# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/81 "2009-09-28T16:36:49Z")
If you’re looking for a good car, I got some good info in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=518682) earlier in the year ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/82 "2009-09-28T16:37:42Z")
> [@I'm Not Dennis Bergkamp](#): > > Just posting to say that all of the advice has been helpful to me, too. > > I’m looking to buy a new car next summer and have pretty much already narrowed the choices to the Mercedes [E550 Coupe](http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/#/exploreOverview/?vmf=E550C&yr=2010&vc=E) or the BMW [535i Sedan](http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2010/5/535iSedan/default.aspx). At the moment, I think the BMW is slightly ahead. I have not driven the 550, but I have driven an E55. The engine in those things is tremendous. That said, the 3 liter twin-turbo in the BMW is fantastic. It’s quick when you need to be, but still gets great gas mileage (I can manage 29mpg on the highway if I am careful) and soooo smooth. Here at altitude, it is probably faster than the previous generation M3. BTW, BMW offers 4ys/50K miles free maintenance, so factor that into your calculations. **leander** , I looked at a whole bunch of cars of the type you are looking for, and finally went with the BMW. Now I finally get what all the people who have raved about them for years were on about. 🙂 -Necros 2009 BMW 335i xDrive Coupe (in crimson red) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/83 "2009-09-28T17:15:47Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > If you’re looking for a good car, I got some good info in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=518682) earlier in the year That’s helpful, thanks. I don’t know how I missed that thread earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/84 "2009-09-28T18:08:39Z")
> [@leander](#): > > Yes please! I had no idea…please PM me if you don’t mind. > > Thanks! Done! ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/85 "2009-09-28T19:59:22Z")
> [@Sue\_Duhnym](#): > > Done! Thanks for that! ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/86 "2009-09-30T18:36:37Z")
I’ve never driven them myself (not a car-driver, only passenger), and I wonder how much the different model types impact your preference. Also, as Bavarian I’m biased of course. Still, the common saying around here is that with a Mercedes, you pay 10 000 Euros more for the priviledge of the star (which allows you to run over pedestrians :)), whereas BMW makes _good_ cars. Take that for what it’s worth. Were both produced in Germany, or in one of the US/Mexican plants? ---
**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 30, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/87 "2009-09-30T19:40:50Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > Were both produced in Germany, or in one of the US/Mexican plants? As long as the engineering and process is correct, it shouldn’t matter. But before you get all German-superior, I have internal data that suggest that Germany is trailing our Mexican and USA build quality. Oh, they’re wonderful German (and Japanese) designs, but we build 'em better. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/88 "2009-09-30T20:15:58Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > As long as the engineering and process is correct, it shouldn’t matter. Which is precisly the crux of the matter, of course. See, in Germany, people go through 3 -year training apprenticeship to learn a proper job or craft, and then are hired by a company as engineer or similar. In the US, people are trained for 2 weeks or similar to do one or two movements. That’s not the same. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2009, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/89 "2009-10-01T12:11:49Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > In the US, people are trained for 2 weeks or similar to do one or two movements. That’s not the same. Ah, that’s probably why our build quality is surpassing Germany’s, then. Your statement hasn’t been true in ages and ages. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/90 "2009-10-01T12:21:01Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Ah, that’s probably why our build quality is surpassing Germany’s, then. Your statement hasn’t been true in ages and ages. Quick, ask him where the _robots_ come in! Then about the **German** factories in **America**! 😃 ---
**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:** [October 1, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/91 "2009-10-01T13:18:50Z")
He already knows about the German factories in America. > [@](#): > > Were both produced in Germany, or in one of the US/Mexican plants? ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/92 "2009-10-01T13:27:23Z")
But do the Americans (unwashed an under-talented) get two weeks training and a screwdriver to build German cars? ---
**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:** [October 1, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/93 "2009-10-01T13:33:19Z")
No idea, but 60% of the work is done by robots anyway. Also, [they hire from monster.com](http://www.mbusi.com/pages/corporate_employment.asp) so their staff can’t be that good. 😉 ---
**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:** [October 1, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062/94 "2009-10-01T20:40:05Z")
It’s said that in Germany, people without a masters degree don’t even get to touch the robots, whereas here in North America, the majority of our robot programmers have technical degrees at the most. By time the plant takes over the work, the “robot programmers” are just skilled-trade electricians who got their journeyman cards when aluminum wiring was all the rage. Despite that, there are a _few_ who can do it all right. There are a lot of robots, but there’s still a lot of work that a robot can’t do. In the case of US plants, sometimes there are labor agreements that interfere with the ability to automate a certain process (i.e., since you can’t fire the redundant person, you may as well make it an operator load station instead of a robot load station). Anyway, what I inferred from **constanze** was that if it were a Mexican or US plant, then to avoid the product. Whereas I’d rank the order as such: Mexican, US, and then German. Now despite my current location indicating that I’m in Mexico, I’m actually a Michigander of mostly German descent, and my prideful instinct would be to select American-built quality first, but the data doesn’t indicate that, unfortunately. I also work with a _huge_ quantity of Germans, and I know that you’ll never, ever get one to admit that build quality outside of Germany is often higher. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmw-vs-mercedes/511062.md?page=4)