Car comparison

BMW 5 Series (E34) 540i V8vsAUDI V8 (D11) 4.2

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

New comparison

BMW 5 Series (E34)

540i V8

286 hp3982 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedSedan1992-1995

AUDI V8 (D11)

4.2

280 hp4172 ccGasolineAWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan1991-1993

Comparison overview

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

BMW 5 Series (E34) 540i V8

Quickest 0-100 km/h
6.8 s
Fastest top speed
265 km/h
165 mph Unrestricted
250 km/h
155 mph Restricted
Most powerful
286 hp
213 kW
Highest torque
400 Nm
295 lb-ft
Lightest
1,605 kg
3,538 lb
Best power-to-weight
178 hp/t
133 kW/t
5.6 kg/hp
Best overall score
66/100
Best performance score
62/100
Best economy score
76/100

AUDI V8 (D11) 4.2

Largest trunk
570 L
Best practicality score
78/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	AUDIV8 (D11)4.2
Power	286hp213kW	280hp209kW
Torque	400Nm295lb-ft	400Nm295lb-ft
Curb weight	1,605kg3,538lb	1,710kg3,770lb
Gross weight	2,115kg4,663lb	2,310kg5,093lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated	249 km/h 155 mph
To 99% top speed	65.7s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated	69.8s99% target: 247 km/h / 153 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.8s	6.8s
0-200 km/h	20.1s Calculated	23.1s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.5s Calculated	6.5s Calculated
Fuel consumption	11.4L/100 km20.6mpg US24.8mpg UK	-
Quarter mile	14.6s Calculated	14.7s Calculated
Power-to-weight	178hp/t133kW/t81hp/1000 lb Calculated	164hp/t122kW/t74hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	249Nm/t167lb-ft/ton Calculated	234Nm/t157lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	702km436mi Calculated	-
Displacement	3,982cc243cu in	4,172cc255cu in
Length	4,720mm186in	4,874mm192in
Width	1,751mm69in	1,814mm71in
Height	1,412mm56in	1,420mm56in
Wheelbase	2,761mm109in	2,702mm106in
Front track	1,470mm58in	1,514mm60in
Rear track	1,495mm59in	1,531mm60in
Trunk volume	460L	570L
Doors	4	4
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	80L	80L

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 (E34) 540i V8AUDI V8 (D11) 4.2PowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	5,800 rpm	4,500 rpm	6,050 rpm
AUDIV8 (D11)4.2	5,800 rpm	4,000 rpm	6,050 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	AUDIV8 (D11)4.2
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	6.5 s	6.5 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6.8 s	6.8 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	20.1 s	23.1 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited	249 km/h 155 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.8 s	2.6 s
330 ft 101 m	6.8 s	6.6 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.9 s	9.8 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.5 s	12.5 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.6 s	14.7 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	170 km/h 105 mph	163 km/h 101 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW
AUDIV8 (D11)4.2	280 hp 209 kW

BMW 5 Series (E34) 540i V8 has 6 hp more than AUDI V8 (D11) 4.2.

The biggest power difference is between AUDI V8 (D11) 4.2 and BMW 5 Series (E34) 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 (E34)540i V8	400 Nm 295 lb-ft
AUDIV8 (D11)4.2	400 Nm 295 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	1,605 kg 3,538 lb
AUDIV8 (D11)4.2	1,710 kg 3,770 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 (E34)540i V8	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
AUDIV8 (D11)4.2	249 km/h 155 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 (E34)540i V8	6.8 s
AUDIV8 (D11)4.2	6.8 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 (E34)540i V8	178 hp/t 133 kW/t 5.6 kg/hp
AUDIV8 (D11)4.2	164 hp/t 122 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
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW	6.8 s	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
AUDIV8 (D11)4.2	280 hp 209 kW	6.8 s	249 km/h 155 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 (E34)540i V8

Power	286 hp 213 kW
0-100 km/h	6.8 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	4,720 mm 185.8 in
Height	1,412 mm 55.6 in

AUDIV8 (D11)4.2

Power	280 hp 209 kW
0-100 km/h	6.8 s
Top speed 249 km/h 155 mph

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	570 L 20.1 cu ft
Length	4,874 mm 191.9 in
Height	1,420 mm 55.9 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8

AUDIV8 (D11)4.2

Power

286 hp

213 kW

280 hp

209 kW

Torque

400 Nm

295 lb-ft

400 Nm

295 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.8 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

265 km/h165 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

249 km/h

155 mph

Lightness

1,605 kg

3,538 lb

1,710 kg

3,770 lb

Fuel consumption

11.4 L/100 km

20.6 mpg US

24.8 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,720 mm 185.8 in
Height	1,412 mm 55.6 in

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	570 L 20.1 cu ft
Length	4,874 mm 191.9 in
Height	1,420 mm 55.9 in

Range score

702 km

436 mi

Trunk score

460 L

16.2 cu ft

570 L

20.1 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

178 hp/t

133 kW/t

5.6 kg/hp

164 hp/t

122 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	BMW 5 Series (E34) 540i V8
Consumption	11.4 L/100 km20.6 mpg US24.8 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	19.95 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	32.11 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,710 L452 US gal376 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,993 LC/year