Car comparison

BMW Z3 M (E36/7) 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 (E36/7)

3.2

321 hp3201 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedRoadster1997-2003
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 (E36/7) 3.2

  • Quickest 0-100 km/h
    5.0 s
  • Fastest top speed
    270 km/h
    168 mph Unrestricted
    250 km/h
    155 mph Restricted
  • Most powerful
    321 hp
    239 kW
  • Highest torque
    350 Nm
    258 lb-ft
  • Best power-to-weight
    236 hp/t
    176 kW/t
    4.2 kg/hp
  • Largest trunk
    165 L
  • Best overall score
    56/100
  • Best performance score
    68/100
  • Best economy score
    0/100
  • Best practicality score
    31/100

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 (E36/7)3.2BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
Power
321hp239kW
231hp172kW
Torque
350Nm258lb-ft
300Nm221lb-ft
Curb weight
1,360kg2,998lb
1,305kg2,877lb
Gross weight
1,600kg3,527lb
1,575kg3,472lb
Top speed
Unrestricted
270 km/h168 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Calculated
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Calculated
To 99% top speed
62.0s99% target: 267 km/h / 166 mph
Calculated
76.2s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph
Calculated
0-100 km/h
5.0s
6.0s
0-200 km/h
16.2s
Calculated
20.9s
Calculated
0-60 mph
4.8s
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
13.0s
Calculated
14.1s
Calculated
Power-to-weight
236hp/t176kW/t107hp/1000 lb
Calculated
177hp/t132kW/t80hp/1000 lb
Calculated
Torque-to-weight
257Nm/t172lb-ft/ton
Calculated
230Nm/t154lb-ft/ton
Calculated
Displacement
3,201cc195cu in
2,979cc182cu in
Length
4,025mm158in
4,050mm159in
Width
1,740mm69in
1,740mm69in
Height
1,266mm50in
1,306mm51in
Wheelbase
2,458mm97in
2,446mm96in
Front track
1,422mm56in
1,413mm56in
Rear track
1,492mm59in
1,494mm59in
Trunk volume-
165L
Max trunk volume
165L
-
Doors
2
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 (E36/7) 3.2BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0iPowerTorque
  • BMW Z3 M (E36/7) 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 (E36/7)3.27,400 rpm3,250 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 (E36/7)3.2BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph
0-97 km/h
4.8 s
5.7 s
0-100 km/h
0-62 mph
5.0 s
6.0 s
0-200 km/h
0-124 mph
16.2 s
20.9 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
270 km/h168 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
2.2 s
2.4 s
330 ft
101 m
5.8 s
6.2 s
1/8 mile
201 m
8.6 s
9.3 s
1000 ft
305 m
11.0 s
11.9 s
1/4 mile
402 m
13.0 s
14.1 s
Trap speed
1/4 mile
402 m
181 km/h
112 mph
167 km/h
104 mph

Power comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 M (E36/7)3.2
321 hp
239 kW
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
231 hp
172 kW

BMW Z3 M (E36/7) 3.2 has 90 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 (E36/7) 3.2: 90 hp (67 kW).

Torque comparison

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

Chart data table
VehicleValue
BMWZ3 M (E36/7)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 (E36/7)3.2
1,360 kg
2,998 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 (E36/7)3.2
Unrestricted
270 km/h168 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 (E36/7)3.25.0 s
BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i6.0 s

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between BMW Z3 M (E36/7) 3.2 and BMW Z3 (E36/7) 3.0i: 1.0 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 (E36/7)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 (E36/7)3.2
321 hp
239 kW
5.0 s
Unrestricted
270 km/h168 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 (E36/7)3.2
Power
321 hp
239 kW
0-100 km/h5.0 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
270 km/h168 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Doors/seats
2 doors
2 seats
Trunk
165 L
5.8 cu ft
Length
4,025 mm
158.5 in
Height
1,266 mm
49.8 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 (E36/7)3.2BMWZ3 (E36/7)3.0i
Power
321 hp
239 kW
231 hp
172 kW
Torque
350 Nm
258 lb-ft
300 Nm
221 lb-ft
Acceleration
5.0 s
6.0 s
Top speed
Unrestricted
270 km/h168 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Unrestricted
260 km/h162 mph
Restricted
250 km/h155 mph
Lightness
1,360 kg
2,998 lb
1,305 kg
2,877 lb
Practicality
Doors/seats
2 doors
2 seats
Trunk
165 L
5.8 cu ft
Length
4,025 mm
158.5 in
Height
1,266 mm
49.8 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
165 L
5.8 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 (E36/7) 3.2

  • Has 90 hp more
  • Has 50 Nm more
  • Is 1.0 s quicker from 0-100 km/h
  • Has 10 km/h (6 mph) higher top speed
  • Has 59 hp/t better power-to-weight

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 55 kg lighter

Pros

  • Lightest

Cons

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

Choose cars to compare

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