# BMW vs Mercedes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 22, 2009, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062 "2009-09-22T09:39:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/21 "2009-09-22T19:21:40Z")
I’d say it is a matter of tranny preference. If you want a manual, go with the BMW. Auto, go with the Benz ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/22 "2009-09-22T19:27:28Z")
My recollection is that Mercedes went through a run of bad JD Power quality ratings earlier in this decade, at least in the US, but it has improved since. You may want to check out some ratings for your prospective car’s model year pretty carefully. Ah yes, here’s an [article](http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2007/08/mercedes_qualit_2.html). ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/23 "2009-09-22T19:28:50Z")
IMO Mercedes-Benz has a knack for designing cars that look from blah to downright stupid after a number of years. Their designs age terribly. With exceptions of course. BMWs always look good, even the old ones. Haven’t driven either :D. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/24 "2009-09-22T20:31:47Z")
Thanks very much to everyone for your comments. Really much appreciated. And for the article, Tom. I’ve got a test drive today for the Merc so I’ll post some thoughts later. And yes, in Australia the price of cars is insane. As an American living on this big rock I find it appalling, but no amount of complaining will bring the price down. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/25 "2009-09-22T21:14:46Z")
Speaking of weird Australian stuff, looking out my window in Sydney today I see [this](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/23/2693643.htm?section=justin). ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/26 "2009-09-22T23:12:37Z")
> [@leander](#): > > Thanks very much to everyone for your comments. Really much appreciated. And for the article, Tom. I’ve got a test drive today for the Merc so I’ll post some thoughts later. > > And yes, in Australia the price of cars is insane. As an American living on this big rock I find it appalling, but no amount of complaining will bring the price down. Why are the cars so expensive? Is it just scarcity/cost of shipping them out to Down Under? The Australian dollar is worth a bit more than the US dollar, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/27 "2009-09-23T00:16:33Z")
I’m not sure why the cars are so expensive. I’m guessing that the cost of shipping, gov’t taxes and the fact that it’s a closed market. Plus the cost of building a left hand drive car (?) All just guesses. ETA: My biggest shock was when I looked at the Lexus convertible. In the US it cost around $70,000. Here it cost $175,000!!! ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/28 "2009-09-23T02:41:00Z")
Are you using American dollars or Australian dollars? It’s about 2:1 right now, right? Google says… $175 US = $152 AU. Yeah, I forgot that our dollar took such a pounding! ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/29 "2009-09-23T02:54:12Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Are you using American dollars or Australian dollars? It’s about 2:1 right now, right? Google says… $175 US = $152 AU. Yeah, I forgot that our dollar took such a pounding! Those were in their respective country’s currencies. So it would be around AUD$80k for the US car and AUD$175k for the Aussie car. Insane! ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/30 "2009-09-23T06:15:50Z")
Well, I just drove the Merc. Beautiful car, luxury in and out. Bigger than I imagined and with a lot more power! When you hit the pedal hard you can really feel a strong push in your back. A few minor issues, the biggest being the integrated phone. For that kind of money I want it to work 100% and the guy has to check with the original dealer how to get it working. Some nice little touches: - Auto headlights, auto windshield wipers (for the lazy ass in me) - Keyless entry - just hop in and push the button on the shifter to start the car - (very cool) - Auto seat with lots of positions - Side mirrors fold in when car shut off - Auto seat belts - a little arm jumps out to “hand” you the seatbelt (probably the first thing to break!) - Nice satnav, nice stereo - Push a button and the roof goes down - no clips or other things to push All in all a beauty. This is going to be a hard decision! ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/31 "2009-09-23T22:54:13Z")
