Guide

ALPINA glossary

The words, letters and numbers you'll meet around ALPINAs, plus a decoder for every BMW chassis code on this site.

Terms

/1: A revised version of an existing model, such as the B7 Turbo /1 or B9 3.5 /1. It usually means updated engine tuning, often for new emissions rules, rather than a new car.
Allrad: German for "all-wheel". ALPINA's name for its four-wheel-drive models, such as the B3 3.3 Allrad and the B3 Bi-Turbo Allrad.
B, C, D, XB, XD: The letter at the start of a model name. B was used for the main petrol models, C for a lighter-tuned petrol range in the 1980s, D for diesels, and XB and XD for the petrol and diesel X models.
Bi-Turbo: Twin turbochargers. First used on the B10 Bi-Turbo of 1989, and later on many petrol and diesel models.
Bovensiepen: The founding family. Burkard Bovensiepen started ALPINA in the 1960s, and the family ran the company until BMW took over the brand.
Buchloe: The Bavarian town that has been ALPINA's home since 1970. The company began in nearby Kaufbeuren.
Classic wheels: ALPINA's famous 20-spoke alloy wheels, with the tyre valve hidden under the centre cap.
Deco set: The fine pinstripes along the sides of many ALPINAs, usually in gold or silver. Called the Dekorsatz in German.
E-KAT: A version fitted with a catalytic converter (Katalysator), as on the B12 5.7 E-KAT.
Edition: A limited run with special trim or extra power, such as the B4 S Edition 99 or the Edition 50 cars from 2015.
Gran Coupé: BMW's name for a four-door coupé, used by ALPINA on the B4, B6 and B8.
LCI: "Life Cycle Impulse": BMW's term for a mid-life facelift.
OAL: The number-plate code for the Ostallgäu district, which includes Buchloe. It's seen on many ALPINA press and factory cars.
Switch-Tronic: ALPINA's steering-wheel buttons for changing gear on automatic cars. ALPINA was the first carmaker to put gear-change buttons on the steering wheel.
Touring: BMW's name for an estate car. Many ALPINA models were offered as a Touring.
WAP: The start of the VIN on ALPINA-built cars from 1983 onwards, when ALPINA became a recognised car manufacturer. See spotting a real ALPINA.

Chassis code decoder

BMW gives each generation of each model a code. "E" codes run up to the mid-2000s, followed by "F" and then "G". ALPINAs are known by the code of the BMW they're based on. An "x" means a whole family, such as E9x for the E90, E91, E92 and E93.

Code	Series	BMW years	Bodies	ALPINA models
E21	3 Series	1975–1983	Two-door saloon	2 models
E30	3 Series	1982–1994	Saloon, Touring, Convertible	6 models
E36	3 Series	1990–2000	Saloon, Coupé, Touring, Convertible	4 models
E46	3 Series	1998–2006	Saloon, Coupé, Touring, Convertible	3 models
E9x	3 Series	2005–2013	E90 saloon, E91 Touring, E92 coupé, E93 convertible	6 models
F3x	3 Series	2011–2020	F30/F31 3 Series; F32/F33/F36 4 Series	7 models
G2x	3 Series	2018–	G20/G21 3 Series; G22/G23/G26 4 Series	3 models
E12	5 Series	1972–1981	Saloon	3 models
E28	5 Series	1981–1988	Saloon	3 models
E34	5 Series	1987–1996	Saloon, Touring	3 models
E39	5 Series	1995–2004	Saloon, Touring	4 models
E6x	5 Series	2003–2010	E60/E61 5 Series; E63/E64 6 Series	4 models
F1x	5 Series	2009–2017	F10 saloon, F11 Touring	2 models
G3x	5 Series	2016–2023	G30 saloon, G31 Touring	3 models
E24	6 Series	1976–1989	Coupé	3 models
F06	6 Series	2011–2018	F06 Gran Coupé, F12 Convertible, F13 Coupé	1 model
E23	7 Series	1977–1986	Saloon	Upgrades only
E32	7 Series	1986–1994	Saloon	3 models
E38	7 Series	1994–2001	Saloon	2 models
E65	7 Series	2001–2008	Saloon (E66 long wheelbase)	1 model
F0x	7 Series	2008–2015	F01 saloon, F02 long wheelbase	1 model
G1x	7 Series	2015–2022	G11 saloon, G12 long wheelbase	1 model
E31	8 Series	1989–1999	Coupé	2 models
G16	8 Series	2019–	Gran Coupé	1 model
F25	X Models	2010–2017	X3	1 model
G0x	X Models	2017–	G01 X3, G02 X4	2 models
G07	X Models	2018–	X7	1 model
Z1	Z Roadsters	1989–1991	Roadster	1 model
E52	Z Roadsters	1999–2003	Z8 roadster	1 model
E85	Z Roadsters	2002–2008	Z4 roadster	1 model