Car comparison

BMW M5 (E34) 3.8vsMercedes-Benz W124 · Facelift 1989 500 E V8

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

New comparison

BMW M5 (E34)

3.8

340 hp3795 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedSedan1992-1994

Mercedes-Benz W124 · Facelift 1989

500 E V8

326 hp4973 ccGasolineRWDAutomaticNaturally aspiratedSedan1992-1993

Comparison overview

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

BMW M5 (E34) 3.8

Quickest 0-100 km/h
5.9 s
Fastest top speed
265 km/h
165 mph Unrestricted
250 km/h
155 mph Restricted
Most powerful
340 hp
254 kW
Lightest
1,650 kg
3,638 lb
Best power-to-weight
206 hp/t
154 kW/t
4.9 kg/hp
Lowest highway consumption
8.3 L/100 km
28.3 mpg US
34.0 mpg UK
Best overall score
68/100
Best performance score
66/100
Best economy score
81/100
Best practicality score
73/100

Mercedes-Benz W124 Facelift 1989 500 E V8

Highest torque
480 Nm
354 lb-ft
Lowest city consumption
17.5 L/100 km
13.4 mpg US
16.1 mpg UK
Largest trunk
520 L

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMWM5 (E34)3.8	Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E V8
Power	340hp254kW	326hp243kW
Torque	400Nm295lb-ft	480Nm354lb-ft
Curb weight	1,650kg3,638lb	1,700kg3,748lb
Gross weight	2,150kg4,740lb	2,150kg4,740lb
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	59.0s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated	62.4s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	5.9s	6.1s
0-200 km/h	17.7s Calculated	18.6s Calculated
0-60 mph	5.6s Calculated	5.8s Calculated
Fuel consumption	9.6L/100 km24.5mpg US29.4mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption city	18L/100 km13.1mpg US15.7mpg UK	17.5L/100 km13.4mpg US16.1mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	8.3L/100 km28.3mpg US34.0mpg UK	10.7L/100 km22mpg US26.4mpg UK
Quarter mile	13.8s Calculated	14.0s Calculated
Power-to-weight	206hp/t154kW/t93hp/1000 lb Calculated	192hp/t143kW/t87hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	242Nm/t162lb-ft/ton Calculated	282Nm/t189lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	938km583mi Calculated	-
Displacement	3,795cc232cu in	4,973cc303cu in
Length	4,720mm186in	4,750mm187in
Width	1,751mm69in	1,796mm71in
Height	1,392mm55in	1,410mm56in
Wheelbase	2,761mm109in	2,800mm110in
Front track	1,474mm58in	1,538mm61in
Rear track	1,496mm59in	1,529mm60in
Trunk volume	460L	520L
Doors	4	4
Seats	5	4
Fuel tank	90L	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 M5 (E34) 3.8Mercedes-Benz W124 Facelift 1989 500 E V8PowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMWM5 (E34)3.8	6,900 rpm	4,750 rpm	7,150 rpm
Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E V8	5,700 rpm	3,900 rpm	5,950 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMWM5 (E34)3.8	Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E V8
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	5.6 s	5.8 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	5.9 s	6.1 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	17.7 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 Limited
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.5 s	2.6 s
330 ft 101 m	6.3 s	6.4 s
1/8 mile 201 m	9.3 s	9.4 s
1000 ft 305 m	11.7 s	11.9 s
1/4 mile 402 m	13.8 s	14.0 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	177 km/h 110 mph	174 km/h 108 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMWM5 (E34)3.8	340 hp 254 kW
Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E V8	326 hp 243 kW

BMW M5 (E34) 3.8 has 14 hp more than Mercedes-Benz W124 Facelift 1989 500 E V8.

The biggest power difference is between Mercedes-Benz W124 Facelift 1989 500 E V8 and BMW M5 (E34) 3.8: 14 hp (10 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMWM5 (E34)3.8	400 Nm 295 lb-ft
Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E V8	480 Nm 354 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMWM5 (E34)3.8	1,650 kg 3,638 lb
Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E V8	1,700 kg 3,748 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
BMWM5 (E34)3.8	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E 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
BMWM5 (E34)3.8	5.9 s
Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E V8	6.1 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW M5 (E34) 3.8 and Mercedes-Benz W124 Facelift 1989 500 E V8: 0.2 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

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

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMWM5 (E34)3.8	206 hp/t 154 kW/t 4.9 kg/hp
Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E V8	192 hp/t 143 kW/t 5.2 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
BMWM5 (E34)3.8	340 hp 254 kW	5.9 s	Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E V8	326 hp 243 kW	6.1 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

BMWM5 (E34)3.8

Power	340 hp 254 kW
0-100 km/h	5.9 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	1,392 mm 54.8 in

Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E V8

Power	326 hp 243 kW
0-100 km/h	6.1 s
Top speed Unrestricted 265 km/h165 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Doors/seats	4 doors 4 seats
Trunk	520 L 18.4 cu ft
Length	4,750 mm 187.0 in
Height	1,410 mm 55.5 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMWM5 (E34)3.8

Mercedes-BenzW124Facelift 1989500 E V8

Power

340 hp

254 kW

326 hp

243 kW

Torque

400 Nm

295 lb-ft

480 Nm

354 lb-ft

Acceleration

5.9 s

6.1 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

265 km/h165 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

Unrestricted

265 km/h165 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

Lightness

1,650 kg

3,638 lb

1,700 kg

3,748 lb

Fuel consumption

9.6 L/100 km

24.5 mpg US

29.4 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	4 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	4 doors 4 seats
Trunk	520 L 18.4 cu ft
Length	4,750 mm 187.0 in
Height	1,410 mm 55.5 in

Range score

938 km

583 mi

Trunk score

460 L

16.2 cu ft

520 L

18.4 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

206 hp/t

154 kW/t

4.9 kg/hp

192 hp/t

143 kW/t

5.2 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 M5 (E34) 3.8
Consumption	9.6 L/100 km24.5 mpg US29.4 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	16.80 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	27.04 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,440 L380 US gal317 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	2,520 LC/year