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A118dvsB116dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs118d · 116d

BMW 118d xDrive F20LCI vs BMW 116d F40: which is truly faster?

Simulated drag race 0 → 1,000 m in real time. Synchronised speed counters and stopwatch. Physics calibration on 7 manufacturer measurements.

compact · 2018 vs 2021 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

118d xDrive F20LCI

150 hp · 320 Nm · 1,470 kg · 2018

VS
BMWDiesel

116d F40

116 hp · 270 Nm · 1,375 kg · 2021

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 118d xDrive F20LCI

8.62 s

Gap1.55 sin favour of 118d xDrive
BBMW 116d F40

10.17 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure118d xDrive F20LCI116d F40Gap
0–100 km/h8.62 s10.17 s1.55 s · 118d xDrive F20LCI
400 m standing start16.29 s17.39 s1.10 s · 118d xDrive F20LCI
1,000 m standing start29.87 s31.69 s1.82 s · 118d xDrive F20LCI
Top speed (electronically limited)210 km/h200 km/h10 km/h · 118d xDrive F20LCI
Power-to-weight ratio9.80 kg/hp11.85 kg/hpbetter ratio · 118d xDrive F20LCI

Watch the race

Standing-start drag race, calibrated on manufacturer splits. The gap shows at each stage.

BMWDiesel118d xDrive F20LCI
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel116d F40
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
100 m
200 m
300 m
400 m
500 m
600 m
700 m
800 m
900 m
1000 m
0m → 1000m
Gap0m

Stage-by-stage comparison

Simulated performance at each stage. Best value in bold.
Stage118d xDrive F20LCI116d F40
0–30 km/h1.80 s2.27 s
0–50 km/h3.05 s3.75 s
0–80 km/h5.89 s7.01 s
0–100 km/h8.62 s10.17 s
0–120 km/h12.06 s14.33 s
0–160 km/h23.03 s28.15 s
0–200 km/h52.90 s83.24 s
400 m standing start16.29 s17.39 s
1,000 m standing start29.87 s31.69 s
Top speed210 km/h200 km/h

Parameters and assumptions

Simulation

Start
Standing, straight line
Surface
Dry asphalt, 23°C
Wind
None
Driver
1 person, 75 kg

Calibration

Splits
0–100, 0–200 manufacturer
Power curve
Real measurement (Caralogy)
VMax
Manufacturer limited
Transmission
Losses integrated in model

Physics model calibrated on manufacturer splits. The limited top speed is not the real aerodynamic top speed of the vehicles.

Under the bonnet

Manufacturer technical specifications. The power-to-weight ratio is the key physical factor in a drag race.

BMW

118d xDrive F20LCI

9,80kg/hpratio better by 2,05 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hp4 cyl
Torque320 Nm
Weight1 470 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
Gearbox6-speed manual
BMW

116d F40

11,85kg/hpcompensated by −95 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power116 hp3 cyl
Torque270 Nm
Weight1 375 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
GearboxSix-speed manual

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 118d xDrive hits 100 km/h in 8.62 s versus 10.17 s for the 116d. At this point, the 118d xDrive leads by 1.55 s and sits roughly 18 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 118d xDrive is doing 112 km/h against 106 km/h for the 116d. The gap is 0.80 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 118d xDrive crosses the line in 16.28 s versus 17.39 s. The 1.11 s gap represents roughly 40 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 118d xDrive continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 155 km/h versus 147 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 118d xDrive finishes in 29.87 s versus 31.69 s, with a 1.82 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (210 vs 200 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

The 118d xDrive features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the 116d’s FWD. At low speeds (0-30, 0-50, 0-80 km/h), AWD doubles the driven contact area: all four wheels transmit torque to the road, virtually eliminating wheelspin at launch. This traction advantage is decisive in the range where the motor delivers peak torque, before power and aerodynamics take over.

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 118d xDrive is capped at 210 km/h, the 116d at 200 km/h. This isn’t a physical engine limit - it’s a manufacturer choice, usually for tyre safety or homologation reasons. Neither car reaches its true aerodynamic top speed.

With two combustion powertrains, the difference comes down to power-to-weight ratio (9.80 kg/hp vs 11.85 kg/hp) and transmission (Manual vs Manual).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 16.95 seconds. The 1.55 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Compare with other alternatives

Swap one of the two models to explore an equivalent duel in the same segment.

Instead of 118d xDrive F20LCI
Audi A3 Sportback
Instead of 116d F40
Audi A3 Sportback

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 118d xDrive F20LCI wins (8,62 s vs 10,17 s).

118d xDrive F20LCI goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 8,62 seconds (calibrated simulation).

118d xDrive F20LCI: 150 hp, ratio 9,80 kg/hp. 116d F40: 116 hp, ratio 11,85 kg/hp.

118d xDrive F20LCI: 210 km/h. 116d F40: 200 km/h.