It is one of the few long-wheelbase options available on the B12 5.7.
The Alpina B12 model is one of the most fascinating and exciting in the German tuner’s 1990s lineup. The fact that the B12 was the first Alpina engine to be used makes it a rare model. Here’s your chance to find one.
One of the few B12 models currently available is up for purchase at RM Sotheby’s at this moment. It is now worth a little over $31,000, and interested bidders still have time to place their bids before August 4th.
Alpina B12s can be based either on the 7 Series or on the 8 Series, depending on the model year. This particular example was built on the E38 model. Only 202 units were made. Only 59 of those units were long-wheelbase versions. This unit is up for auction.
Under the hood, of course, is an enlarged version of BMW’s then-newly-introduced M73 V12 mill. The 5.7-liter powerplant produces 382 horsepower (285 Kilowatts) as well as 413 pound-feet (560 Newton meters) of torque. The engine is then connected to the 5-speed ZF automatic transmission with Alpina’s exclusive “Switchtronic” transmission. This transmission allows manual gear changes by pressing buttons on the steering wheel.
The Alpina B12 was luxurious, despite the above numbers. As you can see from the photos above. It has leather upholstery, power front and back seats, a factory stereo trunk-mounted CD changer and rear seat tray, as well as rear climate and audio controls in the middle armrest.
Although it is left-hand drive, the unit was brought by the current owner from Japan. When it was cataloged by RM Sotheby’s, it shows less than 85,000.km (53,189 miles).