The B10 V8 is the first Alpina car based on the E39 5-series generation. It was introduced in March 1997 and in production until 2003. When it was introduced it was considerably cheaper than the E34 B10 4.6 it replaced. It was around 17000 D-mark cheaper than the E39 M5. For 1999, Alpina updated the B10 V8 with a improved engine which made it slightly more powerful and more frugal. In September 2000, when BMW introduced a face-lifted E39 5-series, the B10 V8 received the same (mostly cosmetic) changes.

The B10 V8 is based on the BMW 540i, which has a 286 bhp, 4.4 litre V8 engine. As the BMW V8 engine has Nicasil (later Alusil) coated bores, the block can’t just be over-bored, a whole new block needs to be cast for Alpina by BMW with the displacement increased to 4.6 litre. Alpina have also made other changes to the engine such as a new crankshaft, more aggressive camshafts, hand-fettled ports, lighter higher-compression Mahle pistons and reprogrammed the Motronic system. The result is 340 bhp and 470 Nm of torque at 3800 rpm, 100 rpm lower than standard. From 1999 onwards the engine produces 347 bhp (probably more if you look at the much improved performance figures) and a torque of 480 Nm. The B10 V8 has a ZF 5-speed automatic gearbox with the steering wheel mounted Switch-Tronic system as standard.

The B10 V8 has twin-tube gas pressure shock absorbers at both front and rear. It also has new anti-roll bars. The brake discs are ventilated all around and have floating calipers. The Alpina alloys are 18″ with 235/40 tires at front and 265/35 at rear. Michelin tires of course. Optionally available were 19″ wheels.

The interior changes are not many, the steering wheel is hand-stitched and the BMW´s sport seats are fitted with anthracite cloth with blue and green stripes. You can have the car with Alpina instruments which are blue with red needles and the speedo shows 320 km/h. Alpina also fits its own wood and sports seats. The exterior changes are limited to a new front spoiler, rear spoiler, the wheels and the exhaust pipes.

Alpina claimed a 0-100 km/h time of 5,9 seconds and a top speed of over 275 km/h. For the touring they claimed 0-100 km/h in 6,2 seconds and a top speed of 268 km/h. In Auto Motor und Sport´s test the B10 accelerated from 0-100 km/h in 5,7 seconds, 0-160 km/h in 13,0 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 22,3 seconds. In Auto Motor und Sport´s test of the B10 V8 model year 99 against the new BMW M5 and BMW 540i, the B10 accelerated from 0-100 km/h in 5,4 seconds, only 0,2 seconds slower than the manual M5, 0-160 km/h in 12,5 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 20,6 seconds. The top speed was 279 km/h.