Car comparison

BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8vsAlpina B3 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad

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

New comparison

BMW 5 Series Touring (E39)

540i V8

286 hp4398 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedWagon / estate1998-2000

Alpina B3 Touring (E46)

3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad

280 hp3300 ccGasolineAWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedWagon / estate2001-2006

Comparison overview

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

BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8

Quickest 0-100 km/h
6.7 s
Fastest top speed
260 km/h
162 mph Unrestricted
250 km/h
155 mph Restricted
Most powerful
286 hp
213 kW
Highest torque
440 Nm
325 lb-ft
Best overall score
68/100
Best performance score
62/100
Best practicality score
81/100

Alpina B3 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad

Lightest
1,630 kg
3,594 lb
Best power-to-weight
172 hp/t
128 kW/t
5.8 kg/hp
Lowest city consumption
17.3 L/100 km
13.6 mpg US
16.3 mpg UK
Lowest highway consumption
8.5 L/100 km
27.7 mpg US
33.2 mpg UK
Largest trunk
435 L
Best economy score
75/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad
Power	286hp213kW	280hp209kW
Torque	440Nm325lb-ft	335Nm247lb-ft
Curb weight	1,740kg3,836lb	1,630kg3,594lb
Gross weight	2,280kg5,027lb	2,130kg4,696lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated	252 km/h 157 mph
To 99% top speed	70.3s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph Calculated	72.2s99% target: 249 km/h / 155 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.7s	7.2s
0-200 km/h	21.3s Calculated	23.6s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.4s Calculated	6.9s Calculated
Fuel consumption	-	11.7L/100 km20.1mpg US24.1mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	17.6L/100 km13.4mpg US16.1mpg UK	17.3L/100 km13.6mpg US16.3mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	9.7L/100 km24.2mpg US29.1mpg UK	8.5L/100 km27.7mpg US33.2mpg UK
Quarter mile	14.6s Calculated	15.1s Calculated
Power-to-weight	164hp/t123kW/t75hp/1000 lb Calculated	172hp/t128kW/t78hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	253Nm/t169lb-ft/ton Calculated	206Nm/t138lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	-	538km335mi Calculated
Displacement	4,398cc268cu in	3,300cc201cu in
Length	4,805mm189in	4,478mm176in
Width	1,800mm71in	1,739mm68in
Height	1,440mm57in	1,409mm55in
Wheelbase	2,830mm111in	2,725mm107in
Front track	1,512mm60in	1,471mm58in
Rear track	1,522mm60in	1,481mm58in
Trunk volume	410L	435L
Max trunk volume	1,525L	1,345L
Doors	5	5
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 Touring (E39) 540i V8Alpina B3 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24V Switchtronic AllradPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	5,400 rpm	3,600 rpm	5,650 rpm
AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad	6,200 rpm	4,500 rpm	6,450 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	6.4 s	6.9 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6.7 s	7.2 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	21.3 s	23.6 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited	252 km/h 157 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.6 s	2.7 s
330 ft 101 m	6.6 s	6.8 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.8 s	10.1 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.4 s	12.8 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.6 s	15.1 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	167 km/h 104 mph	162 km/h 100 mph

Power comparison

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

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

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

The biggest power difference is between Alpina B3 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad 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
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	440 Nm 325 lb-ft
AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad	335 Nm 247 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	1,740 kg 3,836 lb
AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad	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
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad	252 km/h 157 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 Touring (E39)540i V8	6.7 s
AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad	7.2 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8 and Alpina B3 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad: 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
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	164 hp/t 123 kW/t 6.1 kg/hp
AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad	172 hp/t 128 kW/t 5.8 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW	6.7 s	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad	280 hp 209 kW	7.2 s	252 km/h 157 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 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

AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad

Power	280 hp 209 kW
0-100 km/h	7.2 s
Top speed 252 km/h 157 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

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8

AlpinaB3 Touring (E46)3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad

Power

286 hp

213 kW

280 hp

209 kW

Torque

440 Nm

325 lb-ft

335 Nm

247 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.7 s

7.2 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

260 km/h162 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

252 km/h

157 mph

Lightness

1,740 kg

3,836 lb

1,630 kg

3,594 lb

Fuel consumption

11.7 L/100 km

20.1 mpg US

24.1 mpg UK

Practicality

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

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

Range score

538 km

335 mi

Trunk score

410 L

14.5 cu ft

435 L

15.4 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

164 hp/t

123 kW/t

6.1 kg/hp

172 hp/t

128 kW/t

5.8 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 Touring (E46) 3.3 i 24V Switchtronic Allrad
Consumption	11.7 L/100 km20.1 mpg US24.1 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	20.47 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	32.95 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,755 L464 US gal386 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	3,071 LC/year