Car comparison

BMW M5 Touring (E34) 3.8vsBMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8

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

New comparison

BMW M5 Touring (E34)

3.8

340 hp3795 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedWagon / estate1992-1994
VS

BMW 5 Series Touring (E39)

540i V8

286 hp4398 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedWagon / estate1998-2000

Comparison overview

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

Best choices

BMW M5 Touring (E34) 3.8

  • Quickest 0-100 km/h
    5.9 s
  • Fastest top speed
    260 km/h
    162 mph Unrestricted
    250 km/h
    155 mph Restricted
  • Most powerful
    340 hp
    254 kW
  • Lightest
    1,720 kg
    3,792 lb
  • Best power-to-weight
    198 hp/t
    147 kW/t
    5.1 kg/hp
  • Lowest city consumption
    18.0 L/100 km
    13.1 mpg US
    15.7 mpg UK
  • Lowest highway consumption
    8.6 L/100 km
    27.4 mpg US
    32.8 mpg UK
  • Largest trunk
    460 L
  • Best overall score
    70/100
  • Best performance score
    65/100
  • Best economy score
    80/100
  • Best practicality score
    82/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
ModelBMWM5 Touring (E34)3.8BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8
Power
340hp254kW
286hp213kW
Torque
400Nm295lb-ft
440Nm325lb-ft
Curb weight
1,720kg3,792lb
1,740kg3,836lb
Gross weight
2,220kg4,894lb
2,280kg5,027lb
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
62.2s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph
Calculated
66.1s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph
Calculated
0-100 km/h
5.9s
6.3s
0-200 km/h
18.8s
Calculated
20.0s
Calculated
0-60 mph
5.6s
Calculated
6.0s
Calculated
Fuel consumption
10.1L/100 km23.3mpg US28.0mpg UK
-
Fuel consumption city
18L/100 km13.1mpg US15.7mpg UK
18L/100 km13.1mpg US15.7mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway
8.6L/100 km27.4mpg US32.8mpg UK
9.1L/100 km25.8mpg US31.0mpg UK
Quarter mile
13.9s
Calculated
14.2s
Calculated
Power-to-weight
198hp/t147kW/t90hp/1000 lb
Calculated
164hp/t123kW/t75hp/1000 lb
Calculated
Torque-to-weight
233Nm/t156lb-ft/ton
Calculated
253Nm/t169lb-ft/ton
Calculated
Estimated range
891km554mi
Calculated
-
Displacement
3,795cc232cu in
4,398cc268cu in
Length
4,720mm186in
4,805mm189in
Width
1,751mm69in
1,800mm71in
Height
1,392mm55in
1,440mm57in
Wheelbase
2,761mm109in
2,830mm111in
Front track
1,474mm58in
1,512mm60in
Rear track
1,496mm59in
1,522mm60in
Trunk volume
460L
410L
Max trunk volume
1,450L
1,525L
Doors
5
5
Seats
5
5
Fuel tank
90L
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 M5 Touring (E34) 3.8BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8PowerTorque
  • BMW M5 Touring (E34) 3.8: Power / Torque
  • BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8: Power / Torque
Dyno simulation data table
VehiclePeak power RPMPeak torque RPMMax engine speed
BMWM5 Touring (E34)3.86,900 rpm4,750 rpm7,150 rpm
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V85,400 rpm3,600 rpm5,650 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
MetricBMWM5 Touring (E34)3.8BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8
Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph
0-97 km/h
5.6 s
6.0 s
0-100 km/h
0-62 mph
5.9 s
6.3 s
0-200 km/h
0-124 mph
18.8 s
20.0 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
2.5 s
2.6 s
330 ft
101 m
6.3 s
6.5 s
1/8 mile
201 m
9.2 s
9.5 s
1000 ft
305 m
11.8 s
12.1 s
1/4 mile
402 m
13.9 s
14.2 s
Trap speed
1/4 mile
402 m
173 km/h
108 mph
170 km/h
106 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWM5 Touring (E34)3.8
340 hp
254 kW
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8
286 hp
213 kW

BMW M5 Touring (E34) 3.8 has 54 hp more than BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8.

The biggest power difference is between BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8 and BMW M5 Touring (E34) 3.8: 54 hp (40 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWM5 Touring (E34)3.8
400 Nm
295 lb-ft
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8
440 Nm
325 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWM5 Touring (E34)3.8
1,720 kg
3,792 lb
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8
1,740 kg
3,836 lb

Top speed without limiter comparison

Bar comparison chart for Top speed without limiter. Higher is better · km/h / mph

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWM5 Touring (E34)3.8
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i 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
VehicleValue
BMWM5 Touring (E34)3.85.9 s
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V86.3 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW M5 Touring (E34) 3.8 and BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8: 0.4 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power-to-weight. Higher is better · hp/t / kW/t

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWM5 Touring (E34)3.8
198 hp/t
147 kW/t
5.1 kg/hp
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8
164 hp/t
123 kW/t
6.1 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
VehiclePowerAccelerationTop speed
BMWM5 Touring (E34)3.8
340 hp
254 kW
5.9 s
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8
286 hp
213 kW
6.3 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.

Chart data table
VehiclePerformance scorePracticality score
BMWM5 Touring (E34)3.8
Power
340 hp
254 kW
0-100 km/h5.9 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
1,392 mm
54.8 in
BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8
Power
286 hp
213 kW
0-100 km/h6.3 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
1,440 mm
56.7 in

Detailed score breakdown

Detailed score breakdown
VehicleBMWM5 Touring (E34)3.8BMW5 Series Touring (E39)540i V8
Power
340 hp
254 kW
286 hp
213 kW
Torque
400 Nm
295 lb-ft
440 Nm
325 lb-ft
Acceleration
5.9 s
6.3 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Lightness
1,720 kg
3,792 lb
1,740 kg
3,836 lb
Fuel consumption
10.1 L/100 km
23.3 mpg US
28.0 mpg UK
-
Practicality
Doors/seats
5 doors
5 seats
Trunk
460 L
16.2 cu ft
Length
4,720 mm
185.8 in
Height
1,392 mm
54.8 in
Doors/seats
5 doors
5 seats
Trunk
410 L
14.5 cu ft
Length
4,805 mm
189.2 in
Height
1,440 mm
56.7 in
Range score
891 km
554 mi
-
Trunk score
460 L
16.2 cu ft
410 L
14.5 cu ft
Power-to-weight score
198 hp/t
147 kW/t
5.1 kg/hp
164 hp/t
123 kW/t
6.1 kg/hp
Overall
Fixed score
Fixed score

Fuel cost and annual usage

Estimate running costs from combined consumption, your annual distance, and the fuel price in your local currency.

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
VehicleBMW M5 Touring (E34) 3.8
Consumption10.1 L/100 km23.3 mpg US28 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km17.68 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi28.45 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used1,515 L400 US gal333 UK gal
Annual fuel cost2,651 LC/year

Head-to-head comparisons

BMW M5 Touring (E34) 3.8

  • Has 54 hp more
  • Is 20 kg lighter
  • Is 0.4 s quicker from 0-100 km/h
  • Has 33 hp/t better power-to-weight
  • Has 50 L more trunk volume

Pros

  • Quickest 0-100 km/h in this comparison
  • Highest top speed
  • Most powerful
  • Lightest
  • Best power-to-weight ratio
  • Largest trunk

Choose cars to compare

Brand
Model
Generation
Engine or modification
BMW M5 Touring (E34) 3.8
BMW 5 Series Touring (E39) 540i V8
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