Car comparison

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) · Facelift 2003 330CivsBMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328i

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

New comparison

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) · Facelift 2003

330Ci

231 hp2979 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedCoupe2003-2006

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36)

328i

193 hp2793 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedCoupe1995-1999

Comparison overview

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

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330Ci

Quickest 0-100 km/h
6.5 s
Fastest top speed
260 km/h
162 mph Unrestricted
250 km/h
155 mph Restricted
Most powerful
231 hp
172 kW
Highest torque
300 Nm
221 lb-ft
Best power-to-weight
162 hp/t
120 kW/t
6.2 kg/hp
Lowest city consumption
12.8 L/100 km
18.4 mpg US
22.1 mpg UK
Largest trunk
410 L
Best overall score
57/100
Best performance score
58/100
Best economy score
82/100
Best practicality score
56/100

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328i

Lightest
1,395 kg
3,075 lb
Lowest highway consumption
6.7 L/100 km
35.1 mpg US
42.2 mpg UK

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i
Power	231hp172kW	193hp144kW
Torque	300Nm221lb-ft	280Nm207lb-ft
Curb weight	1,430kg3,153lb	1,395kg3,075lb
Gross weight	1,920kg4,233lb	1,780kg3,924lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated	236 km/h 147 mph
To 99% top speed	90.5s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph Calculated	88.7s99% target: 234 km/h / 145 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.5s	7.3s
0-200 km/h	23.7s Calculated	30.9s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.2s Calculated	6.9s Calculated
Fuel consumption	9.1L/100 km25.8mpg US31.0mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption city	12.8L/100 km18.4mpg US22.1mpg UK	13.5L/100 km17.4mpg US20.9mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	6.9L/100 km34.1mpg US40.9mpg UK	6.7L/100 km35.1mpg US42.2mpg UK
Quarter mile	14.5s Calculated	15.2s Calculated
Power-to-weight	162hp/t120kW/t73hp/1000 lb Calculated	138hp/t103kW/t63hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	210Nm/t140lb-ft/ton Calculated	201Nm/t134lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	692km430mi Calculated	-
Displacement	2,979cc182cu in	2,793cc170cu in
Length	4,488mm177in	4,433mm175in
Width	1,757mm69in	1,710mm67in
Height	1,369mm54in	1,366mm54in
Wheelbase	2,725mm107in	2,700mm106in
Front track	1,471mm58in	1,408mm55in
Rear track	1,483mm58in	1,421mm56in
Trunk volume	410L	405L
Doors	2	2
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	63L	65L

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 Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330CiBMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328iPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	5,900 rpm	3,500 rpm	6,150 rpm
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	5,300 rpm	3,950 rpm	5,550 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	6.2 s	6.9 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6.5 s	7.3 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	23.7 s	30.9 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Limited	236 km/h 147 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.4 s	2.5 s
330 ft 101 m	6.4 s	6.6 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.5 s	10.0 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.3 s	12.8 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.5 s	15.2 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	161 km/h 100 mph	152 km/h 94 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	231 hp 172 kW
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	193 hp 144 kW

BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330Ci has 38 hp more than BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328i.

The biggest power difference is between BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328i and BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330Ci: 38 hp (28 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	300 Nm 221 lb-ft
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	280 Nm 207 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	1,430 kg 3,153 lb
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	1,395 kg 3,075 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 Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	236 km/h 147 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 Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	6.5 s
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	7.3 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 3 Series Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330Ci and BMW 3 Series Coupe (E36) 328i: 0.8 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	162 hp/t 120 kW/t 6.2 kg/hp
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	138 hp/t 103 kW/t 7.2 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci	231 hp 172 kW	6.5 s	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i	193 hp 144 kW	7.3 s	236 km/h 147 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 Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci

Power	231 hp 172 kW
0-100 km/h	6.5 s
Top speed Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 5 seats
Trunk	410 L 14.5 cu ft
Length	4,488 mm 176.7 in
Height	1,369 mm 53.9 in

BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i

Power	193 hp 144 kW
0-100 km/h	7.3 s
Top speed 236 km/h 147 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 5 seats
Trunk	405 L 14.3 cu ft
Length	4,433 mm 174.5 in
Height	1,366 mm 53.8 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW3 Series Coupe (E46)Facelift 2003330Ci

BMW3 Series Coupe (E36)328i

Power

231 hp

172 kW

193 hp

144 kW

Torque

300 Nm

221 lb-ft

280 Nm

207 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.5 s

7.3 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

260 km/h162 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

236 km/h

147 mph

Lightness

1,430 kg

3,153 lb

1,395 kg

3,075 lb

Fuel consumption

9.1 L/100 km

25.8 mpg US

31.0 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	2 doors 5 seats
Trunk	410 L 14.5 cu ft
Length	4,488 mm 176.7 in
Height	1,369 mm 53.9 in

Doors/seats	2 doors 5 seats
Trunk	405 L 14.3 cu ft
Length	4,433 mm 174.5 in
Height	1,366 mm 53.8 in

Range score

692 km

430 mi

Trunk score

410 L

14.5 cu ft

405 L

14.3 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

162 hp/t

120 kW/t

6.2 kg/hp

138 hp/t

103 kW/t

7.2 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 Coupe (E46) Facelift 2003 330Ci
Consumption	9.1 L/100 km25.8 mpg US31 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	15.92 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	25.63 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,365 L361 US gal300 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,389 LC/year