BMW E34 M5 and Alpina B10
M5 3.6 with original wheels and cooling caps.
The previous E28 M5 had been BMW's first super saloon. It had taken a version of the M1's engine and made a proper road going powerhouse, the S38. But for the M5 size was increased from 3.5 to 3.6 giving a power boost from 286 to 315bhp. Later this would increase to a 3.8 with 341bhp. But it wasn't just about the numbers, it was how that power was delivered. The S38 was a race bred engine with solid lifters and individual throttle bodies. Like the M30 it was derived from there was a huge amount of torque throughout the rev range. The main gains over the two valve per cylinder M30 were to be found at high rpms where the S38 just screamed with power. It wasn't an engine, it was a mechanical work of art.
M5 3.8 with Throwing Star alloys.
Yet unlike most race engines the S38 wasn't fragile, it was built to last. Examples with many hundred thousands of miles, much of it on track days, aren't hard to find. If looked after it would thrive on being used hard, a real thoroughbred.
The E34 was a heavier car than the E28 but the body was a lot stronger. The E34 and S38 were the perfect match. Together they delivered a car that could easily take the power and be stable at high autobahn speeds.
The fabulous S38 engine with its individual throttle bodies.
Such a car demanded brakes to match. The 3.6 used an improved version of the normal E34 brakes and stuck with a single piston design. The calipers had an //M logo cast into them. But for the 3.8 larger dual piston calipers were specified. To cool the brakes BMW designed the wheels to channel air over the brakes like a cooling fan. On the 3.6 this was done with a separate aluminium "hat" bolted to the wheel. For the 3.8 the Throwing Star wheel design had an aerodynamically styled spoke to generate the airflow. So left and right side wheels are different!
The 3.8 cars had the option of Nurburgring suspension, BMW's first foray into EDC (Electronic Damper Control). This gave electronically adjustable shock absorbers and thicker anti-roll bars. Some versions had a mode control switch, some didn't. Later versions came with the speed sensitive Servotronic steering package.
Cloth sports seats and M-Tech II steering wheel.
A surprising number of UK cars were sold with half leather interiors. The fabric portion was a custom cloth featuring the //M logo. Even full cloth interiors aren't that rare. The rear seat was initially a bucket design but this later became an option with the normal E34 seats as standard.
When the V8 came out the M5 was discontinued. To fill the gap at the top of the model range BMW gave us the 540i Sport. This was available with a six speed manual gearbox from the E31 and ticked most of the nicer options on the list. Today they are a rare and highly desirable car. Not until the E39 M5 would we get a V8 with an //M badge.
Rear bucket seats.
M5 Touring
The E34 M5 touring was something totally new for the brand. The idea of a very high performance estate car had only been served by aftermarket tuners for most car brands but now for BMW it came in house. All M5 tourings were 3.8s. It's been said that the inspiration was to provide a high speed transport for Formula 1 parts. Right hand drive examples are extremely rare.
Alpina B10
My Alpina B10 3.5, B10 RED. Still exists but with a different number.
Before the M5 became available the fastest four door car you could buy was the Alpina B10 3.5. I had one "B10 RED", it was quite the machine. Based on the M30 3.5 Alpina added a hotter camshaft and to make it drivable increased the idle speed. The car was custom chipped and in left hand drive form had a tubular exhaust manifold. There was an insane twin turbo version with adjustable boost, sadly in left hand drive only. The normally aspirated 3.5 raised M30 power from 218 to 265bhp and top speed to 165mph. The twin turbo was quoted as 188mph but quite frankly power figures for these were often tweaked even further and I doubt any two are alike today. The turbo car needed an oil cooler for the differential! I loved my B10 3.5 and whilst it was very quick there was certainly scope for more power.
Alpina's 4.6 litre version of the M60 V8.
When BMW put the M60 V8 into the E34 Alpina developed it from a 4.0 to 4.6 engine producing around 340 bhp. This could also be bought as a touring. They also sold a cheaper B10 with the same 4.0 capacity as the factory engine but with power up from 286 to 315bhp.
An Allrad four wheel drive B10 based on the 525iX drivetrain was available in saloon and touring. The M50 was increased from 2.5 to a 3.0 making 231bhp. I has the pleasure test driving one and whilst faster than my friend's 525iX touring it wasn't really that quick. Ideal for winter though. The example I drove stood out for being quite a low specification with the basic comfort cloth seats and very few extras. In the UK you could specify your Alpina exactly as you wanted it.
Individual B10 specification varied considerably. Mine had no Alpina body kit for example. But it did have the engine modifications, suspension, gauges, 17" wheels, steering wheel and gear knob. It also had the traction control option using an electronic throttle body from the M70 V12.