[1230vani]

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http://edition.cnn.com/style/article...bmw/index.html

(CNN) One of nature's most curious relationships is that between the pilot fish and the shark. The latter could swallow the former in a single gulp, but instead the huge predator allows its tiny companion to pick uneaten food from between its teeth. The pilot fish gets a free meal, the shark a free dental plan.

This mutual arrangement is replicated, in a way, in the car industry. Specifically, it resembles the relationship between BMW, a global giant that makes over two million vehicles a year, and Alpina, a family firm that produces around one-thousandth of that number.

Alpina's cars are re-engineered versions of existing BMW models. They come with different engine and transmission configurations, as well as bespoke cabin treatments that feature higher-grade leather and greater scope for personalization.

You might expect BMW to take a dim view of this (or to treat Alpina as a mere tuner). But in fact, every one of the tiny company's creations is assembled by specially trained technicians on BMW production lines around the world.

Furthermore, to help prepare for forthcoming models, BMW feeds Alpina's engineers top-secret information on product plans up to four years in advance. And long after the cars have been delivered to customers, the giant German brand honors Alpinas with the same after-sales warranties that cover its own vehicles.

It's one of the coziest, most trusting and downright strange friendships in the cut-throat car industry.

Mutual benefits

Alpina started life as a typewriter manufacturer, but turned its focus toward automobiles when the company's founder Burkard Bovensiepen started producing tuning parts for BMW in the early 1960s.

The octogenarian Bovensiepen still lives in a house tucked away on the factory site in Buchloe, Bavaria, where his swimming pool is heated with hot exhaust gas from the plant's engine testing equipment.

Bovensiepen's vision for his "exclusive automobiles" (a phrase that appears on a plaque inside every Alpina) was for them to be both faster and more comfortable than regular BMWs.

And therein lies the basis for the two firms' unusual relationship -- BMW doesn't consider Alpina a rival because its cars are sold in tiny numbers and thus don't directly compete with its own high-performance sub-brand, M Division.

What does BMW get out of the deal, though? To begin with, it's a revenue stream -- Alpina pays for manufacturing, vehicle storage and logistics. And then there's always the possibility that Alpina's engineers come up with something that benefits the whole BMW range. The tiny company has already licensed exhaust and gearbox technology back to its big collaborator.

Most of all, however, Alpina is flexible enough, personal enough and exclusive enough to keep a small band of ultra-discerning BMW customers happy. These are people who would, in all probability, go to another brand altogether if Alpina's distinct offering weren't available.

As it is, these customers are able to visit the factory, talk with individual engineers and even see their leather steering wheel being hand-stitched. Which, Alpina claims, makes the items more comfortable than if they had been machine-stitched items.

Limited expansion

Alpina's line-up ranges from BMW's smallest sedan, the 3 Series, up to the 7 Series limousine and even the X3 SUV. It offers petrol and diesel engines, with company bosses open about embracing hybrid technology in the future.

Bovensiepen has ceded day-to-day control of the firm to his sons, although he still takes a keen interest when not focused on his hugely successful wine import business.

The company is doing pretty well without him, recovering in key regions like Japan and Germany after the global financial crisis, while expanding into new territories such as Australia and, most significantly, China.

Alpina continues to shift a respectable number of units in the United States too (although -- in another peculiarity of its existence -- Alpina cars in the American market are purchased back by BMW and sold on through the car giant's own network).

But further expansion will be difficult. The lack of space at Alpina's factory site limits capacity, as does the number of available slots on BMW's production lines. And the Bovensiepens won't be switching from BMW to another brand any time soon, despite regular overtures from Japanese brands, notably Toyota.

While numbers may creep up eventually, it's hard to imagine annual production figures getting much beyond the 3,000 mark. After all, Alpina is a brand that is sustained and reassured by its own exclusivity. And by definition, the current set-up suits BMW quite nicely as well.

[alex2364]

BMW Alpina is what Dinan wishes it could be.

[Chihuahua]

Cool article, thanks for sharing.

[1230vani]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

Cool article, thanks for sharing.

Thanks I thought so too. Top Gear once said that Alpina steering wheel is one of the beat. They speciffically commented on that for example. I like seeing Alpine cars live, much better than on photos.

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by 1230vani

Thanks I thought so too. Top Gear once said that Alpine steering wheel is one of the beat. They speciffically commented on that for example. I like seeing Alpine cars live, much better than on photos.

it's Alpina not Alpine

[MSups6]

Question for those in the know, does alpinA have a m4/3 variant or are they just 4 series with more power ???

