Car comparison

BMW 5 Series Touring (E34) 540ivsBMW 5 Series (E28) M535i

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

New comparison

BMW 5 Series Touring (E34)

540i

286 hp3982 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedWagon / estate1993-1997

BMW 5 Series (E28)

M535i

218 hp3430 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan1984-1987

Comparison overview

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

BMW 5 Series Touring (E34) 540i

Quickest 0-100 km/h
6.4 s
Fastest top speed
260 km/h
162 mph Unrestricted
250 km/h
155 mph Restricted
Most powerful
286 hp
213 kW
Highest torque
400 Nm
295 lb-ft
Best power-to-weight
170 hp/t
127 kW/t
5.9 kg/hp
Largest trunk
460 L
Best overall score
68/100
Best performance score
62/100
Best economy score
73/100
Best practicality score
82/100

BMW 5 Series (E28) M535i

Lightest
1,315 kg
2,899 lb

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	BMW5 Series (E28)M535i
Power	286hp213kW	218hp163kW
Torque	400Nm295lb-ft	310Nm229lb-ft
Curb weight	1,680kg3,704lb	1,315kg2,899lb
Gross weight	2,230kg4,916lb	1,900kg4,189lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated	Unrestricted 245 km/h152 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph Calculated
To 99% top speed	65.2s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph Calculated	62.2s99% target: 243 km/h / 151 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.4s	7.2s
0-200 km/h	20.0s Calculated	23.1s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.1s Calculated	6.9s Calculated
Fuel consumption	12.7L/100 km18.5mpg US22.2mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption city	-	15L/100 km15.7mpg US18.8mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	-	9L/100 km26.1mpg US31.4mpg UK
Quarter mile	14.3s Calculated	15.0s Calculated
Power-to-weight	170hp/t127kW/t77hp/1000 lb Calculated	166hp/t124kW/t75hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	238Nm/t159lb-ft/ton Calculated	236Nm/t158lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	630km391mi Calculated	-
Displacement	3,982cc243cu in	3,430cc209cu in
Length	4,720mm186in	4,604mm181in
Width	1,751mm69in	1,710mm67in
Height	1,417mm56in	1,397mm55in
Wheelbase	2,761mm109in	2,628mm103in
Front track	1,470mm58in	1,430mm56in
Rear track	1,495mm59in	1,460mm57in
Trunk volume	460L	460L
Max trunk volume	910L	-
Doors	5	4
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	80L	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 Touring (E34) 540iBMW 5 Series (E28) M535iPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	5,800 rpm	4,500 rpm	6,050 rpm
BMW5 Series (E28)M535i	5,500 rpm	4,000 rpm	5,750 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	BMW5 Series (E28)M535i
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	6.1 s	6.9 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6.4 s	7.2 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	20.0 s	23.1 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited	Unrestricted 245 km/h152 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph Likely limited
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.6 s	2.8 s
330 ft 101 m	6.5 s	6.9 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.6 s	10.1 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.2 s	12.8 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.3 s	15.0 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	170 km/h 106 mph	164 km/h 102 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	286 hp 213 kW
BMW5 Series (E28)M535i	218 hp 163 kW

BMW 5 Series Touring (E34) 540i has 68 hp more than BMW 5 Series (E28) M535i.

The biggest power difference is between BMW 5 Series (E28) M535i and BMW 5 Series Touring (E34) 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 Touring (E34)540i	400 Nm 295 lb-ft
BMW5 Series (E28)M535i	310 Nm 229 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	1,680 kg 3,704 lb
BMW5 Series (E28)M535i	1,315 kg 2,899 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 Touring (E34)540i	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
BMW5 Series (E28)M535i	Unrestricted 245 km/h152 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 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 Touring (E34)540i	6.4 s
BMW5 Series (E28)M535i	7.2 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 5 Series Touring (E34) 540i and BMW 5 Series (E28) M535i: 0.8 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 Touring (E34)540i	170 hp/t 127 kW/t 5.9 kg/hp
BMW5 Series (E28)M535i	166 hp/t 124 kW/t 6.0 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	286 hp 213 kW	6.4 s	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
BMW5 Series (E28)M535i	218 hp 163 kW	7.2 s	Unrestricted 245 km/h152 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 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 Touring (E34)540i

Power	286 hp 213 kW
0-100 km/h	6.4 s
Top speed Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Doors/seats	5 doors 5 seats
Trunk	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,720 mm 185.8 in
Height	1,417 mm 55.8 in

BMW5 Series (E28)M535i

Power	218 hp 163 kW
0-100 km/h	7.2 s
Top speed Unrestricted 245 km/h152 mph Restricted 230 km/h143 mph

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,604 mm 181.3 in
Height	1,397 mm 55.0 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i

BMW5 Series (E28)M535i

Power

286 hp

213 kW

218 hp

163 kW

Torque

400 Nm

295 lb-ft

310 Nm

229 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.4 s

7.2 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

260 km/h162 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

Unrestricted

245 km/h152 mph

Restricted

230 km/h143 mph

Lightness

1,680 kg

3,704 lb

1,315 kg

2,899 lb

Fuel consumption

12.7 L/100 km

18.5 mpg US

22.2 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	5 doors 5 seats
Trunk	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,720 mm 185.8 in
Height	1,417 mm 55.8 in

Doors/seats	4 doors 5 seats
Trunk	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,604 mm 181.3 in
Height	1,397 mm 55.0 in

Range score

630 km

391 mi

Trunk score

460 L

16.2 cu ft

460 L

16.2 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

170 hp/t

127 kW/t

5.9 kg/hp

166 hp/t

124 kW/t

6.0 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 (E34) 540i
Consumption	12.7 L/100 km18.5 mpg US22.2 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	22.22 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	35.77 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,905 L503 US gal419 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	3,334 LC/year