 mph in 6.1 seconds. Buyers should seek the 1984–1986 versions. The introduction of mandatory catalytic converters in late 1986 dropped output by 10 horsepower, according to the original listing.
Before that, the BMW 3.0 CS (1968) was one of the most elegant cars the tuner ever touched. At the time, the car still wore BMW badges, but enthusiasts knew the real story. The 3.0 CS could be converted into a super-slinky road car, and it remains a visual benchmark for the brand.
When Alpina outran the Italians
The Alpina B10 BiTurbo (1989) earned a reputation for being faster than a Ferrari Testarossa — while carrying more people. Based on the E34 535i, it used a pair of Garrett turbochargers to lift power from 208 to 355 horsepower. That is a serious upgrade for a sedan.
Around the same time, the Alpina B9 3.5 (1981) offered a naturally aspirated alternative. Its 3.5-liter straight-six used upgraded cams, Mahle pistons, and Motronic engine management. Output was 241 horsepower, with a 0–62 time of 6.7 seconds. Not devastating, but plenty for the era.
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For the E30 generation, the Alpina B6 3.5 S (1987) was the one to get. The biggest motor available in the 3 Series at the time was the 325i’s 2.5-liter. The company’s car reached 251 horsepower, enough to match a contemporary M3 — even sharing some suspension and aero parts.
Lightweight surprises and diesel speed
Not every Alpina needed brute force.
The Alpina C1 2.3 (1980) made only 168 horsepower, but the car weighed just 1,100 kilograms. With upgraded suspension, it ruled the early 1980s. A small car, a big smile. That same philosophy appears in the BMW 2002 tii (1973). Its version included engine tweaks, spotlights, an interior retrim, and the brand’s graphics. It was a road-and-rally mashup, and the original listing suggests taking one in contemporary ‘Inka’ orange — paint code 022.
Its best work came from tweaking rather than reinventing.
The company rarely built a car from scratch, but it had a knack for picking the right base model and making subtle changes that transformed the driving experience. That approach probably kept costs in check and allowed it to survive as a small-volume manufacturer while other tuners faded.
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Race-bred and V12 excess
The Alpina B6 GT3 (2009) blurred the line between road and track. It used a supercharged 4.4-liter V8 from the B6 S, producing 523 horsepower. The car won the 2009 season and took the ADAC GT Masters championship in 2011. To celebrate, the tuner built 99 B3 GT3 cars based on the E92 3 Series.
For sheer presence, the Alpina B12 5.7 (1992) is hard to beat.
It started as an 850CSi V12, but Alpina bored it to 5.7 liters and added camshaft work, raising output from 375 to 410 horsepower. The car came with a manual gearbox or its own ‘Switch-Tronic’ wheel-mounted shift buttons. It livened up what was a slightly stodgy grand tourer.
The most modern car on the list is the Alpina D5 S (2017).
But the version to get is the left-hand-drive model. That configuration allowed three turbochargers on the 3.0-liter straight-six diesel engine. Right-hand-drive cars only got two turbos and less power. The LHD D5 S produced 383 horsepower, 590 lb-ft of torque, and hit 62 mph in 4.4 seconds, with a top speed of 178 mph.
