You might wonder why I called today’s Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com an Alpina B7 and left out the BMW part. The answer is simple: It is because Alpina vehicles in the U.S. are considered as their own brand. While many may scoff at this and say that the B7 is just a tuner version of a 7-Series sedan, this is incorrect. An Alpina B7 is so much more than that. It is basically a bespoke high-performance sedan with an interior that would not be out of place in the most highly optioned Aston Martin – and adds fit and finish that (in my opinion, after driving many of these cars) is only surpassed by Rolls-Royce.
When the B7 was new, it was universally hailed as the best BMW-powered car built in the luxury segment. It’s not all luxury, though, as the B7 also delivers astounding performance from its Alpina built 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 540 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque. This makes the B7 capable of going from a standstill to 60 mph in a mere 4.3 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds. If that does not sound impressive look at the photos of just how big a car the B7 is. It is in every way a full-size European luxury sedan. Oh, and don’t forget the 193-mph drag-limited top speed.
It’s not all just speed, either, as Alpina extensively reworked the suspension of the B7. As crazy as it sounds, I had one of these on track at Lime Rock Park a few years ago and was simply baffled by how well such a big vehicle handled. It is one of those cars that from behind the wheel seems to shrink around you.
The car featured here as our Pick of the Day is one of these amazing cars, a 2015 Alpina B7 in Black Sapphire Metallic with a black interior.
The seller describes this Alpina B7 as the perfect blend of refined luxury and high-performance engineering, crafted with the precision that defines Alpina.
The exterior looks to be in amazing condition with no visible paint issues (outside of a few small chips) and it has its correct Alpina wheels. I think the look of the G11 7-Series cars is great to start with, but when you add the subtle Alpina additions and those amazing wheels, it gets even better.
The interior is what you would expect to find in one of the finest cars in the world, with beautiful hand-stitched Lavalina leather and every other detail handled perfectly. The seller says, “The wood trim flows elegantly through the dashboard, doors and console. Front seats offer heated, ventilated and massaging functions, while rear passengers enjoy heated seating and the convenience of automatic privacy shades, creating a secluded, comfortable space. The soft-close doors close silently and gracefully, adding a touch of refinement to every entrance and exit. The high-fidelity Bang & Olufsen audio system envelops the cabin in concert-quality sound.”
This car as also extremely modern in its technology package, featuring all the options you want from a new car. These include a night vision camera that enhances visibility on dark roads, adaptive LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, Bluetooth, heads-up display and a four-zone climate-control system.
The car also features Alpina badging and an Alpina-specific instrument cluster, which are unique to Alpina cars.
Now this car, despite its amazing condition, has covered a few miles, with a total of 90,000 on the odometer, but the selling dealer includes a three-month/3,000-mile vehicle service contract and a multi-point safety inspection – and also offers an extended warranty that will be honored by your local BMW dealer. That might sound like a lot of miles, but this car looks as if it was very well cared for. I’d sign up for the service contract and then not have to worry about anything for years to come
When you consider this B7 had a starting price in 2015 north of $130,000 and the options on this example likely cost a whopping $150,000 or more, and then consider the asking price of only $27,400, I think it might represent one of the best buys around. I would say the best buy in its class, but an Alpina B7 is simply in a class by itself.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com