Crap, [this one](http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details.aspx?R=7456142&YearFromShort=1648& __Qpb=true&Cr=14&__ Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_PriceSort_Decimal%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpCar_Model_String%7c0&keywords=& __N=1216%201247%201282%201252%201246%204294967079%20898%201648%204294966879&SearchAction=N&silo=1011&seot=1&__ Nne=15&trecs=25&__sid=123E7DE73511) just got thrown into the mix. A black 2005 M3 convertible. Anyone have any experience with the M3? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/32 "2009-09-23T22:58:17Z")
The m3 is regarded by many as the best all around car in the world, when factoring in driving performance, quality, practicality, price, etc. It’s probably what I would buy if I were in the market for a $40k+ car. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/33 "2009-09-23T23:05:45Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > The m3 is regarded by many as the best all around car in the world, when factoring in driving performance, quality, practicality, price, etc. It’s probably what I would buy if I were in the market for a $40k+ car. I’d have to disagree with everything past “driving performance”. I knew a couple who owned a pair of M-cars (M3 and M5) and things were perpetually breaking on them; mostly small stuff, but because it was an “M” the costs–even for things like seat buckle latches–were exorbitant. It’s a very nice handling car on dry pavement, and there is a cachet among German car enthusiasts for the M3, but it’s not what I would go for in terms of practicality and cost. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/34 "2009-09-24T00:09:34Z")
Interesting points. My last car was brand new, so I don’t have to worry about stuff breaking (at least not for 4 more years!). But I am concerned with buying a used car out of warranty that may have lots of problems in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/35 "2009-09-24T13:33:09Z")
> [@leander](#): > > Crap, [this one](http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details.aspx?R=7456142&YearFromShort=1648& __Qpb=true&Cr=14&__ Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_PriceSort_Decimal%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpCar_Model_String%7c0&keywords=& __N=1216%201247%201282%201252%201246%204294967079%20898%201648%204294966879&SearchAction=N&silo=1011&seot=1&__ Nne=15&trecs=25&__sid=123E7DE73511) just got thrown into the mix. > > A black 2005 M3 convertible. Anyone have any experience with the M3? M3 definitely takes BMW and makes it mean Brake My Wallet. Wow. Dropping 2, 3 or 4gs on repairs at one time is common. Coincidence, but relevant: I happen to have two best buddies who are BMW Service Managers and they talked me out of the M3. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/36 "2009-09-24T13:51:04Z")
My stepmother has a virtually identical CLK, and has all sorts of problems with the soft top. Avoid. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/37 "2009-09-24T14:46:33Z")
Oops… looked at my post above and need to edit: BMW = **Break** My Wallet Got cars on the brain. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/38 "2009-09-24T19:02:24Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > My stepmother has a virtually identical CLK, and has all sorts of problems with the soft top. Avoid. Can you elaborate? I’m currently leaning towards the Merc, so would be keen to know more about any problems. (Based on what I’ve read here - and elsewhere - the M3 is off the table. I really don’t need that much hp, and the dealer is a jackass anyway…) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/39 "2009-09-24T21:28:02Z")
I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the M3 until you drive it. All three of these cars are going to cost exorbitant amounts of money to repair, I think the assertion that it’s going to be “so much more because it’s an M car” may be a bit overblown (no offense, **Stranger** ). **Leander** , it seems that you’re pretty well to do to be able to afford purchasing a car like this one as a weekend driver. If you’re really not planning on driving it daily, I’d take a hard look at that M3. It has a LOT of features and it’s a pretty ballsy car to drive performance-wise. A friend has a 2006 M3 and loves it. I’ve driven it, it’s a freaking hoot to drive. It wasn’t a convertible, though. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/40 "2009-09-24T21:39:40Z")
Thanks for the comment Foie. I suppose I could take it for a test drive, but I have to admit my days of aggressive driving are pretty much over since I have a 2 yr old son. I think the 20 yr old in me would love the M3, but the dad in me says no way. I’m leaning heavily towards the Merc, even though it is a bit of an old man’s car. (I suppose I should post in the “when did you feel old” thread.:)) It’s just so damn luxurious. ETA: Going to see the 330Ci today or tomorrow. Will post after. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062.md?page=3)