Car comparison

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

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 Touring (E39) · Facelift 2000

540i V8

286 hp4398 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedWagon / estate2000-2004

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
Lightest
1,680 kg
3,704 lb
Best power-to-weight
170 hp/t
127 kW/t
5.9 kg/hp
Best estimated range
630 km
391 mi
Largest trunk
460 L
Best overall score
68/100
Best performance score
62/100
Best practicality score
82/100

BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) Facelift 2000 540i V8

Highest torque
440 Nm
325 lb-ft
Lowest combined fuel consumption
12.3 L/100 km
19.1 mpg US
23.0 mpg UK
Best economy score
74/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	BMW5 Series Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8
Power	286hp213kW	286hp213kW
Torque	400Nm295lb-ft	440Nm325lb-ft
Curb weight	1,680kg3,704lb	1,790kg3,946lb
Gross weight	2,230kg4,916lb	2,310kg5,093lb
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated
To 99% top speed	65.2s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph Calculated	71.2s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	6.4s	6.7s
0-200 km/h	20.0s Calculated	21.4s Calculated
0-60 mph	6.1s Calculated	6.4s Calculated
Fuel consumption	12.7L/100 km18.5mpg US22.2mpg UK	12.3L/100 km19.1mpg US23.0mpg UK
Fuel consumption city	-	18.2L/100 km12.9mpg US15.5mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	-	8.9L/100 km26.4mpg US31.7mpg UK
Quarter mile	14.3s Calculated	14.6s Calculated
Power-to-weight	170hp/t127kW/t77hp/1000 lb Calculated	160hp/t119kW/t72hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	238Nm/t159lb-ft/ton Calculated	246Nm/t164lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	630km391mi Calculated	569km354mi Calculated
Displacement	3,982cc243cu in	4,398cc268cu in
Length	4,720mm186in	4,805mm189in
Width	1,751mm69in	1,800mm71in
Height	1,417mm56in	1,445mm57in
Wheelbase	2,761mm109in	2,830mm111in
Front track	1,470mm58in	1,516mm60in
Rear track	1,495mm59in	1,527mm60in
Ground clearance	-	120mm5in
Trunk volume	460L	410L
Max trunk volume	910L	1,525L
Doors	5	5
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 Touring (E39) Facelift 2000 540i V8PowerTorque

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 Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	5,400 rpm	3,600 rpm	5,650 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	BMW5 Series Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	6.1 s	6.4 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6.4 s	6.7 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	20.0 s	21.4 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.6 s	2.6 s
330 ft 101 m	6.5 s	6.6 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.6 s	9.8 s
1000 ft 305 m	12.2 s	12.4 s
1/4 mile 402 m	14.3 s	14.6 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	170 km/h 106 mph	166 km/h 103 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 Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i 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 Touring (E34)540i	400 Nm 295 lb-ft
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	440 Nm 325 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 Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	1,790 kg 3,946 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 Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 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 Touring (E34)540i	6.4 s
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	6.7 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW 5 Series Touring (E34) 540i and BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) Facelift 2000 540i V8: 0.3 s.

Fuel consumption comparison

Bar comparison chart for Fuel consumption. Lower is better · L/100 km / mpg US / mpg UK

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	12.7 L/100 km 18.5 mpg US 22.2 mpg UK
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	12.3 L/100 km 19.1 mpg US 23.0 mpg UK

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 Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	160 hp/t 119 kW/t 6.3 kg/hp

Estimated range comparison

Bar comparison chart for Estimated range. Higher is better · km / mi

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	630 km 391 mi
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	569 km 354 mi

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 Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	286 hp 213 kW	6.7 s	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 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 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 Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8

Power	286 hp 213 kW
0-100 km/h	6.7 s
Top speed Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Doors/seats	5 doors 5 seats
Trunk	410 L 14.5 cu ft
Length	4,805 mm 189.2 in
Height	1,445 mm 56.9 in

Performance vs fuel economy

Cars closer to the top-right corner combine stronger performance with better fuel economy scores.

Vehicle

Performance score

Fuel economy 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

12.7 L/100 km

18.5 mpg US

22.2 mpg UK

BMW5 Series Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8

Power	286 hp 213 kW
0-100 km/h	6.7 s
Top speed Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

12.3 L/100 km

19.1 mpg US

23.0 mpg UK

BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) Facelift 2000 540i V8 is closest to the top-right balance target for performance and fuel economy.

Acceleration vs fuel consumption

Cars closer to the lower-left corner offer a better mix of quick acceleration and low fuel consumption.

Acceleration vs fuel consumption data table
Vehicle	Fuel consumption, L/100 km	0-100 km/h, s
BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	12.7 L/100 km 18.5 mpg US 22.2 mpg UK	6.4 s
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	12.3 L/100 km 19.1 mpg US 23.0 mpg UK	6.7 s

Power-to-weight vs fuel consumption

The shaded area favors higher power-to-weight with lower combined fuel consumption.

Power-to-weight vs fuel consumption data table
Vehicle	Power-to-weight, hp/t	Fuel consumption, L/100 km
BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i	170 hp/t 127 kW/t 5.9 kg/hp	12.7 L/100 km 18.5 mpg US 22.2 mpg UK
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8	160 hp/t 119 kW/t 6.3 kg/hp	12.3 L/100 km 19.1 mpg US 23.0 mpg UK

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMW5 Series Touring (E34)540i

BMW5 Series Touring (E39)Facelift 2000540i V8

Power

286 hp

213 kW

286 hp

213 kW

Torque

400 Nm

295 lb-ft

440 Nm

325 lb-ft

Acceleration

6.4 s

6.7 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

260 km/h162 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

Unrestricted

260 km/h162 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

Lightness

1,680 kg

3,704 lb

1,790 kg

3,946 lb

Fuel consumption

12.7 L/100 km

18.5 mpg US

22.2 mpg UK

12.3 L/100 km

19.1 mpg US

23.0 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	5 doors 5 seats
Trunk	410 L 14.5 cu ft
Length	4,805 mm 189.2 in
Height	1,445 mm 56.9 in

Range score

630 km

391 mi

569 km

354 mi

Trunk score

460 L

16.2 cu ft

410 L

14.5 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

170 hp/t

127 kW/t

5.9 kg/hp

160 hp/t

119 kW/t

6.3 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	BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) Facelift 2000 540i V8
Consumption	12.7 L/100 km18.5 mpg US22.2 mpg UK	12.3 L/100 km19.1 mpg US23 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	22.22 LC100 km	21.53 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	35.77 LC100 mi	34.64 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,905 L503 US gal419 UK gal	1,845 L487 US gal406 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	3,334 LC/year	3,229 LC/year