Having run VW and BMW previously, I'd go for a Merc every time. Reliability and running costs are far better in my experience. The most unreliable and expensive car I ever had was a BMW 320 convertible. It cost a fortune compared to the 380SL I had before that.

My Golf (Rabbit) GTi was completely knackered at 127k. Compare that with my totally reliable 190E at 200k.