Driving the Alpina B6 4.6 V8 -- the car BMW M said couldn't be built (Hagerty)

[Mani59]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

The Alpina B8 4.6 is something of a legend. While these days we tend to associate Alpina with turbocharging and automatic gearboxes, the B8 4.6 has a naturally aspirated V8 with a six-speed manual ‘box. It was a car that BMW thought couldn’t be built - after all the E36 M3 had a straight-six - but Alpina proved them wrong.

In this episode of The Driver’s Seat, Henry Catchpole takes an Alpina B8 4.6 to the mountains in Austria to find out if the experience behind the wheel lives up to expectations. Driving on the incredible Hahntennjoch pass he finds a car of quite extraordinary breadth and capability. Far from the hot rod you might expect, it has sublime balance in the corners as well as straight-line performance. It has everyday usability as well as a setup to entertain on a good piece of road. This is not just a Sunday morning blast sort of car.

We also talk to Alpina’s CEO, Andreas Bovensiepen, about the origins of both the B8 4.6 and Alpina itself. We take a tour of the factory and draw a link between cars, typewriters and wine, before heading to the wonderful engine workshop to see the V8 outside of the car. Andreas also talks us through the history of the famous multi-spoke Alpina wheels and shares a funny story about his father (who founded Alpina) and Niki Lauda at the Nurburgring

[M2PDX]

Very cool.

This makes me want to buy one.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by M2PDX

Very cool.

This makes me want to buy one.

you need one!

[snowbimmer]

Shouldn't the headline say "B8 4.6?

[Stradson]

Wow! No idea this existed, very cool.

[Chihuahua]

Saw one at the Alpina exhibit in SC, the one there was a touring to boot. Very cool to see and a cool story behind it too.

[ShocknAwe]

Bet these are unobtainium.

I'd love to have one.

[M-technik-3]

I never visited the plant while living there. I went to Hartge and AC Schnitzer as they were quick drives under 2 hours from Bitburg. Wished I had.

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Bet these are unobtainium.

I'd love to have one.

Try www.mobile.de there are two 2.8L M50 on there and old E30 but no V8 4.6l Wonder if the X5 4.6l got this engine.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Bet these are unobtainium.

I'd love to have one.

I am joining the wait list. This car epitomizes what a car should be.

[MiamiFan13]

95% of today's BMW buyer couldn't comprehend the greatness of that car. So sad.

[doctor_tran]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

Saw one at the Alpina exhibit in SC, the one there was a touring to boot. Very cool to see and a cool story behind it too.

The touring at the museum is my car 🤩
It was my dream car since I got into cars but never thought it was obtainable until it was.

[doctor_tran]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

I never visited the plant while living there. I went to Hartge and AC Schnitzer as they were quick drives under 2 hours from Bitburg. Wished I had.



Try www.mobile.de there are two 2.8L M50 on there and old E30 but no V8 4.6l Wonder if the X5 4.6l got this engine.

The x5 used an M62TU based version (with VANOS). That engine came from the E39 Alpina B10 V8. I also have one, in touring form too.

[Orjan]

The headline is wrong - this is a B8 4.6 - not a B6.

There is one B8 4.6 on mobile now; https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/d...l?id=433229092

On Autoscout24.de there is also one touring and a cabrio.




This video is also worth seeing;

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by doctor_tran

The touring at the museum is my car 🤩
It was my dream car since I got into cars but never thought it was obtainable until it was.

That's awesome! Beautiful car you have there, they have it up on a pedestal so it really stands out in the center of the room. Congrats.

[moriluvatar]

Great episode. Love these. I think the thing that’s sticking with me though is right at the end. “We sold our brand to BMW”, for an electric future that Alpina Classic doesn’t see itself being part of. I would be super sad if this means Alpina just turns into a trim level replacing the competition badge.

[erickonphoenix]

I just happened to catch this in the garage last night. Incredible car, but all I kept thinking was how you'd service it.

[hufington]

Love it!

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by erickonphoenix

I just happened to catch this in the garage last night. Incredible car, but all I kept thinking was how you'd service it.

I can only speak to my experience, but there actually aren't too many wear parts on these cars that are Alpina specific. Most of the things you'd regularly service are used on standard BMW models and are readily available.

[My M3]

Would love one. One of the guys put a 4.4 V8 in an E36 coupe years ago. Great cars

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

I can only speak to my experience, but there actually aren't too many wear parts on these cars that are Alpina specific. Most of the things you'd regularly service are used on standard BMW models and are readily available.

Probably more along the lines of physically getting to service items.

The engine is really shoehorned into the engine bay


I know I don't want another car that has to drop the engine to do major service, I have two.

[21M2C-ya]

🤩1 word….. wow!!!!😍🏎️

[jackgreer]

Does the existence of this car assist or destroy the rumors that the second x5 (first being the year 2000 4.4i) with the higher displacement offering - e53 4.6is N/A v8 m62tu was originally designed by alpina ? Genuinely curious what people think