Size comparison · drawn to scale
BMW 3 Series Coupé (E46) vs McLaren MP4-12C: size comparison
- Length MP4-12C 21 mm0.8 in longer
- Width MP4-12C 151 mm6 in wider
- Height 3 Series Coupé (E46) 165 mm6 in taller
Car 1 blue, solid outline
Car 2 coral, dashed outline
Change cars
Zoom in to read the measurements - or see the table below.
Scale about 1:20 on a desktop screen · grid 500 mm1 ft · in Overlay both cars start at the front bumper Side view: dashed lines mark the axles Front view: width without mirrors Top view: footprint on the road
Dimensions and difference
The 3 Series Coupé (E46) is 21 mm0.8 in shorter, 151 mm6 in narrower and 165 mm6 in taller than the MP4-12C. Its wheelbase is 55 mm2 in longer.
| Dimension | 3 Series Coupé (E46) | MP4-12C | Difference, car 1 vs car 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,488 mm14 ft 9 in14 ft 9 in4,488 mm | 4,509 mm14 ft 10 in14 ft 10 in4,509 mm | −21 mm−0.8 in −0.5% |
| Width | 1,757 mm5 ft 9 in5 ft 9 in1,757 mm | 1,908 mm6 ft 3 in6 ft 3 in1,908 mm | −151 mm−6 in −7.9% |
| Height | 1,369 mm4 ft 6 in4 ft 6 in1,369 mm | 1,204 mm3 ft 11 in3 ft 11 in1,204 mm | +165 mm+6 in +13.7% |
| Wheelbase | 2,725 mm8 ft 11 in8 ft 11 in2,725 mm | 2,670 mm8 ft 9 in8 ft 9 in2,670 mm | +55 mm+2 in +2.1% |
| Footprint | 7.89 m²84.9 sq ft84.9 sq ft7.89 m² | 8.60 m²92.6 sq ft92.6 sq ft8.60 m² | −0.72 m²−7.7 sq ft −8.3% |
| Boot | 410 L14.5 cu ft14.5 cu ft410 L | Not in our catalog yet | - |
| Kerb weight | 1,505 kg3,318 lb3,318 lb1,505 kg | 1,434 kg3,161 lb3,161 lb1,434 kg | +71 kg+157 lb +5.0% |
| Price new (EUR) | Not in our catalog yet | from about €200,000 (2011) | - |
Width without mirrors. Figures come from the catalog version pages; the drawing uses the same numbers. Body outlines are generic for the body type - proportions are exact, styling is not. New prices are list prices in EUR entered by our editors, with the year.
Garage and parking
A typical single garage is about 5.5 × 3.0 m18 ft 1 in × 9 ft 10 in inside; a parking bay about 5.0 × 2.5 m16 ft 5 in × 8 ft 2 in. Room to open a door: about 600 mm2 ft each side.
3 Series Coupé (E46)
- Single garage
- Fits 1,012 mm3 ft 4 in to spare in length, 622 mm2 ft 0 in each side
- Parking bay
- Tight 512 mm1 ft 8 in to spare in length, 372 mm1 ft 3 in each side
MP4-12C
- Single garage
- Tight 991 mm3 ft 3 in to spare in length, 546 mm1 ft 9 in each side
- Parking bay
- Tight 491 mm1 ft 7 in to spare in length, 296 mm1 ft 0 in each side
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, the BMW 3 Series Coupé (E46) or the McLaren MP4-12C?
The McLaren MP4-12C is the bigger car by footprint (length × width). The 3 Series Coupé (E46) is 21 mm shorter, 151 mm narrower and 165 mm taller than the MP4-12C. Its wheelbase is 55 mm longer.
Will the BMW 3 Series Coupé (E46) and the McLaren MP4-12C fit in a standard garage?
In a typical single garage of 5.5 × 3.0 m inside: The BMW 3 Series Coupé (E46) fits with room to open the doors (1,012 mm to spare in length, 622 mm each side). The McLaren MP4-12C fits, but it is tight to get out (991 mm to spare in length, 546 mm each side). Widths are without mirrors; check your own garage with our garage checker.
Drawn to one scale
Both cars use the same millimetre grid, so a longer bonnet or a taller roof shows exactly as it is.
Wheels at the real wheelbase
Dashed lines mark the axles. In Overlay both cars start at the front bumper; car 2 has a dashed outline.
Will it fit my garage?
Switch to Top view, or to feet and inches if your garage plan is in feet. Allow about 600 mm (2 ft) for opening the doors.