In my opinion, the 2000CS/2800CS/3.0CS had one of the best rear windows in cardom. Its nose was spot on. The dimensions were *perfect,* the ultimate hard-top coupe. In addition, the all-wood laquered dash on the 2000 was something to behold. Can't speak for the engines; someone else please chime in.

The high-end MBs, while less graceful, were more solid and richly appointed, especially the coupes.

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

Forget the classics, I'll take an E39 540i....make it a six-speed

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99 E300 TD -- sold
01 540i 6 spd

I recently saw a 2800 on ebay, and thought the interior was "funky" and "weak" for such an wonderfully styled car. Maybe it was pimped a little (modified), but hey, what is up with the Germans and blue interior?

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is

My all-time favorite BMW is a mid-to-late 1980s M6. That two-door 6-series is one of the most beautiful cars I've seen. Too bad they had to muck it all up with the new 6-series which I think is God-awful ugly.

Overall I don't think that BMW has ever produced "Icon" cars the way MB has. Note - this is not a knock on our friends from Munchen!!

The two seminal icons in MB history?

300SL Gullwing
600 "Grosser"

Tough for any company to challenge those. These aren't just MB icons, they are icons of vehicle design.

I agree with most of what has been said except for the following cars.
My friends up here in Michigan, have 500K and 540K, pre-WWII Benz's, which I have worked on and driven. These cars come to mind when I think of MB, in classical terms, along with their race cars, the Silver Arrows, of that era. Their presence and power speak for themselves. I am eliminating political reality of the era, I'm talking of the cars alone, but you can't forget about it though.

The other is the mid-50's, 300SL Convertible, the Gullwings brother, which I prefer over the gullwing, in looks with the top down and practicality. A friend of mine has one in Ann Arbor, and it's beautiful! A lot more fun to drive! The pagoda SL's changed that philosphy and brought them into the modern era. It was for safety reasons etc. I still like the old SL the most.

BMW is a different breed of cat, I own one. It's like comparing cats and dogs, different design philosophy and intents. They are as good in their own right. German Cars you know!

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SONNY was right...Nobody Cares.
Calogero, from the movie, "A BRONX TALE."

I still want a 450 SEL 6.9 or a 300 SEL 6.3. Make it happen, members. My birthday is coming up soon.

And truth be told, I would take any of these cars before I took any BMW. I will agree that Mercedes cars have more of an iconic presence to them. I think that only BMW fans or German car fans would have reverence for cars such as the 2002 or the E30 M3 or what have you; I think the two S-Classes mentioned above would command respect from anyone.

Seriously, I look at old Mercedes Benz cars and it almost amazes me how different they are today. Yes, the new S-Class and the CL-Class I think are a step in the right direction, but I think the 1990s is where Mercedes lost it. A W126 is special. A W140 is not. A W123 is venerable, a W124 is all right, a W210 is kinda blah (especially in smoke silver). The SL is the only carline I think that deserves the respect it commands, and I think it always will. The SL and the S-class ARE Mercedes Benz, but whether or not Mercedes Benz always realized that is questionable.

Like I said though, I think the new S-Class is great, and I see the W126 SEC coupes in the front end of the new CL-class. The CLS is a looker from every angle too, and has a presence that no Mercedes had had in a long time.

I think that success and popularity are a double edged sword. With it comes profit, and also lack of notoriety. A Mercedes doesn't even garner a second glance anymore it seems.

truly this is a younger crowd
that BMW 507 is absolutely beautiful
if I wanted a cruiser I'd opt for a Bentley Continental

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Bill

'82 300SD 195K
'84 300SD 199K

Yup, I wasn't thinking of those. I've been tempted by a 6.3 on a couple of occasions, pretty much the ultimate sleeper. All I have to do is convince my wife that I "need" another toy.

That's a pretty spot-on analysis, I would say. The old complaint about these cars was that "all the wrong peopole got to drive them".

Seems to be true, with the new ones, and the
bigger cities. They've been moved to a much lower price point, especially in the United States, with the C class being advertised at $29,999 and the $300 per month lease, to make them more accessible.

But the expression "Beverly Hills Volkswagen" has been around over 30 years, though.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

This is stretching the subject a little, but they are German cars.....
How about the 911 and the old VW Beetle?

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.

Definitely Icons (but of a different type), no-one would ever mistake either one for a honda.

The Volkswagen Beetle is an icon. Hands down.

I am fascinated by both of these cars. The fact Mercedes stuffed HUGE V8s into these cars is awesome. The 450SEL 6.9 was featured in the movie "Ronin" as well. The 300 SEL 6.3 could run quarter miles in the 14 second range and break into the low 6 second range for 0-60 times...in the early 1970s. The M-100 engine...wow.



The 450SEL 6.9 (referred to just as the "6.9" in the U.S)



The 300SEL 6.3

awesome point. My dad had a Euro, 77 633csi, 4 speed manual. Silver with black leather... man would I love to have that car today.

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is

Guys, this thread got started at the exact same time in the OD section. Lots of you never look there, and the thread there went in quite a different direction.

I'll try and cross pollinate the discussion by adding those comments here:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/off-topic-discussion/181343-bmw-icon-cars-vs-mercedes-post1442870.html?posted=1#post1442870

Vielen danke,
Jim

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)