2017 BMW Alpina B4 review

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2017 BMW Alpina B4 review


BMW's 'other' tuning division arrives down under with a luxurious M4 rival



23 November, 2016

David Morley




2017 BMW Alpina B4 BiTurbo Coupe. Photo: Supplied



If you're a person of a certain age, you might know the name Alpina.

If you do, you might also know that the Bavarian-based modifier has been creating tuning packages for BMW passenger cars for more than 50 years.

And now the Alpina brand is back in Australia with a range of 3- and 4-Series-based cars ready for launch this month with 5-, 6- and 7-Series cars to follow.

Despite BMW having its own, in-house M badge that it applies to the bootlid of its own factory hot-rods, the BMW-Alpina relationship is a pretty cosy one.

BMW underwrites the warranty for Alpina models (although reduced by 12 months to two years/100,000km), allows Alpina use of its wind-tunnel and has no problems with the cars being known as BMW Alpinas nor with the local agent for Alpina in this country being a subsidiary of a large BMW dealership.

On the surface, however, this car, the Alpina B4 Biturbo would appear to go head-to-head with BMW's own M4 on pretty much every level; price, performance and image included.

So how have the two brands managed to avoid a conflict of interest?

Well, if the devil is in the detail, then the Alpina B4 must have a pointy tail and horns.

The differences between the B4 and the M4 are subtle to say the least. But they do make a difference and each car has its own personality and its own strengths.

For a start, the Alpina is based on a 440i, not the M4. That means it gets the eight-speed conventional automatic rather than the M4's seven-speed dual-clutch unit and the engine starts life as a three-litre, single-turbocharger six-cylinder rather than the M4's higher output, twin-turbo motor.

The 440i's twin-scroll turbocharger is replaced with Alpina's own twin-turbo set-up and linked to an Akropovic stainless-steel exhaust system with an active valve.

Power peaks at 301kW and torque at a huge 600Nm, compared with 317kW and 550Nm for the BMW M4.

Standard equipment also runs to adaptive cruise-control, Alpina's 20-inch alloy wheels, non run-flat tyres, different leather and a specific steering wheel as well as the Alpina details including retro pin-striping, badging and body kit.

Alpina quotes very similar acceleration times to the M4 and that's not hard to believe.

But while the B4 still has a crackle and fizz to its power delivery, it doesn't have the outright brutality of the M4, nor that car's collection of unrefined engine noises in the cabin (synthesised through the stereo though they are).

The Alpina also seems to ride a little more plushly, although the change to ride quality wrought by the adaptive dampers is subtle to say the least. That's compounded by the low-profile (30-series) Michelin tyres that inevitably patter over anything less than mirrored surfaces.

Even so, the end result is more refined than the M4 and that will count for plenty to some buyers intent on handing over the best part of $180,000 for a mid-sized coupe.

Our main criticism would be Alpina's dumping of the shift-paddles for a smaller, less tactile shift 'nipple' that aims to look less overtly sporty, but achieves, for us, only elusiveness.

The eight-speed automatic (with Alpina's own re-engineering) remains a highlight of the 4-Series package and the steering is accurate and well weighted.


But why not just buy an M4?

The reality is that the Alpina B4 really does have a vastly different personality to the BMW M4.

Where the M4 is raucous, raw and rude in some respects, the Alpina take on the 4-Series coupe is rather more restrained and quite a bit subtler.

The B4 is less shouty in its presentation, more comfortable day-to-day and makes less of an outright performance statement, even though it's within a whisker of being as fast and powerful as the M4.

It will all come down to how you see yourself and how you wish to be seen by others, because with a price-tag within $5000 or so (on the high side) of the M4 ($160,900 to be precise) there's not much else in it.


Who's VIN is it anyway?

While many companies can modify a BMW 4-Series for you, Alpina can do so as a tier-one manufacturer.

That's because it has the blessing of both the authorities and BMW to give its cars an Alpina-specific Vehicle Identification Number.

Interestingly, though, the number is not stamped into the car's body until after it's been built with a BMW VIN, but since a car cannot have two different VINs, what's the solution?

A pretty primitive one, actually: As part of the build process, Alpina simply crosses out the BMW VIN and stamps its own next to it.


2017 BMW Alpina B4 price and specifications

Price: $160,900 (plus on-road costs)

On-sale: Now

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol

Power: 301kW

Torque: 600Nm

Transmission: 8-spd automatic, RWD

Fuel use: TBA


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http://www.drive.com.au/new-car-revi...21-gstukt.html