How to identify a true Alpina?

[KillerPM]

Originally Posted by wkohler

If the cluster is swapped out on an E34, E36 and later, a red dot appears next to the trip odometer indicating the mileage might not be accurate.

Another way to verify whether or not an Alpina car is a true Alpina car is to have the VIN checked by the parts department at your BMW dealer. In the ETK, when you enter the last 7 of the BMW VIN, this should come up on a real Alpina car:

The mileage is not that difficult to change, you just have to change it in the LCM and the cluster (they have to match, if the LCM and the cluster dont match that's when you get the dot). There are tools available to do this.

The best way to verify the car is the VIN. Most newer ones have WAP VINs with a WBA or WBS VIN crossed out. Run that WBA or WBS at the BMW dealer and the report will always have a line that says the vehicle is for Alpina. I have tested this on a small pile of them.