Powertrain families
ALPINA twin-turbo V8 · ALPINA D5 turbo diesel inline-six
B5 / B10 / D5 (F10/F11) — Sedan
2010–2017
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- ALPINA B5/D5 F10 Sedan
- Production
- 2010–2017
- Body style
- 4-door sedan
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
B5 / B10 / D5 → F10/F11 → Sedan
B5 / B10 / D5 F10/F11: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sedan fits into the family.
F10/F11 B5 Bi-Turbo changed to a twin-turbo V8 and eight-speed Switch-Tronic, while D5 Bi-Turbo supplied a diesel six-cylinder alternative. Both saloon and Touring bodies appeared, but not every drivetrain or market offered both.
Several output phases followed model updates, and the limited Edition 50 introduced its own higher-output engine and equipment. D5, regular B5, updated B5 and Edition 50 therefore require date-scoped records.
The North American market received ALPINA products differently from Europe, and the F10 M5's DCT/rear-drive specification must not be copied into B5. Fuel, gearbox and driven wheels are defining fields.
2010–2017generation lifecycle
2body branches
2engine/drive families
3range designations
F10/F11factory 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.
Length4,913 mm
Width1,860 mm
Height1,464 mm
Wheelbase2,968 mm
Luggage520 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B5 Bi-Turbo | 2010–2017 | ALPINA 4.4 L twin-turbo V8 | 507–540 PS | 8AT Switch-Tronic | RWD | Global range | BMW 5 Series F10/F11: ALPINA model history |
| B5 Bi-Turbo Edition 50 | 2015 | ALPINA 4.4 L twin-turbo V8 | 600 PS | 8AT Switch-Tronic | RWD | Global range | BMW 5 Series F10/F11: ALPINA model history |
| D5 Bi-Turbo | 2011–2016 | ALPINA 3.0 L twin-turbo diesel inline-six | 350 PS | 8AT Switch-Tronic | RWD | Europe | BMW 5 Series F10/F11: ALPINA model history |
Factory designations
B5 Bi-Turbo · B5 Bi-Turbo Edition 50 · D5 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.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
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 B5/D5 F10 Sedan: 4,913 mm × 1,860 mm × 1,464 mm
- ALPINA B5/D5 F11 Touring: 4,913 mm × 1,860 mm × 1,462 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.
B5 Bi-Turbo
Twin-turbo V8 saloon and Touring began the F-generation programme.
D5 Bi-Turbo
A six-cylinder diesel alternative entered selected markets.
Lifecycle update
Power, exterior and equipment evolved with the 5 Series update.
Edition 50 and end
The limited higher-output model preceded final F10/F11 production.
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 B5/D5 F10 SedanB5 / B10 / D5 ALPINA B5/D5 F10 Sedan is a distinct F10/F11 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 twin-turbo V8, ALPINA D5 turbo diesel inline-six.
Touring
ALPINA B5/D5 F11 TouringB5 / B10 / D5 ALPINA B5/D5 F11 Touring is a distinct F10/F11 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 twin-turbo V8, ALPINA D5 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 B5/D5 F10 Sedan — Sedan; ALPINA B5/D5 F11 Touring — Touring
- Range designations
- B5 Bi-Turbo, B5 Bi-Turbo Edition 50, D5 Bi-Turbo
- Powertrain families
- ALPINA twin-turbo V8, ALPINA D5 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 F10/F11: 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.
- B5, D5 and Edition 50 require separate engine/fuel/production records.
- Do not reuse F10 M5 transmission or drivetrain data for ALPINA B5.
- 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