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.
Performance
Power:
122 HP
163 HP
Torque:
160 NM
340 NM
Acceleration 0-100 km/h:
10.9 seconds
8.6 seconds
BMW 5 series is a more dynamic driving. BMW 3 series engine produces 41 HP less power than BMW 5 series, whereas torque is 180 NM less than BMW 5 series. Due to the lower power, BMW 3 series reaches 100 km/h speed 2.3 seconds later.
BMW 3 sērija 2008 1.6 engine: The BMW N43B16 is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine developed from the larger N43B20 and used in BMW models with the 16i designation. Compared with the older N42B18, it received direct fuel injection, a higher 12:1 compression ratio, and a Siemens MSD 81.2 engine management system, but lost the ... More about BMW 3 sērija 2008 1.6 engine
Dimensions
Length:
4.52 m
4.84 m
Width:
1.82 m
1.85 m
Height:
1.42 m
1.47 m
BMW 3 series is smaller. BMW 3 series is 32 cm shorter than the BMW 5 series, 3 cm narrower, while the height of BMW 3 series is 5 cm lower.
Trunk capacity:
460 litres
520 litres
Trunk max capacity: with rear seats folded down, if possible
no data
520 litres
BMW 5 series has more luggage space. BMW 3 series has 60 litres less trunk space than the BMW 5 series.
BMW 3 series has slightly fewer faults. Deffect rate in annual technical inspection is similar for both cars, it's slightly higher for BMW 5 series, so BMW 3 series quality could be a bit better.
