1988 BMW 520 vs. 1978 Opel Senator
To start off, 1988 BMW 520 is newer by 10 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Opel Senator. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Opel Senator would be higher. At 2,969 cc (6 cylinders), 1978 Opel Senator is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Opel Senator (180 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 51 more horse power than 1988 BMW 520. (129 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Opel Senator should accelerate faster than 1988 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 520 weights approximately 75 kg more than 1978 Opel Senator.
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, 1978 Opel Senator (248 Nm @ 4200 RPM) has 74 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 520. (174 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1978 Opel Senator will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 520.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 520 | 1978 Opel Senator | |
| Make | BMW | Opel |
| Model | 520 | Senator |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1989 cc | 2969 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 180 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 174 Nm | 248 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 80 mm | 95.1 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 66 mm | 69.8 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.5:1 | 9.4:1 |
| Acceleration 0-100mph | 12.5 seconds | 10.9 seconds |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1570 kg | 1495 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4780 mm | 4850 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1810 mm | 1730 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2690 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 70 L | 44 L |
