Skip to main content
CaralogyCaralogy
HomeBrandsRoad TripBudgetDuelGuides
Caralogy

The car comparison platform. Physics simulation, road trips, real costs.

Navigation
All brandsCar duelRunning costsMotorwayMethodology
Simulators
Motorway simulatorRunning costsPerformance duel
Brands
VolkswagenBMWMercedesToyotaTeslaAudi
FRENDEESIT
© 2026 Caralogy · All rights reserved
  1. Home
  2. /Duel
  3. /Sedans
ASHybridvsB120dDiesel
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsS · 120d

Mercedes S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223 vs BMW 120d 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.

limousine · 2026 vs 2020 · Methodology
MercedesHybridFaster

S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223

313 hp · 650 Nm · 2,250 kg · 2026

VS
BMWDiesel

120d F40

190 hp · 400 Nm · 1,450 kg · 2020

Result · 0–100 km/h

AMercedes S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223

5.47 s

Gap1.91 sin favour of S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version
BBMW 120d F40

7.38 s

Summary · Caralogy simulation
MeasureS 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223120d F40Gap
0–100 km/h5.47 s7.38 s1.91 s · S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223
400 m standing start13.69 s15.41 s1.72 s · S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223
1,000 m standing start24.99 s27.90 s2.91 s · S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223
Top speed (electronically limited)250 km/h231 km/h19 km/h · S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223
Power-to-weight ratio7.19 kg/hp7.63 kg/hpbetter ratio · S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223

Watch the race

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

MercedesHybridS 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223
Speed
0km/h
Timer
0,00s
Distance
0m
BMWDiesel120d 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.
StageS 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223120d F40
0–30 km/h1.04 s1.87 s
0–50 km/h1.91 s3.04 s
0–80 km/h3.77 s5.29 s
0–100 km/h5.47 s7.38 s
0–120 km/h7.46 s9.97 s
0–160 km/h13.10 s17.66 s
0–200 km/h21.19 s32.84 s
400 m standing start13.69 s15.41 s
1,000 m standing start24.99 s27.90 s
Top speed limited250 km/h231 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.

Mercedes

S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223

7,19kg/hpratio better by 0,44 kg/hp
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power313 hpPending
Torque650 Nm
Weight2 250 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
DrivetrainIntegrale (AWD)
GearboxUnknown
BMW

120d F40

7,63kg/hpcompensated by −800 kg
CharacteristicValueDetail
Power190 hpPending
Torque400 Nm
Weight1 450 kgmanufacturer kerb weight
Drivetrain-
Gearbox8-speed Steptronic transmission

The start: 0 to 100 km/h

Off the line, the S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version hits 100 km/h in 5.47 s versus 7.38 s for the 120d. At this point, the S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version leads by 1.91 s and sits roughly 25 m ahead.

From 100 km/h to 400 metres

At 200 metres, the S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version is doing 131 km/h against 121 km/h for the 120d. The gap is 1.31 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.

At 400 metres standing start, the S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version crosses the line in 13.68 s versus 15.41 s. The 1.72 s gap represents roughly 70 m of track - a gap visible to the naked eye.

Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play

Past 400 metres, the S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version continues to build its lead. At 600 metres, it runs at 185 km/h versus 168 km/h. At 1,000 metres, the S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version finishes in 24.99 s versus 27.90 s, with a 2.91 s lead.

What the numbers don’t tell you

Both rivals are electronically governed, but not at the same level: the S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version is capped at 250 (i.e. 155 mph - industry threshold) km/h, the 120d at 231 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 (7.19 kg/hp vs 7.63 kg/hp) and transmission (Unknown vs Automatic).

In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 11.54 seconds. The 1.91 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.

Other duels you might be interested in

BMWVSMercedes

740d xDrive vs S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version

BMWVSAudi

120d vs A3 Sedan

BMWVSMercedes

840d xDrive vs S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version

BMWVSAudi

120d vs A3 Sportback

Frequently asked questions

Over 0–100 km/h, S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223 wins (5,47 s vs 7,38 s).

S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223 goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,47 seconds (calibrated simulation).

S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223: 313 hp, ratio 7,19 kg/hp. 120d F40: 190 hp, ratio 7,63 kg/hp.

S 350 d 4MATIC Saloon, long version W223: 250 km/h. 120d F40: 231 km/h.