Powertrain families
ALPINA naturally aspirated inline-six
B5 / B10 / D5 (E28) — Sedan
1981–1987
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- ALPINA B9/B10 E28 Sedan
- Production
- 1981–1987
- Body style
- 4-door sedan
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
B5 / B10 / D5 → E28 → Sedan
B5 / B10 / D5 E28: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sedan fits into the family.
E28-based ALPINA saloons predate the B5 badge used by later generations. The principal period names in this branch are B9 3.5 and B10 3.5, developed from the 528i/535i family with ALPINA engine, gearbox, chassis, aerodynamics and cabin changes.
The B9 and B10 are separate production types with different dates, engine specifications and performance. Earlier B7 Turbo cars belong primarily to the E12/E24 histories and should not be used to extend the E28 B5/B10 date range backwards.
Period-correct naming matters for search and authenticity: calling every fast ALPINA 5 Series a B5 erases real model history. VIN/base-car data and the ALPINA production plate are required to distinguish complete cars from later conversions.
1981–1987generation lifecycle
1body branches
1engine/drive families
2range designations
E28factory code
longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drivearchitecture
Sedan: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,620 mm
Width1,700 mm
Height1,415 mm
Wheelbase2,625 mm
Luggage460 L
Fuel tank70 L
Seats5
Doors4-door sedan
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | ALPINA B9/B10 E28 Sedan | 1981–1987 | 4-door sedan / 5 | 4,620 mm | 460 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented sedan applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B9 3.5 | 1981–1985 | ALPINA B9 3.5 L inline-six | 245 PS | 5MT / 4AT | RWD | Global range | BMW 5 Series E28: ALPINA model history |
| B10 3.5 | 1985–1987 | ALPINA B10 3.5 L inline-six | 261 PS | 5MT / 4AT | RWD | Global range | BMW 5 Series E28: ALPINA model history |
Factory designations
B9 3.5 · B10 3.5
High-performance powertrain
Engine, cooling, exhaust, software and transmission form a distinct M or ALPINA specification rather than an option package on the base model.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- ALPINA B9/B10 E28 Sedan: 4,620 mm × 1,700 mm × 1,415 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
B9 3.5
The E28-based high-performance saloon programme began under the B9 name.
B10 3.5
The B10 badge marked a later E28 engine and specification phase.
Final production batches
Late cars retained period-specific equipment and type numbers.
E28 line ends
Production closed before the much broader E34 B10 family.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Sedan
ALPINA B9/B10 E28 SedanB5 / B10 / D5 ALPINA B9/B10 E28 Sedan is a distinct E28 body branch. The conventional four-door passenger-car body, balancing rear-seat access, luggage space and the generation’s core chassis layout. Engines/drive: ALPINA naturally aspirated inline-six.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- ALPINA B9/B10 E28 Sedan — Sedan
- Range designations
- B9 3.5, B10 3.5
- Powertrain families
- ALPINA naturally aspirated inline-six
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01AlpinaWikipedia contributors
Secondary manufacturer and model-line context.
- 02BMW 5 Series E28: ALPINA model historyALPINA Automobiles model archive
Factory model archive with exact base model, production period, ALPINA engine type and derivative data.
- 03Expanding the portfolio: BMW Group acquires the ALPINA brandBMW Group PressClub
Primary BMW Group record for the independent programme, production cooperation and post-2025 brand transition.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- Use B9/B10 period names; B5 is the navigation family, not the E28 sales badge.
- Complete ALPINA cars and engine conversions need separate provenance records.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026