Car comparison

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328ivsBMW 3 Series Compact (E46) 325ti

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

New comparison

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36)

328i

193 hp2793 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedCabriolet / convertible1995-1999

BMW 3 Series Compact (E46)

325ti

192 hp2494 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedHatchback2001-2005

Comparison overview

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

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328i

Quickest 0-100 km/h
7.7 s
Fastest top speed
240 km/h
149 mph Unrestricted
230 km/h
143 mph Restricted
Most powerful
193 hp
144 kW
Highest torque
280 Nm
207 lb-ft
Lowest combined fuel consumption
9.3 L/100 km
25.3 mpg US
30.4 mpg UK
Lowest city consumption
13.5 L/100 km
17.4 mpg US
20.9 mpg UK
Lowest highway consumption
6.8 L/100 km
34.6 mpg US
41.5 mpg UK
Best estimated range
667 km
414 mi
Best performance score
50/100
Best economy score
82/100

BMW 3 Series Compact (E46) 325ti

Lightest
1,405 kg
3,097 lb
Best power-to-weight
137 hp/t
102 kW/t
7.3 kg/hp
Largest trunk
310 L
Best overall score
53/100
Best practicality score
65/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti
Power	193hp144kW	192hp143kW
Torque	280Nm207lb-ft	245Nm181lb-ft
Curb weight	1,505kg3,318lb	1,405kg3,097lb
Gross weight	1,830kg4,034lb	1,905kg4,200lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph Calculated	232 km/h 144 mph
To 99% top speed	98.5s99% target: 238 km/h / 148 mph Calculated	92.1s99% target: 230 km/h / 143 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	7.7s	8.2s
0-200 km/h	32.1s Calculated	34.9s Calculated
0-60 mph	7.3s Calculated	7.8s Calculated
Fuel consumption	9.3L/100 km25.3mpg US30.4mpg UK	9.5L/100 km24.8mpg US29.7mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	13.5L/100 km17.4mpg US20.9mpg UK	13.5L/100 km17.4mpg US20.9mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	6.8L/100 km34.6mpg US41.5mpg UK	7.3L/100 km32.2mpg US38.7mpg UK
Quarter mile	15.5s Calculated	15.9s Calculated
Power-to-weight	128hp/t96kW/t58hp/1000 lb Calculated	137hp/t102kW/t62hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	186Nm/t124lb-ft/ton Calculated	174Nm/t117lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	667km414mi Calculated	663km412mi Calculated
Displacement	2,793cc170cu in	2,494cc152cu in
Length	4,435mm175in	4,262mm168in
Width	1,710mm67in	1,751mm69in
Height	1,350mm53in	1,408mm55in
Wheelbase	2,700mm106in	2,725mm107in
Front track	1,410mm56in	1,474mm58in
Rear track	1,420mm56in	1,483mm58in
Ground clearance	110mm4in	-
Trunk volume	230L	310L
Max trunk volume	-	1,100L
Doors	2	3
Seats	4	5
Fuel tank	62L	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 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328iBMW 3 Series Compact (E46) 325tiPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	5,500 rpm	3,500 rpm	5,750 rpm
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	6,000 rpm	3,500 rpm	6,250 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	7.3 s	7.8 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	7.7 s	8.2 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	32.1 s	34.9 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph Likely limited	232 km/h 144 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.5 s	2.7 s
330 ft 101 m	6.8 s	7.0 s
1/8 mile 201 m	10.2 s	10.5 s
1000 ft 305 m	13.1 s	13.4 s
1/4 mile 402 m	15.5 s	15.9 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	149 km/h 93 mph	147 km/h 91 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	193 hp 144 kW
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	192 hp 143 kW

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328i has 1 hp more than BMW 3 Series Compact (E46) 325ti.

The biggest power difference is between BMW 3 Series Compact (E46) 325ti and BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328i: 1 hp (1 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	280 Nm 207 lb-ft
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	245 Nm 181 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	1,505 kg 3,318 lb
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	1,405 kg 3,097 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
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	232 km/h 144 mph

0-100 km/h comparison

Bar comparison chart for 0-100 km/h. Lower is better · seconds

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	7.7 s
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	8.2 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328i and BMW 3 Series Compact (E46) 325ti: 0.5 s.

