Car comparison

BMW 5 Series (E12) · Facelift 1976 M535ivsBMW 5 Series Touring (G31) 520d

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

New comparison

BMW 5 Series (E12) · Facelift 1976

M535i

218 hp3453 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan1980-1981

BMW 5 Series Touring (G31)

520d

190 hp1995 ccDieselAWDAutomaticTurbochargedWagon / estate2017-2019

Comparison overview

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

BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i

Quickest 0-100 km/h
7.2 s
Fastest top speed
229 km/h
142 mph
Most powerful
218 hp
163 kW
Lightest
1,390 kg
3,064 lb
Best power-to-weight
157 hp/t
117 kW/t
6.4 kg/hp
Largest trunk
620 L
Best performance score
52/100

BMW 5 Series Touring (G31) 520d

Highest torque
400 Nm
295 lb-ft
Best overall score
62/100
Best economy score
93/100
Best practicality score
87/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d
Power	218hp163kW	190hp142kW
Torque	305Nm225lb-ft	400Nm295lb-ft
Curb weight	1,390kg3,064lb	1,735kg3,825lb
Gross weight	1,900kg4,189lb	2,465kg5,434lb
Top speed	229 km/h 142 mph	222 km/h 138 mph
To 99% top speed	64.5s99% target: 227 km/h / 141 mph Calculated	74.4s99% target: 220 km/h / 137 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	7.2s	7.9s
0-200 km/h	27.8s Calculated	34.9s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.9s Calculated	7.5s Calculated
Fuel consumption	-	5.3L/100 km44.4mpg US53.3mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	-	5.9L/100 km39.9mpg US47.9mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	-	4.9L/100 km48mpg US57.6mpg UK
Quarter mile	15.1s Calculated	15.7s Calculated
Power-to-weight	157hp/t117kW/t71hp/1000 lb Calculated	110hp/t82kW/t50hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	219Nm/t147lb-ft/ton Calculated	231Nm/t154lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	-	1,245km774mi Calculated
Displacement	3,453cc211cu in	1,995cc122cu in
Length	4,618mm182in	4,942mm195in
Width	1,689mm66in	1,868mm74in
Height	1,422mm56in	1,498mm59in
Wheelbase	2,637mm104in	2,975mm117in
Front track	1,422mm56in	1,605mm63in
Rear track	1,455mm57in	1,630mm64in
Ground clearance	152mm6in	140mm6in
Trunk volume	620L	570L
Max trunk volume	-	1,700L
Doors	4	5
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	-	66L
CO2 emissions	-	139g/km

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 (E12) Facelift 1976 M535iBMW 5 Series Touring (G31) 520dPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	5,200 rpm	4,000 rpm	5,450 rpm
BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d	4,000 rpm	1,750-2,500 rpm	4,250 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	6.9 s	7.5 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	7.2 s	7.9 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	27.8 s	34.9 s
Top speed	229 km/h 142 mph	222 km/h 138 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.7 s	2.7 s
330 ft 101 m	6.8 s	7.0 s
1/8 mile 201 m	10.0 s	10.4 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.8 s	13.3 s
1/4 mile 402 m	15.1 s	15.7 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	157 km/h 98 mph	150 km/h 93 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	218 hp 163 kW
BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d	190 hp 142 kW

BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i has 28 hp more than BMW 5 Series Touring (G31) 520d.

The biggest power difference is between BMW 5 Series Touring (G31) 520d and BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i: 28 hp (21 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	305 Nm 225 lb-ft
BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d	400 Nm 295 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	1,390 kg 3,064 lb
BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d	1,735 kg 3,825 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 (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	229 km/h 142 mph
BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d	222 km/h 138 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 (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	7.2 s
BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d	7.9 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i and BMW 5 Series Touring (G31) 520d: 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 (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	157 hp/t 117 kW/t 6.4 kg/hp
BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d	110 hp/t 82 kW/t 9.1 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	218 hp 163 kW	7.2 s	229 km/h 142 mph
BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d	190 hp 142 kW	7.9 s	222 km/h 138 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 (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

BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d

Power	190 hp 142 kW
0-100 km/h	7.9 s
Top speed 222 km/h 138 mph

Doors/seats	5 doors 5 seats
Trunk	570 L 20.1 cu ft
Length	4,942 mm 194.6 in
Height	1,498 mm 59.0 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i

BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520d

Power

218 hp

163 kW

190 hp

142 kW

Torque

305 Nm

225 lb-ft

400 Nm

295 lb-ft

Acceleration

7.2 s

7.9 s

Top speed

229 km/h

142 mph

222 km/h

138 mph

Lightness

1,390 kg

3,064 lb

1,735 kg

3,825 lb

Fuel consumption

5.3 L/100 km

44.4 mpg US

53.3 mpg UK

Practicality

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

Doors/seats	5 doors 5 seats
Trunk	570 L 20.1 cu ft
Length	4,942 mm 194.6 in
Height	1,498 mm 59.0 in

Range score

1,245 km

774 mi

CO2 score

139 g/km

Trunk score

620 L

21.9 cu ft

570 L

20.1 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

157 hp/t

117 kW/t

6.4 kg/hp

110 hp/t

82 kW/t

9.1 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 Touring (G31) 520d
Consumption	5.3 L/100 km44.4 mpg US53.3 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	9.28 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	14.93 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	795 L210 US gal175 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	1,391 LC/year