Rare Alpina Car Appears for Sale
As BMW Alpina prepares to relaunch as an official sub-brand of the BMW Group, an unexpected greeting from the past has appeared on the market. In the United Kingdom, a very rare car has been put up for sale – a 1991 BMW Alpina B6 2.7 Touring. This estate based on the E30 is considered practically the sporty wagon that BMW never released under the M3 badge, long before the appearance of the modern G81 model.
Exclusivity and Specifications
Alpina produced only 67 examples of the B6 2.7 for the Japanese market, and this particular car likely belongs to a very small batch of estates that received the full package of modifications.
The car’s appearance leaves no chance for anonymity. The gold Alpina decals stand out clearly against the deep Diamond Black metallic paint, giving the estate a sharp character. A more expressive front bumper is installed, and the car sits on classic 16-inch Alpina multi-spoke alloy wheels.
Interior and Technical Equipment
The cabin features a pair of bucket seats upholstered in black fabric with green and blue accents, an Alcantara headliner, and a four-spoke steering wheel with the Alpina emblem, which also adorns the wooden gear knob. Options include a sunroof, electric windows, air conditioning, and a BMW audio system with a cassette player.
Under the hood works a naturally aspirated 2.7-liter inline-six engine, upgraded with Mahle pistons, a special camshaft, a modified cylinder head, a new exhaust system, and a reprogrammed engine control unit.
As a result, power is 210 hp, which is sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential. Thanks to the lightweight construction of the E30 body, the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, with a top speed of 225 km/h.
Car Condition and Sale Details
The odometer of this example shows 163,334 km, although an issue with the instrument cluster may have led to the loss of some mileage. Despite this, the car’s condition is assessed as good, despite some signs of use: minor stone chips, slight interior wear, small leaks from the differential and exhaust system, and worn brakes. The last technical service was performed in 2025 after a prior inspection by BMW specialists.
This rare Alpina example is listed on the Collecting Cars auction. At the time of publication, the highest bid was £25,500, which is significantly lower than the £41,000 being asked on eBay.
Historical Context
The sale is taking place at an interesting historical moment. Alpina is no longer an independent manufacturer, having fully integrated into the BMW structure as a luxury sub-brand. The new era will begin with flagship models based on the updated 7 Series and the next generation X7. The appearance on the market of such a collectible and authentic car as the B6 2.7 Touring is a reminder of the times when Alpina was a small but highly respected firm that manually transformed series-produced BMWs into unique sports cars. Its technical excellence and emotional appeal remain relevant, especially against the backdrop of the brand’s current focus on mass electric vehicle production.