Car comparison

BMW 5 Series (E39) · Facelift 2000 540i V8vsAlpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V B3S

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

New comparison

BMW 5 Series (E39) · Facelift 2000

540i V8

286 hp4398 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan2000-2004

Alpina B3 (E46)

3.3 i 24V B3S

305 hp3346 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedSedan2003-2005

Comparison overview

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

BMW 5 Series (E39) Facelift 2000 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
Highest torque
440 Nm
325 lb-ft
Lowest city consumption
17.7 L/100 km
13.3 mpg US
16.0 mpg UK
Largest trunk
460 L
Best overall score
68/100
Best performance score
65/100
Best practicality score
74/100

Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V B3S

Most powerful
305 hp
227 kW
Lightest
1,450 kg
3,197 lb
Best power-to-weight
210 hp/t
157 kW/t
4.8 kg/hp
Lowest highway consumption
7.9 L/100 km
29.8 mpg US
35.8 mpg UK
Best economy score
76/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S
Power	286hp213kW	305hp227kW
Torque	440Nm325lb-ft	362Nm267lb-ft
Curb weight	1,585kg3,494lb	1,450kg3,197lb
Gross weight	2,170kg4,784lb	1,950kg4,299lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated	265 km/h 165 mph
To 99% top speed	60.4s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated	61.3s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.2s	6.3s
0-200 km/h	18.4s Calculated	18.7s Calculated
0-60 mph	5.9s Calculated	6.0s Calculated
Fuel consumption	-	11.6L/100 km20.3mpg US24.4mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	17.7L/100 km13.3mpg US16.0mpg UK	17.9L/100 km13.1mpg US15.8mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	8.9L/100 km26.4mpg US31.7mpg UK	7.9L/100 km29.8mpg US35.8mpg UK
Quarter mile	14.1s Calculated	14.2s Calculated
Power-to-weight	180hp/t135kW/t82hp/1000 lb Calculated	210hp/t157kW/t95hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	278Nm/t186lb-ft/ton Calculated	250Nm/t167lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	-	543km337mi Calculated
Displacement	4,398cc268cu in	3,346cc204cu in
Length	4,775mm188in	4,471mm176in
Width	1,800mm71in	1,739mm68in
Height	1,435mm56in	1,414mm56in
Wheelbase	2,830mm111in	2,725mm107in
Front track	1,512mm60in	1,471mm58in
Rear track	1,526mm60in	1,481mm58in
Ground clearance	120mm5in	-
Trunk volume	460L	440L
Doors	4	4
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	70L	63L

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) Facelift 2000 540i V8Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V B3SPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	5,400 rpm	3,600 rpm	5,650 rpm
AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S	6,300 rpm	4,800 rpm	6,550 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	5.9 s	6.0 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6.2 s	6.3 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	18.4 s	18.7 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited	265 km/h 165 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.6 s	2.7 s
330 ft 101 m	6.5 s	6.5 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.5 s	9.5 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.0 s	12.1 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.1 s	14.2 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	175 km/h 109 mph	174 km/h 108 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	286 hp 213 kW
AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S	305 hp 227 kW

Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V B3S has 19 hp more than BMW 5 Series (E39) Facelift 2000 540i V8.

The biggest power difference is between BMW 5 Series (E39) Facelift 2000 540i V8 and Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V B3S: 19 hp (14 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	440 Nm 325 lb-ft
AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S	362 Nm 267 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	1,585 kg 3,494 lb
AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S	1,450 kg 3,197 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)Facelift 2000540i V8	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S	265 km/h 165 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)Facelift 2000540i V8	6.2 s
AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S	6.3 s

Although Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V B3S has more power, BMW 5 Series (E39) Facelift 2000 540i V8 is quicker from 0-100 km/h.

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 5 Series (E39) Facelift 2000 540i V8 and Alpina B3 (E46) 3.3 i 24V B3S: 0.1 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)Facelift 2000540i V8	180 hp/t 135 kW/t 5.5 kg/hp
AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S	210 hp/t 157 kW/t 4.8 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)Facelift 2000540i V8	286 hp 213 kW	6.2 s	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S	305 hp 227 kW	6.3 s	265 km/h 165 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)Facelift 2000540i 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 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S

Power	305 hp 227 kW
0-100 km/h	6.3 s
Top speed 265 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	1,414 mm 55.7 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8

AlpinaB3 (E46)3.3 i 24V B3S

Power

286 hp

213 kW

305 hp

227 kW

Torque

440 Nm

325 lb-ft

362 Nm

267 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.2 s

6.3 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

265 km/h165 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

265 km/h

165 mph

Lightness

1,585 kg

3,494 lb

1,450 kg

3,197 lb

Fuel consumption

11.6 L/100 km

20.3 mpg US

24.4 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	440 L 15.5 cu ft
Length	4,471 mm 176.0 in
Height	1,414 mm 55.7 in

Range score

543 km

337 mi

Trunk score

460 L

16.2 cu ft

440 L

15.5 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

180 hp/t

135 kW/t

5.5 kg/hp

210 hp/t

157 kW/t

4.8 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 B3S
Consumption	11.6 L/100 km20.3 mpg US24.4 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	20.30 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	32.67 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,740 L460 US gal383 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	3,045 LC/year