1988 BMW 530 vs. 1984 Rover 3500
To start off, 1988 BMW 530 is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1984 Rover 3500. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1984 Rover 3500 would be higher. At 3,532 cc (8 cylinders), 1984 Rover 3500 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1988 BMW 530 (188 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1984 Rover 3500. (187 HP @ 5280 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1988 BMW 530 should accelerate faster than 1984 Rover 3500. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1988 BMW 530 weights approximately 162 kg more than 1984 Rover 3500. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
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, 1984 Rover 3500 (298 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 37 more torque (in Nm) than 1988 BMW 530. (261 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1984 Rover 3500 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1988 BMW 530. 1984 Rover 3500 has automatic transmission and 1988 BMW 530 has manual transmission. 1988 BMW 530 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1984 Rover 3500 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1988 BMW 530 | 1984 Rover 3500 | |
| Make | BMW | Rover |
| Model | 530 | 3500 |
| Year Released | 1988 | 1984 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 3532 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 188 HP | 187 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 5280 RPM |
| Torque | 261 Nm | 298 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 88.9 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 80 mm | 71.1 mm |
| Top Speed | 216 km/hour | 210 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1593 kg | 1431 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4730 mm | 4730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1760 mm | 1770 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2770 mm | 2820 mm |
