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Alpina B10 3.5/1 heads to auction with five-speed conversion
A rare 1988 BMW Alpina B10 3.5/1, number 49 of 572 built, is offered for sale in the US after a five-speed manual conversion and extensive refurbishment.
By Edward Beaumont · 4 min read
A rare 1988 BMW Alpina B10 3.5/1 has been listed for sale in the United States, offering collectors a chance to acquire one of just 572 examples produced between 1988 and 1992. The car, chassis number 49, was previously sold on the Bring a Trailer platform in January 2020 and was acquired by the current seller approximately three and a half years ago. It is now offered with a clean Carfax report and a clean Texas title in the seller's name.
Finished in Delphin Metallic over patterned black cloth upholstery, the B10 3.5/1 is powered by an Alpina-modified 3.5-litre M30 inline-six engine. Factory-rated output was 251 horsepower. The engine features Mahle pistons, a modified cylinder head, a revised camshaft, revised Motronic engine management and an Alpina exhaust system. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, which was sourced from a 1992 E34 donor car, resealed and installed in late 2020. The car was previously equipped with a four-speed automatic. Documentation related to the transmission conversion is included in the sale.
The car's history includes time in Japan and British Columbia before it was imported to the US. The Carfax report shows history in British Columbia and Pennsylvania. The digital odometer indicates 126,000 kilometres, approximately 78,000 miles, of which about 1,000 kilometres were added under current ownership. Recent maintenance has been thorough: an oil service was performed in 2025, while work in 2026 included replacing the mass air flow sensor and battery, adjusting the throttle position sensor, and exchanging the brake fluid. The air conditioning condenser and drier have also been replaced, and the system has been serviced.
Cosmetic and mechanical refurbishment since the previous auction has been extensive. The seller states that paint correction has been performed and worn exterior trim pieces have been replaced. A replacement front Alpina spoiler has been fitted, along with a replacement Alpina steering wheel. The staggered-width 17-inch Alpina wheels were repaired and reconditioned in 2020 and are mounted with Continental ContiSportContact tyres installed in preparation for the sale. The suspension features Alpina sport springs, and Bilstein shocks were installed in 2020. Braking is handled by four-wheel discs.
Inside, the cabin features Recaro LS front seats upholstered in patterned black cloth with Alpina blue and green accent stripes, along with black carpets and burl wood trim. Matching upholstery extends to the individual rear seats. Amenities include an onboard computer, dual-zone automatic climate control and an aftermarket head unit. Multiple cosmetic trim pieces have been replaced. The seller notes that the speakers are weak. A plaque mounted on the centre console identifies the car as number 49 of 572 B10 3.5/1 examples produced.
The Alpina/MOMO replacement steering wheel frames a 260-km/h speedometer, a 7,000-rpm tachometer, a fuel-economy gauge and gauges for fuel level and coolant temperature. The fuel level sender has been replaced. The timing chain tensioner and associated gaskets are said to have been replaced following the previous auction.
Exterior details include gold Alpina graphics, fog lights, a sunroof deflector, Alpina badging and dual exhaust outlets. The car is now offered for sale in the US, representing a well-documented example of Alpina's celebrated E34-era tuning work.
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