1972 BMW 520 vs. 1974 Rover 3.5
To start off, 1974 Rover 3.5 is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1972 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1972 BMW 520 would be higher. At 3,532 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Rover 3.5 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 BMW 520 (150 HP @ 5900 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1974 Rover 3.5. (149 HP @ 5000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1972 BMW 520 should accelerate faster than 1974 Rover 3.5. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Rover 3.5 weights approximately 193 kg more than 1972 BMW 520.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1974 Rover 3.5 (276 Nm @ 2600 RPM) has 86 more torque (in Nm) than 1972 BMW 520. (190 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1974 Rover 3.5 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1972 BMW 520. 1974 Rover 3.5 has automatic transmission and 1972 BMW 520 has manual transmission. 1972 BMW 520 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1974 Rover 3.5 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1972 BMW 520 | 1974 Rover 3.5 | |
| Make | BMW | Rover |
| Model | 520 | 3.5 |
| Year Released | 1972 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1991 cc | 3532 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 150 HP | 149 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5900 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Torque | 190 Nm | 276 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4200 RPM | 2600 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 71.1 mm |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1445 kg | 1638 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4630 mm | 4750 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1700 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1550 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2820 mm |
