Car comparison

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328ivsMercedes-Benz A124 300 CE-24 CAT

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

New comparison

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36)

328i

193 hp2793 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedCabriolet / convertible1995-1999

Mercedes-Benz A124

300 CE-24 CAT

220 hp2960 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedCabriolet / convertible1990-1993

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
Highest torque
280 Nm
207 lb-ft
Lightest
1,505 kg
3,318 lb
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 overall score
47/100
Best performance score
50/100
Best economy score
82/100

Mercedes-Benz A124 300 CE-24 CAT

Most powerful
220 hp
164 kW
Best power-to-weight
129 hp/t
96 kW/t
7.8 kg/hp
Best practicality score
48/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT
Power	193hp144kW	220hp164kW
Torque	280Nm207lb-ft	265Nm195lb-ft
Curb weight	1,505kg3,318lb	1,710kg3,770lb
Gross weight	1,830kg4,034lb	2,160kg4,762lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph Calculated	230 km/h 143 mph
To 99% top speed	98.8s99% target: 238 km/h / 148 mph Calculated	116.4s99% target: 228 km/h / 141 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	7.7s	8.8s
0-200 km/h	32.2s Calculated	42.5s Calculated
0-60 mph	7.3s Calculated	8.3s Calculated
Fuel consumption	9.3L/100 km25.3mpg US30.4mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption city	13.5L/100 km17.4mpg US20.9mpg UK	14.7L/100 km16mpg US19.2mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	6.8L/100 km34.6mpg US41.5mpg UK	9.3L/100 km25.3mpg US30.4mpg UK
Quarter mile	15.5s Calculated	16.3s Calculated
Power-to-weight	128hp/t96kW/t58hp/1000 lb Calculated	129hp/t96kW/t58hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	186Nm/t124lb-ft/ton Calculated	155Nm/t104lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	667km414mi Calculated	-
Displacement	2,793cc170cu in	2,960cc181cu in
Length	4,435mm175in	4,655mm183in
Width	1,710mm67in	1,740mm69in
Height	1,350mm53in	1,391mm55in
Wheelbase	2,700mm106in	2,715mm107in
Front track	1,410mm56in	1,501mm59in
Rear track	1,420mm56in	1,491mm59in
Ground clearance	110mm4in	-
Trunk volume	230L	-
Doors	2	2
Seats	4	4
Fuel tank	62L	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.

BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328iMercedes-Benz A124 300 CE-24 CATPowerTorque

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
Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT	6,400 rpm	4,600 rpm	6,650 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	7.3 s	8.3 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	7.7 s	8.8 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	32.2 s	42.5 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph Likely limited	230 km/h 143 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.5 s	2.6 s
330 ft 101 m	6.8 s	7.0 s
1/8 mile 201 m	10.2 s	10.6 s
1000 ft 305 m	13.1 s	13.7 s
1/4 mile 402 m	15.5 s	16.3 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	149 km/h 93 mph	140 km/h 87 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
Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT	220 hp 164 kW

Mercedes-Benz A124 300 CE-24 CAT has 27 hp more than BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328i.

The biggest power difference is between BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328i and Mercedes-Benz A124 300 CE-24 CAT: 27 hp (20 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
Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT	265 Nm 195 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
Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT	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
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph
Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT	230 km/h 143 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
Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT	8.8 s

Although Mercedes-Benz A124 300 CE-24 CAT has more power, BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328i is quicker from 0-100 km/h.

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328i and Mercedes-Benz A124 300 CE-24 CAT: 1.1 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i	128 hp/t 96 kW/t 7.8 kg/hp
Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT	129 hp/t 96 kW/t 7.8 kg/hp

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
Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT	220 hp 164 kW	8.8 s	230 km/h 143 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

Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT

Power	220 hp 164 kW
0-100 km/h	8.8 s
Top speed 230 km/h 143 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 4 seats
Trunk	-
Length	4,655 mm 183.3 in
Height	1,391 mm 54.8 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW3 Series Convertible (E36)328i

Mercedes-BenzA124300 CE-24 CAT

Power

193 hp

144 kW

220 hp

164 kW

Torque

280 Nm

207 lb-ft

265 Nm

195 lb-ft

Acceleration

7.7 s

8.8 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

240 km/h149 mph

Restricted

230 km/h143 mph

230 km/h

143 mph

Lightness

1,505 kg

3,318 lb

1,710 kg

3,770 lb

Fuel consumption

9.3 L/100 km

25.3 mpg US

30.4 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	2 doors 4 seats
Trunk	-
Length	4,655 mm 183.3 in
Height	1,391 mm 54.8 in

Range score

667 km

414 mi

Trunk score

230 L

8.1 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

128 hp/t

96 kW/t

7.8 kg/hp

129 hp/t

96 kW/t

7.8 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	BMW 3 Series Convertible (E36) 328i
Consumption	9.3 L/100 km25.3 mpg US30.4 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	16.28 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	26.19 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,395 L369 US gal307 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,441 LC/year