1988 Alpina B10 3.5 For Sale with 78,000 Miles ShownAutoblogAnton AndresSun, September 27, 2026 at 4:39 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleAutoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Less M5, More Hot 535iIf you go back to 1988, anything with over 300 hp would've been considered high performance. Heck, anything with over 200 hp was fast in those days. When BMW launched the E34 M5 that year, it packed 310 horses, and remember that this was a time when a Porsche 911 Carrera 'only' made 214 hp. It was a properly rapid sedan in the '80s.But some probably thought that was overkill. That's where the Alpina B10 3.5 came into play, and it was the perfect bridge between the already punchy (at the time) 535i and the mighty M5. It wasn't as fast as the latter, but it was quicker than the most powerful non-M 5 Series at the time, and it was far more exclusive.hobbsm3/Bring a TrailerThe BackstoryThanks to its close ties to BMW, Alpina released the B10 around the same time as the M5 in 1988. Instead of a specialized M engine, the B10 3.5 used the same M30 engine found in the 535i. It was then given new pistons, a modified cylinder head, a more aggressive camshaft, a reprogrammed ECU, and a unique exhaust system. The result was 43 hp and 15 lb-ft more than a standard 535i. It also came with sportier springs and dampers, along with bigger brakes. Only 572 cars were made between April 1988 and December 1992, and Classic.com lists average prices at around $36,670.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe one we found on Bring a Trailer is an earlier example with an interesting spec. Instead of the usual Alpina blue or green, this one is finished in grey. Of course, the stripes are present to let everyone know this isn't a regular 5 Series. It's number 49 of the 572 made, and it spent most of its life in Japan before heading to Canada. After some time up North, it moved to the U.S. in 2020.Originally an automatic, it has since been swapped with a manual from a contemporary 525i. The car also got a replacement Alpina steering wheel, new exterior and interior trim pieces to replace the faded ones, plus paint correction and reconditioned wheels. It was serviced last year, and just this year, the mass airflow sensor, battery, air-conditioning condenser, and drier were replaced. Other new parts include a timing chain tensioner, engine gaskets, and fuel level sender.hobbsm3/Bring a TrailerThe OfferSpecificationDetailMakeAlpinaModelB10 3.5/1 (E34)Year1988Mileage125,928 kilometers shown (78,248 miles)Engine3.5-liter M30 inline-sixPower251 horsepowerTransmission5-speed manualDrive typeRear-wheel driveExterior colorDolphin Grey MetallicInterior colorBlack (patterned w/blue and green stripes)Wheels17-inch Alpina 20-spokeSuspensionMacPherson strut front, semi-trailing arms rearBrakesFour-wheel vented discSteeringHydraulic recirculating ballCurrent bid$40,000Interested in this car? View the listing here.hobbsm3/Bring a TrailerWhy It's SpecialAny car that Alpina produced over the decades is special. Choosing one over an M product is a deliberate choice, and one can say it's a car for connoisseurs. Now that the brand is under BMW's wing, these independent models are even more significant and well worth preserving. This E34 B10 isn't the fastest sport sedan in the world (there was a B10 Biturbo, by the way), but it delivers driving joy that one simply can no longer get in a more modern car. Its rarity isn't the only reason it's special; it's the whole package.hobbsm3/Bring a Trailerhobbsm3/Bring a TrailerAdvertisementAdvertisementView the 21 images of this gallery on the original articleThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Car Buying section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.