B7 Production Gap - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

CarlT · 7th October 2001, 23:08

Hi Everyone

I was looking at the ALPINA website regarding the production history on the B7s' and I see that there is a production gap.

Production details go to the model history and B7..

Could someone explain me why there is laps in the production? Was it emissions or what???

Regards
Carl

kees · 7th October 2001, 23:25

Carl,

The gap in sedan production has to do with switching from E12 to E28 body shape...not quite sure about the gap in Coupe production...

/Kees

Mr Janne · 7th October 2001, 23:34

Same thing goes for the E24. The early cars is based on the E12-chassie and the later on E28-chassie.

CarlT · 8th October 2001, 00:40

Hi Guys

Hmm that kinda wierd... So BMW didn't make either 5s or 6s for 18 months??? The company was surviving on 3series only...

JetBoy · 8th October 2001, 00:48

Quote:

Originally posted by CarlT
Hi Guys

The company was surviving on 3series only...

There was also a seven series (E23) or am I wrong ?

CarlT · 8th October 2001, 00:54

Quote:

Originally posted by JetBoy

There was also a seven series (E23) or am I wrong ?

True, True!

1977-1987

But you see what I'm getting at? I can't see that the minor changes from the E12 -> E28 could take 12-18 months for BMW to complete. Also the older E24 only had some cosmetic changes as well...... The 5series was one of thier most popular lines and I can't understand that they would let it take that long to change the production line.

Carl

raymondw · 8th October 2001, 01:06

The E28 range started in late 1981, directly after the E12's where discontinued. BMW did not stop five series production for such a long time. In the mean time, there are not many early E28's left, most of the remaining E28's are from 1984 and later.

Alpina, continued to build E12's untill 1982 I believe and did not start building E28's before 1984.

For the six series, I believe the same was the case. This left Alpina with only the E21 and E30 chassis untill 1984.

With best regards,

Raymond

Mr Janne · 8th October 2001, 01:07

I´m not sure that we can trust these production-figures. The B7´s are featured in the 1983 brochure. It really seems strange that they just offered the 3-series for almost 2 years.

Carl, I looked for pictures of the B12 5,7 but unfortunately I didn´t have more pics of that car. But I think you should contact Alpina and ask what´s the deal with that car. Any while you´re talking to them ask about the production of the B7´s too

Mr Janne · 8th October 2001, 01:12

Am I stupid or what? I forgot about the B9´s. The E28 B9 were produced between 11/81 - 12/85 and the E24 between 7/82 - 12/85. So it´s just the turbocars that were delayed...

kees · 8th October 2001, 03:20

Just thought of the same myself...and if I remember correctly the B9s did very very well for Alpina for a while (at least the E28s did, the E24s did not). They may not seem fast now, but the only sedan that could beat them at the time was the B7...