BMW 3 series and BMW 5 series have the same engine power, the torque is the same for both cars. BMW 3 series reaches 100 km/h speed 0.4 seconds faster.
Fuel consumption
Fuel consumption (l/100km):
6.7
6.9
Real fuel consumption:
7.3 l/100km
7.6 l/100km
By specification BMW 3 series consumes 0.2 litres less fuel per 100 km than the BMW 5 series, which means that by driving the BMW 3 series over 15,000 km in a year you can save 30 litres of fuel. By comparing actual fuel consumption based on user reports, BMW 3 series consumes 0.3 litres less fuel per 100 km than the BMW 5 series.
Fuel tank capacity:
61 litres
70 litres
Full fuel tank distance:
910 km in combined cycle
1010 km in combined cycle
1150 km on highway
1270 km on highway
830 km with real consumption
920 km with real consumption
BMW 5 series gets more mileage on one fuel tank.
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
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.
