Car comparison

BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8vsAlpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24V

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

New comparison

BMW 5 Series (E39)

540i V8

286 hp4398 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan1998-2000

Alpina B3 (E36)

3.2 i 24V

265 hp3152 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedSedan1996-1999

Comparison overview

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

BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8

Quickest 0-100 km/h
6.2 s
Fastest top speed
265 km/h
165 mph Unrestricted
250 km/h
155 mph Restricted
Most powerful
286 hp
213 kW
Highest torque
440 Nm
325 lb-ft
Largest trunk
460 L
Best overall score
68/100
Best performance score
65/100
Best practicality score
74/100

Alpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24V

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	BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V
Power	286hp213kW	265hp198kW
Torque	440Nm325lb-ft	330Nm243lb-ft
Curb weight	1,630kg3,594lb	1,330kg2,932lb
Gross weight	2,170kg4,784lb	1,850kg4,079lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated	247 km/h 153 mph
To 99% top speed	61.0s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated	56.3s99% target: 245 km/h / 152 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.2s	6.4s
0-200 km/h	18.5s Calculated	20.4s Calculated
0-60 mph	5.9s Calculated	6.1s Calculated
Fuel consumption	-	9.3L/100 km25.3mpg US30.4mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	17.7L/100 km13.3mpg US16.0mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption highway	8.9L/100 km26.4mpg US31.7mpg UK	-
Quarter mile	14.1s Calculated	14.3s Calculated
Power-to-weight	175hp/t131kW/t80hp/1000 lb Calculated	199hp/t149kW/t90hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	270Nm/t181lb-ft/ton Calculated	248Nm/t166lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	-	667km414mi Calculated
Displacement	4,398cc268cu in	3,152cc192cu in
Length	4,775mm188in	4,433mm175in
Width	1,800mm71in	1,698mm67in
Height	1,435mm56in	1,373mm54in
Wheelbase	2,830mm111in	2,700mm106in
Front track	1,512mm60in	1,410mm56in
Rear track	1,526mm60in	1,423mm56in
Trunk volume	460L	435L
Doors	4	4
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	70L	62L

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.

BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8Alpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24VPowerTorque

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

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	5.9 s	6.1 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6.2 s	6.4 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	18.5 s	20.4 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited	247 km/h 153 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.6 s	2.7 s
330 ft 101 m	6.5 s	6.6 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.5 s	9.6 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.0 s	12.2 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.1 s	14.3 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	174 km/h 108 mph	170 km/h 106 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	265 hp 198 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
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	440 Nm 325 lb-ft
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	330 Nm 243 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	1,630 kg 3,594 lb
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	1,330 kg 2,932 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
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	247 km/h 153 mph

0-100 km/h comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	6.2 s
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	6.4 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8 and Alpina B3 (E36) 3.2 i 24V: 0.2 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

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

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

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW	6.2 s	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V	265 hp 198 kW	6.4 s	247 km/h 153 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

BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8

Power	286 hp 213 kW
0-100 km/h	6.2 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

AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V

Power	265 hp 198 kW
0-100 km/h	6.4 s
Top speed 247 km/h 153 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

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8

AlpinaB3 (E36)3.2 i 24V

Power

286 hp

213 kW

265 hp

198 kW

Torque

440 Nm

325 lb-ft

330 Nm

243 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.2 s

6.4 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

265 km/h165 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

247 km/h

153 mph

Lightness

1,630 kg

3,594 lb

1,330 kg

2,932 lb

Fuel consumption

9.3 L/100 km

25.3 mpg US

30.4 mpg UK

Practicality

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

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

Range score

667 km

414 mi

Trunk score

460 L

16.2 cu ft

435 L

15.4 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

175 hp/t

131 kW/t

5.7 kg/hp

199 hp/t

149 kW/t

5.0 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