BMW vs. Mercedes
 

Yes, I know BMW out performs Mecedes hands down, but the real question is..... which has more class? Be ready to back up your opinions.

In general I'd say the Mercedes. They don't produce a single vehicle that isn't loaded with luxury, even their cheapest models. BMW on the other hand, you can have some pretty plain-jane models with 1/2 the luxury of Mercedes in their lower 3 series, etc. Once you start moving up to the 7 series though, then things get interesting, but I think BMW focuses more on sportiness, whereas Merc's primary focus is luxury.

Ever see one of the newer C230 hatchbacks? Cheap interior, ugly cloth seats, and a CD player is an extra cost option. Not to mention, it's a frigging HATCHBACK. That's okay for a Kia or a Honda, not a Benz.

I think Mercedes looked much classier until the mid-90s when they all started looking like well-used bars of soap. BMWs from that era were great-looking, but unfortunately Chris Bangle came along and fucked that up. Now they just look silly.

Mercedes have always looked better I think, but their recent quality has been pathetic. I'm a huge fan of the "built like a tank" era Benzes though. I have one, and my parents have one. They also have a BMW from the same era. It doesn't compare in any way (including performance), but it is just a 3-series.

Yes, I love the old Benzes back when they had the double-pane glass, solid steel trunk divider, etc. They don't make cars like that anymore. Plus the styling was very distinctive. You can recognize a pre-90s Benz from a mile away. Nowadays it's hard to see the difference between a Merdedes and any random Japanese sedan. That's just wrong.

I like Mercedes better. Brabus tunned Mercs. especially.

I wouldn't turn either down. BMW does seem more focused on spirited driving, whereas Mercedes-Benz is more about coddling the driver. 'Course when we starting talking about M Series BMW's and ///AMG tuned Benz.. all bets are off.

irseg: I'm not very familiar with the newest mercedes models, but man, the quality of the interior on the slightly older models was unbelieveable. I LOVED doing stereo installs on those things, because absolutely every part of the interior fit back together like a glove. You'd swear the whole damn thing was blueprinted.

BMW is for driving and mercedes is for looking and feeling good. Mercedes did have more class but know that they make a car without leather that is also a hatchback, Id say they are on the decline. BMW is about power, raw power. Mercedes has to super and turbo their engines to get the same performance. BMW had teh 8 series and now they dont, so I guess mercedes is still a little bit ahead.

I guess all this depends on where you live. I was just remembering that when I was in Paris two years ago, I felt really special because I got into a Mercedes cab, but then I saw that almost all the cabs were mercedes, it made me lose respect for the brand.

Mercedes

http://www.laciudaddelasfotos.com/fo...ercedes001.jpg

I wouldn't say that BMW outperforms ALL Mercedes... don't forget about the AMG segment of Mercedes. They can hang with pretty much anything. Things like the SL500 above are wicked cool.

BMW and Mercedes both produce fine autos. I think that a stock BMW has a performance edge over a stock Mercedes, just because the nature of BMW is to produce performance oriented cars while the Mercedes marque is more closely associated with luxury. The M-series BMWs such as the M3 and especially the M5 haul ass, and perform superiorly or at least on par, with all but the most expensive sports cars (i.e. Ferrari). Mercedes also has some fine sport/luxury cars. For example, the new E55 AMG pushes a 0-60 time equal to the corvette Z06 and nearly equal 1/4 mile times. Not to mention the S55 AMG and SL600/SL55.

I was reading in a magazine, although I can't remember which one, in which they did a review of the SL65 with the new 6.5 liter, Bi-turbo V12 which produces over 600hp and well over 700 lb/ft torque. Now that is some fine German machinery. I'm pretty sure that this engine will also be carried over to the S class as the S65.




Yeah, that's because all those Japanese car companies are borrowing styling cues from Mercedes Benz (as well as other european car brands). Namely Toyota, err Lexus. Lexus has always been copying Mercedes! One of their newest feeble attempts is the LS430, so apptly named, which is meant to take on the S430. Lol.

I prefer Mercedes, however BMW's seem to be more affordable.

mercedes for sure (E55 AMG... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm)

I would say it depends on who your date for the night is. Benz for the wife...Beemer for the mistress.

Re: BMW vs. Mercedes
 

Please back that statement up with something, or say you were drunk. This has got to be one of the most wrong things I've ever heard.

S600 RennTECH ecu and rims, only mods.

Slicks

3.1 second 0-60.

Don't even bring Kleemann into this...

Re: Re: BMW vs. Mercedes
 

I can mod my civic and get 1,200 hp but I wont let that speak for the brand.

Please tell me you were drunk when you said you can cut the 0-60 time of an S600 in half with nothing but a chip and slicks.

Re: Re: Re: BMW vs. Mercedes
 

Mercedes have recently found the knack for producing obscene amounts of power from their top engines. It's getting ridiculous when barge-like saloons are pumping out c.500bhp, stock.
Their image, and apparently the handling of their cars lags behind their engines somewhat - this is where BMW have always held an advantage.
Mercs are for old duffers and showoffs. BMW's are for people who want to enjoy corners in luxury. There, I said it.

My answer to this question 5 years ago would have been BMW because they handled better. However, with the new Bimmers being so fucking God-awful looking, my new answer is Mercedes-Benz. If you need the extra power and handling, take it to Brabus.

As an e36 owner, I do have to the agree that the new bmw styling really puts me off. No big worries though, instead of getting a new bmw, I could just spend the money and drop a 96-99 m3 engine in my 95 325i and have some pretty good performance. TC or SC that and you've got a pretty serious street contender (as if I actualy afford either :> ). As to the original question, Mercedes is more luxury oriented, and bmw is more perfomance oriented. Be fair, if you're comparing AMG series, at least compare it to an M because they're both in-house tuners.

--- And to all you who think a hatch is only for hondas, that's pretty closed minded. They're exceedingly popular in Europe, and both BMW and Audi are bringing over hatch's in the very near future (the 1 series for bmw, and the A3 for the audi)

i own a mercedes but i want to get a bmw

i think theyre both excellent cars

I own a BMW, and I still think Mercedes takes it in this comparison.

Both are amazing automotive makers though.

The new BMW direction is going to drive more people to MB. I am a BMW fanatic but the new stuff sucks.

Bimmers are a more "harsh" driver oriented drive vs. the MB. MB really needs to impliment a standard tranny.....Autos stink :)

I own a 2001 C320, and the car is almost always being repared for something. The service is free so far and the service department provides good service but I won't buy another. I have owned several BMW's, they are better vehicles and to me are more classy.

uhh mercedes and bmw are pretty damn equal in performance and luxory. they dont call the new e55 'the beast' for nothin.