2012 BMW ALPINA D5 BITURBO TOURING

This BMW Alpina D5 Biturbo Touring is a bespoke high-performance estate car, with a smart factory specification, and presented in excellent condition throughout. Its engine is based on the 535d’s 3.0-litre straight-six diesel, with power ramped up to 347bhp with 700Nm peak torque, coupled to the eight-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Switch-Tronic controls. It can sprint from 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds, and on to a top speed of 171mph, riding on specially tuned adaptive M Sport suspension with heavy-duty wheel carriers.

On the D5, the adaptive suspension’s electronic dampers are recalibrated to broaden the difference between the softest and firmest settings. In Comfort+, the ride is said to be even smoother than a standard 5 Series in the same setting, while in Sport+ it is notably stiffer and more dynamic. The Switch-Tronic shift controls are push buttons located on the rear of the steering wheel in lieu of paddles, minimising how far fingers need to move to change gear.

First registered on 20 December 2012, this D5 has just two previous keepers on the log book, and was acquired by the current owner just over three years ago. It is believed to be one of just 16 right-hand-drive D5 Biturbo Touring models delivered to the UK. Beyond the impressive performance figures, the other notable statistics for the D5 include a realistic 35-45mpg, a CO2 rating of just 163g/km, and low annual vehicle tax. The odometer shows 68,907 miles from new.

There is no suggestion of any prior damage to the bodywork, which presents with flush shut lines and smooth panels. Its Sophisto Grey paintwork is believed to be original, with the vendor noting minor ‘pebble dash’ stone chips around the lower front bumper. The Alpina upgrades include a front splitter, rear diffuser, and dual twin exhaust tailpipes. It has also been fitted with front and rear Alpina badges, but the original BMW roundels are included. It rides on the iconic 20-inch multi-spoke alloys, which are in very good condition, with a small blemish on the nearside rear wheel noted.

The car had a full ‘Feynlab’ advanced paint protection coating applied in February 2020, and has been valeted immediately prior to auction by the same company who applied the coating, Crystal Clear Auto Detailing of Swansea. Videos and photos of the original Feynlab application can be viewed on the February 2020 posts on the Crystal Clear company’s Instagram channel.

Inside, the full black leather is in excellent condition, with only very minor wear noticeable on the driver’s outer seat bolsters. Despite this being an inherently practical family car, the rear seats appear to have been barely used. The rest of the interior trim is also in superb order, with smart black carpeting and Alpina floor mats. Factory-fitted equipment includes heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, an electric sliding panoramic sunroof, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera. BMW Professional media and satellite navigation is also installed, along with a head-up display. There are no electrical faults, and no warning lights on the dashboard.

Fastidiously maintained from new, its last scheduled visit was in November 2020 at 68,893 miles, at Sytner BMW Swansea. This consisted of an engine oil and microfilter service, as well as replacement of the EGR cooler as part of a recall campaign. A vehicle health check was also completed, which was all clear, with the only note being the minor damage to the nearside rear wheel. A summary of the service history is included below.

The most recent MOT was on 3 February 2020 at 66,455 miles, when it achieved a first-time pass with no advisories whatsoever. It had an advisory for front tyre wear in 2019, but otherwise it has never had any other advisories, and has never failed an annual test.

The wheels are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres on all four corners, which remain in good order. During the vehicle health check on 4 November 2020, the front tyres were recorded at 6.2mm tread depth, with the rears at 4.4mm-4.8mm.

Accompanying the car are all of the original books, including the stamped service record, a raft of maintenance invoices, and other original documentation from Alpina in the blue leather wallet. The cherished registration RJI7215 also accompanies the car, which is valued by Regtransfers at £500. While the plate was assigned to the car by the vendor, it is being left on mainly to ensure there are no delays in getting a new V5C from the DVLA in case of COVID-19 backlogs. The original registration was FJ62DEU.

This BMW Alpina D5 Biturbo Touring is one of the great all-rounders, combining superb outright performance with impressive refinement and excellent practicality. At launch, Alpina called it “the meanest green car on the planet”, highlighting that its prodigious pace was not at the expense of fuel economy. While this D5 would make a superb daily driver, with effortless speed and versatility, it would also be a striking addition to any collection of Alpina or BMW models.

Summary of service history:

• 08/01/2014 - 9,391 miles - Sytner BMW Sunningdale
• 02/04/2015 - 20,200 miles - Sytner BMW Sunningdale
• 25/02/2016 - 28,607 miles - Sytner BMW Sunningdale
• 23/11/2016 - 35,048miles - Sytner BMW Sunningdale
• 21/02/2018 - 47,351 miles - David Coe Auto Engineering Swansea
• 07/07/2019 - 60,898 miles - David Coe Auto Engineering Swansea
• 04/11/2020 - 68,893 miles - Sytner BMW Swansea

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All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. This vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.