The 7 Series is already a luxurious BMW. But when it’s not quite luxurious or powerful enough, that’s when Alpina gets involved. And while the latest version of the Alpina-tuned 7 Series lives up to the brand’s reputation, it’s also expensive. Luckily, there’s the used market. And this week on Bring a Trailer, there’s a significantly more affordable 2007 BMW Alpina B7 up for sale.

The E65-gen BMW Alpina B7 was the luxury tuner’s second-ever US-market car

Although Alpina’s founder started tweaking BMWs in the early 1960s, the tuner didn’t officially open until 1965. However, US customers had to wait decades before sales started up here. The tuner’s first US-market car was the 2003 Z8 Roadster V8, Car and Driver reports. And the second was the 2007 BMW Alpina B7.

The 2007 Alpina B7 is based on the E65-gen BMW 7 Series, which is often criticized for its design aesthetic, Automobile reports. To be fair, I’ve never understood the hate, but to each their own. However, in 2006 BMW updated the 7 Series and rectified some of the critiqued areas, Car and Driver explains. And the 2007 Alpina B7’s looks are based on the updated model, Autoweek explains. Mechanically, though, things are a little different.

By 2007, the base 7 Series was the 750i with a 4.8-liter V8. But the E65 BMW Alpina B7 borrows the 4.4-liter V8 from the earlier 745i, Car and Driver reports. However, in the B7 the V8 comes with a supercharger, an intercooler, beefed-up internals, larger fuel injectors, and a custom exhaust system, TruckTrend reports. As a result, it makes 500 hp and 516 lb-ft, sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic.

As a result, the 2007 BMW Alpina B7 is the most powerful E65-gen 7 Series—and the fastest, Driving.ca reports. It has more horsepower than the V12-powered 760i, Autoweek reports, and goes 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, TT reports. And it can beat a contemporary Porsche 911 Carrera S in a ¼-mile drag race.

Luckily, the 2007 BMW Alpina B7 has several ways to help corral that power. It has larger disc brakes, a differential cooler, and grippier tires, TT reports. Alpina also strengthened the transmission, added extra engine coolers, and upgraded the suspension with Eibach springs, Sachs dampers, and active anti-roll bars, Autoweek reports. As a result, the E65 Alpina B7 can blitz down straight and curving roads with aplomb.

The 2007 BMW Alpina B7 on Bring a Trailer

But smooth speed is just one part of the Alpina formula. The other half is luxury, which the 2007 BMW Alpina B7 currently listed on Bring a Trailer demonstrates well.

In addition to the performance upgrades, this E65 BMW Alpina B7 has xenon headlights, leather upholstery, matte wood trim, a glass sunroof, and a rear decklid spoiler. It also comes with heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry, and soft-close doors.

Plus, the 2002 7 Series was the first to offer BMW’s navigation-equipped iDrive system, which was updated in 2005, MotorTrend reports. While difficult to live with at first, iDrive sent a “shockwave” through the auto industry, Roadshow reports, and this B7 has it. It also has active cruise control, night vision, a Logic7 audio system, and rear-seat entertainment.

Besides the luxury, this one-owner 2007 BMW Alpina B7 is also in excellent condition, with less than 23,000 miles on the clock. It also comes with extensive service records and a zero-accident history. Plus, the seller also recently changed the oil and brake fluid

However, this B7 has at least one open recall, Bring a Trailer reports. The Carfax report doesn’t specify the specific issue. But based on Cars.com, BimmerFile, and NHTSA reports, the likely culprits are either the soft-close doors, the keyless entry, or the brake vacuum pump. The seller does note, though, that all the electronics function perfectly.

If you can keep up with maintenance, it’s a luxury sedan bargain

As of this writing, this 2007 BMW Alpina B7 is listed on Bring a Trailer at $21,249 with three days left in the auction. That’s a considerable savings given that its original MSRP of $124,760. Admittedly, other B7s of this vintage have sold for less on Cars and Bids or Bring a Trailer. But this 2007 car is still a bargain—one that’s worth paying a bit more for.

The reason for that is the E65-gen BMW Alpina B7 has a few issues with its N62 V8. Tyler Hoover of Autotrader famously bought a 2007 B7 for $3500 that he later had to total. And one of the issues his car had was worn valve stem seals, a common fault with the N62, BMW Tuning reports.

The N62 also has an alternator bracket oil gasket that, like many gaskets, fails over time. And while the part itself is very cheap, replacing it “requires removing several engine components, along with the engine mount,” Pelican Parts reports. Plus, the N62’s coolant transfer pipe is prone to leaking.

That being said, the N62 engine is noticeably less problematic than the N63 found in the next-gen Alpina B7. And there are modern parts, such as the BimmerFix Stent and the AGA collapsible coolant pipe, that solve the coolant leaks. As for the alternator gasket, a reasonably competent home mechanic can replace it and save some cash. Still, there’s a reason we recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection before buying any used car.

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