Brabus is an aftermarket upfitting and restoration brand that can transform your Mercedes from an ordinary car to a powerful and cool ride. Besides, Brabus only uplifts Mercedes-Benz. But what is the BMW equivalent of Brabus?
The BMW equivalent for Brabus is Alpina. Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH & Co. KG is an automobile manufacturing company located in Buchloe, in the Ostallgau district of Bavaria, Germany. This company designs and sells high-performance versions of BMWs.
While Brabus only pays attention to improving Mercedes’ performance, Alpina focuses on both performance and luxury. Alpina takes and crafts BMW models and modifies all fronts. So, the buyer gets a fully modified car that also performs outstandingly.
Does Alpina make BMW Alpina?
No, Alpina does not make BMW Alpina. However, they build the engines by hand, and the interiors can be picked up from the Alpina gear, instead of BMW’s traditional leather upholstery and stitching. That’s why most Alpina models look different from high-end BMWs.
So, Alpina makes their engines, interiors, and parts. After making these parts, they send them for assembly to a BMW plant. After the car has been assembled, it is returned back to Alpina ready for sale.
How does BMW Alpina compare to BMW M Sport?
Alpina focuses on performance and comfort, while the M Sport focuses more on performance. So, if you desire an excellent car for the track, you will love the M Sport. But if you want a prestigious and powerful car, Alpina is the best choice.
Additionally, Alpina is more powerful than the BMW M Sport. For instance, the most powerful BMW M is the M5 CS with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. This car delivers up to 627 hp and 5533 lb-ft of torque. It also has a top speed of up to 155 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds.
Contrarily, the Alpina B7 L Biturbo AWD with a 4.4-liter V8 Bi-Turbo engine can deliver up to 600 hp ander590 lb-ft of torque. It also has a top speed of 205 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds.
So, even though the M5 CS is faster to the quarter-mile with a difference of 0.7 seconds, Alpina B7 is quite faster with a top speed of 205 mph, compared to 155 mph.
What other companies tune BMWs?
Aside from Alpina, there are also other companies that tune BMWs. Some of them include Hamann Motorsport, Bimmerworld, and Dinan. Note that all of these companies differ in what they offer. That’s why it’s crucial to identify your taste, preference, and budget before deciding which restoration company to select.
Here’s a brief description of what each company specializes in:
Hamman Motorsport
Hamann Motorsport focuses on creating exclusive cars. Unlike Alpina, they also tune other luxury brands such as Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Bentley, and much more. Their cars are known for their body kits, low-profile spoilers, multi-part alloy wheels, and twelve-piston disc brakes.
Bimmerworld
Bimmerworld may not be as popular as Hamman Motorsport or Alpina, but it’s still an excellent BMW tunning company. It started with selling BMW parts before it extended to tunning BMWs. This company is popular for providing replacement parts, performance parts, and race parts. It is also known for providing high-end braking systems.
Dinan
Dinan is an American tuner. This company creates, produces, and markets high-end and high-performance BMW parts and systems. Their cars are fun to drive and very reliable. Besides, Dinan offers the best warranty among BMW tuners.
FAQ
How does the fastest Brabus compare to the fastest Alpina?
The fastest Brabus model is the Brabus 900 Rocket. This car is fitted with a 6.3 V12 Biturbo engine that delivers up to 900 hp and 922 lb-ft of torque. It also has a top speed of 205 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds.
On the other hand, the fastest BMW Alpina is the Alpina B7 L Bi-Turbo AWD with a 4.4-liter V8 Bi-Turbo gasoline engine. This engine delivers up to 600 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. It also has a top speed of 205 mph, which is at par with Brabus 900 Rocket.
However, the Alpina B7 L Bi-Turbo is quite slow to the quarter-mile as it can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds. So, the Brabus 900 Rocket is slightly faster and more powerful than the Alpina B7. Nonetheless, it is also quite costly.
What are some of the differences between Brabus and Alpina?
Both Brabus and Alpina are tuning companies. The first difference is that Alpina only tunes BMWs, while Brabus only tunes Mercedes-Benz. What’s more, while Brabus focuses more on power, Alpina focuses more on power and luxury. Note that BMW Alpinas are more powerful than M Sport and also more luxurious.
Another major difference between these two brands is that Brabus cars are costlier than Alpina. So, Brabus is for the exclusive few who can afford to pay the hefty price of an upgraded Mercedes.
Do Mercedes own Brabus?
No, Mercedes does not own Brabus. Unlike Maybach which is a German car brand that was later acquired by Daimler AG, Brabus is an independent company. Besides, Brabus buys Mercedes and then tunes it. So, Mercedes benefits from Brabus as they specialize in tuning their cars. On the other hand, Brabus sells tuned Mercedes models.
What is the equivalent of Brabus to Audi?
Unlike Mercedes which has Brabus and BMW has Alpina, Audi doesn’t have any specific company that tunes its cars. However, if you’re looking for an equivalent of Brabus, the Audi RS is the best option. On the other hand, the Audi S is equivalent to Mercedes AMG and M Sport for BMW.
Does Alpina make BMW Alpina?
Even though some parts are made at Alpina, not every BMW Alpina part is assembled and made at an Alpina plant. Instead, the Alpina car configurator allows you to choose any current BMW Alpina model and specify the options of your liking. Besides, you can save your car configuration or send it to a BMW Alpina partner that you prefer.
Bottom line
Alpina is the equivalent of Brabus. However, Alpina focuses more on performance and comfort, while Brabus only focuses on performance. Besides, Alpina is cheaper than Brabus but it offers more. Apart from Alpina, you can also opt for other BMW tunning companies such as Bimmerworld, Hamann Motorsport, and Dinan.
