Is 1991 BMW Alpina B10 3.5/1 from Canada Worth $28k?

Every once in a while, rare Alpina models surface on eBay in North America, just like this 1991 Alpina B10 3.5/1 located in Montreal, Canada.

The B10 3.5/1 was Alpina's first performance model based on the 1987-1996 BMW 5-Series E34 and it was built on the 535i utilizing a 3.5-liter straight-six producing 254PS (251hp) and 325Nm of peak torque paired to either a 5-speed manual, in which case, it did the 0-100km/h (62mph) in 6.4 sec and topped out at 250km/h (155mph), or an optional automatic.

Our eBay find has the 4-speed automatic that takes away some of its luster.

Cosmetically, the car looks to be in pristine condition for its age both inside and out, but as always, one would have to get the car thoroughly checked out to be on the safe side. Mechanically, your guess is as good as ours, but for what it's worth, the current Canadian owner says it has just 74,800 km (46,488 miles) on the odometer.

As for the asking price, eBay bidding starts at CA$24,900 (US$21,864) with a "Buy it Now" price of CA$32,500 (US$28,537).

[Seller's Description]

For those that will know what this is, you will know that this is a very special car. Limited production of only 572 made in the world for the 4 years of production. This is number 513. This is a hand built car like an M5 but much more exclusive. Includes various paperwork for the vehicle. This Gorgeous Alpina has a clean history with no accidents and was babied and well taken care of. Finished in stunning Alpina Blue on Grey Interior with only 74,800 easy Kilometers.

Yes it is real!! Some people might tell you this could be a knockoff. I assure you it is not. It is documented and properly marked by the factory. 
Essentially they take a BMW 535 just starting down the assembly line and take it to a separate plant to be built. There they put in a Modified Alpina version of the BMW 3.5L Straight Six motor that produces 254HP, it has Mahle Pistons, a modified cylinder head, new cams and a revised motronic system.

They install a custom Alpina Exhaust System, custom Bilstein Suspension, custom Recaro Sport Interior, custom MOMO steering wheel and shift knob, custom body kit, custom brakes, custom lighting and custom wheels. This car is a dream to drive and there are few cars that can compare to it’s purity and balance.

If you are into EUROPEAN CARS, this is the one. You will fall in love. The car has ZERO rust, the exterior is a 9/10, the interior is a 9.5/10 and the engine bay is a super clean 9.5/10. This is a perfect example of a gorgeous Alpina B10 3.5 with low mileage and well maintained. The paint is in amazing condition with no hidden defects or bubbles or fade marks.

E34 B10 3.5

Based on M30 – 3430 cc engine with lightweight Mahle pistons and an increased CR of 10.0:1, modified cylinder head & camshaft, tubular steel exhaust gave 256 BHP @ 5700 rpm (non-cat) & 243 LBS.FT Torque @ 4000 rpm. Has LSD and Alpina wheels 8.5” at the front & 9.5” at the back. Shorter springs & Bilstein dampers & Dunlop Direzza ZR Tires (235/45 & 265/40). Of which the tires are new and have lots of tread.

EQUIPMENT

All-steel monocoque body, all-round rigidity safety cell, controlled deformation zones, double halogen headlamps, high-pressure lamp wash system, green heat-protection glass, heated driver’s door lock and door mirror, heated screen washer nozzles, on-board computer, courtesy lamps, rear armrest, electrically sliding sunroof, service interval indicator. Factory options: BMW Sports Seats.

Dealer fit options: Interior mats, Blaupunkt Toronto SQR48, Ultrasonic alarm.  Alpina Specification: 260bhp engine, special Alpina differential 3.73 limited slip final drive, Alpina developed Bilstein shock absorbers, Alpina suspension springs, Alpina light alloy wheels, body coloured Alpina front spoiler, Deko set, Alpina badges and B3.5 badges, dash board plaque, Alpina Momo steering wheel.

EXTERIOR

Jaw droopingly beautiful at any angle finished in Alpina Blue (CODE #FE 86-5489), with the optional Alpina outline Deko set in Gold this exceptional example offers a purposeful sporting stance without attracting unnecessary attention.  An amazing deep gloss finish has a smooth enthusiast owned sheen with no noticeable flaws.  The Alpina front spoiler along with the original BMW front screen has some minor stone chips.  All the glass is number plate etched and the supplying dealer number plates are fitted front and rear.  A very clean engine bay proudly displays the manufacturer’s information plates and stickers.  A car for the connoisseur.

INTERIOR

The driver-orientated ergonomically designed interior showcases exemplary craftsmanship.  The cloth upholstery sports seats trimmed in Natural Cloth are flawless and a testament to the fastidious ownership and very low mileage this example has enjoyed.  The immaculate driver inclined dashboard proudly displays the Alpina Dash Board Plaque reminding the driver of engineering excellence.

Additional Alpina symbols remain in place including the green Alpina tyre pressure sticker on the door shut, the Alpina doorsills and Alpina revolution gauge logo.  Tiny cuts to the driver door card can be seen where the seatbelt buckle has been caught between the door and card.

Dealer fit accessories including the Blaupunkt stereo at a cost of £793. A complete unused toolkit is correctly housed inside the trunk lid. This Alpina B10 offered an advanced on-board computer integrated into the center console and dash cluster. The computer could be set to calculate average gas mileage, average speed, fuel range, estimated time of arrival, and distance remaining to destination. The computer could also display basic information such as outside temperature, date, and time. BMW on-board computers of this generation also allowed a numerical pass code to be set and required to start the vehicle.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

The seemingly endless reserves of power across the entire rev range give a clue how special this authentic conversion is. The in-line six-cylinder 3430cc produces 256 bhp at 5700rpm with a maximum torque of 243 LB.FT. Torque. This engine is a modified and higher spec of the famous M30 Engine, which was Ward’s Top Engine of The 20th Cenutry.

Many Alpina enhancements including the light Mahle cast pistons, modified cylinder head, a Sharp high performance camshaft and a re-mapped Bosch Motronic engine management system elevate this power plant into a high performance category with uncompromising quality. The wonderfully smooth Electronic/hydraulic (EH) automatic transmission with sport, economy and manual modes together with near perfect 50/50 weight distribution firmly uphold BMW’s renown for sheer driving pleasure.

Photo Gallery