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The early E21 Alpinas had Alpina 02-series based 4 cylinder engines ranging from 125 to 160 BHP.

After BMW fitted six cylinder engines Alpina was soon to follow. But not the new 2.3 litre engine of the 323i stood model for the first six cylinder Alpina E21, but the 2.8 litre engine of the 528i. It fitted only just, the battery was placed in the boot, also to distribute weight better.

The modifications to the engine included modified combustion chambers, a higher compression ratio, the Solex Pierburg Zenith DL fuel injection unit, different camshaft and a revolutionary rotor-less digital electronic Hartig ignition unit. In 1981 the 2.8 litre unit was upgraded with the Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection and power rose from 200 to 218 BHP.

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In 1980 Alpina brought out the C1 2.3 to close the gap between the 323i

and the B6 2.8. This engine was based on the 2.3 litre unit. Modifications

made were the same as to the B6 2.8 engine except for the ignition and

the fuel injection unit. The C1 2.3 kept the 323i K-Jectronic fuel injection

system of the factory 323i and produced 170 BHP.

Dutch BSC member B6 2.8

Dutch BSC member B6 with E30 B6 3.5 engine

The changes made on all Alpinas to suspension, diff and related parts made the car much more stable, predictable and easier to handle. Tests with the B6 2.8 only contain superlatives. Even for nowaday standards this is a great car!

< 200 BHP B6 2.8 engine 218 BHP B6 2.8 engine >

The interior of the Alpinas is completely rearranged. Recaro sports seats, a leather sports steering wheel, an Alpina gear knob and an Alpina speedometer are the most eyecatching changes.

Alpina specs	Click here for E21 Alpina parts
Early models (75-77)	based on Alpina 02-series 4 cylinder engines
	A1 320 (7/75-8/77)	A2 320 (7/75-8/77)	A4 320i (6/76-8/77)
Type:	inline watercooled 4	inline watercooled 4	inline watercooled 4
Engine code	M10 B20	M10 B20	M10 B20
Displacement cc	1990	1990	1990
Valve Operation	SOHC	SOHC	SOHC
Camshaft (degrees)	264	300	300
Compression Ratio	8.1 : 1	9.5 : 1	9.5 : 1
Max Torque	170Nm @ 4000	173Nm @ 5500	180Nm @ 5500
BHP (DIN)	125 @ 5800	155 @ 6900	160 @ 6700
Injection / Carburetor:	Solex 40 ADDHE	Solex 45 DDH	Kugelfischer
Weight (kgs)	1076	1060	1060
Maximum Speed (kph)	191	208	213
Acceleration 0-100 kph	9.1	7.8	7.5
Total cars built*	-	113	120
Engine	323i (works, 77>)	C1 2.3 (4/80-7/83)	B6 2.8 (11/78-8/81)	B6 2.8 (9/81-1/83)
Type:	inline watercooled 6	inline watercooled 6	inline watercooled 6	inline watercooled 6
Engine code	M20 B23	M20 B23	M30 B28	M30 B28
Bore x Stroke mm	80 x 76.8	80 x 76.8	86 x 80	86 x 80
Displacement cc	2315	2315	2788	2788
Valve Operation	SOHC	SOHC	SOHC	SOHC
Camshaft (degrees)	260	268	264	280
Valves / cyl	2	2	2	2
Compression Ratio	9.5 : 1	10.0 : 1	9.5 : 1	9.6 : 1
Injection / Carburetor:	Bosch K-Jetronic	Bosch K-Jetronic	Solex Pierburg Zenith DL	Bosch L-Jetronic
Max Torque	190Nm @ 4500	210Nm @ 4500	248Nm @ 4500	265Nm @ 4500
BHP (DIN)	143 @ 5800	170 @ 6000	200 @ 6200	218 @ 6000
Chassis and Drivetrain
Transmission	4/5 speed manual	5 speed manual	5 speed manual	5 speed manual
Front suspension	MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar	MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar, Bilstein shocks	MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar, Bilstein shocks	MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar, Bilstein shocks
Rear suspension	Semitrailing arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar	Semitrailing arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar, Bilstein shocks	Semitrailing arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar, Bilstein shocks	Semitrailing arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar, Bilstein shocks
Axle Ratio	3.45	3.45	3.91	3.91
General
Wheelbase (mm)	2563	2563	2563	2563
Track front/rear (mm)	1388/1401	1387/1396	1366/1376	1366/1376
Brakes front/rear	Ventilated disc / massive disc	Dual ventilated disc / massive disc	Dual ventilated disc / massive disc	Dual ventilated disc / massive disc
Wheels/Tires	steel 13"x5.5J / 185/70HR13	F alloy 6x15 with 195/50 R alloy 7x15 with 205/50	F alloy 6x15 with 195/50 R alloy 7x15 with 205/50	F alloy 6x15 with 195/50 R alloy 7x15 with 205/50
Maximum Speed (kph)	201	209	231	235
Acceleration 0-100 kph	8.3	7.4	6.9	6.8
Weight (kgs)	1110	1187	1275	1260
Total cars built*		28 ?	324	209
Interior adjustments
Recaro seats with Alpina style cloth (optional for C1 2.3)
Alpina leather steering wheel
Alpina wood gear knob
Alpina speedometer
Alpina identification plate
Adjustments on gearbox, fuel tank, diff and suspension
5-speed Getrag gearbox
100 litres fuel tank (optional for C1 2.3)
Limited slip diff with cooling ribs and stiffer lid (optional for C1 2.3)
Bilstein gas-pressured shocks with Ahle lowering springs
Uprated front brakes with dual ventilated discs
Exterior adjustments
Deep front spoiler
Rear spoiler
Alpina wheels
Alpina stripes on both sides (optional)
*These production numbers are supplied by the Alpina Gemeinschaft (Alpina Club) in Germany. Please keep in mind that there weren’t that many cars produced, like only 28 for the C1. But if we have to believe all the adverts there were thousands produced! In these numbers are not included the licensed and (mostly partial) conversions done by local Alpina dealerships like Sytner (UK), Garage du Bac (France) and Oldenhof (The Netherlands). I know I’m about to hurt some people close to me, but to me Alpina cars come from Buchloe.
Back to main BMW page The unofficial Alpina website (link temporarily out of order, update to follow asap!)