B10 3.3/3.2 or 530i Sport? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

E34SE#50 · 25th August 2005, 16:04

Hi All,

I have been considering purchasing a manual E39 B10 3.3/3.2 or E39 530i Sport for a while.

What does everyone think? Has anyone had both and can give me an unbiased opinion?

I know the Alpina has the uniquely developed components (suspension, better brakes etc), but what are the main differences between the Alpina and 530i Sport apart from the extra 20-40 BHP (Alpina has LSD etc.).

Also I would assume as the Alpina is a specialist car, most of them came pretty nicely specced.

Cheers

Sarb

Big Chief Muffin · 26th August 2005, 12:13

Can't tell you much about a 530 sport but I had a B10 3.3 which I drove for about 50,000 miles. Fine car but check that the pixels on the LCD dashboard are all working as they cost a fortune to fix. Also, oil conumption on some of the early ( 99 and 2000 ) 3.3 engines can be very high ( 1 litre per 1000 miles ) and it's expensive stuff. Also, the steering wheel is a bit too large on pre-2001 models ( the 530 Sport would have a better one ) - try to get a 2001 B10 3.3 for the best of all worlds...

E34SE#50 · 27th August 2005, 20:03

Thanks for that Chief, another q, how much of a difference is there between the 3.2 and 3.3?

jez · 28th August 2005, 01:07

You will find the 530i Sport is much harsher than the B10.

Also the B10 doesn't have a LSD. Frankly I am surprised that neither BMW nor Alpina fit these as standard, only the M5 gets one. The DSC is supposed to take over, but in some models is horribly intrusive. This is one of the reasons I sold my 540i and replaced with the B10 V8, although it doesn't have an LSD the suspension and LSD software is better sorted so it actually grips the road without the nannying DSC cutting in all the time and even lets you have some tail sliding fun on the roundabouts - not possible in the standard 5 series with DSC on. Having said this I was surprised to talk to Tony at Gaydon (B10 HOT) and learn that his DSC is intrusive, maybe beacuse his car is a little older than mine and the software ahs been tweaked? I suggested he try the trick of holding the DSC button for 10 secs to switch to the less intrusive mode, Tony if you are around has this made any difference?

nixB10 · 28th August 2005, 03:26

Hi Sarb

The Alpina B10 3.3 is a great car. I have owned mine for nearly 3 years now. I`ve not driven a 530i Sport so I cannot be truly objective. My previous car was a E39 523iSE. I then, purely by chance moved on to the the B10. I wasn`t quite sure what to go for after the 523 but I couldn`t be happier with my choice. Obviously the insurance will be higher on a B10. You definitely get that `Exclusive` thing with the Alpinas, most people don`t have clue what they are in my experience. They handle brilliantly and won`t drain your pocket in fuel costs. I get around 27-30 mpg out of mine, better than my 523 in fact which was a very pleasant surprise.
My B10 is now (very reluctantly) up for sale here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=4571387084

But this is not a sales pitch so I won`t go on.

Lets face it the whole E39 series is excellent and still looks better than the new E60.......IMHO

Descisions, descisions.............. Good luck

Nick

fastsaloons · 29th August 2005, 02:24

I'd certainly go for the B10 3.3 (I had mine for nearly 4 years before moving to an M5). Even in the M5 things never felt as special - there is a lot to be said to people's confused looks at the car.

The performance is better than the 530 and you can expect better ride and handling too.

Here's a quick link to my sites performance and car stats about the 3 cars...

B10 3.2 vs. B10 3.3 vs. 530i sport

ktroubridge · 29th August 2005, 09:25

I would also recommend a B10 3.3. I have owned mine for just over a year & I think the performance and handling/steering are superb

Buy one!

Kevin.

E34SE#50 · 5th September 2005, 18:20

Thanks guys,

Going to have to go out and find one of each to test drive. Am I right in thinking the all Alpina B10's came fairly well specced up?

Sarbs

fastsaloons · 5th September 2005, 19:16

Spec I think for the B10 3.3 was that of the donor car - e.g. SE level.

ktroubridge · 5th September 2005, 22:13

Also you seem to find that most ALPINA cars were ordered with optional extras. When you are spending a lot on a new car a few thousand pounds is not much!

Kevin.

nixB10 · 6th September 2005, 16:04

Hi Sarb

Heres a rundown of the spec of my W reg B10 (STill for sale if you are interested) :

3.3 litre straight six engine (280 bhp)

Special order Alpina Scarab Green metallic paintwork

Full silver grey leather interior with green piping

5-speed manual transmission

Cruise control

Dual-zone climate control

Heated front seats

Factory electric glass slide & tilt sunroof

Electric windows all

Electric mirrors

Xenon headlights

4 Airbags

Rain sensor front screen

Hi Fi option, 8 speaker stereo plus 6-disc CD changer

On-board computer with self-diagnostic fault system

Electric rear window blind

Passenger side winow blinds

18" Alpina Alloys with ZR rated Bridgestone S02s

Wood veneer trim

Rear spoiler with integral brake lights

Rear parking sensors (PDC)

Remote central locking (2 keys included)

FMWSH, BMW WARRANTY, LONG MOT