Alpina B11: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Alpina B11 catalogue contains a single Sedan generation produced from 1987 to 1994, with four listed versions. Three carry the exact name 3.4 MT and must therefore be distinguished by output: 240 hp, 250 hp, and 254 hp. The fourth is the 4.0 AT with 315 hp.
The Alpina B11 catalogue contains a single Sedan generation produced from 1987 to 1994, with four listed versions. Three carry the exact name 3.4 MT and must therefore be distinguished by output: 240 hp, 250 hp, and 254 hp. The fourth is the 4.0 AT with 315 hp. For buyers comparing specifications, the central choice is between the manual 3.4-liter Inline 6 versions and the more powerful automatic 4.0-liter V-shaped 8 version. The 4.0 AT delivers the quickest acceleration, highest top speed, and greatest torque, while each 3.4 MT provides a Manual gearbox and slightly higher power per liter in its 250 hp or 254 hp form.
Alpina B11 generations and versions
There is only one Alpina B11 generation in the supplied catalogue, so there is no genuine generation-to-generation comparison to make. The 1 generation ran from 1987 to 1994, used a Sedan body, and included 4 versions. All four versions share the same stated production period, and the data does not identify a separate restyling.
Because the three 3.4 MT entries have identical names and displacement, output is essential when identifying them. They are the 3.4 MT with 240 hp, 3.4 MT with 250 hp, and 3.4 MT with 254 hp. The remaining version is the 4.0 AT with 315 hp.
Alpina B11 engine and specs
| Version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4 MT (240 hp) | 240 hp / 177 kW at 5700 rpm | 310 Nm at 4500 rpm | 3430 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 6 | Inline | No | Manual, 5 | RWD |
| 3.4 MT (250 hp) | 250 hp / 184 kW at 5700 rpm | 330 Nm at 4000 rpm | 3430 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 6 | Inline | No | Manual, 5 | RWD |
| 3.4 MT (254 hp) | 254 hp / 187 kW at 6000 rpm | 325 Nm at 4000 rpm | 3430 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 6 | Inline | No | Manual, 5 | RWD |
| 4.0 AT | 315 hp / 232 kW at 5800 rpm | 410 Nm at 4600 rpm | 3982 cc | Gasoline, 95 | 8 | V-shaped | No | Automatic, 5 | RWD |
Every listed engine uses Distributed injection (multi-point), has 4 valves per cylinder, and has no boost. The three 3.4 MT versions combine a 3430 cc Inline 6 with a 5-speed Manual gearbox. The 4.0 AT combines a 3982 cc V-shaped 8 with a 5-speed Automatic gearbox. All versions are RWD.
Calculated from the catalogue figures, specific output is approximately 70.0 hp per liter for the 240 hp 3.4 MT, 72.9 hp per liter for the 250 hp 3.4 MT, and 74.1 hp per liter for the 254 hp 3.4 MT. The 4.0 AT produces approximately 79.1 hp per liter, the highest figure in the range.
The 4.0 AT has 61 hp more than the strongest 3.4 MT, while its displacement is 552 cc greater. It also produces 85 Nm more torque than the 254 hp 3.4 MT, 80 Nm more than the 250 hp version, and 100 Nm more than the 240 hp version.
Among the manual cars, the 250 hp 3.4 MT has the highest stated torque at 330 Nm. That is 5 Nm more than the 254 hp 3.4 MT, despite having 4 hp less. Both reach peak torque at 4000 rpm. The 240 hp 3.4 MT trails the 250 hp version by 10 hp and 20 Nm, and its peak torque arrives 500 rpm later.
For the 4.0 AT, compression ratio is 10.7 and bore and stroke are 89 × 80. Those measurements are not measured for all three 3.4 MT versions. Engine location is also not measured for every version.
Alpina B11 performance and economy
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption | CO₂ | Emissions class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4 MT (240 hp) | 7.9 seconds | 243 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 3.4 MT (250 hp) | 7.5 seconds | 248 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 3.4 MT (254 hp) | 7.6 seconds | 245 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 4.0 AT | 7.1 seconds | 260 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
The 4.0 AT is the performance choice. Its 7.1-second acceleration time is 0.4 seconds quicker than the 250 hp 3.4 MT, 0.5 seconds quicker than the 254 hp 3.4 MT, and 0.8 seconds quicker than the 240 hp 3.4 MT. Its 260 km/h maximum speed exceeds the three manual versions by 12–17 km/h.
The 250 hp 3.4 MT is the quickest and fastest manual option: 7.5 seconds to 100 km/h and 248 km/h. The 254 hp 3.4 MT has 4 hp more but takes 0.1 seconds longer to reach 100 km/h and has a top speed 3 km/h lower. This means the highest horsepower figure does not make it the strongest manual performer in the supplied measurements.
The 240 hp 3.4 MT records 7.9 seconds to 100 km/h and 243 km/h, placing it last on both performance measures. Compared with that version, the 250 hp 3.4 MT adds 10 hp and 20 Nm, cuts 0.4 seconds from the acceleration time, and raises top speed by 5 km/h.
City, highway, and combined fuel consumption are not measured for every Alpina B11 version. CO₂ output and emissions class are also not measured, so no evidence-based mpg, economy, or emissions comparison is possible.
Alpina B11 dimensions, weight, and chassis specs
Kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, fuel-tank capacity, and wheel sizes are not measured for the 3.4 MT with 240 hp, 3.4 MT with 250 hp, 3.4 MT with 254 hp, and 4.0 AT. As kerb weight is not measured, weight per horsepower cannot be calculated for any version.
The chassis specifications do not distinguish the versions. Every listed Alpina B11 has Independent, spring front suspension and Independent, spring rear suspension. Every version also has Ventilated disc front brakes and Disc rear brakes.
Which Alpina B11 version should you buy?
Choose the 3.4 MT with 250 hp if you want the strongest result among the Manual versions. It has the quickest manual acceleration at 7.5 seconds, the highest manual top speed at 248 km/h, and the greatest manual torque at 330 Nm. It beats the 254 hp 3.4 MT on both measured performance figures despite producing 4 hp less.
Choose the 3.4 MT with 254 hp if maximum manual horsepower and manual power per liter matter more than the best measured acceleration or top speed. Its calculated 74.1 hp per liter is higher than the other two 3.4 MT versions, and its 325 Nm output is only 5 Nm below the 250 hp car.
Choose the 3.4 MT with 240 hp only when its exact specification is the desired one. On the available numbers, it offers no performance advantage over the other manual versions: it has the least power and torque, the slowest acceleration, and the lowest top speed. Price data is not supplied, so the catalogue cannot determine whether any lower purchase cost would compensate for those differences.
Choose the 4.0 AT for maximum output and performance, or because an Automatic gearbox is required. Its 315 hp, 410 Nm, 7.1-second acceleration time, and 260 km/h top speed lead the range. Its calculated 79.1 hp per liter is also the highest specific output listed.
There is no factual price or “for sale” comparison because neither asking prices nor listings are included in the data. Fuel use is not measured, and weight is not measured, so neither running-cost comparisons nor power-to-weight rankings can be made. Based strictly on the available specifications, the 3.4 MT with 250 hp is the most convincing Manual choice, while the 4.0 AT is the clear choice for outright performance.