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A525dvsB420dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • Specs525d · 420d

BMW 525d G30 vs BMW 420d F32: 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 2020 · Methodology
BMWDieselFaster

525d G30

231 hp · 500 Nm · 1,595 kg · 2018

VS
BMWDiesel

420d F32

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,605 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

ABMW 525d G30

6.69 s

Gap0.35 sin favour of 525d
BBMW 420d F32

7.04 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
Measure525d G30420d F32Gap
0–100 km/h6.69 s7.04 s0.35 s · 525d G30
400 m standing start14.83 s15.11 s0.28 s · 525d G30
1,000 m standing start26.50 s27.78 s1.28 s · 525d G30
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h240 km/h10 km/h · 525d G30
Power-to-weight ratio6.90 kg/hp8.45 kg/hpbetter ratio · 525d G30

Watch the race

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

BMWDiesel525d G30
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel420d F32
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.
Stage525d G30420d F32
0–30 km/h1.88 s1.37 s
0–50 km/h3.09 s2.40 s
0–80 km/h4.98 s4.80 s
0–100 km/h6.69 s7.04 s
0–120 km/h8.84 s9.85 s
0–160 km/h14.85 s18.13 s
0–200 km/h24.65 s33.30 s
400 m standing start14.83 s15.11 s
1,000 m standing start26.50 s27.78 s
Top speed limited250 km/h240 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

525d G30

6,90kg/hpratio better by 1,54 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power231 hp4 cyl
Torque500 Nm
Weight1 595 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainPropulsion
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic
BMW

420d F32

8,45kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hp4 cyl
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 605 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
GearboxEight-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the 525d hits 100 km/h in 6.69 s versus 7.04 s for the 420d. Despite the faster sprint time, the 420d is 9 m further along the track at this moment: stronger low-speed acceleration offsets a slower run beyond 100 km/h.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the 420d is doing 119 km/h against 128 km/h for the 525d. The gap is 0.13 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the 525d crosses the line in 14.83 s versus 15.10 s. The 0.28 s gap represents roughly 11 m of track - two to three car lengths.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the 525d continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 180 km/h versus 166 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the 525d finishes in 26.49 s versus 27.77 s, with a 1.28 s lead. Both vehicles have similar top speeds (250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) vs 240 km/h), preventing any comeback.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the 525d is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 420d at 240 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 (6.90 kg/hp vs 8.45 kg/hp) and transmission (Automatic vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.60 seconds. The 0.35 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, 525d G30 wins (6,69 s vs 7,04 s).

525d G30 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,69 seconds (calibrated simulation).

525d G30: 231 hp, ratio 6,90 kg/hp. 420d F32: 190 hp, ratio 8,45 kg/hp.

525d G30: 250 km/h. 420d F32: 240 km/h.