Car comparison

BMW Z3 Coupe (E36/8) 3.2vsBMW 8 Series (E31) 850Ci 5.4

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

New comparison

BMW Z3 Coupe (E36/8)

3.2

321 hp3201 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedCoupe1998-2003
VS

BMW 8 Series (E31)

850Ci 5.4

326 hp5379 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedCoupe1994-1999

Comparison overview

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

Best choices

BMW Z3 Coupe (E36/8) 3.2

  • Quickest 0-100 km/h
    5.4 s
  • Fastest top speed
    265 km/h
    165 mph Unrestricted
    250 km/h
    155 mph Restricted
  • Lightest
    1,390 kg
    3,064 lb
  • Best power-to-weight
    231 hp/t
    172 kW/t
    4.3 kg/hp
  • Lowest city consumption
    12.9 L/100 km
    18.2 mpg US
    21.9 mpg UK
  • Lowest highway consumption
    7.4 L/100 km
    31.8 mpg US
    38.2 mpg UK
  • Best performance score
    67/100
  • Best economy score
    0/100

BMW 8 Series (E31) 850Ci 5.4

  • Most powerful
    326 hp
    243 kW
  • Highest torque
    490 Nm
    361 lb-ft
  • Largest trunk
    320 L
  • Best overall score
    60/100
  • Best practicality score
    48/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
ModelBMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.2BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.4
Power
321hp239kW
326hp243kW
Torque
350Nm258lb-ft
490Nm361lb-ft
Curb weight
1,390kg3,064lb
1,880kg4,145lb
Gross weight
1,660kg3,660lb
2,300kg5,071lb
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
66.8s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph
Calculated
90.9s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph
Calculated
0-100 km/h
5.4s
6.3s
0-200 km/h
18.0s
Calculated
22.6s
Calculated
0-60 mph
5.1s
Calculated
6.0s
Calculated
Fuel consumption city
12.9L/100 km18.2mpg US21.9mpg UK
21.1L/100 km11.1mpg US13.4mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway
7.4L/100 km31.8mpg US38.2mpg UK
9.9L/100 km23.8mpg US28.5mpg UK
Quarter mile
13.5s
Calculated
14.3s
Calculated
Power-to-weight
231hp/t172kW/t105hp/1000 lb
Calculated
173hp/t129kW/t79hp/1000 lb
Calculated
Torque-to-weight
252Nm/t168lb-ft/ton
Calculated
261Nm/t174lb-ft/ton
Calculated
Displacement
3,201cc195cu in
5,379cc328cu in
Length
4,025mm158in
4,780mm188in
Width
1,740mm69in
1,855mm73in
Height
1,279mm50in
1,340mm53in
Wheelbase
2,459mm97in
2,684mm106in
Front track
1,422mm56in
1,554mm61in
Rear track
1,492mm59in
1,562mm61in
Trunk volume
210L
320L
Max trunk volume
410L
-
Doors
3
2
Seats
2
4
Fuel tank
51L
90L

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 Z3 Coupe (E36/8) 3.2BMW 8 Series (E31) 850Ci 5.4PowerTorque
  • BMW Z3 Coupe (E36/8) 3.2: Power / Torque
  • BMW 8 Series (E31) 850Ci 5.4: Power / Torque
Dyno simulation data table
VehiclePeak power RPMPeak torque RPMMax engine speed
BMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.27,400 rpm3,250 rpm7,650 rpm
BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.45,000 rpm3,900 rpm5,250 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
MetricBMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.2BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.4
Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph
0-97 km/h
5.1 s
6.0 s
0-100 km/h
0-62 mph
5.4 s
6.3 s
0-200 km/h
0-124 mph
18.0 s
22.6 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
2.3 s
2.4 s
330 ft
101 m
6.0 s
6.3 s
1/8 mile
201 m
8.9 s
9.4 s
1000 ft
305 m
11.4 s
12.1 s
1/4 mile
402 m
13.5 s
14.3 s
Trap speed
1/4 mile
402 m
175 km/h
109 mph
163 km/h
101 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.2
321 hp
239 kW
BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.4
326 hp
243 kW

BMW 8 Series (E31) 850Ci 5.4 has 5 hp more than BMW Z3 Coupe (E36/8) 3.2.

The biggest power difference is between BMW Z3 Coupe (E36/8) 3.2 and BMW 8 Series (E31) 850Ci 5.4: 5 hp (4 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.2
350 Nm
258 lb-ft
BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.4
490 Nm
361 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.2
1,390 kg
3,064 lb
BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.4
1,880 kg
4,145 lb

Top speed without limiter comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.2
Unrestricted
265 km/h165 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.4
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
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.25.4 s
BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.46.3 s

Although BMW 8 Series (E31) 850Ci 5.4 has more power, BMW Z3 Coupe (E36/8) 3.2 is quicker from 0-100 km/h.

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW Z3 Coupe (E36/8) 3.2 and BMW 8 Series (E31) 850Ci 5.4: 0.9 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.2
231 hp/t
172 kW/t
4.3 kg/hp
BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.4
173 hp/t
129 kW/t
5.8 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
VehiclePowerAccelerationTop speed
BMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.2
321 hp
239 kW
5.4 s
Unrestricted
265 km/h165 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.4
326 hp
243 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.

Chart data table
VehiclePerformance scorePracticality score
BMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.2
Power
321 hp
239 kW
0-100 km/h5.4 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
265 km/h165 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Doors/seats
3 doors
2 seats
Trunk
210 L
7.4 cu ft
Length
4,025 mm
158.5 in
Height
1,279 mm
50.4 in
BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.4
Power
326 hp
243 kW
0-100 km/h6.3 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
265 km/h165 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Doors/seats
2 doors
4 seats
Trunk
320 L
11.3 cu ft
Length
4,780 mm
188.2 in
Height
1,340 mm
52.8 in

Detailed score breakdown

Detailed score breakdown
VehicleBMWZ3 Coupe (E36/8)3.2BMW8 Series (E31)850Ci 5.4
Power
321 hp
239 kW
326 hp
243 kW
Torque
350 Nm
258 lb-ft
490 Nm
361 lb-ft
Acceleration
5.4 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
1,390 kg
3,064 lb
1,880 kg
4,145 lb
Practicality
Doors/seats
3 doors
2 seats
Trunk
210 L
7.4 cu ft
Length
4,025 mm
158.5 in
Height
1,279 mm
50.4 in
Doors/seats
2 doors
4 seats
Trunk
320 L
11.3 cu ft
Length
4,780 mm
188.2 in
Height
1,340 mm
52.8 in
Trunk score
210 L
7.4 cu ft
320 L
11.3 cu ft
Power-to-weight score
231 hp/t
172 kW/t
4.3 kg/hp
173 hp/t
129 kW/t
5.8 kg/hp
Overall
Fixed score
Fixed score

Head-to-head comparisons

BMW Z3 Coupe (E36/8) 3.2

  • Is 490 kg lighter
  • Is 0.9 s quicker from 0-100 km/h
  • Has 58 hp/t better power-to-weight

Pros

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

Cons

  • Lowest power
  • Smallest trunk

BMW 8 Series (E31) 850Ci 5.4

  • Has 5 hp more
  • Has 140 Nm more
  • Has 110 L more trunk volume

Pros

  • Most powerful
  • Highest torque
  • Largest trunk

Cons

  • Slowest 0-100 km/h
  • Heaviest

Choose cars to compare

Brand
Model
Generation
Engine or modification
BMW Z3 Coupe (E36/8) 3.2
BMW 8 Series (E31) 850Ci 5.4
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