BMW M635 CSi versus BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo - Battle of the engine concepts

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BMW M635 CSi versus BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo - Battle of the engine concepts

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Created on February 15, 2018

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH

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Archiv BMW AG

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BMW AG

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) and BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - Turbo versus four-valve concept in direct comparison

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) and BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - two that pack a punch

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - an "M" at the front

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - ... and an "M" at the rear - how to recognize the M 635 CSi

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - with front spoiler

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - eye-catching rear spoiler

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - large windows, slim A- to C-pillars

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - in speed-restricted areas, the performance potential can only be explored to a limited extent

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - ran 256 km/h in the test

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - ran around 270 km/h at the time

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - clearly a pleasure to drive

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - a pleasure to drive

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - the 286 hp also kept full-size sports cars at bay

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - surprisingly handy despite 1.5 tons

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - it is not a classic cornering car, but it is more manageable than you might think due to its size

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - allows high cornering speeds

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - relatively stiff suspension

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - how most people saw it

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - hardly differs from the weaker 635 CSi

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - unadulterated coupé line

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - BBS rims on the M 635 CSi, many cars had TRX wheels

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - classic Alpina wheels

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - looks hardly any different from its weaker brothers

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - the seats are electrically adjustable

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - classic BMW M ingredients

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - although it doesn't quite reach a top speed of 280 km/:h

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - everything you need to feel good

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - BMW symbol in the steering wheel

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - red zone from 6800 rpm

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - the BMW M colors on the steering wheel

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - the radio was not standard

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - the famous Check-Control unit, which is ...

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - ... Finger pressure shows whether everything is in order or not

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - easy-shifting five-speed gearbox

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - Grab handle for the front passenger

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - pretty red, with standard sports seats

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - good seating comfort in the Alpina chairs

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - narrow access to the rear

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - already equipped with airbag

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - are the wood inlays really appropriate here?

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - electric seat adjustment and memorizable positions

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - the first gear is at the rear left

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - Center console

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - steam wheel - used to regulate the maximum boost pressure

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - with this wheel the performance can be influenced by plus/minus 50 hp

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - two-tone interior

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - a picture of an engine

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - clearly visible, the turbocharger

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - clearly labeled

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - differs significantly from the standard engine

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BMW M 635 CSI (1985) - the same engine, but very different vehicles - on the left the BMW M1

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BMW M 635 CSI (1985) - a little more front spoiler, that's it

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BMW M 635 CSI (1985) - on the handling course

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BMW M 635 CSI (1985) - on a loose surface

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BMW M 635 CSI (1985) - the then works driver Nelson Piquet poses with the BMW Coupé

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BMW M 635 CSI (1985) - Nelson Piquet is very taken with the Coupé

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BMW M 635 CSI (1985) - it doesn't always have to be asphalt

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BMW M 635 CSI (1985) - the engine from the M1

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BMW M 635 CSI - the impressive four-valve six-cylinder engine from the M1 is now installed in the 6 Series Coupé, note the snake's nest of exhaust pipes - at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show

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BMW M 635 CSI (1985) - on the road in the mountains

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BMW M 635 CSI (1985) - it could hardly be any faster, 286 hp was quite an announcement

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BMW 635 CSI (1985) - BWM construction program of the year 1985 with the M 635 CSI

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BMW M 635 CSI (1985) - hardly distinguishable from the weaker variants from the outside

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BMW M 635 CSI (1986) - the fastest version of the Munich Coupé

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BMW M 635 CSi (1988) - towards the end of the production period

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BMW-Alpina B7 S Turbo Coupé (1982) - fast coupé at the 50-year station

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BMW-Alpina B7 S Turbo Coupé (1982) - 30 units were built in 1982

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - with the six-seater coupé you are always well dressed

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - very clearly laid out coupé

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - d_reinhard_BMW M and Alpina_17_1098

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - the "normal" 635 CSi also had the decorative stripes

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - Bracq created a masterpiece with the E24

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BMW M 635 CSi (1984) - even wider wheels would have fitted underneath

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - from 3000 rpm you feel as if a hurricane is blowing at your back

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - a very relaxed drive

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BMW-Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé (1987) - only thoroughbred super sports cars could compete with it in the 1980s

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Summary

In the mid-1980s, the BMW M 635 CSi and the Alpina B7 Turbo Coupé were the fastest ways to drive a BMW Granturismo. As similar as they were on the outside, they went completely different ways under the hood: four-valve versus turbo technology. Even back then, the automotive world was interested in which was better. This driving report compares the top coupés from BMW and Alpina and shows them in many photos.

This article contains the following chapters

Elegant and comfortable basis
Alpina leads the way
BMW relies on crown jewels
Alpina goes one better
The battle of the high-flyers
More power pays off
Comparison of technical data and driving performance
More or less exclusive
Different natures
Further information

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In 2018, this battle seems to have been decided; the turbo engine has prevailed over free-breathing, high-revving four-/five-valve engines. In the 1980s, turbo engines were still comparatively exotic, even though the Japanese, among others, successfully used them in cheaper series-produced vehicles. BMW had already used a turbo engine in the 745i, but the M 635 CSi, the fastest car from Munich at the time, opted for classic racing technology, while Burkard Bovensiepen from Alpina preferred the turbocharger for his top model. The starting point for both Motosport GmbH and Alpina was the elegantly designed coupé of the E24 series by Paul Bracq, which celebrated its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in 1976. Originally, 3 or 3.2 liters of displacement had to suffice, but from 1978 there was also a 3.5-litre engine in the front, which mobilized 218 hp.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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