[4BMWGarage]

So, about 2 weeks ago I was able to test drive an Alpina B5 Touring for 2 days. Before I drove the Alpina, the M5 F90 was my dream car and the best car I´ve ever driven. That was about 2 years ago for 3 days (F90 non-Comp). I still love the M5, but I have to say that I like the Alpina more. Just want to share my experience here

What is cool:

- It´s a wagon. 4.4 V8 with 608hp and 800Nm in a Touring is just cool on it´s own.

- The rarity and exclusivety. There are only about 750 B5 Tourings in the world. I drove number 387. These small details like the classic Alpina-Stripes, the Alpinarims and the Alpina Frontsplitter is sporty and beautiful at the same time. You really drive under the radar because no one really knows what it is.

- It´s fast. 3,6 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 322km/h. Not as fast as an M5, but it is REALLY fast. The suspension is by far the best I´ve driven in my life. Really comfortable in Comfort and relly sporty in Sport Plus. By far not as sporty as an M5, but the comfort and practicality as a daily is out of this world. No body roll in corners. Super precise steering (for a car of it´s size) and superb brakes.

- Cost as much as an M5 (at least here in Germany).

Not so cool:

- Sound is missing. Even in Sport+ it is really quiet. The exhaust has a flap, which you can hear, but it is quiet. It is by far not as emotional as an M5. You hear the V8 but really quiet.

- The car really ride on it´s torque curve. For my personal taste it could be shift down more often when you push the throttle in low rpm´s even in Sport+.

And here are finally some pics.

[spuntyb]

I would gladly take one over my F90 if they brought them here to the States. Wagon > sedan

[stein_325i]

Absolutely gorgeous wagon, and that wood trim with the ivory leather is beautiful. Its still so annoying that BMW refuses to follow Mercedes, Audi, and Porsches' lead and bring a wagon to the states, even for the small number of people that want it.

[Danny D]

Love the seats !

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

Absolutely gorgeous wagon, and that wood trim with the ivory leather is beautiful. Its still so annoying that BMW refuses to follow Mercedes, Audi, and Porsches' lead and bring a wagon to the states, even for the small number of people that want it.

Even Volvo brings the wonky Polestar wagon here. It's a turbo-4 with a supercharger and a mild hybrid unit. If that's not like flat out *daring* BMW to bring a wagon here, I don't know what is

[pbonsalb]

I wish the larger wagons came to the US. We have an 08 E61 535xi, but BMW stopped sending the 5 series wagons after the E61 and did not send a turbodiesel or M5 E61.

[samj2k]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I wish the larger wagons came to the US. We have an 08 E61 535xi, but BMW stopped sending the 5 series wagons after the E61 and did not send a turbodiesel or M5 E61.

You did get manual E60 M5's though, we only got the neck snapping SMG.