Car comparison

Alpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24VvsBMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8

Compare specs, acceleration, fuel consumption, dimensions, practicality, and estimated running costs side by side.

New comparison

Alpina B3 (E36)

3.2 i 24V

265 hp3152 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan1996-1999

BMW 5 Series (E39)

540i V8

286 hp4398 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedSedan1998-2000

Comparison overview

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8

Most powerful
286 hp
213 kW
Highest torque
440 Nm
325 lb-ft
Largest trunk
460 L
Best overall score
67/100
Best performance score
64/100
Best practicality score
74/100

Alpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24V

Quickest 0-100 km/h
5.9 s
Fastest top speed
270 km/h
168 mph Unrestricted
260 km/h
162 mph Restricted
Lightest
1,330 kg
2,932 lb
Best power-to-weight
199 hp/t
149 kW/t
5.0 kg/hp
Best economy score
82/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8
Power	265hp198kW	286hp213kW
Torque	330Nm243lb-ft	440Nm325lb-ft
Curb weight	1,330kg2,932lb	1,630kg3,594lb
Gross weight	1,850kg4,079lb	2,170kg4,784lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 260 km/h162 mph Calculated	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated
To 99% top speed	58.2s99% target: 267 km/h / 166 mph Calculated	63.9s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	5.9s	6.5s
0-200 km/h	17.1s Calculated	19.4s Calculated
0-60 mph	5.7s Calculated	6.2s Calculated
Fuel consumption	9.3L/100 km25.3mpg US30.4mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption city	-	19.9L/100 km11.8mpg US14.2mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	-	9L/100 km26.1mpg US31.4mpg UK
Quarter mile	13.8s Calculated	14.4s Calculated
Power-to-weight	199hp/t149kW/t90hp/1000 lb Calculated	175hp/t131kW/t80hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	248Nm/t166lb-ft/ton Calculated	270Nm/t181lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	667km414mi Calculated	-
Displacement	3,152cc192cu in	4,398cc268cu in
Length	4,433mm175in	4,775mm188in
Width	1,698mm67in	1,800mm71in
Height	1,373mm54in	1,435mm56in
Wheelbase	2,700mm106in	2,830mm111in
Front track	1,410mm56in	1,512mm60in
Rear track	1,423mm56in	1,526mm60in
Trunk volume	435L	460L
Doors	4	4
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	62L	70L

Performance charts

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

Dyno simulation

Estimated stock-style power and torque curves by engine speed.

Alpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24VBMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8PowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	5,800 rpm	4,400 rpm	6,050 rpm
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	5,400 rpm	3,600 rpm	5,650 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	5.7 s	6.2 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	5.9 s	6.5 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	17.1 s	19.4 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 260 km/h162 mph Likely limited	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.6 s	2.7 s
330 ft 101 m	6.3 s	6.6 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.3 s	9.7 s
1000 ft 305 m	11.7 s	12.2 s
1/4 mile 402 m	13.8 s	14.4 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	179 km/h 111 mph	172 km/h 107 mph

Power comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power. Higher is better · hp / kW

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	265 hp 198 kW
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW

BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8 has 21 hp more than Alpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24V.

The biggest power difference is between Alpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24V and BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8: 21 hp (16 kW).

Torque comparison

Bar comparison chart for Torque. Higher is better · Nm / lb-ft

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	330 Nm 243 lb-ft
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	440 Nm 325 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Curb weight. Lower is better · kg / lb

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	1,330 kg 2,932 lb
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	1,630 kg 3,594 lb

Top speed without limiter comparison

Bar comparison chart for Top speed without limiter. Higher is better · km/h / mph

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 260 km/h162 mph
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

0-100 km/h comparison

Bar comparison chart for 0-100 km/h. Lower is better · seconds

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	5.9 s
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	6.5 s

Although BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8 has more power, Alpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24V is quicker from 0-100 km/h.

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between Alpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24V and BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8: 0.6 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power-to-weight. Higher is better · hp/t / kW/t

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	199 hp/t 149 kW/t 5.0 kg/hp
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	175 hp/t 131 kW/t 5.7 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	265 hp 198 kW	5.9 s	Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 260 km/h162 mph
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW	6.5 s	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Most attractive quadrant

Scatter chart with performance score on the X axis and practicality score on the Y axis.

Vehicle

Performance score

Practicality score

AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V

Power	265 hp 198 kW
0-100 km/h	5.9 s
Top speed Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 260 km/h162 mph

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	435 L 15.4 cu ft
Length	4,433 mm 174.5 in
Height	1,373 mm 54.1 in

BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8

Power	286 hp 213 kW
0-100 km/h	6.5 s
Top speed Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,775 mm 188.0 in
Height	1,435 mm 56.5 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V

BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8

Power

265 hp

198 kW

286 hp

213 kW

Torque

330 Nm

243 lb-ft

440 Nm

325 lb-ft

Acceleration

5.9 s

6.5 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

270 km/h168 mph

Restricted

260 km/h162 mph

Unrestricted

265 km/h165 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

Lightness

1,330 kg

2,932 lb

1,630 kg

3,594 lb

Fuel consumption

9.3 L/100 km

25.3 mpg US

30.4 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	435 L 15.4 cu ft
Length	4,433 mm 174.5 in
Height	1,373 mm 54.1 in

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,775 mm 188.0 in
Height	1,435 mm 56.5 in

Range score

667 km

414 mi

Trunk score

435 L

15.4 cu ft

460 L

16.2 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

199 hp/t

149 kW/t

5.0 kg/hp

175 hp/t

131 kW/t

5.7 kg/hp

Overall

Fixed score

Fuel cost and annual usage

Estimate running costs from combined consumption, your annual distance, and the fuel price in your local currency.

Average annual distanceDistance unitFuel price in your local currencyPrice unit

Enter the fuel price in your local currency, for example €/L, $/gal, £/L or any other local currency.

LC = Local Currency

Fuel cost and annual usage
Vehicle	Alpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24V
Consumption	9.3 L/100 km25.3 mpg US30.4 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	16.28 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	26.19 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,395 L369 US gal307 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,441 LC/year