Car comparison

Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 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 (E46)

3.3 i 24V

280 hp3300 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan1999-2005

BMW 5 Series (E39)

540i V8

286 hp4398 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan1998-2000

Comparison overview

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

Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V

Quickest 0-100 km/h
5.7 s
Fastest top speed
266 km/h
165 mph
Lightest
1,450 kg
3,197 lb
Best power-to-weight
193 hp/t
144 kW/t
5.2 kg/hp
Lowest city consumption
16.1 L/100 km
14.6 mpg US
17.5 mpg UK
Lowest highway consumption
7.7 L/100 km
30.5 mpg US
36.7 mpg UK
Best economy score
78/100

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
68/100
Best performance score
65/100
Best practicality score
74/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V	BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8
Power	280hp209kW	286hp213kW
Torque	335Nm247lb-ft	440Nm325lb-ft
Curb weight	1,450kg3,197lb	1,630kg3,594lb
Gross weight	1,950kg4,299lb	2,170kg4,784lb
Top speed	266 km/h 165 mph	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated
To 99% top speed	56.8s99% target: 263 km/h / 164 mph Calculated	61.0s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	5.7s	6.2s
0-200 km/h	17.0s Calculated	18.5s Calculated
0-60 mph	5.5s Calculated	5.9s Calculated
Fuel consumption	10.8L/100 km21.8mpg US26.2mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption city	16.1L/100 km14.6mpg US17.5mpg UK	17.7L/100 km13.3mpg US16.0mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	7.7L/100 km30.5mpg US36.7mpg UK	8.9L/100 km26.4mpg US31.7mpg UK
Quarter mile	13.6s Calculated	14.1s Calculated
Power-to-weight	193hp/t144kW/t88hp/1000 lb Calculated	175hp/t131kW/t80hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	231Nm/t155lb-ft/ton Calculated	270Nm/t181lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	583km362mi Calculated	-
Displacement	3,300cc201cu in	4,398cc268cu in
Length	4,471mm176in	4,775mm188in
Width	1,739mm68in	1,800mm71in
Height	1,395mm55in	1,435mm56in
Wheelbase	2,725mm107in	2,830mm111in
Front track	1,471mm58in	1,512mm60in
Rear track	1,472mm58in	1,526mm60in
Trunk volume	440L	460L
Doors	4	4
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	63L	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 (E46) 3.3 i 24VBMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8PowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V	6,200 rpm	4,500 rpm	6,450 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 (E46)3.3 i 24V	BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	5.5 s	5.9 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	5.7 s	6.2 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	17.0 s	18.5 s
Top speed	266 km/h 165 mph	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.5 s	2.6 s
330 ft 101 m	6.2 s	6.5 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.1 s	9.5 s
1000 ft 305 m	11.6 s	12.0 s
1/4 mile 402 m	13.6 s	14.1 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	179 km/h 111 mph	174 km/h 108 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V	280 hp 209 kW
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW

BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8 has 6 hp more than Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V.

The biggest power difference is between Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V and BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8: 6 hp (4 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V	335 Nm 247 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 (E46)3.3 i 24V	1,450 kg 3,197 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 (E46)3.3 i 24V	266 km/h 165 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 (E46)3.3 i 24V	5.7 s
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	6.2 s

Although BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8 has more power, Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V is quicker from 0-100 km/h.

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V and BMW 5 Series (E39) 540i V8: 0.5 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 (E46)3.3 i 24V	193 hp/t 144 kW/t 5.2 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 (E46)3.3 i 24V	280 hp 209 kW	5.7 s	266 km/h 165 mph
BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW	6.2 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 (E46)3.3 i 24V

Power	280 hp 209 kW
0-100 km/h	5.7 s
Top speed 266 km/h 165 mph

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	440 L 15.5 cu ft
Length	4,471 mm 176.0 in
Height	1,395 mm 54.9 in

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

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V

BMW5 Series (E39)540i V8

Power

280 hp

209 kW

286 hp

213 kW

Torque

335 Nm

247 lb-ft

440 Nm

325 lb-ft

Acceleration

5.7 s

6.2 s

Top speed

266 km/h

165 mph

Unrestricted

265 km/h165 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

Lightness

1,450 kg

3,197 lb

1,630 kg

3,594 lb

Fuel consumption

10.8 L/100 km

21.8 mpg US

26.2 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	440 L 15.5 cu ft
Length	4,471 mm 176.0 in
Height	1,395 mm 54.9 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

583 km

362 mi

Trunk score

440 L

15.5 cu ft

460 L

16.2 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

193 hp/t

144 kW/t

5.2 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 (E46) 3.3 i 24V
Consumption	10.8 L/100 km21.8 mpg US26.2 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	18.90 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	30.42 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,620 L428 US gal356 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,835 LC/year