Alpina B6 owners: chime in!

[maddog99]

Hi Gang!

Long time BMW owner:
2005 540i
2013 X5 V8 w/ Dinan II

Im looking to get a 2016 B6 Alpina.
Im shopping a couple years old to get the price break, but still have the 600HP & the "good" nav system (google maps traffic w/ google point of interest search).

Id love to get opinions on this car from any owners or drivers.
Id love to hear first hand your thoughts & experience as your daily driver.

Thank you,
Chris

[addy27]

2016+ is when 600HP became standard, 2015 is at 540HP I believe.

Also interested in feedback since i’d be interested in the same in a year or so.

[cjackson1906]

I got a new 2018 B6 several months ago after coming from a F10 M5. I actually love this car...very smooth comfortable ride. If you've driven a M car, you know the power is kind of in your face whereas the B6 is smooth...almost linear if that makes sense. I guess you could say the M5 was like a race car for the streets and the B6 is like a flying off the runway in an airplane. When people talk about masking speed, they are talking about the B6.

I do miss the exhaust note of the M5, but when you put the B6 in sport or sport+, the flaps open up and you get a nice organic exhaust note...no fake exhaust noise pumping through the speakers. We don't get the Akrapovic exhaust here in the U.S. and that would've been a nice addition.

Finally, it took me a minute to get used to the look of the B6 wheels. Now I really like them. However, they are a PITA to keep clean but I got ceramic coating job done on the entire car and brake dust isn't as bad anymore. Hope this helps and good luck.

[maddog99]

Thanks CJ, much appreciated. You had the same experience as most of the reviews Ive read which is good. I love the exhaust note of my X5 w/ stage II Dinan, especially before it warms up, but I was preparing to let that go. Good to hear sport mode gives you some of that back!

[tree]

I bought a 2016 a little over a year ago. Previously had a F10 535 (Dinan), E90 335, E39 M5, E46 330. The Alpina is a fantastic car. I use it as a daily driver. Very smooth and docile when you are in city traffic, and all the power you want on the highway. I have driven it in the snow, and it does fairly well. I even took it to the track a few weeks ago and it was amazing. The wheels do take some time to keep clean, but an assortment of brushes and some Chemical Guys Diablo Wheel Gel does the trick Bottom line--best car I have ever owned.
The only down side is--you can't fly under the radar in this car--people seem to gawk at it everywhere I go!
Have you found one? Color combo?? Keep us posted!

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by tree

I bought a 2016 a little over a year ago. Previously had a F10 535 (Dinan), E90 335, E39 M5, E46 330. The Alpina is a fantastic car. I use it as a daily driver. Very smooth and docile when you are in city traffic, and all the power you want on the highway. I have driven it in the snow, and it does fairly well. I even took it to the track a few weeks ago and it was amazing. The wheels do take some time to keep clean, but an assortment of brushes and some Chemical Guys Diablo Wheel Gel does the trick Bottom line--best car I have ever owned.
The only down side is--you can't fly under the radar in this car--people seem to gawk at it everywhere I go!
Have you found one? Color combo?? Keep us posted!

haha! Well as a fellow GC owner, I have to say I get a lot of stares and snaps of the neck anyways with the GC. The GC is just such as imposing car when you see it in person.

Couple with the fact you have a blue car, I'm not surprised you pop out.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by cjackson1906

I got a new 2018 B6 several months ago after coming from a F10 M5. I actually love this car...very smooth comfortable ride. If you've driven a M car, you know the power is kind of in your face whereas the B6 is smooth...almost linear if that makes sense. I guess you could say the M5 was like a race car for the streets and the B6 is like a flying off the runway in an airplane. When people talk about masking speed, they are talking about the B6.

I do miss the exhaust note of the M5, but when you put the B6 in sport or sport+, the flaps open up and you get a nice organic exhaust note...no fake exhaust noise pumping through the speakers. We don't get the Akrapovic exhaust here in the U.S. and that would've been a nice addition.

Finally, it took me a minute to get used to the look of the B6 wheels. Now I really like them. However, they are a PITA to keep clean but I got ceramic coating job done on the entire car and brake dust isn't as bad anymore. Hope this helps and good luck.

you can put Akrapovic exhaust on it if you're willing to do the custom work. But IMO, it's not fitting for the character of the B6. Same concept as you pointed to above as to whether you want your car to sound like a race car or not.

[Domino6post]

I have the Akrapovic exhaust on mine and it sounds great. It's subtle unless you get onto it, especially in Sport or Sport+.

[cjackson1906]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

you can put Akrapovic exhaust on it if you're willing to do the custom work. But IMO, it's not fitting for the character of the B6. Same concept as you pointed to above as to whether you want your car to sound like a race car or not.

I'm probably so used to the "M" sound and kind of miss it. I looked at the Akrapovic exhaust and I like it; but since I leased the B6, I don't want to make that kind of investment only to turn it in a couple of years. However, I'm still tempted...

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by cjackson1906

I'm probably so used to the "M" sound and kind of miss it. I looked at the Akrapovic exhaust and I like it; but since I leased the B6, I don't want to make that kind of investment only to turn it in a couple of years. However, I'm still tempted...

I was lucky enough to test drive a bunch of BMWs yesterday at car week in Monterey.

Anyways, they had a B6 and B7 there. The stock exhaust on those cars are very unique and sounds amazing too. It's a bit quieter than the Akra, but it's got a classy growl. I wouldn't put the Akra on a B6.

[cjackson1906]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

I was lucky enough to test drive a bunch of BMWs yesterday at car week in Monterey.

Anyways, they had a B6 and B7 there. The stock exhaust on those cars are very unique and sounds amazing too. It's a bit quieter than the Akra, but it's got a classy growl. I wouldn't put the Akra on a B6.

Yep, I think I’m going to follow my gut and your advice. Also, there’s no fake sound pumped through the speakers in the B6 and maybe that’s what my ears were used to hearing in the M5. At any rate, I’m keeping it stock.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by cjackson1906

Yep, I think I’m going to follow my gut and your advice. Also, there’s no fake sound pumped through the speakers in the B6 and maybe that’s what my ears were used to hearing in the M5. At any rate, I’m keeping it stock.

How'd you find out the B6 doesn't have any fake sounds? Did you check?

[cjackson1906]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

How'd you find out the B6 doesn't have any fake sounds? Did you check?

Real world test resulted in no fake sound like I had in the M5. I have to roll down the window to even get a faint exhaust sound in comfort mode. Did I physically disable/code out any artificial sound? Nope.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by cjackson1906

Real world test resulted in no fake sound like I had in the M5. I have to roll down the window to even get a faint exhaust sound in comfort mode. Did I physically disable/code out any artificial sound? Nope.

you should disconnect it and see if it changes. My understanding is that there is still fake sounds in the B6. Someone recently looked it up and said the B6 is listed as one of the sound profiles that is uploaded (and can be coded away) in the car.

Btw, the GC's active sound module is on the roof the trunk. It's not under the trunk liner, so it's really easy to remove. Here's the DIY.

https://www.6post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1444547