Fuel consumption comparison

Bar comparison chart for Fuel consumption. Lower is better · L/100 km / mpg US / mpg UK

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	9.3 L/100 km 25.3 mpg US 30.4 mpg UK
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	9.5 L/100 km 24.8 mpg US 29.7 mpg UK

Power-to-weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power-to-weight. Higher is better · hp/t / kW/t

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	128 hp/t 96 kW/t 7.8 kg/hp
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	137 hp/t 102 kW/t 7.3 kg/hp

Estimated range comparison

Bar comparison chart for Estimated range. Higher is better · km / mi

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	667 km 414 mi
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	663 km 412 mi

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	193 hp 144 kW	7.7 s	Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	192 hp 143 kW	8.2 s	232 km/h 144 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

BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i

Power	193 hp 144 kW
0-100 km/h	7.7 s
Top speed Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 4 seats
Trunk	230 L 8.1 cu ft
Length	4,435 mm 174.6 in
Height	1,350 mm 53.1 in

BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti

Power	192 hp 143 kW
0-100 km/h	8.2 s
Top speed 232 km/h 144 mph

Doors/seats	3 doors 5 seats
Trunk	310 L 10.9 cu ft
Length	4,262 mm 167.8 in
Height	1,408 mm 55.4 in

Performance vs fuel economy

Cars closer to the top-right corner combine stronger performance with better fuel economy scores.

Vehicle

Performance score

Fuel economy score

BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i

Power	193 hp 144 kW
0-100 km/h	7.7 s
Top speed Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph

9.3 L/100 km

25.3 mpg US

30.4 mpg UK

BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti

Power	192 hp 143 kW
0-100 km/h	8.2 s
Top speed 232 km/h 144 mph

9.5 L/100 km

24.8 mpg US

29.7 mpg UK

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328i is closest to the top-right balance target for performance and fuel economy.

Acceleration vs fuel consumption

Cars closer to the lower-left corner offer a better mix of quick acceleration and low fuel consumption.

Acceleration vs fuel consumption data table
Vehicle	Fuel consumption, L/100 km	0-100 km/h, s
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	9.3 L/100 km 25.3 mpg US 30.4 mpg UK	7.7 s
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	9.5 L/100 km 24.8 mpg US 29.7 mpg UK	8.2 s

Power-to-weight vs fuel consumption

The shaded area favors higher power-to-weight with lower combined fuel consumption.

Power-to-weight vs fuel consumption data table
Vehicle	Power-to-weight, hp/t	Fuel consumption, L/100 km
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	128 hp/t 96 kW/t 7.8 kg/hp	9.3 L/100 km 25.3 mpg US 30.4 mpg UK
BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti	137 hp/t 102 kW/t 7.3 kg/hp	9.5 L/100 km 24.8 mpg US 29.7 mpg UK

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i

BMW3 Series Compact (E46)325ti

Power

193 hp

144 kW

192 hp

143 kW

Torque

280 Nm

207 lb-ft

245 Nm

181 lb-ft

Acceleration

7.7 s

8.2 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

240 km/h149 mph

Restricted

230 km/h143 mph

232 km/h

144 mph

Lightness

1,505 kg

3,318 lb

1,405 kg

3,097 lb

Fuel consumption

9.3 L/100 km

25.3 mpg US

30.4 mpg UK

9.5 L/100 km

24.8 mpg US

29.7 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	2 doors 4 seats
Trunk	230 L 8.1 cu ft
Length	4,435 mm 174.6 in
Height	1,350 mm 53.1 in

Doors/seats	3 doors 5 seats
Trunk	310 L 10.9 cu ft
Length	4,262 mm 167.8 in
Height	1,408 mm 55.4 in

Range score

667 km

414 mi

663 km

412 mi

Trunk score

230 L

8.1 cu ft

310 L

10.9 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

128 hp/t

96 kW/t

7.8 kg/hp

137 hp/t

102 kW/t

7.3 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 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328i	BMW 3 Series Compact (E46) 325ti
Consumption	9.3 L/100 km25.3 mpg US30.4 mpg UK	9.5 L/100 km24.8 mpg US29.7 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	16.28 LC100 km	16.63 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	26.19 LC100 mi	26.76 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,395 L369 US gal307 UK gal	1,425 L376 US gal313 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,441 LC/year	2,494 LC/year