B5 Alpina
10-02-2006, 03:24 AM
#41
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I own the other customer B5 Touring (Sapphire Black with Platinum Merino) and agree with hythe. I drive fast and hard but still get a regular 22.9 mpg. Just did a 1700 mile blast through France in three days and fuel consupmtion was the same despite the odd run up to 170mph and cruising at 120mph (only one speeding ticket, fortunately at a more responsible 95mph!).
Managed 15k miles from the first set of rear tyres (my previous B10V8 returned 25k) and the car has been mostly trouble free (supercharger changed under warranty before there was a problem).
The M5 is a good track car but the B5 is the ultimate all round road vehicle. Not as well balanced as the M5 in very fast corners but under normal road conditions they are the same. B5 is more effortless to drive as the 513 lb/ft of torque takes care of everything. The old addage is true:
Horsepower is how fast a boxer punches, torque is how hard he punches!
Incidentally Frank Sytner, racing driver and UK's main BMW dealer chooses to drive a B5. He was having dinner with a friend of mine last week and declared the B5 to be his favourite car in the world, although admitted the Touring handled much better than the saloon.
Managed 15k miles from the first set of rear tyres (my previous B10V8 returned 25k) and the car has been mostly trouble free (supercharger changed under warranty before there was a problem).
The M5 is a good track car but the B5 is the ultimate all round road vehicle. Not as well balanced as the M5 in very fast corners but under normal road conditions they are the same. B5 is more effortless to drive as the 513 lb/ft of torque takes care of everything. The old addage is true:
Horsepower is how fast a boxer punches, torque is how hard he punches!
Incidentally Frank Sytner, racing driver and UK's main BMW dealer chooses to drive a B5. He was having dinner with a friend of mine last week and declared the B5 to be his favourite car in the world, although admitted the Touring handled much better than the saloon.
10-02-2006, 03:49 AM
#42
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My Ride: 2005 BMW-Alpina B5 Touring #007, Malachite Green w/ Caramel Individual interior
1999 BMW 840Ci Sport Individual, Techno Violet w/ Champagne Individual interior
Originally Posted by Heuer' post='340786' date='Oct 2 2006, 12:24 PM
I own the other customer B5 Touring (Sapphire Black with Platinum Merino) and agree with hythe. I drive fast and hard but still get a regular 22.9 mpg. Just did a 1700 mile blast through France in three days and fuel consupmtion was the same despite the odd run up to 170mph and cruising at 120mph (only one speeding ticket, fortunately at a more responsible 95mph!).
Managed 15k miles from the first set of rear tyres (my previous B10V8 returned 25k) and the car has been mostly trouble free (supercharger changed under warranty before there was a problem).
The M5 is a good track car but the B5 is the ultimate all round road vehicle. Not as well balanced as the M5 in very fast corners but under normal road conditions they are the same. B5 is more effortless to drive as the 513 lb/ft of torque takes care of everything. The old addage is true:
Horsepower is how fast a boxer punches, torque is how hard he punches!
Incidentally Frank Sytner, racing driver and UK's main BMW dealer chooses to drive a B5. He was having dinner with a friend of mine last week and declared the B5 to be his favourite car in the world, although admitted the Touring handled much better than the saloon.
Managed 15k miles from the first set of rear tyres (my previous B10V8 returned 25k) and the car has been mostly trouble free (supercharger changed under warranty before there was a problem).
The M5 is a good track car but the B5 is the ultimate all round road vehicle. Not as well balanced as the M5 in very fast corners but under normal road conditions they are the same. B5 is more effortless to drive as the 513 lb/ft of torque takes care of everything. The old addage is true:
Horsepower is how fast a boxer punches, torque is how hard he punches!
Incidentally Frank Sytner, racing driver and UK's main BMW dealer chooses to drive a B5. He was having dinner with a friend of mine last week and declared the B5 to be his favourite car in the world, although admitted the Touring handled much better than the saloon.
The third UK Touring is now also in the hands of a private owner, but I've not yet discovered who.
10-02-2006, 04:34 AM
#44
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My Ride: 2005 BMW-Alpina B5 Touring #007, Malachite Green w/ Caramel Individual interior
1999 BMW 840Ci Sport Individual, Techno Violet w/ Champagne Individual interior
Indeed... Sytner had better pull its finger out, if they've committed to take another 12 cars over the life-cycle!
10-02-2006, 04:56 PM
#45
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My Ride: 2005 BMW-Alpina B5 Touring #007, Malachite Green w/ Caramel Individual interior
1999 BMW 840Ci Sport Individual, Techno Violet w/ Champagne Individual interior
Oh, how depressing - Sytner have taken on a new B5 Touring demonstrator, in silver, with a slightly dull-looking black interior...
There goes our exclusivity, David... four in the UK now, and the new one is Number 059!
Common as muck, really...
There goes our exclusivity, David... four in the UK now, and the new one is Number 059!
Common as muck, really...
10-05-2006, 02:53 AM
#46
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Originally Posted by hythe' post='341011' date='Oct 3 2006, 01:56 AM
Oh, how depressing - Sytner have taken on a new B5 Touring demonstrator, in silver, with a slightly dull-looking black interior...
There goes our exclusivity, David... four in the UK now, and the new one is Number 059!
Common as muck, really...
There goes our exclusivity, David... four in the UK now, and the new one is Number 059!
Common as muck, really...
10-26-2006, 07:38 AM
#47
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Originally Posted by nicke60gre' post='332255' date='Sep 8 2006, 07:12 AM
I wonder how much faster than M5 is that model because of the supercharged M5 engine?
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10-26-2006, 11:31 PM
#48
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My Ride: 2005 BMW-Alpina B5 Touring #007, Malachite Green w/ Caramel Individual interior
1999 BMW 840Ci Sport Individual, Techno Violet w/ Champagne Individual interior
Originally Posted by patrick92m5' post='349049' date='Oct 26 2006, 04:38 PM
no the b5 is not faster than the m5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At lower speeds, the B5 seems to have a very slight edge (700Nm of torque helps here), while at higher speeds, above 100-120mph, the M5 seems to have a very slight edge (thanks to its gearing and ability to rev higher). Ignoring the M5's speed limiter, they seem to have almost identical top speeds (assuming the M5 can reach its top speed before running out of fuel...)
This whole "which is faster" debate is a little tedious and frankly misses the point - it's not about which is faster, merely the difference in the way that each goes about being fast.
Mind you, I'm finding myself hankering for more power more and more often. Clearly neither car is quite fast enough.
11-01-2006, 12:20 AM
#50
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Originally Posted by JWP' post='350954' date='Nov 1 2006, 08:59 AM
I saw a special on the speed channel showing the difference between the B5 and M5. The B5 is more of a luxury sadan and the M5 is a monster. I prefer the M5 anyday!!!