1988 BMW 520 vs. 1957 Jensen 541
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 31 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1957 Jensen 541. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1957 Jensen 541 would be higher. At 3,990 cc (6 cylinders), 1957 Jensen 541 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1957 Jensen 541 (153 HP @ 4100 RPM) has 24 more horse power than 1988 BMW 520. (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1957 Jensen 541 should accelerate faster than 1988 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 100 kg more than 1957 Jensen 541.
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, 1957 Jensen 541 (308 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 134 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 520. (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1957 Jensen 541 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 520. 1988 BMW 520 has automatic transmission and 1957 Jensen 541 has manual transmission. 1957 Jensen 541 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1988 BMW 520 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 520 | 1957 Jensen 541 | |
| Make | BMW | Jensen |
| Model | 520 | 541 |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1957 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 3990 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 153 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 4100 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 308 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 87.3 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 111.1 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 7.6:1 |
| Top Speed | 202 km/hour | 206 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 1470 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4530 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1610 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1360 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2670 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 68 L |
