Car comparison

BMW 5 Series (E39) · Facelift 2000 540ivsBMW 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 (E39) · Facelift 2000

540i

286 hp4398 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedSedan2000-2004

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 (E39) Facelift 2000 540i

Quickest 0-100 km/h
6.5 s
Fastest top speed
265 km/h
165 mph Unrestricted
250 km/h
155 mph Restricted
Most powerful
286 hp
213 kW
Highest torque
440 Nm
325 lb-ft
Best power-to-weight
177 hp/t
132 kW/t
5.6 kg/hp
Best overall score
67/100
Best performance score
64/100
Best economy score
75/100

BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i

Lightest
1,390 kg
3,064 lb
Largest trunk
620 L
Best practicality score
79/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i	BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i
Power	286hp213kW	218hp163kW
Torque	440Nm325lb-ft	305Nm225lb-ft
Curb weight	1,615kg3,560lb	1,390kg3,064lb
Gross weight	2,220kg4,894lb	1,900kg4,189lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated	229 km/h 142 mph
To 99% top speed	63.7s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated	64.5s99% target: 227 km/h / 141 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.5s	7.2s
0-200 km/h	19.4s Calculated	27.8s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.2s Calculated	6.9s Calculated
Fuel consumption	12L/100 km19.6mpg US23.5mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption city	19.9L/100 km11.8mpg US14.2mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption highway	9L/100 km26.1mpg US31.4mpg UK	-
Quarter mile	14.4s Calculated	15.1s Calculated
Power-to-weight	177hp/t132kW/t80hp/1000 lb Calculated	157hp/t117kW/t71hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	272Nm/t182lb-ft/ton Calculated	219Nm/t147lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	583km362mi Calculated	-
Displacement	4,398cc268cu in	3,453cc211cu in
Length	4,775mm188in	4,618mm182in
Width	1,800mm71in	1,689mm66in
Height	1,435mm56in	1,422mm56in
Wheelbase	2,830mm111in	2,637mm104in
Front track	1,512mm60in	1,422mm56in
Rear track	1,526mm60in	1,455mm57in
Ground clearance	120mm5in	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 (E39) Facelift 2000 540iBMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535iPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i	5,400 rpm	3,600 rpm	5,650 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 (E39)Facelift 2000540i	BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i
	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	7.2 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	19.4 s	27.8 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited	229 km/h 142 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.7 s	2.7 s
330 ft 101 m	6.6 s	6.8 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.7 s	10.0 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.2 s	12.8 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.4 s	15.1 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	172 km/h 107 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 (E39)Facelift 2000540i	286 hp 213 kW
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	218 hp 163 kW

BMW 5 Series (E39) Facelift 2000 540i has 68 hp more than BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i.

The biggest power difference is between BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i and BMW 5 Series (E39) Facelift 2000 540i: 68 hp (51 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i	440 Nm 325 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 (E39)Facelift 2000540i	1,615 kg 3,560 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 (E39)Facelift 2000540i	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 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 (E39)Facelift 2000540i	6.5 s
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	7.2 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 5 Series (E39) Facelift 2000 540i and BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i: 0.7 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 (E39)Facelift 2000540i	177 hp/t 132 kW/t 5.6 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 (E39)Facelift 2000540i	286 hp 213 kW	6.5 s	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 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 (E39)Facelift 2000540i

Power	286 hp 213 kW
0-100 km/h	6.5 s
Top speed Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,775 mm 188.0 in
Height	1,435 mm 56.5 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 (E39)Facelift 2000540i

BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i

Power

286 hp

213 kW

218 hp

163 kW

Torque

440 Nm

325 lb-ft

305 Nm

225 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.5 s

7.2 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

265 km/h165 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

229 km/h

142 mph

Lightness

1,615 kg

3,560 lb

1,390 kg

3,064 lb

Fuel consumption

12.0 L/100 km

19.6 mpg US

23.5 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,775 mm 188.0 in
Height	1,435 mm 56.5 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

583 km

362 mi

Trunk score

460 L

16.2 cu ft

620 L

21.9 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

177 hp/t

132 kW/t

5.6 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 (E39) Facelift 2000 540i
Consumption	12 L/100 km19.6 mpg US23.5 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	21.00 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	33.80 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,800 L476 US gal396 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	3,150 LC/year