Car comparison

Alpina B3 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24VvsBMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8

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

New comparison

Alpina B3 Touring (E46)

3.3 i 24V

280 hp3300 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedWagon / estate2000-2006

BMW 5 Series Touring (E39)

540i V8

286 hp4398 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedWagon / estate1998-2000

Comparison overview

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

Alpina B3 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24V

Quickest 0-100 km/h
6.1 s
Fastest top speed
262 km/h
163 mph
Lightest
1,620 kg
3,571 lb
Best power-to-weight
173 hp/t
129 kW/t
5.8 kg/hp
Lowest city consumption
16.1 L/100 km
14.6 mpg US
17.5 mpg UK
Lowest highway consumption
7.8 L/100 km
30.2 mpg US
36.2 mpg UK
Largest trunk
435 L
Best economy score
77/100
Best practicality score
81/100

BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8

Most powerful
286 hp
213 kW
Highest torque
440 Nm
325 lb-ft
Best overall score
68/100
Best performance score
62/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V	BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8
Power	280hp209kW	286hp213kW
Torque	335Nm247lb-ft	440Nm325lb-ft
Curb weight	1,620kg3,571lb	1,740kg3,836lb
Gross weight	-	2,280kg5,027lb
Top speed	262 km/h 163 mph	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated
To 99% top speed	64.4s99% target: 259 km/h / 161 mph Calculated	70.3s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.1s	6.7s
0-200 km/h	19.2s Calculated	21.3s Calculated
0-60 mph	5.8s Calculated	6.4s Calculated
Fuel consumption	11L/100 km21.4mpg US25.7mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption city	16.1L/100 km14.6mpg US17.5mpg UK	17.6L/100 km13.4mpg US16.1mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	7.8L/100 km30.2mpg US36.2mpg UK	9.7L/100 km24.2mpg US29.1mpg UK
Quarter mile	14.1s Calculated	14.6s Calculated
Power-to-weight	173hp/t129kW/t78hp/1000 lb Calculated	164hp/t123kW/t75hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	207Nm/t138lb-ft/ton Calculated	253Nm/t169lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	573km356mi Calculated	-
Displacement	3,300cc201cu in	4,398cc268cu in
Length	4,478mm176in	4,805mm189in
Width	1,739mm68in	1,800mm71in
Height	1,409mm55in	1,440mm57in
Wheelbase	2,725mm107in	2,830mm111in
Front track	1,471mm58in	1,512mm60in
Rear track	1,481mm58in	1,522mm60in
Trunk volume	435L	410L
Max trunk volume	1,345L	1,525L
Doors	5	5
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 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24VBMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8PowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V	6,200 rpm	4,500 rpm	6,450 rpm
BMW5 Series Touring (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 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V	BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	5.8 s	6.4 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6.1 s	6.7 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	19.2 s	21.3 s
Top speed	262 km/h 163 mph	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 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	6.4 s	6.6 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.4 s	9.8 s
1000 ft 305 m	11.9 s	12.4 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.1 s	14.6 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	172 km/h 107 mph	167 km/h 104 mph

Power comparison

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

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

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

The biggest power difference is between Alpina B3 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24V and BMW 5 Series Touring (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 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V	335 Nm 247 lb-ft
BMW5 Series Touring (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 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V	1,620 kg 3,571 lb
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	1,740 kg 3,836 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 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V	262 km/h 163 mph
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 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 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V	6.1 s
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	6.7 s

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

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between Alpina B3 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24V and BMW 5 Series Touring (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 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V	173 hp/t 129 kW/t 5.8 kg/hp
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	164 hp/t 123 kW/t 6.1 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V	280 hp 209 kW	6.1 s	262 km/h 163 mph
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW	6.7 s	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 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 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V

Power	280 hp 209 kW
0-100 km/h	6.1 s
Top speed 262 km/h 163 mph

Doors/seats	5 doors 5 seats
Trunk	435 L 15.4 cu ft
Length	4,478 mm 176.3 in
Height	1,409 mm 55.5 in

BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8

Power	286 hp 213 kW
0-100 km/h	6.7 s
Top speed Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Doors/seats	5 doors 5 seats
Trunk	410 L 14.5 cu ft
Length	4,805 mm 189.2 in
Height	1,440 mm 56.7 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V

BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8

Power

280 hp

209 kW

286 hp

213 kW

Torque

335 Nm

247 lb-ft

440 Nm

325 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.1 s

6.7 s

Top speed

262 km/h

163 mph

Unrestricted

260 km/h162 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

Lightness

1,620 kg

3,571 lb

1,740 kg

3,836 lb

Fuel consumption

11.0 L/100 km

21.4 mpg US

25.7 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	5 doors 5 seats
Trunk	435 L 15.4 cu ft
Length	4,478 mm 176.3 in
Height	1,409 mm 55.5 in

Doors/seats	5 doors 5 seats
Trunk	410 L 14.5 cu ft
Length	4,805 mm 189.2 in
Height	1,440 mm 56.7 in

Range score

573 km

356 mi

Trunk score

435 L

15.4 cu ft

410 L

14.5 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

173 hp/t

129 kW/t

5.8 kg/hp

164 hp/t

123 kW/t

6.1 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 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24V
Consumption	11 L/100 km21.4 mpg US25.7 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	19.25 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	30.98 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,650 L436 US gal363 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,888 LC/year