Powertrain families
ALPINA inline-six/V8 petrol · ALPINA D10 twin-turbo diesel inline-six
B5 / B10 / D5 (E39) — Sedan
1997–2004
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- ALPINA B10/D10 E39 Sedan
- Production
- 1997–2004
- Body style
- 4-door sedan
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
B5 / B10 / D5 → E39 → Sedan
B5 / B10 / D5 E39: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sedan fits into the family.
E39 B10 ranged from inline-six B10 3.2/3.3 to B10 V8 and the later V8 S. It also produced the D10 Bi-Turbo, a diesel performance branch with its own engine, fuel, production and emissions data.
Sedan and Touring were available only for defined derivatives and periods. V8 S, D10 and six-cylinder models do not share gearboxes, brakes, output or top-speed figures, while Touring load-space and body data remain independent.
The E39 M5's S62 specifications must not populate B10 records even though both are V8 performance sedans. ALPINA engine type and base BMW model are the authoritative links.
1997–2004generation lifecycle
2body branches
2engine/drive families
5range designations
E39factory 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.
Length4,775 mm
Width1,800 mm
Height1,435 mm
Wheelbase2,830 mm
Luggage460 L
Fuel tank70 L
Seats5
Doors4-door sedan
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B10 3.2 / 3.3 | 1997–2002 | ALPINA 3.2/3.3 L inline-six | 260–280 PS | 5MT / 5AT Switch-Tronic | RWD | Global range | BMW 5 Series E39: ALPINA model history |
| B10 V8 | 1997–2002 | ALPINA 4.6 L V8 | 340–347 PS | 5AT Switch-Tronic | RWD | Global range | BMW 5 Series E39: ALPINA model history |
| B10 V8 S | 2002–2004 | ALPINA 4.8 L V8 | 375 PS | 5AT Switch-Tronic | RWD | Global range | BMW 5 Series E39: ALPINA model history |
| D10 Bi-Turbo | 1999–2003 | ALPINA 3.0 L twin-turbo diesel inline-six | 245 PS | 5AT Switch-Tronic | RWD | Europe | BMW 5 Series E39: ALPINA model history |
Factory designations
B10 3.2 · B10 3.3 · B10 V8 · B10 V8 S · D10 Bi-Turbo
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 B10/D10 E39 Sedan: 4,775 mm × 1,800 mm × 1,435 mm
- ALPINA B10/D10 E39 Touring: 4,805 mm × 1,800 mm × 1,445 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.
B10 3.2
The E39 programme opened with a naturally aspirated inline-six.
B10 3.3 and V8
Six-cylinder development and a separate V8 branch broadened the line.
D10 Bi-Turbo
ALPINA introduced a distinct high-performance diesel model.
V8 S and close
The higher-output V8 S marked the final E39 production phase.
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 B10/D10 E39 SedanB5 / B10 / D5 ALPINA B10/D10 E39 Sedan is a distinct E39 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 inline-six/V8 petrol, ALPINA D10 twin-turbo diesel inline-six.
Touring
ALPINA B10/D10 E39 TouringB5 / B10 / D5 ALPINA B10/D10 E39 Touring is a distinct E39 body branch. The long-roof estate body adds a large rear opening and folding load area while retaining the passenger-car platform. Engines/drive: ALPINA inline-six/V8 petrol, ALPINA D10 twin-turbo diesel 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 B10/D10 E39 Sedan — Sedan; ALPINA B10/D10 E39 Touring — Touring
- Range designations
- B10 3.2, B10 3.3, B10 V8, B10 V8 S, D10 Bi-Turbo
- Powertrain families
- ALPINA inline-six/V8 petrol, ALPINA D10 twin-turbo diesel 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 E39: 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.
- Separate B10 six-cylinder, B10 V8/V8 S and D10 diesel inventories.
- E39 M5 and ALPINA B10 share a base family but not an engine specification.
- 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: Calreyn88, 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