It’ll surely come as little surprise to find that diesel’s decline continued in 2024. In the last month of the year, just 7,060 found homes, compared to almost 60,000 petrol powered cars and more than 40,000 purely electric vehicles. For the year, 123,104 diesels were sold in the UK, down almost 20,000 (and 13.6 per cent) on 2023’s 142,434. Battery electric vehicles and hybrids were all up; petrol decreased as well, but only by four per cent, still with more than a million sold.
Does it matter too much? Probably not. Petrols have become a lot like diesels, in truth, torquier and more efficient than ever even when they don’t have hybrid assistance. If an electric car suits your use case, it’s hard to imagine a diesel will do it better. But there’s one class of car that perfectly suited the black pump: a large Alpina.
As much is clear by the fact that a new D3 S, D4 S and XD3 remain available, but the entire line up is on borrowed time, really, given BMW will assume full control at the start of next year. Where an M car was always about fizzy, frenetic petrol power, the more relaxed, subdued aura of an Alpina matched with diesel fantastically. Still does. The torque, comfort and efficiency makes for unrivalled long distance cars.
While Alpina’s first diesel was the E39 5 Series-based D10, it was the four-cylinder, E90 era 3 Series that really brought a new audience to the brand. It was that car’s replacement, however, where Alpina’s mighty diesel era really began. The F30 D3 BiTurbo was little short of glorious: stupendously fast, a joy to drive and a pleasure to use.
It was such a mighty thing, in fact, that sometimes it’s forgotten that the same N57-based diesel powerhouse also ended up in two generations of Alpina D5 as well - eventually with three (!) turbos. Back when PH tested the F10 in 2012, it was declared ‘an absolute gem’. ‘Even if it did have a rival’, Riggers concluded, ‘it would be hard to imagine it being anything other than top of its class.’
This particular D5 is also from 2012, and appears to have been loved in a way that Alpinas so often are; they don’t really register on the average enthusiast’s radar, appealing only to the most dedicated. Despite its mighty mile munching ability, this one has covered fewer than 50,000 miles, all with the same owner from new. Who has only ever had their Alpina serviced and MOT’d at a BMW main dealer. Of course.
D5 number 80 certainly looks exceptional as it approaches its teenage years (it was registered new in November 2012), the wonderful Ivory leather showing barely any signs of wear and the trademark wheels as good as ever. Indeed it could be said the F10 era of 5 Series is starting to age quite nicely; what was a tad plain in period now seems subtle and sophisticated.
Priced from £55,950 new before options, this Alpina D5 is now for sale at £25k. Which, yes, buys all manner of BMW-badged alternatives, from smaller D3s to firebreathing M5s of this generation. But for the ultimate in continent crushing comfort, there surely can’t be much better. And it’s extremely rare to boot.
SPECIFICATION | ALPINA D5 BITURBO
Engine: 2,993cc straight-six, twin-turbo
Transmission: 8-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 350@4,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 516@1,500-3,000rpm
0-62mph: 5.1 sec
Top speed: 171mph
MPG: 47.9 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 155g/km
Year registered: 2012
Recorded mileage: 48,923
Price new: £55,950 (before options)
Yours for: £24,995
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