BMW has removed its magnificent top diesel with quadruple charging from the model range. If you still want 400 hp with low real consumption in a long-haul model, you don’t have to look far. With the D5, Alpina has the perfect solution.
The quadruple turbo was just as powerful in the BMW 7 series as it was in the X7 or the sporty M550d. But BMW has said goodbye to its top diesel without much ado in all models. In view of the manageable diesel markets in Europe, the effort to comply with the strict emissions standards was simply too small and the large numbers make the large vehicles in Asia and the USA, where diesel does not play a significant role. As a result, BMW fans now have to make do with the next smaller six-cylinder, which produces 340 diesel horsepower. If you are a kilometer eater looking for a real muscle man, you don’t have to starve, even if there are no powerful alternatives in Stuttgart and Ingolstadt. Alpina is the only manufacturer that is currently still committed to the high-horsepower models and sells them very well. The BMW Alpina D5 S is the almost perfect drive combination in a luxury class model, which is available as a sedan and station wagon.
The performance data of the D5 S not only makes diesel fans click their tongues, because the three-liter common rail diesel spoils its driver not only with a sonorous, but everything else intrusive sound, but also with performance data that inspire behind the wheel. The top diesel from the Allgäu company has an output of 300 kW / 408 hp and a maximum torque of 800 Nm, which is already available at 1,750 rpm. Even with the 2.1-ton touring model, the Bavarian pushes as if there was no tomorrow. In normal operation, it mimes the casual cruiser with lots of comfort, the familiar exclusive equipment and long-distance potential that is unparalleled in the tough competition. The power suit can easily accommodate four people with lots of luggage and, if necessary, even five people are on board. The loading volume of 560 liters can be expanded to 1,700 liters by simply folding down the rear seats. Of course there is an electric tailgate and a level lift for heavy loads. Space at the front and back and the comfort features: great. However, a casual motorway speed of 160 or 180 km / h is only one thing. If the driver wants, the packhorse becomes a pleasure truck and performance that leaves nothing to be desired.
Nobody is interested in the fact that the 4.98 meter long power station wagon sprints from zero to 100 km / h in 4.6 seconds thanks to endless torque, all-wheel drive and its perfectly coordinated automatic transmission from ZF. Nobody does – nobody tests in reality. But at top speed it looks very different. While the series models from BMW are limited to 250 km / h in spite of lush performance, Alpina lets models like its D5 S relax and unhook it. No production vehicle except the defunct BMW M5 offers a top speed of 283 km / h. But the over 280 km / h top speed is far less impressive than the power delivery itself. Motor, eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive and the fine tuning of air springs and dampers is simply a stunner. Also great: the smooth and precise power assistance of the steering.
The driver can happily switch between the various driving programs at any time, of which the Comfort and Adaptive modes are a great match for the capabilities of the station wagon. You don’t have to get lost in the sports programs – performance is available from every driving condition and tighter dampers are unnecessary in such a station wagon, apart from the ambitious cornering. The standard wheels in the 285/30 ZR 20 format with their tight sidewalls ensure the necessary firmness. But as directly as the Alpina D5 S, which costs at least 95,500 euros, hangs on the gas and pushes like a wild bull from all angles, it is pleasantly restrained at the pump. Despite more than 400 hp and 800 Nm, the standard consumption is 8.7 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers and even those who let it crash on the highway will hardly ever quench their thirst above the ten-liter mark. With the 66-liter tank, you can cover 700 to 800 kilometers without refueling. On the long haul, the Alpina D5 S Touring turns all plug-in hybrids or even electric cars a painful nose that has not recovered even the next day.
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
