Car comparison

BMW 5 Series (E28) 535ivsBMW 5 Series (E12) · Facelift 1976 M535i

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

New comparison

BMW 5 Series (E28)

535i

218 hp3430 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan1984-1987

BMW 5 Series (E12) · Facelift 1976

M535i

218 hp3453 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan1980-1981

Comparison overview

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

BMW 5 Series (E28) 535i

Quickest 0-100 km/h
7.2 s
Fastest top speed
240 km/h
149 mph Unrestricted
225 km/h
140 mph Restricted
Most powerful
218 hp
163 kW
Highest torque
310 Nm
229 lb-ft
Lightest
1,370 kg
3,020 lb
Best power-to-weight
159 hp/t
119 kW/t
6.3 kg/hp
Best overall score
61/100
Best performance score
55/100
Best economy score
82/100

BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i

Largest trunk
620 L
Best practicality score
79/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW5 Series (E28)535i	BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i
Power	218hp163kW	218hp163kW
Torque	310Nm229lb-ft	305Nm225lb-ft
Curb weight	1,370kg3,020lb	1,390kg3,064lb
Gross weight	-	1,900kg4,189lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 225 km/h140 mph Calculated	229 km/h 142 mph
To 99% top speed	61.4s99% target: 238 km/h / 148 mph Calculated	64.5s99% target: 227 km/h / 141 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	7.2s	7.2s
0-200 km/h	23.9s Calculated	27.8s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.9s Calculated	6.9s Calculated
Fuel consumption	9.3L/100 km25.3mpg US30.4mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption city	15L/100 km15.7mpg US18.8mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption highway	7.3L/100 km32.2mpg US38.7mpg UK	-
Quarter mile	15.1s Calculated	15.1s Calculated
Power-to-weight	159hp/t119kW/t72hp/1000 lb Calculated	157hp/t117kW/t71hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	226Nm/t151lb-ft/ton Calculated	219Nm/t147lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	753km468mi Calculated	-
Displacement	3,430cc209cu in	3,453cc211cu in
Length	4,620mm182in	4,618mm182in
Width	1,700mm67in	1,689mm66in
Height	1,415mm56in	1,422mm56in
Wheelbase	2,625mm103in	2,637mm104in
Front track	1,430mm56in	1,422mm56in
Rear track	1,470mm58in	1,455mm57in
Ground clearance	152mm6in	152mm6in
Trunk volume	460L	620L
Doors	4	4
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	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 5 Series (E28) 535iBMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535iPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW5 Series (E28)535i	5,500 rpm	4,000 rpm	5,750 rpm
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	5,200 rpm	4,000 rpm	5,450 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW5 Series (E28)535i	BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	6.9 s	6.9 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	7.2 s	7.2 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	23.9 s	27.8 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 225 km/h140 mph Likely limited	229 km/h 142 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.8 s	2.7 s
330 ft 101 m	6.9 s	6.8 s
1/8 mile 201 m	10.1 s	10.0 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.8 s	12.8 s
1/4 mile 402 m	15.1 s	15.1 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	162 km/h 101 mph	157 km/h 98 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E28)535i	218 hp 163 kW
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	218 hp 163 kW

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E28)535i	310 Nm 229 lb-ft
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	305 Nm 225 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E28)535i	1,370 kg 3,020 lb
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	1,390 kg 3,064 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 (E28)535i	Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 225 km/h140 mph
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	229 km/h 142 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 (E28)535i	7.2 s
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	7.2 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 (E28)535i	159 hp/t 119 kW/t 6.3 kg/hp
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	157 hp/t 117 kW/t 6.4 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
BMW5 Series (E28)535i	218 hp 163 kW	7.2 s	Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 225 km/h140 mph
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	218 hp 163 kW	7.2 s	229 km/h 142 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 (E28)535i

Power	218 hp 163 kW
0-100 km/h	7.2 s
Top speed Unrestricted 240 km/h149 mph Restricted 225 km/h140 mph

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,620 mm 181.9 in
Height	1,415 mm 55.7 in

BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i

Power	218 hp 163 kW
0-100 km/h	7.2 s
Top speed 229 km/h 142 mph

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	620 L 21.9 cu ft
Length	4,618 mm 181.8 in
Height	1,422 mm 56.0 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW5 Series (E28)535i

BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i

Power

218 hp

163 kW

218 hp

163 kW

Torque

310 Nm

229 lb-ft

305 Nm

225 lb-ft

Acceleration

7.2 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

240 km/h149 mph

Restricted

225 km/h140 mph

229 km/h

142 mph

Lightness

1,370 kg

3,020 lb

1,390 kg

3,064 lb

Fuel consumption

9.3 L/100 km

25.3 mpg US

30.4 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,620 mm 181.9 in
Height	1,415 mm 55.7 in

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	620 L 21.9 cu ft
Length	4,618 mm 181.8 in
Height	1,422 mm 56.0 in

Range score

753 km

468 mi

Trunk score

460 L

16.2 cu ft

620 L

21.9 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

159 hp/t

119 kW/t

6.3 kg/hp

157 hp/t

117 kW/t

6.4 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 (E28) 535i
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