Car comparison

BMW 5 Series (E39) · Facelift 2000 540i V8vsBMW 5 Series (E34) 540i V8

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

New comparison

BMW 5 Series (E39) · Facelift 2000

540i V8

286 hp4398 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan2000-2004

BMW 5 Series (E34)

540i V8

286 hp3982 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan1992-1995

Comparison overview

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

BMW 5 Series (E39) Facelift 2000 540i V8

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
286 hp
213 kW
Highest torque
440 Nm
325 lb-ft
Lightest
1,585 kg
3,494 lb
Best power-to-weight
180 hp/t
135 kW/t
5.5 kg/hp
Largest trunk
460 L
Best overall score
68/100
Best performance score
65/100
Best practicality score
74/100

BMW 5 Series (E34) 540i V8

Best economy score
76/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8
Power	286hp213kW	286hp213kW
Torque	440Nm325lb-ft	400Nm295lb-ft
Curb weight	1,585kg3,494lb	1,605kg3,538lb
Gross weight	2,170kg4,784lb	2,115kg4,663lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated
To 99% top speed	60.4s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated	60.9s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.2s	6.3s
0-200 km/h	18.4s Calculated	18.6s Calculated
0-60 mph	5.9s Calculated	6.0s Calculated
Fuel consumption	-	11.4L/100 km20.6mpg US24.8mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	17.7L/100 km13.3mpg US16.0mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption highway	8.9L/100 km26.4mpg US31.7mpg UK	-
Quarter mile	14.1s Calculated	14.2s Calculated
Power-to-weight	180hp/t135kW/t82hp/1000 lb Calculated	178hp/t133kW/t81hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	278Nm/t186lb-ft/ton Calculated	249Nm/t167lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	-	702km436mi Calculated
Displacement	4,398cc268cu in	3,982cc243cu in
Length	4,775mm188in	4,720mm186in
Width	1,800mm71in	1,751mm69in
Height	1,435mm56in	1,412mm56in
Wheelbase	2,830mm111in	2,761mm109in
Front track	1,512mm60in	1,470mm58in
Rear track	1,526mm60in	1,495mm59in
Ground clearance	120mm5in	-
Trunk volume	460L	460L
Doors	4	4
Seats	5	5
Fuel tank	70L	80L

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 540i V8BMW 5 Series (E34) 540i V8PowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	5,400 rpm	3,600 rpm	5,650 rpm
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	5,800 rpm	4,500 rpm	6,050 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	5.9 s	6.0 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6.2 s	6.3 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	18.4 s	18.6 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.6 s	2.7 s
330 ft 101 m	6.5 s	6.5 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.5 s	9.5 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.0 s	12.1 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.1 s	14.2 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	175 km/h 109 mph	174 km/h 108 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	286 hp 213 kW
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	440 Nm 325 lb-ft
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	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 (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	1,585 kg 3,494 lb
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	1,605 kg 3,538 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 V8	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 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 V8	6.2 s
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	6.3 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 5 Series (E39) Facelift 2000 540i V8 and BMW 5 Series (E34) 540i V8: 0.1 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 V8	180 hp/t 135 kW/t 5.5 kg/hp
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	178 hp/t 133 kW/t 5.6 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 V8	286 hp 213 kW	6.2 s	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8	286 hp 213 kW	6.3 s	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 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 V8

Power	286 hp 213 kW
0-100 km/h	6.2 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 (E34)540i V8

Power	286 hp 213 kW
0-100 km/h	6.3 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	4,720 mm 185.8 in
Height	1,412 mm 55.6 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW5 Series (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8

BMW5 Series (E34)540i V8

Power

286 hp

213 kW

286 hp

213 kW

Torque

440 Nm

325 lb-ft

400 Nm

295 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.2 s

6.3 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

265 km/h165 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

Unrestricted

265 km/h165 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

Lightness

1,585 kg

3,494 lb

1,605 kg

3,538 lb

Fuel consumption

11.4 L/100 km

20.6 mpg US

24.8 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	460 L 16.2 cu ft
Length	4,720 mm 185.8 in
Height	1,412 mm 55.6 in

Range score

702 km

436 mi

Trunk score

460 L

16.2 cu ft

460 L

16.2 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

180 hp/t

135 kW/t

5.5 kg/hp

178 hp/t

133 kW/t

5.6 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 (E34) 540i V8
Consumption	11.4 L/100 km20.6 mpg US24.8 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	19.95 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	32.11 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,710 L452 US gal376 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,993 LC/year