XSeries-forum

My knowledge of the Alpina link to the X5 is mostly from discussions with a friend who used to work for BMW as a master tech many years ago around the introduction of the 4.8. He went to BMW gmbh many times with work.

He told me that the engine was designed and built by Alpina and BMW used it, but BMW never wanted to have it officially labelled as Alpina.

I have found this link also from the same source as your's above http://www.alpina-archive.com/?page_id=214

I maybe wrong, it's just that was always my understanding.

Thanks for providing the link which talks of the Alpina association to the 4.8is

I stand by my belief BMW never sold an M badged E53 4.8is.

I am most certainly not an expert & am very far removed from being an Alpina or M guru

Whew! This is getting so exciting!! So 4.8is is a disguised M car or possibly even an Alpina....... Probably the closest I'll get to owning an M5

There aren't any 'm' badges on the 4.6 or 4.8. And for good reason. They aren't 'M' vehicles and don't carry any 'M' parts. The engines were BMW blocks, sent to Alpina, then returned to BMW who stuck a 'BMW' plastic rocker cover it. Apart from that, AFAIK they are identical engines to those used in 'Alpina' 4.6 and 4.8 variants.

Apart from boy racers who buy 'm' badges and stick em on anything, even saw one on a rover 25 once, seriously......, any thing produced or designed by BMW's 'M' division can carry the insignia. In my M3 the Speedo, the SMG gearshift, the wheels, the rocker cover and the steering wheel all carry the logo because they were 'special' items from the 'M' division.

BMW Motorsport is a separate entity to BMW, but some of their items have always been offered as extras to standard BMW vehicles such as wheels and steering wheels. BMW M-Sport vehicles are just standard BMW's with a few 'M' bits added, and thats why they carry the 'M' badge AFAIK.

TBH I've been a bit shocked lately at what the 'M' division have been putting their name to.....

I was pretty sure of the engines being Alpina items. As far as I was aware the 'is' kit was also designed by Alpina.

As far as the branded M bit goes, it was not branded with badges all over it, but just on the official documentation that came with the vehicle.

[quote=""CondorX5""]Whew! This is getting so exciting!! So 4.8is is a disguised M car or possibly even an Alpina....... Probably the closest I'll get to owning an M5 [/quote]

Definitely Alpina... as for owning an M5...you'll pick one up cheaper than you paid for the 4.8, and slightly more economical...lol

[quote=""Mikee""]There aren't any 'm' badges on the 4.6 or 4.8. And for good reason. They aren't 'M' vehicles and don't carry any 'M' parts. [/quote]

The question is though, if they tart up every other non-M BMW (e.g 3 series sport, 5 series sport) with the badges, why is the X5 sport treated differently?

I've always wondered why there is no mention of "Sport" anywhere on the exterior of an X5 even though it is sold as an X5 Sport.

[quote=""Pete""]I've always wondered why there is no mention of "Sport" anywhere on the exterior of an X5 even though it is sold as an X5 Sport.[/quote]

No model in the BMW range has had sport written anywhere on the actual exterior / interior as far as I can remember.

[quote=""Raj""][quote=""Pete""]I've always wondered why there is no mention of "Sport" anywhere on the exterior of an X5 even though it is sold as an X5 Sport.[/quote]

No model in the BMW range has had sport written anywhere on the actual exterior / interior as far as I can remember.[/quote]



3 guesses what the 's' stands for in 4.6/4.8is.......

[quote=""Mikee""][quote=""Raj""][quote=""Pete""]I've always wondered why there is no mention of "Sport" anywhere on the exterior of an X5 even though it is sold as an X5 Sport.[/quote]

No model in the BMW range has had sport written anywhere on the actual exterior / interior as far as I can remember.[/quote]



3 guesses what the 's' stands for in 4.6/4.8is....... [/quote]

Should have been more clear as I meant the whole word "Sport" as I thought that was what Pete was asking. Yes models have the letter "s" on them, but to many it may not be as clear as I have seen the letters 'SE' on the back of a 318i before where the 'S' would stand for 'Special'.

[quote=""Raj""][quote=""Mikee""][quote=""Raj""][quote="Pete"]I've always wondered why there is no mention of "Sport" anywhere on the exterior of an X5 even though it is sold as an X5 Sport.[/quote]

No model in the BMW range has had sport written anywhere on the actual exterior / interior as far as I can remember.[/quote]



3 guesses what the 's' stands for in 4.6/4.8is....... [/quote]

Should have been more clear as I meant the whole word "Sport" as I thought that was what Pete was asking. Yes models have the letter "s" on them, but to many it may not be as clear as I have seen the letters 'SE' on the back of a 318i before where the 'S' would stand for 'Special'.[/quote]

Which sport models have an S? I'm sure the 4.4/3.0 just say i or D to mark the fuel type. And the 4.6/4.8 say 'is'. Or am I missing something?

BMW have not in my experience put anything after an engine size badge on any car to highlight the fact that it's a sport or an SE or ES, presumably because whether it is a sport or SE or ES makes no difference to the engine itself.

That would mean that 318se badge you saw was put on by an owner wanting to advertise the fact he had an almighty SE

There is a 3.0D X5 near to where I live and the owner has a "sport" badge on one of the front grilles. I must admit it looks absolutely fine...not only that this simple modification has instantly increased his Bhp by 25!