Comparison between:
• BMW 7 Series (E32) 730i (petrol, 1986)
• Mercedes-Benz S-class SE (W126) 280 S (petrol, 1979)
Manufacturer, series, model, years of production
Basic information about the manufacturer, series and model of the vehicle. First and last years of production.
| Manufacturer | BMW | Mercedes-Benz |
| Series | 7 Series | S-class |
| Model | (E32) 730i | SE (W126) 280 S |
| First year of production | 1986 | 1979 |
| Last year of production | 1992 | 1985 |
Body type, dimensions, volumes, weight
Information about the body style of the vehicle, overall dimensions, weight, boot space and fuel tank capacity.
| Body type | sedan (saloon) | sedan (saloon) |
| Number of doors | 4 (four) | 4 (four) |
| Number of seats | 5 (five) | 5 (five) |
| Wheelbase | 2832.00 mm (millimeters) 9.29 ft (feet) 111.50 in (inches) 2.8320 m (meters) | 2930.00 mm (millimeters) 9.61 ft (feet) 115.35 in (inches) 2.9300 m (meters) |
| Front track | 1527.00 mm (millimeters) 5.01 ft (feet) 60.12 in (inches) 1.5270 m (meters) | 1545.00 mm (millimeters) 5.07 ft (feet) 60.83 in (inches) 1.5450 m (meters) |
| Rear track | 1550.00 mm (millimeters) 5.09 ft (feet) 61.02 in (inches) 1.5500 m (meters) | 1517.00 mm (millimeters) 4.98 ft (feet) 59.72 in (inches) 1.5170 m (meters) |
| Length | 4910.00 mm (millimeters) 16.11 ft (feet) 193.31 in (inches) 4.9100 m (meters) | 4995.00 mm (millimeters) 16.39 ft (feet) 196.65 in (inches) 4.9950 m (meters) |
| Width | 1845.00 mm (millimeters) 6.05 ft (feet) 72.64 in (inches) 1.8450 m (meters) | 1820.00 mm (millimeters) 5.97 ft (feet) 71.65 in (inches) 1.8200 m (meters) |
| Height | 1411.00 mm (millimeters) 4.63 ft (feet) 55.55 in (inches) 1.4110 m (meters) | 1430.00 mm (millimeters) 4.69 ft (feet) 56.30 in (inches) 1.4300 m (meters) |
| Ground clearance | - | - |
| Minimum trunk/boot space capacity | 500.0 l (liters) 17.66 ft3 (cubic feet) 0.50 m3 (cubic meters) 500000.00 cc (cubic centimeters) | 500.0 l (liters) 17.66 ft3 (cubic feet) 0.50 m3 (cubic meters) 500000.00 cc (cubic centimeters) |
| Maximum trunk/boot space capacity | - | - |
| Curb weight | 1600 kg (kilograms) 3527.40 lbs (pounds) | 1560 kg (kilograms) 3439.21 lbs (pounds) |
| Maximum weight | 2130 kg (kilograms) 4695.85 lbs (pounds) | 2080 kg (kilograms) 4585.62 lbs (pounds) |
| Capacity of the fuel tank | 90.0 l (liters) 19.80 UK gal (UK gallons) 23.78 US gal (US gallons) | 90.0 l (liters) 19.80 UK gal (UK gallons) 23.78 US gal (US gallons) |
Engine
Technical data about the vehicle's engine - location, displacement, aspiration, cylinders, valves, compression, fuel, etc.
| Type of fuel | petrol | petrol |
| Type of fuel system | multi-point fuel injection (MPFI) | carburettor |
| Engine model | M30B30 | M 110 V 28 / 110.924 |
| Engine location | longitudinal, front | longitudinal, front |
| Engine displacement | 2986 cc (cubic centimeters) | 2746 cc (cubic centimeters) |
| Valve mechanism type | - | double overhead camshaft (DOHC) |
| Type of aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Compression ratio | 9.20 : 1 | 9.00 : 1 |
| Arrangement of the cylinders | inline/straight engine | inline/straight engine |
| Number of cylinders | 6 (six) | 6 (six) |
| Valves per cylinder | 2 (two) | 2 (two) |
| Bore (the diameter of a cylinder) | 89.00 mm (millimeters) 0.29 ft (feet) 3.50 in (inches) 0.0890 m (meters) | 86.00 mm (millimeters) 0.28 ft (feet) 3.39 in (inches) 0.0860 m (meters) |
| Stroke (the length of a piston stroke) | 80.00 mm (millimeters) 0.26 ft (feet) 3.15 in (inches) 0.0800 m (meters) | 78.80 mm (millimeters) 0.26 ft (feet) 3.10 in (inches) 0.0788 m (meters) |
Power, torque, acceleration, speed
Information about the maximum power, torque, speed and the revolutions per minute, at which they are reached. Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km.
