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VW Passat 1.6 72 (1988) vs BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90

Over a standing quarter mile on dry asphalt the BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90 is the quicker car, covering it in 19.82 s at 74.8 mph against the VW Passat 1.6 72 (1988)’s 20.37 s — a margin of 0.55 s. To 60 mph the BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90 takes 13.00 s and the VW Passat 1.6 72 (1988) 14.69 s.

Simulated, not measured — computed from each car’s published kerb mass, rated power and drivetrain, then fitted to its own published acceleration figures. Dry asphalt, 20 °C, sea level, 1 ft rollout.

VW Passat 1.6 72 (1988) BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90

Watch the run in full — then change the surface, the weather or the distance and run it again.

Down the strip

Standing startVW Passat 1.6 72 (1988)BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90
0–60 mph14.69 s13.00 s
0–100 mph——
60 ft3.58 s3.56 s
1/8 mile13.36 s13.21 s
1/4 mile20.37 s19.82 s
Trap speed70.2 mph74.8 mph

Each car is trimmed to its own published figures — 2/2 for the VW Passat 1.6 72 (1988), 2/2 for the BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90 — so a heavier car can still be the quicker one if that is what it tests.

On paper

SpecificationVW Passat 1.6 72 (1988)BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90
Year19881983
Power71 bhp89 bhp
Kerb mass1,106 kg1,030 kg
Power to weight64 bhp/t86 bhp/t
DrivetrainFront driveRear drive
EngineNaturally aspiratedNaturally aspirated

Where these times sit

Slower in the wetevery car, re-runThe cost of altitudeevery car, re-runThe cost of a passengerevery car, re-run
VW 0-60 timesevery modelBMW 0-60 timesevery modelFastest cars of the 1980s1,059 cars

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Questions

Is the VW Passat 1.6 72 (1988) or the BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90 faster?
The BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90. Over a standing quarter mile it runs 19.82 s to the VW Passat 1.6 72 (1988)'s 20.37 s, a margin of 0.55 s, and it reaches 60 mph in 13.00 s against 14.69 s. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
What is the VW Passat 1.6 72 (1988) 0-60 time?
The VW Passat 1.6 72 (1988) reaches 60 mph in 14.69 s, simulated on dry asphalt at 20 °C with a 1 ft rollout. It covers the standing quarter mile in 20.37 s at 70.2 mph.
What is the BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90 0-60 time?
The BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90 reaches 60 mph in 13.00 s, simulated on dry asphalt at 20 °C with a 1 ft rollout. It covers the standing quarter mile in 19.82 s at 74.8 mph.
What trap speed does each car run?
The VW Passat 1.6 72 (1988) trips the lights at 70.2 mph and the BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90 at 74.8 mph at the end of the quarter mile. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
Are these real measured times?
No. Every time on this page is produced by a physics simulation, not by a stopwatch at a drag strip. Each car is modelled from its published kerb mass, rated power, drivetrain and gearing, then trimmed until it matches its own published acceleration figures — 2 of 2 for the VW Passat 1.6 72 (1988) and 2 of 2 for the BMW 3 Series Coupe (E30) 316 90. Conditions are identical for both cars: dry asphalt, 20 °C, sea level, 1 ft rollout.

Figures regenerated 2026-10-12. Every number on this page is computed by the simulator at build time, so the page and the app can never disagree.