Car comparison

BMW Z3 M Coupe (E36/8) 3.2vsBMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i

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

New comparison

BMW Z3 M Coupe (E36/8)

3.2

325 hp3246 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedCoupe1998-2003
VS

BMW Z3 (E36/7)

3.0i

231 hp2979 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedRoadster2000-2003

Comparison overview

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

Best choices

BMW Z3 M Coupe (E36/8) 3.2

  • Quickest 0-100 km/h
    5.3 s
  • Fastest top speed
    265 km/h
    165 mph Unrestricted
    250 km/h
    155 mph Restricted
  • Most powerful
    325 hp
    242 kW
  • Highest torque
    350 Nm
    258 lb-ft
  • Best power-to-weight
    236 hp/t
    176 kW/t
    4.2 kg/hp
  • Largest trunk
    210 L
  • Best overall score
    58/100
  • Best performance score
    68/100
  • Best economy score
    0/100
  • Best practicality score
    37/100

BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i

  • Lightest
    1,305 kg
    2,877 lb
  • Lowest city consumption
    13.0 L/100 km
    18.1 mpg US
    21.7 mpg UK
  • Lowest highway consumption
    7.5 L/100 km
    31.4 mpg US
    37.7 mpg UK

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
ModelBMWZ3 M Coupe (E36/8)3.2BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
Power
325hp242kW
231hp172kW
Torque
350Nm258lb-ft
300Nm221lb-ft
Curb weight
1,375kg3,031lb
1,305kg2,877lb
Gross weight
1,660kg3,660lb
1,575kg3,472lb
Top speed
Unrestricted
265 km/h165 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Calculated
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Calculated
To 99% top speed
65.0s99% target: 262 km/h / 163 mph
Calculated
76.2s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph
Calculated
0-100 km/h
5.3s
6.0s
0-200 km/h
17.6s
Calculated
20.9s
Calculated
0-60 mph
5.1s
Calculated
5.7s
Calculated
Fuel consumption city
16.6L/100 km14.2mpg US17.0mpg UK
13L/100 km18.1mpg US21.7mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway
7.9L/100 km29.8mpg US35.8mpg UK
7.5L/100 km31.4mpg US37.7mpg UK
Quarter mile
13.4s
Calculated
14.1s
Calculated
Power-to-weight
236hp/t176kW/t107hp/1000 lb
Calculated
177hp/t132kW/t80hp/1000 lb
Calculated
Torque-to-weight
255Nm/t170lb-ft/ton
Calculated
230Nm/t154lb-ft/ton
Calculated
Displacement
3,246cc198cu in
2,979cc182cu in
Length
4,025mm158in
4,050mm159in
Width
1,740mm69in
1,740mm69in
Height
1,280mm50in
1,306mm51in
Wheelbase
2,459mm97in
2,446mm96in
Front track
1,422mm56in
1,413mm56in
Rear track
1,492mm59in
1,494mm59in
Trunk volume
210L
165L
Max trunk volume
410L
-
Doors
3
2
Seats
2
2
Fuel tank
51L
51L

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 M Coupe (E36/8) 3.2BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0iPowerTorque
  • BMW Z3 M Coupe (E36/8) 3.2: Power / Torque
  • BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i: Power / Torque
Dyno simulation data table
VehiclePeak power RPMPeak torque RPMMax engine speed
BMWZ3 M Coupe (E36/8)3.27,400 rpm4,900 rpm7,650 rpm
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i5,900 rpm3,500 rpm6,150 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
MetricBMWZ3 M Coupe (E36/8)3.2BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph
0-97 km/h
5.1 s
5.7 s
0-100 km/h
0-62 mph
5.3 s
6.0 s
0-200 km/h
0-124 mph
17.6 s
20.9 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
265 km/h165 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
2.3 s
2.4 s
330 ft
101 m
5.9 s
6.2 s
1/8 mile
201 m
8.8 s
9.3 s
1000 ft
305 m
11.3 s
11.9 s
1/4 mile
402 m
13.4 s
14.1 s
Trap speed
1/4 mile
402 m
176 km/h
110 mph
167 km/h
104 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 M Coupe (E36/8)3.2
325 hp
242 kW
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
231 hp
172 kW

BMW Z3 M Coupe (E36/8) 3.2 has 94 hp more than BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i.

The biggest power difference is between BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i and BMW Z3 M Coupe (E36/8) 3.2: 94 hp (70 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 M Coupe (E36/8)3.2
350 Nm
258 lb-ft
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
300 Nm
221 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 M Coupe (E36/8)3.2
1,375 kg
3,031 lb
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
1,305 kg
2,877 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 M Coupe (E36/8)3.2
Unrestricted
265 km/h165 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
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
BMWZ3 M Coupe (E36/8)3.25.3 s
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i6.0 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW Z3 M Coupe (E36/8) 3.2 and BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i: 0.7 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 M Coupe (E36/8)3.2
236 hp/t
176 kW/t
4.2 kg/hp
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
177 hp/t
132 kW/t
5.6 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
VehiclePowerAccelerationTop speed
BMWZ3 M Coupe (E36/8)3.2
325 hp
242 kW
5.3 s
Unrestricted
265 km/h165 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
231 hp
172 kW
6.0 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
BMWZ3 M Coupe (E36/8)3.2
Power
325 hp
242 kW
0-100 km/h5.3 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
1,280 mm
50.4 in
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
Power
231 hp
172 kW
0-100 km/h6.0 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Doors/seats
2 doors
2 seats
Trunk
165 L
5.8 cu ft
Length
4,050 mm
159.4 in
Height
1,306 mm
51.4 in

Detailed score breakdown

Detailed score breakdown
VehicleBMWZ3 M Coupe (E36/8)3.2BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
Power
325 hp
242 kW
231 hp
172 kW
Torque
350 Nm
258 lb-ft
300 Nm
221 lb-ft
Acceleration
5.3 s
6.0 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
265 km/h165 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Lightness
1,375 kg
3,031 lb
1,305 kg
2,877 lb
Practicality
Doors/seats
3 doors
2 seats
Trunk
210 L
7.4 cu ft
Length
4,025 mm
158.5 in
Height
1,280 mm
50.4 in
Doors/seats
2 doors
2 seats
Trunk
165 L
5.8 cu ft
Length
4,050 mm
159.4 in
Height
1,306 mm
51.4 in
Trunk score
210 L
7.4 cu ft
165 L
5.8 cu ft
Power-to-weight score
236 hp/t
176 kW/t
4.2 kg/hp
177 hp/t
132 kW/t
5.6 kg/hp
Overall
Fixed score
Fixed score

Head-to-head comparisons

BMW Z3 M Coupe (E36/8) 3.2

  • Has 94 hp more
  • Has 50 Nm more
  • Is 0.7 s quicker from 0-100 km/h
  • Has 5 km/h (3 mph) higher top speed
  • Has 59 hp/t better power-to-weight
  • Has 45 L more trunk volume

Pros

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

Cons

  • Heaviest

BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i

  • Is 70 kg lighter

Pros

  • Lightest

Cons

  • Slowest 0-100 km/h
  • Lowest power
  • Lowest top speed
  • Smallest trunk

Choose cars to compare

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Model
Generation
Engine or modification
BMW Z3 M Coupe (E36/8) 3.2
BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i
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