Powertrain families
ALPINA B12 V12
B7 / B11 / B12 (E38) — Sedan
1995–2001
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- ALPINA B12 E38
- Production
- 1995–2001
- Body style
- 4-door sedan
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
B7 / B11 / B12 → E38 → Sedan
B7 / B11 / B12 E38: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sedan fits into the family.
E38 ALPINA production centred on the V12 B12 5.7 and later B12 6.0. These were complete manufacturer derivatives based on 750i/750iL with ALPINA engine development, Switch-Tronic transmission control, chassis, aerodynamics and interior work.
5.7 and 6.0 have different engine types, output and dates, and standard/long-wheelbase availability must be taken from the archive rather than assumed. The B12 6.0's rarity makes production-count definitions important.
BMW's own 750iL and the stretched L7 are not B12 unless they carry verified ALPINA identity. V12 data must not be borrowed from the contemporary E31 B12 coupé without a matching engine type.
1995–2001generation lifecycle
2body branches
1engine/drive families
2range designations
E38factory 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.
Length4,984 mm
Width1,862 mm
Height1,435 mm
Wheelbase2,930 mm
Luggage500 L
Fuel tank95 L
Seats5
Doors4-door sedan
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | ALPINA B12 E38 | 1995–2001 | 4-door sedan / 5 | 4,984 mm | 500 L |
| Long-wheelbase Sedan | ALPINA B12 E38 L | 1995–2001 | 4-door long-wheelbase sedan / 5 | 5,124 mm | 500 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B12 5.7 | 1995–1998 | ALPINA 5.7 L V12 | 387 PS | 5AT Switch-Tronic | RWD | Global range | BMW 7 Series E38: ALPINA model history |
| B12 6.0 | 1999–2001 | ALPINA 6.0 L V12 | 430 PS | 5AT Switch-Tronic | RWD | Global range | BMW 7 Series E38: ALPINA model history |
Factory designations
B12 5.7 · B12 6.0
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 B12 E38: 4,984 mm × 1,862 mm × 1,435 mm
- ALPINA B12 E38 L: 5,124 mm × 1,862 mm × 1,435 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.
B12 5.7
The first E38-based V12 ALPINA entered production.
Body and equipment phases
Production followed E38 updates with ALPINA-specific records.
B12 6.0
The larger V12 created the final higher-output evolution.
B12 E38 ends
Production concluded with the E38 lifecycle.
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 B12 E38B7 / B11 / B12 ALPINA B12 E38 is a distinct E38 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 B12 V12.
Long-wheelbase Sedan
ALPINA B12 E38 LB7 / B11 / B12 ALPINA B12 E38 L is a distinct E38 body branch. A wheelbase-extended sedan developed for markets where additional rear-seat room is a defining requirement. Engines/drive: ALPINA B12 V12.
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 B12 E38 — Sedan; ALPINA B12 E38 L — Long-wheelbase Sedan
- Range designations
- B12 5.7, B12 6.0
- Powertrain families
- ALPINA B12 V12
- 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, model and period context.
- 02BMW 7 Series E38: ALPINA model historyALPINA Automobiles
Factory archive or brochure for base BMW, ALPINA engine type, production dates and derivative specifications.
- 03Expanding the portfolio: BMW Group acquires the ALPINA brandBMW Group PressClub
Primary BMW Group record for the production cooperation ending after 2025 and subsequent brand ownership.
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.
- B12 5.7 and 6.0 are separate engine and production rows.
- A BMW 750i/L7 is not an ALPINA B12 without manufacturer provenance.
- 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: Alexander Migl, 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