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by MSups6

Question for those in the know, does alpinA have a m4/3 variant or are they just 4 series with more power ???

4 series on steroids + usually a modified exhaust. the latest Alpina B4 for example has an Akrapovic exhaust as stock

If it was an M3/M4 or any other M variant, it would have even more power than the M car itself which isn't the case for the M3/M4. I believe the Alpina B4 has 414 BHP if my memory is correct

[VMRWheels]

Interesting article, thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by 1230vani

Alpina started life as a typewriter manufacture

Kind of interesting Alpina was initially a typewriter company, had no clue this was the case and never would have guessed it.

Alpina typewriter logo:


Alpina BMW logo we all know and love:

[F32Fleet]

Nice find!

[clbmw]

Good article

Seems that the relationship means Alpina can build a more comfortable / luxurious car but not allowed to surpass BMW on performance nor warranty.

New D5 S case in point - denied the tri turbo because M550d not coming to the UK, nothing to do with 'weight saving'.

Alpinas with longer warranty periods and greater power ceilings would sell in larger numbers IMHO. But hey what do I know, I'd love one but a two year guarantee on a very expensive modified BMW isn't a good starting point for me.

[ObsidianX]

Do they sell the Alpina B3 in the US? I've never heard of one.

[veylan]

Originally Posted by Snappy Phoenix

it's Alpina not Alpine

Not to call you out, but that's the typo you chose to address?

(Edit: interesting bug in iOS app. quotes.)

[spuntyb]

Very cool. Love Alpina. Thanks for sharing!

[noushy]

Totally agree with the article. Love my B7. It is special enough, comfortable enough, fast enough, and easy to maintain. It is rare and unique especially in Alpina Blue Individual. If it was not available, I probably would own a flying spur or S8 or an AMG S63.

Peace

[raysspl]

Neat story! Need more Alpinas Stateside

[GrussGott]

but the wheels....

[garrettp36]

Originally Posted by clbmw

Good article

Seems that the relationship means Alpina can build a more comfortable / luxurious car but not allowed to surpass BMW on performance nor warranty.

New D5 S case in point - denied the tri turbo because M550d not coming to the UK, nothing to do with 'weight saving'.

Alpinas with longer warranty periods and greater power ceilings would sell in larger numbers IMHO. But hey what do I know, I'd love one but a two year guarantee on a very expensive modified BMW isn't a good starting point for me.

2 year?

[FC05]

Interesting how Alpina always prefers luxury line exterior rather than M sports, but I noticed they now having M sport rear bumper and luxury line front for their new G30/G31 five.

[moff]

Originally Posted by garrettp36

2 year?

Yes, in the U.K. we only get a 2 year warranty with Alpina cars, but 3 years with normal BMW's.

Combine that with zero discounts and no finance deals means that volumes are very low. This is a conscious decision to keep the volumes low due to Alpina's low capacity.

The B3S and B4S actually have 8 more bhp over the M3 and M4 too (425bhp and 433bho). So they do compete directly with the M cars too.

I would love an Alpina B4S or B3S Touring but once specced they are eye wateringly expensive and the monthly costs higher than an M5.

[MrBeranek]

Nice article. I must say I´m happy with my D3 wagon, but I would disagree with this:"And long after the cars have been delivered to customers, the giant German brand honors Alpinas with the same after-sales warranties that cover its own vehicles."

It´s definitely not the same as BMW´s own vehicles, since you can´t order any prolonged warranty for Alpina.

[clbmw]

Originally Posted by moff

Yes, in the U.K. we only get a 2 year warranty with Alpina cars, but 3 years with normal BMW's.

Combine that with zero discounts and no finance deals means that volumes are very low. This is a conscious decision to keep the volumes low due to Alpina's low capacity.

The B3S and B4S actually have 8 more bhp over the M3 and M4 too (425bhp and 433bho). So they do compete directly with the M cars too.

I would love an Alpina B4S or B3S Touring but once specced they are eye wateringly expensive and the monthly costs higher than an M5.

Having said all this I'd love to see what Alpina could do with the V12 in the M760i, shame it'll never happen.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by ObsidianX

Do they sell the Alpina B3 in the US? I've never heard of one.

No. BMWNA chooses only to sell the 7er and 6erGC in the US market. You can even pick one up via ED at the Welt.


Alpina offers NINE models for the rest of the world...

https://www.alpina-automobiles.com/en/models/