BMW 3 series 1991 vs BMW 5 series 1998
| Gearbox: | Manual | Automatic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine: | 2.0 Petrol | 2.9 Diesel | |
| Petrol engines (BMW 3 series) are generally quieter, smoother, and better suited for short trips due to quicker warm-up times. Diesel (BMW 5 series) engines, on the other hand, offer superior fuel efficiency and torque, making them ideal for long-distance driving and heavy loads. Read more: Petrol vs. Diesel: Fuel Economy and Key Differences. | |||
| Camshaft drive: | Timing chain | Timing chain | |
Performance | |||
| Power: | 150 HP | 184 HP | |
| Torque: | 190 NM | 390 NM | |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h: | 9.9 seconds | 8.4 seconds | |
|
BMW 5 series is a more dynamic driving. BMW 3 series engine produces 34 HP less power than BMW 5 series, whereas torque is 200 NM less than BMW 5 series. Due to the lower power, BMW 3 series reaches 100 km/h speed 1.5 seconds later. | |||
Fuel consumption | |||
| Fuel consumption (l/100km): | 9.0 | 8.3 | |
| Real fuel consumption: | 9.3 l/100km | 8.7 l/100km | |
|
The BMW 5 series is a better choice when it comes to fuel economy. By specification BMW 3 series consumes 0.7 litres more fuel per 100 km than the BMW 5 series, which means that if you drive 15,000 km in a year, the BMW 3 series could require 105 litres more fuel. By comparing actual fuel consumption based on user reports, BMW 3 series consumes 0.6 litres more fuel per 100 km than the BMW 5 series. | |||
| Fuel tank capacity: | 65 litres | 70 litres | |
| Full fuel tank distance: | 720 km in combined cycle | 840 km in combined cycle | |
| 970 km on highway | 1090 km on highway | ||
| 690 km with real consumption | 800 km with real consumption | ||
| BMW 5 series gets more mileage on one fuel tank. | |||
| Read the article "Fuel Efficiency: How to Reduce Fuel Consumption" to learn more about fuel economy. | |||
Engines | |||
| Average engine lifespan: | 420'000 km | 560'000 km | |
| Engine resource depends largely on regular maintenance and the quality of the oils and fuels used, but under equal conditions the average life of a BMW 5 series engine could be longer. | |||
| Engine production duration: | 7 years | 12 years | |
| Engine spread: | Installed on at least 2 other car models, including BMW 5 sērija, BMW Z3 | Installed on at least 3 other car models, including BMW 3 sērija, BMW X5, BMW 7 sērija | |
| In general, the longer and for more car models an engine is produced, the better its serviceability and availability of spare parts. BMW 5 series might be a better choice in this respect. | |||
| BMW 5 sērija 1998 2.9 engine: Overall, the M57 diesel engine is known for its high reliability and can deliver an exceptionally long service life when properly maintained with high-quality fuel and oil. Fuel quality is especially critical ... More about BMW 5 sērija 1998 2.9 engine | |||
Dimensions | |||
| Length: | 4.43 m | 4.78 m | |
| Width: | 1.70 m | 1.80 m | |
| Height: | 1.39 m | 1.44 m | |
|
BMW 3 series is smaller. BMW 3 series is 35 cm shorter than the BMW 5 series, 10 cm narrower, while the height of BMW 3 series is 5 cm lower. | |||
| Trunk capacity: | 435 litres | 460 litres | |
| Trunk max capacity: with rear seats folded down |
1200 litres | no data | |
|
BMW 5 series has more luggage space. BMW 3 series has 25 litres less trunk space than the BMW 5 series. | |||
| Turning diameter: | 10 meters | 11 meters | |
| The turning circle of the BMW 3 series is 1 metres less than that of the BMW 5 series, which means BMW 3 series can be easier to manoeuvre in tight streets and parking spaces. | |||
| Gross weight (kg): | 1`760 | 2`125 | |
| Safety: | |||
| Quality: | below average | below average | |
| BMW 5 series has fewer problems. According to annual technical inspection data BMW 3 series has serious deffects in 10 percent more cases than BMW 5 series, so BMW 5 series quality is probably slightly better | |||
| Average price (€): | 2600 | 2600 | |
| Rating in user reviews: | 7.2/10 | 8.0/10 | |
| Pros and Cons: |
BMW 3 sērija has
|
BMW 5 sērija has
| |