Car comparison

BMW 3 Series Touring (E46) 330xivsBMW 3 Series Sedan (E36) 328i

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

New comparison

BMW 3 Series Touring (E46)

330xi

231 hp2979 ccGasolineAWDManualNaturally aspiratedWagon / estate2000-2001

BMW 3 Series Sedan (E36)

328i

193 hp2793 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedSedan1995-1999

Comparison overview

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

BMW 3 Series Touring (E46) 330xi

Quickest 0-100 km/h
6.8 s
Fastest top speed
243 km/h
151 mph
Most powerful
231 hp
172 kW
Highest torque
300 Nm
221 lb-ft
Best power-to-weight
139 hp/t
103 kW/t
7.2 kg/hp
Largest trunk
435 L
Best overall score
63/100
Best performance score
55/100
Best practicality score
81/100

BMW 3 Series Sedan (E36) 328i

Lightest
1,395 kg
3,075 lb
Best economy score
84/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW3 Series Touring (E46)330xi	BMW3 Series Sedan (E36)328i
Power	231hp172kW	193hp144kW
Torque	300Nm221lb-ft	280Nm207lb-ft
Curb weight	1,665kg3,671lb	1,395kg3,075lb
Gross weight	2,165kg4,773lb	1,780kg3,924lb
Top speed	243 km/h 151 mph	236 km/h 147 mph
To 99% top speed	67.2s99% target: 241 km/h / 149 mph Calculated	63.1s99% target: 234 km/h / 145 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.8s	7.3s
0-200 km/h	23.8s Calculated	25.4s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.5s Calculated	7.0s Calculated
Fuel consumption	-	8.5L/100 km27.7mpg US33.2mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	13.8L/100 km17mpg US20.5mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption highway	8L/100 km29.4mpg US35.3mpg UK	-
Quarter mile	14.8s Calculated	15.2s Calculated
Power-to-weight	139hp/t103kW/t63hp/1000 lb Calculated	138hp/t103kW/t63hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	180Nm/t121lb-ft/ton Calculated	201Nm/t134lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	-	765km475mi Calculated
Displacement	2,979cc182cu in	2,793cc170cu in
Length	4,478mm176in	4,433mm175in
Width	1,739mm68in	1,698mm67in
Height	1,409mm55in	1,393mm55in
Wheelbase	2,725mm107in	2,700mm106in
Front track	1,471mm58in	1,408mm55in
Rear track	1,483mm58in	1,421mm56in
Trunk volume	435L	435L
Max trunk volume	1,345L	-
Doors	5	4
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 Touring (E46) 330xiBMW 3 Series Sedan (E36) 328iPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW3 Series Touring (E46)330xi	5,900 rpm	3,500 rpm	6,150 rpm
BMW3 Series Sedan (E36)328i	5,500 rpm	3,950 rpm	5,750 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW3 Series Touring (E46)330xi	BMW3 Series Sedan (E36)328i
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	6.5 s	7.0 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6.8 s	7.3 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	23.8 s	25.4 s
Top speed	243 km/h 151 mph	236 km/h 147 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.6 s	2.8 s
330 ft 101 m	6.6 s	6.9 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.8 s	10.1 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.5 s	12.9 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.8 s	15.2 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	162 km/h 101 mph	160 km/h 99 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Touring (E46)330xi	231 hp 172 kW
BMW3 Series Sedan (E36)328i	193 hp 144 kW

BMW 3 Series Touring (E46) 330xi has 38 hp more than BMW 3 Series Sedan (E36) 328i.

The biggest power difference is between BMW 3 Series Sedan (E36) 328i and BMW 3 Series Touring (E46) 330xi: 38 hp (28 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW3 Series Touring (E46)330xi	300 Nm 221 lb-ft
BMW3 Series Sedan (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 Touring (E46)330xi	1,665 kg 3,671 lb
BMW3 Series Sedan (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 Touring (E46)330xi	243 km/h 151 mph
BMW3 Series Sedan (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 Touring (E46)330xi	6.8 s
BMW3 Series Sedan (E36)328i	7.3 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 3 Series Touring (E46) 330xi and BMW 3 Series Sedan (E36) 328i: 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
BMW3 Series Touring (E46)330xi	139 hp/t 103 kW/t 7.2 kg/hp
BMW3 Series Sedan (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 Touring (E46)330xi	231 hp 172 kW	6.8 s	243 km/h 151 mph
BMW3 Series Sedan (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 Touring (E46)330xi

Power	231 hp 172 kW
0-100 km/h	6.8 s
Top speed 243 km/h 151 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

BMW3 Series Sedan (E36)328i

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

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	435 L 15.4 cu ft
Length	4,433 mm 174.5 in
Height	1,393 mm 54.8 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW3 Series Touring (E46)330xi

BMW3 Series Sedan (E36)328i

Power

231 hp

172 kW

193 hp

144 kW

Torque

300 Nm

221 lb-ft

280 Nm

207 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.8 s

7.3 s

Top speed

243 km/h

151 mph

236 km/h

147 mph

Lightness

1,665 kg

3,671 lb

1,395 kg

3,075 lb

Fuel consumption

8.5 L/100 km

27.7 mpg US

33.2 mpg UK

Practicality

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

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	435 L 15.4 cu ft
Length	4,433 mm 174.5 in
Height	1,393 mm 54.8 in

Range score

765 km

475 mi

Trunk score

435 L

15.4 cu ft

435 L

15.4 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

139 hp/t

103 kW/t

7.2 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 Sedan (E36) 328i
Consumption	8.5 L/100 km27.7 mpg US33.2 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	14.88 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	23.94 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,275 L337 US gal280 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,231 LC/year