1990 BMW 730 vs. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280
To start off, 1990 BMW 730 is newer by 12 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 would be higher. At 2,986 cc (6 cylinders), 1990 BMW 730 is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 (182 HP @ 5800 RPM) has 1 more horse power than 1990 BMW 730. (181 HP @ 5800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 should accelerate faster than 1990 BMW 730. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1990 BMW 730 weights approximately 125 kg more than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280.
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, 1990 BMW 730 (260 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 20 more torque (in Nm) than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280. (240 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 1990 BMW 730 will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 has automatic transmission and 1990 BMW 730 has manual transmission. 1990 BMW 730 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 BMW 730 | 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 | |
| Make | BMW | Mercedes-Benz |
| Model | 730 | 280 |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1978 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2986 cc | 2746 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 181 HP | 182 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5800 RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Torque | 260 Nm | 240 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 | 9.0:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1600 kg | 1475 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4920 mm | 4730 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1790 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2840 mm | 2800 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 90 L | 65 L |
