Car comparison

BMW 5 Series (E60) 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 (E60)

540i

306 hp4000 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan2005-2007
VS

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.

Best choices

BMW 5 Series (E60) 540i

  • Quickest 0-100 km/h
    6.2 s
  • Fastest top speed
    265 km/h
    165 mph Unrestricted
    250 km/h
    155 mph Restricted
  • Most powerful
    306 hp
    228 kW
  • Highest torque
    390 Nm
    288 lb-ft
  • Best power-to-weight
    185 hp/t
    138 kW/t
    5.4 kg/hp
  • Best overall score
    68/100
  • Best performance score
    64/100
  • Best economy score
    0/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
ModelBMW5 Series (E60)540iBMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i
Power
306hp228kW
218hp163kW
Torque
390Nm288lb-ft
305Nm225lb-ft
Curb weight
1,655kg3,649lb
1,390kg3,064lb
Gross weight
2,210kg4,872lb
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
63.4s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph
Calculated
64.5s99% target: 227 km/h / 141 mph
Calculated
0-100 km/h
6.2s
7.2s
0-200 km/h
18.9s
Calculated
27.8s
Calculated
0-60 mph
5.9s
Calculated
6.9s
Calculated
Fuel consumption city
16.2L/100 km14.5mpg US17.4mpg UK
-
Fuel consumption highway
8L/100 km29.4mpg US35.3mpg UK
-
Quarter mile
14.1s
Calculated
15.1s
Calculated
Power-to-weight
185hp/t138kW/t84hp/1000 lb
Calculated
157hp/t117kW/t71hp/1000 lb
Calculated
Torque-to-weight
236Nm/t158lb-ft/ton
Calculated
219Nm/t147lb-ft/ton
Calculated
Displacement
4,000cc244cu in
3,453cc211cu in
Length
4,841mm191in
4,618mm182in
Width
1,846mm73in
1,689mm66in
Height
1,468mm58in
1,422mm56in
Wheelbase
2,888mm114in
2,637mm104in
Front track
1,558mm61in
1,422mm56in
Rear track
1,582mm62in
1,455mm57in
Ground clearance-
152mm6in
Trunk volume-
620L
Max trunk volume
520L
-
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 (E60) 540iBMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535iPowerTorque
  • BMW 5 Series (E60) 540i: Power / Torque
  • BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i: Power / Torque
Dyno simulation data table
VehiclePeak power RPMPeak torque RPMMax engine speed
BMW5 Series (E60)540i6,300 rpm3,500 rpm6,550 rpm
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i5,200 rpm4,000 rpm5,450 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
MetricBMW5 Series (E60)540iBMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i
Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph
0-97 km/h
5.9 s
6.9 s
0-100 km/h
0-62 mph
6.2 s
7.2 s
0-200 km/h
0-124 mph
18.9 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
2.6 s
2.7 s
330 ft
101 m
6.4 s
6.8 s
1/8 mile
201 m
9.5 s
10.0 s
1000 ft
305 m
12.0 s
12.8 s
1/4 mile
402 m
14.1 s
15.1 s
Trap speed
1/4 mile
402 m
173 km/h
108 mph
157 km/h
98 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMW5 Series (E60)540i
306 hp
228 kW
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i
218 hp
163 kW

BMW 5 Series (E60) 540i has 88 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 (E60) 540i: 88 hp (66 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMW5 Series (E60)540i
390 Nm
288 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
VehicleValue
BMW5 Series (E60)540i
1,655 kg
3,649 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
VehicleValue
BMW5 Series (E60)540i
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
VehicleValue
BMW5 Series (E60)540i6.2 s
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i7.2 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 5 Series (E60) 540i and BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i: 1.0 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMW5 Series (E60)540i
185 hp/t
138 kW/t
5.4 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
VehiclePowerAccelerationTop speed
BMW5 Series (E60)540i
306 hp
228 kW
6.2 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.

Chart data table
VehiclePerformance scorePracticality score
BMW5 Series (E60)540i
Power
306 hp
228 kW
0-100 km/h6.2 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
265 km/h165 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Doors/seats
4 doors
5 seats
Trunk
520 L
18.4 cu ft
Length
4,841 mm
190.6 in
Height
1,468 mm
57.8 in
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i
Power
218 hp
163 kW
0-100 km/h7.2 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

Detailed score breakdown
VehicleBMW5 Series (E60)540iBMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i
Power
306 hp
228 kW
218 hp
163 kW
Torque
390 Nm
288 lb-ft
305 Nm
225 lb-ft
Acceleration
6.2 s
7.2 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
265 km/h165 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
229 km/h
142 mph
Lightness
1,655 kg
3,649 lb
1,390 kg
3,064 lb
Practicality
Doors/seats
4 doors
5 seats
Trunk
520 L
18.4 cu ft
Length
4,841 mm
190.6 in
Height
1,468 mm
57.8 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
Trunk score
520 L
18.4 cu ft
620 L
21.9 cu ft
Power-to-weight score
185 hp/t
138 kW/t
5.4 kg/hp
157 hp/t
117 kW/t
6.4 kg/hp
Overall
Fixed score
Fixed score

Head-to-head comparisons

BMW 5 Series (E60) 540i

  • Has 88 hp more
  • Has 85 Nm more
  • Is 1.0 s quicker from 0-100 km/h
  • Has 36 km/h (22 mph) higher top speed
  • Has 28 hp/t better power-to-weight

Pros

  • Quickest 0-100 km/h in this comparison
  • Highest top speed
  • Most powerful
  • Highest torque
  • Best power-to-weight ratio

Cons

  • Heaviest
  • Smallest trunk

Choose cars to compare

Brand
Model
Generation
Engine or modification
BMW 5 Series (E60) 540i
BMW 5 Series (E12) M535i
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BMW 5 Series (E60) 540i vs BMW 5 Series (E12) · Facelift 1976 M535i - car comparison - FastVsFaster