Car comparison

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

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)

520i

184 hp1998 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticTurbochargedWagon / estate2017-2020

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
Highest torque
305 Nm
225 lb-ft
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 overall score
61/100
Best performance score
52/100

BMW 5 Series Touring (G31) 520i

Best economy score
90/100
Best practicality score
87/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW5 Series (E12)Facelift 1976M535i	BMW5 Series Touring (G31)520i
Power	218hp163kW	184hp137kW
Torque	305Nm225lb-ft	290Nm214lb-ft
Curb weight	1,390kg3,064lb	1,630kg3,594lb
Gross weight	1,900kg4,189lb	2,350kg5,181lb
Top speed	229 km/h 142 mph	225 km/h 140 mph
To 99% top speed	64.6s99% target: 227 km/h / 141 mph Calculated	77.8s99% target: 223 km/h / 138 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	7.2s	8.2s
0-200 km/h	27.8s Calculated	34.7s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.9s Calculated	7.8s Calculated
Fuel consumption	-	6.2L/100 km37.9mpg US45.6mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	-	7.5L/100 km31.4mpg US37.7mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	-	5.5L/100 km42.8mpg US51.4mpg UK
Quarter mile	15.1s Calculated	15.9s Calculated
Power-to-weight	157hp/t117kW/t71hp/1000 lb Calculated	113hp/t84kW/t51hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	219Nm/t147lb-ft/ton Calculated	178Nm/t119lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	-	1,097km682mi Calculated
Displacement	3,453cc211cu in	1,998cc122cu 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	-
Rear track	1,455mm57in	-
Ground clearance	152mm6in	-
Trunk volume	620L	570L
Max trunk volume	-	1,700L
Doors	4	5
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	-	68L
CO2 emissions	-	141g/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) 520iPowerTorque

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)520i	5,000-6,500 rpm	1,350-4,250 rpm	6,750 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)520i
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	6.9 s	7.8 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	7.2 s	8.2 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	27.8 s	34.7 s
Top speed	229 km/h 142 mph	225 km/h 140 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.7 s	2.8 s
330 ft 101 m	6.8 s	7.1 s
1/8 mile 201 m	10.0 s	10.5 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.8 s	13.5 s
1/4 mile 402 m	15.1 s	15.9 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	157 km/h 98 mph	149 km/h 92 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)520i	184 hp 137 kW

BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i has 34 hp more than BMW 5 Series Touring (G31) 520i.

The biggest power difference is between BMW 5 Series Touring (G31) 520i and BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i: 34 hp (25 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)520i	290 Nm 214 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)520i	1,630 kg 3,594 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)520i	225 km/h 140 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)520i	8.2 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 5 Series (E12) Facelift 1976 M535i and BMW 5 Series Touring (G31) 520i: 1.0 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)520i	113 hp/t 84 kW/t 8.9 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)520i	184 hp 137 kW	8.2 s	225 km/h 140 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)520i

Power	184 hp 137 kW
0-100 km/h	8.2 s
Top speed 225 km/h 140 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)520i

Power

218 hp

163 kW

184 hp

137 kW

Torque

305 Nm

225 lb-ft

290 Nm

214 lb-ft

Acceleration

7.2 s

8.2 s

Top speed

229 km/h

142 mph

225 km/h

140 mph

Lightness

1,390 kg

3,064 lb

1,630 kg

3,594 lb

Fuel consumption

6.2 L/100 km

37.9 mpg US

45.6 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

1,097 km

682 mi

CO2 score

141 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

113 hp/t

84 kW/t

8.9 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) 520i
Consumption	6.2 L/100 km37.9 mpg US45.6 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	10.85 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	17.46 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	930 L246 US gal205 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	1,628 LC/year