| Maximum power | 197 hp (horse power) 146.9 kW (kilowatts) 199.7 ps (metric horsepower) | 156 hp (horse power) 116.3 kW (kilowatts) 158.2 ps (metric horsepower) |
| Maximum power is generated at | 5800 rpm (revolutions per minute) | 5500 rpm (revolutions per minute) |
| Maximum torque | 275 Nm (newton meters) 28.0 kgm (kilogram meters) 202.8 ft-lb (foot-pounds) | 223 Nm (newton meters) 22.7 kgm (kilogram meters) 164.5 ft-lb (foot-pounds) |
| Maximum torque is reached at | 4000 rpm (revolutions per minute) | 4000 rpm (revolutions per minute) |
| Redline RPM | - | - |
| Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h | 8.90 s (seconds) | 10.10 s (seconds) |
| Maximum speed | 225 km/h (kilometers per hour) 139.81 mph (miles per hour) | 200 km/h (kilometers per hour) 124.27 mph (miles per hour) |
| Drag coefficient | 0.32 | - |
Fuel consumption
Information about the fuel consumption (urban, extra-urban, combined).
| Fuel consumption (urban) | 15.5 l/100km (liters per 100 kilometers) 3.41 UK gal/100km (UK gallons per 100 kilometers) 4.09 US gal/100km (US gallons per 100 kilometers) 15.18 mpg (miles per gallon) 4.01 mpl (miles per liter) 6.45 km/l (kilometers per liter) | 16.9 l/100km (liters per 100 kilometers) 3.72 UK gal/100km (UK gallons per 100 kilometers) 4.46 US gal/100km (US gallons per 100 kilometers) 13.92 mpg (miles per gallon) 3.68 mpl (miles per liter) 5.92 km/l (kilometers per liter) |
| Fuel consumption (extra urban) | 7.6 l/100km (liters per 100 kilometers) 1.67 UK gal/100km (UK gallons per 100 kilometers) 2.01 US gal/100km (US gallons per 100 kilometers) 30.95 mpg (miles per gallon) 8.18 mpl (miles per liter) 13.16 km/l (kilometers per liter) | 8.9 l/100km (liters per 100 kilometers) 1.96 UK gal/100km (UK gallons per 100 kilometers) 2.35 US gal/100km (US gallons per 100 kilometers) 26.43 mpg (miles per gallon) 6.98 mpl (miles per liter) 11.24 km/l (kilometers per liter) |
| Fuel consumption (combined) | 10.8 l/100km (liters per 100 kilometers) 2.38 UK gal/100km (UK gallons per 100 kilometers) 2.85 US gal/100km (US gallons per 100 kilometers) 21.78 mpg (miles per gallon) 5.75 mpl (miles per liter) 9.26 km/l (kilometers per liter) | - |
| EU emission standard | - | - |
| Catalytic converter | - | - |
| CO2 emissions | - | - |
Transmission, drive type
Information about the transmission (automatic and/or manual), number of gears/speeds and type of drive.
| Transmission model | - | - |
| Type of transmission | manual | manual |
| Number of automatic gears | - | - |
| Number of manual gears | 5 (five) | 4 (four) |
| Final drive ratio | - | - |
| Drive type | rear wheel drive (RWD) | rear wheel drive (RWD) |
Steering
Technical specifications about the type of steering and the vehicle's turning circle (turning diameter).
| Type of steering | rack and pinion | worm and sector/recirculating ball and nut |
| Type of power steering | hydraulic | hydraulic |
| Turning circle diameter | 11.60 m (meters) 38.06 ft (feet) 456.69 in (inches) | - |
Suspension
Information about the front and rear suspension of the vehicle.
| Type of front suspension | - spring strut | - double wishbones |
| Type of rear suspension | - coil springs | - trailing arms |
Brakes
Type of brakes used on the front and rear wheels as well as presence of an ABS (anti-lock braking system).
| Type of front brakes | ventilated discs | ventilated discs |
| Type of rear brakes | discs | discs |
| ABS (anti-lock braking system) | Yes | - |
Wheels
Type and size of the rims and tyres of the vehicle.
| Rim size | 15 | 6J X 14 / 6J X 14 |
| Tyre code | 205/65 R15 | 195/70 R14 / 195/70 R14 |