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A520dDieselvsB116iPetrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs520d · 116i

BMW 520d G30 vs BMW 116i 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.

grand tourer · 2018 vs 2019 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

520d G30

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,595 kg · 2018

VS
BMWPetrol

116i F40

109 hp · 180 Nm · 1,340 kg · 2019

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 520d G30

7.50 s

Gap3.26 sin favour of 520d
BBMW 116i F40

10.76 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure520d G30116i F40Gap
0–100 km/h7.50 s10.76 s3.26 s · 520d G30
400 m standing start15.49 s17.65 s2.16 s · 520d G30
1,000 m standing start28.46 s32.39 s3.93 s · 520d G30
Top speed (electronically limited)232 km/h195 km/h37 km/h · 520d G30
Power-to-weight ratio8.39 kg/hp12.29 kg/hpbetter ratio · 520d G30

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel520d G30
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWPetrol116i 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.
Stage520d G30116i F40
0–30 km/h1.50 s2.05 s
0–50 km/h2.59 s3.56 s
0–80 km/h5.16 s7.30 s
0–100 km/h7.50 s10.76 s
0–120 km/h10.54 s15.50 s
0–160 km/h19.59 s31.49 s
0–200 km/h37.13 s-
400 m standing start15.49 s17.65 s
1,000 m standing start28.46 s32.39 s
Top speed232 km/h195 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

520d G30

8,39kg/hpratio better by 3,90 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hp4 cyl
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 595 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic
BMW

116i F40

12,29kg/hpcompensated by −255 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power109 hp3 cyl
Torque180 Nm
Weight1 340 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox6-speed manual

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 520d hits 100 km/h in 7.50 s versus 10.76 s for the 116i. At this point, the 520d leads by 3.26 s and sits roughly 26 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 520d is doing 117 km/h against 103 km/h for the 116i. The gap is 1.43 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 520d crosses the line in 15.49 s versus 17.65 s. The 2.16 s gap represents roughly 74 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 520d continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 162 km/h versus 143 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 520d finishes in 28.46 s versus 32.38 s, with a 3.93 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 520d is capped at 235 km/h, the 116i at 195 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 (8.39 kg/hp vs 12.29 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Manual).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 18.41 seconds. The 3.26 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

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Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, 520d G30 wins (7,50 s vs 10,76 s).

520d G30 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 7,50 seconds (calibrated simulation).

520d G30: 190 hp, ratio 8,39 kg/hp. 116i F40: 109 hp, ratio 12,29 kg/hp.

520d G30: 232 km/h. 116i F40: 195 km/h.