Alpina refreshes its B5 & D5 S with better looks & power

BMW tuner Alpina has updated both of its cars based off the latest 5 Series: the gas-chugging B5 and the diesel-powered D5 S. Let us delve into details.

On the outside, the changes are minimal and boil down to new headlights and radiator grilles. The drivetrain is where things get interesting: the B5 now gets 621 PS (612 hp, or 456 kW) from its 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8. The torque stays unchanged at 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) max. available starting from 2,000 RPM. The eight-speed automatic transmission and xDrive AWD benefit from further tweaking, resulting in reduced sprint times (3.4 seconds for the sedan/saloon version, 3.6 s for the estate/wagon). The top speed amounts to 330 km/h (205 mph) for the sedan and 322 km/h (200 mph) for the family hauler.

The D5 S, which normally comes powered by a 3.0-liter, tri-turbo six-cylinder diesel, gets a boost to 408 PS (402 hp, 0r 300 kW). The peak torque stays the same at 800 Nm (590 lb-ft), unlockable at 1,750 RPM and above. The eight-speed auto gearbox and xDrive remain unchanged, and so do the sprint times.

The Alpina D5 S is currently the strongest BMW 5 Series on the market, since the M550d spec with its 400 hp (298 kW) is no longer being produced, and the 540d only churns out 340 hp (254 kW).

Both cars come equipped with power-adjustable Bilstein shock absorbers, while the wagon additionally benefits from air-ride suspension on the rear axle. Active roll stabilizers are standard equipment, but 4WS is no longer available. Rear-axle diff lock is now optional for the diesel spec, too, and carbon-ceramic brakes are also on the list.

The new Alpina B5 and D5 S ship with M Performance bumpers, rather than stock bumpers with custom details like before. The base spec now includes 20-inch wheels, the instrument panel is digital, and you can switch gears using either the dedicated steering wheel buttons or the paddle shifter. Lavalina leather finish is available at a premium.

The BMW Alpina D5 S starts from €92,500 in Germany, whereas the Alpina B5 will set you back at least €117,700.