Highlights
- The car is one of only 71 E60 based B5 Saloons registered in the UK
- 4.4L supercharged V8 with 500bhp
- Full service history with 26 stamps
- Last serviced 1,100 miles ago
- Engine, bodywork, gaskets, seals and front shocks replaced
- Subtle super saloon in desirable colour scheme
- £16,500 of investment since vendor bought it in July 22
The Appeal
To the uninitiated, the default answer might be ‘but BMW has the M5.’ Enthusiasts know that misses the point entirely: Alpina’s B5 is the BMW-based super saloon for those who like their kicks less shouty and more comfortable but no less viscerally exciting.
The E60 B5 is based on the factory 545i, but ‘based’ is the key word there. Alpina adds a supercharger to nudge power up to 500bhp, tunes the ECU and adds sporting yet compliant suspension. Naturally the cabin is liberally dressed in the sort of luxury equipment to keep driver and passenger comfortable.
Many consider the B5 to be faster than a M5. It is certainly much rarer - just 428 were built, of which few were RHD examples like this car. The vendor tells us only 71 E60 B5 saloons registered in UK. Classically finished in understated what the vendor tells us is Black Sapphire, a colour that suits the Alpina aesthetic, with a smart beige leather cabin, it is a well-used but equally highly maintained example. You’ll struggle to find signs of the passage of 19 years since it left the Alpina works.
The service book shows a healthy run of 26 stamps right up to 1,100 miles ago. Since 2022 alone around £16,500 was invested across the suspension, engine, bodywork and servicing by the vendor. This included £5,500 of bodywork, new Alpina front shock absorbers costing £2,200, and £5,000 of engine work covering valve stem seals, alternator and gaskets and seals.
Rare, brutally quick and yet comfortable too, this is the supercar you and your family can live with.
The vendor says:
"I have attended to every age-related wear and tear item using BMW main dealers and specialists to make this car the best it can be. I also drive another 2006 supercharged Alpina with 60,000 miles on the clock. This car drives as well as that. It is a testament to the Alpina engineering and has been serviced in the BMW/Alpina network for 90% of its mileage. It has been my aim to make it the best it can be to make it the best it can be."
The vendor says:
"I have attended to every age-related wear and tear item using BMW main dealers and specialists to make this car the best it can be. I also drive another 2006 supercharged Alpina with 60,000 miles on the clock. This car drives as well as that. It is a testament to the Alpina engineering and has been serviced in the BMW/Alpina network for 90% of its mileage. It has been my aim to make it the best it can be to make it the best it can be."
The History and Paperwork
- First registered 9th June 2006
- Five registered keepers
- Current keeper since July 2022
- Private plate show in photos is not included
- Car will be sold on plate FJ06JHL
- Original book pack and paperwork
- Stacks of service history and invoices
- The car has been serviced/maintained in BMW main dealer network up to 182,306 miles ( evidenced by stamps in Service book). This equates to 90% of the total miles covered by the car. £16,500 spent on the car since July 2022
- MOT until 7th May 2025 with minor advisories
- Around £16,500 of recent work shown in photos and summarised below
- Service book with 26 stamps to 201,110 miles in July 2024
Recent work totalling around £16,500:
- 01/09/22: repairs to navigation system
- 17/01/24: bodywork repairs
- May 2024: engine repairs and other work
- May 2024: suspension repairs
- 16/05/24: servicing parts from Sytner Tamworth
Summary of this work:
- £5,500 on bodywork with BMW with 15 year warranty
- This included sills and floor pans
- New Alpina front shock absorbers costing £2,200
- Engine work totalling £5,000 including valve stem seals, alternator, gaskets and seals
- Brake pipes replaced
The Condition
- Black Sapphire metallic paintwork in very good order with only light indications of age and mileage
- Bodywork presents well with recent extensive repairs detailed above and in photos
- Refurbished Alpina deep dish 19-inch alloys in good condition with few marks
- Fitted with quality Michelin tyres that appear to be in good condition with plenty of tread
- Underside presents well with no structural issues on last MOT
- Alpina front splitter and side skirts in good condition with branding as shown
- Lights in good condition with no visible misting or condensation
- MOT notes minor damage to windscreen but not visible in photos
- High specification interior with Alpina leather seats in beige
- Despite age and mileage even high traffic areas show little age or wear
- Fitted with black carpets and Alpina fitted over mats with beige trim
- Specification includes Head-up display, navigation, electric front seats with memory and steel sunroof
- Original build plaque included
- Dark wood veneers to interior in good order
- No reported faults with lights, electrics, dials or switchgear
- No warning lights visible on dashboard or reported
The original tan leather Alpina sports seats are in superb condition given the car’s mileage and are complemented by original Alpina mats and a blue-green stitched steering wheel.
The car also comes with BMW’s top-end Logic 7 stereo system and a sat-nav/infotainment set-up controlled by a central i-Drive controller. There’s also an LCD head-up display, showing speed, revs and fuel level projected directly onto the windscreen.
The interior features dark ash wooden inserts and offers an enticing combination of luxury and sportiness. It’s superbly presented and in great order, looking like a much lower mileage car.
Finished in its original BMW Black Sapphire, the Alpina looks every inch the stealthy executive performance car that it is.
The 19-inch multi-spoke alloys are an Alpina trademark and have just been professionally refurbished and treated to new centre caps, giving the car a real lift.
Overall, it’s in excellent order, though there’s some oxidisation to one of the door mirror plinths with bubbling below the black painted surface.
The Mechanics
- Supercharged Alpina-built 4,398cc 500bhp V8 engine
- Six-speed a;Switch Tronic’ auto with steering wheel controls
- Factory tools and first aid kit which appear to be unused
- Full service history to 201,110 miles with 26 book stamps
- Maintained by BMW/Alpina main dealers/specialists for "90% of its life" according to seller
- Extensive recent expenditure including servicing, suspension and other work
- £16,500 spent across car since 2024 as detailed above
- This included extensive engine work and new front Alpina shock absorbers
- Details of the recent work shown in photos
- No reported running or driving issues
- Minor advisory to note on current MOT
The car is said to be in good working condition with no known faults and has been thoroughly maintained by specialists for all of its life. There is a remarkable run of 26 service stamps to July 2024 with only 1,100 miles covered since the last attention.
In 2024 the car received considerable work across servicing, suspension and other components. This work was undertaken by specialists and can be checked in detail in the photos.
The power is delivered to the road via a six-speed automatic transmission, with manual controls via the gear selector or steering wheel controls. It’s an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable performance car.
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