My husband has a 2006 M3 (and a new X5) and loves it. There have never been any problems with it and he truly delights in driving it. His ONLY issue with it is that the Nav system is clunky (especially in comparison to Lexus’ system, which is undeniably awesome).
I would definitely go with the BMW over the Benz, I think their quality has suffered since they became part of Chrysler.
Thanks for your comments. Sounds like your husband has some pretty nice toys. 
At this point I’m pretty much settled on the BMW 330Ci. The dealer had an M3 coupe in stock, and while it was a very nice car it was also super loud. For my uses I don’t really need all that much power, and the noise would probably drive my son crazy.
Really enjoyed the look and drive of the 330Ci. I agree the nav system was a bit clunky, and yes compared to the touch screen of my Lexus it feels ancient. But don’t really mind that much since the Lexus’s drive is so very different from the BMW - I’m really buying it for the sporty feel and soft top.
I was not suggesting you buy a US vehicle. What is the real value of these cars in Australia? You’re caught up in the moment, pointing at the ‘listed value’ on that site. I just checked the exchange rate between AUS and US money, goddamn $59k US for a 20,000 mile 4 year old vehicle?
Make sure you’re paying the right amount of money for what amounts to a commodity. S’all I’m sayin.
There is an equivalent to the Blue Book over here. That is how we get the “real value” of our cars (in addition to the practical aspects - how many Kms, condition, extras, etc.)
I really don’t think you get the concept here.
Dude. Cut back on the snark a bit. You asked opinions, you’re getting opinions. Frankly I think both cars are severely overpriced. But that’s an IMHO. You go spend your money as you like. On what you like. Cars are an emotional purchase that really has very little to do with things like ‘value’, ‘quality’, and ‘TCO’.
Go get’em tiger.
My husband is all about the toys. 
He used to have a '99 Benz SLK and I always said that thing purred. The M3 growls.
I recently had to buy a new car myself, giving up my Lexus GX, and I never even looked at Benz, despite having had two previous MLs. I ended up with an Audi Q7, which I LOVELOVELOVE, but even it’s nav system is no match for Lexus’. It’s more intuitive that the BMW nav, but I think Lexus rules all when it comes to nav. BTW, if you haven’t figured out how to hack the Lexus nav system so you can work it while driving, I can help you out with that. 
It’s just a bit frustrating when you can’t seem to get a fairly simple concept. Oh well.
Sounds like a damn fun garage you have there!
Yes please! I had no idea…please PM me if you don’t mind.
Thanks!
Just what the world needs. More self-important people in large cars trying to operate a computer while driving.
When I bought my Lexus the salesman asked me, “Do you feel self-important?”
I wasn’t sure, but once I bought the car I knew the answer. 
Spell it out for me, there must be some kinda language barrier goin on here.
:rolleyes: Or maybe allowing their passenger to do it?
Why does gas cost more in LA than in hicksville? Why does it cost 3 times more in Europe? Is it supergas? Do you tell Europeans they’re crazy for driving?
Why does a cheeseburger cost more in a London McDonalds than a NYC one?
There is absolutely no relation between the new or used cost in the US and in other countries, simple as that.
List price for a new 335Ci is AU$110,000.
Sorry, missed this before. The soft top has torn twice just from normal raising and lowering, and once stuck half way up- which was a big problem, as you can well imagine.
Mea Culpa.
Well, since you brought it up, it is actually supergas. In Europe, gasoline/petrol is required* to meet higher RON standards than US-market fuel, so the same engine will produce more power using European fuel than US fuel.
The difference isn’t really significant because Euro-market engines usually require significant modifications (emissions equipment, mostly) before you can register them in the US (and vice versa), so nominal power outputs are different anyway.
Huh. Well, there you go - ignorance fought!
Well, it’s not like it accounts for the price differential. That’s 99% tax.
But still.
This whole thread got me thinking. You pay, roughly and with some handwaving, double what us Americans do for these cars (and we pay some good margin more than the Germans do)
Do you also make a requisite chunk of money more than we do? Or are you spending a larger percentage of your annual income on wheels? How does it translate to what you pay for housing and food?
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 or the BMW 535i Sedan. At the moment, I think the BMW is slightly ahead.
If I were looking to buy right now, though, I’d be sorely tempted by a used 2007 Maserati Quattropointe Sport GT that’s almost in my price range and has just under 20,000 miles on it. That’s my dream car (not that specific model, but a Quattropointe in general), and it’ll be quite a while before I can justify paying for a new one.