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A120dvsB118dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs120d · 118d

BMW 120d xDrive F40 vs BMW 118d 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 · 2019 vs 2021
BMWDieselFaster

120d xDrive F40

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,515 kg · 2019

VS
BMWDiesel

118d F40

150 hp · 350 Nm · 1,405 kg · 2021

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.

120d xDrive F40118d F40
0–100 km/h7,21 s−1,20 s8,41 s
400 m standing start15,27 s−0,98 s16,25 s
1,000 m standing start28,08 s−1,39 s29,47 s
Top speed (electronically limited)227 km/h+9 km/h218 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio7,97 kg/hpbetter ratio9,37 kg/hp

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel120d xDrive F40
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel118d 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. Winner in green.

Palier120d xDrive F40118d F40
0–30 km/h1,54 s2,08 s
0–50 km/h2,58 s3,40 s
0–80 km/h4,99 s5,97 s
0–100 km/h7,21 s8,41 s
0–120 km/h10,07 s11,57 s
0–160 km/h18,67 s21,30 s
0–200 km/h36,31 s43,09 s
400 m standing start15,27 s16,25 s
1,000 m standing start28,08 s29,47 s
Top speed227 km/h218 km/h

Under the bonnet

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

BMW

120d xDrive F40

7,97kg/hpratio better by 1,39 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hpPending
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 515 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission
BMW

118d F40

9,37kg/hpcompensated by −110 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power150 hp4 cyl
Torque350 Nm
Weight1 405 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainTraction
GearboxSix-speed manual

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 120d xDrive hits 100 km/h in 7.21 s versus 8.41 s for the 118d. At this point, the 120d xDrive leads by 1.20 s and sits roughly 18 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 120d xDrive is doing 119 km/h against 115 km/h for the 118d. The gap is 0.80 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 120d xDrive crosses the line in 15.27 s versus 16.25 s. The 0.98 s gap represents roughly 38 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 120d xDrive continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 164 km/h versus 159 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 120d xDrive finishes in 28.08 s versus 29.46 s, with a 1.38 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (227 vs 218 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

The 120d xDrive features all-wheel drive (AWD) against the 118d’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 120d xDrive is capped at 230 km/h, the 118d at 218 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 (7.97 kg/hp vs 9.37 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Manual).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 13.51 seconds. The 1.20 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.

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 120d xDrive F40 wins (7,21 s vs 8,41 s).

120d xDrive F40 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,21 seconds (calibrated simulation).

120d xDrive F40: 190 hp, ratio 7,97 kg/hp. 118d F40: 150 hp, ratio 9,37 kg/hp.

120d xDrive F40: 227 km/h. 118d F40: 218 km/h.