Mercedes vs. BMW - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Snoopy572 · #1 09-26-2002, 02:43 PM

Ok so last night I was with my girlfriend and her family and we are talking about cars. Everyone knows that I love Mercedes and he loves BMW so he had just gotten back from riding in a BMW 530 (I think) with the dealer and came back saying how perfect the car was it could shift automatically as well as manually and it's so superior to the Benz and no Benz can compare, it had a traction control system and the car just hugged the corner no body roll or understeer oversteer, etc. Then we start talking about past cars as well as present. The BMW has always been on top of Benz performance wise and the BMW technology is second to none. He basically had his mind set and was not listening to me. We talked aboutt he M5 and I brought up the E55 he talked about the M3 and I mentioned the C45, ML and X5, etc. Well I told him he is basing everything on opinion and he's never drove a new Mercedes so he can not compare the 2 fairly. Well basically he told me he's going to bring me proof to back up what he's saying and I told him I'd do the same. Only thing is I'm not sure if he is right or wrong, I don't follow up on cars (that I can't afford as much

) anymore. but can someone give me some sites I can print out or give me as much info as you can.

For a minute I felt like we were gonna pop open a beer and wear old Chevy and Ford baseball caps and talk with an accent

G-Benz · #2 09-26-2002, 03:14 PM

This is as old a flame war as the "dino vs. synthetic oil" and "pink vs. green coolant" threads!

We even have MB vs. Lexus, MB vs. Jaguar...and the list goes on!

Do a search and you'll see for yourself.

There are many here that own both MBs AND BMWs, and their opinions are mostly that they do indeed handle differently. Many here contend that the MB is a little "cushier" in handling while the BMW is more of a road car. Depending on personal experience, quality, reliability, longevity and just plain "bang for the buck" opinions will vary for both.

Opinions from owners of both are at best, subjective, no matter what specs you throw at them. This will be true for your friend as well. Brand loyalty will hold more weight when one chooses one brand over another. Again, your friend will fall in this category.

Your best bet is to agree to disagree...even if you could both come back and meet on a closed test track with BMW and Mercedes technicians providing every available model of their respective marques for a showdown, only to have the MB trounce the BMW in every category, you wouldn't sway your friend's opinion in the least bit!

#3 09-26-2002, 04:47 PM

bring him the proof of the m3 engine failer at 3k. It's on the internet everywhere

#4 09-27-2002, 01:11 PM

Tell this bozo to go drive an E55 or a C32 if any Benz dealer will possibly let him. Or better yet, an SLK32. 349 horsepower in a tiny roadster could change his tune real fast.

Besides, a Kia Optima V-6 has manumatic shifting; I drove one recently. It's not THAT special! BMW doesn't have a lock on that; Mercedes has tiptronic shifting on pretty much every model these days.

-Sam

Cap'n Carageous · #5 09-27-2002, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snoopy572
Ok so last night I was with my girlfriend and her family and we are talking about cars. Everyone knows that I love Mercedes and he loves BMW

So your girlfriend is a guy??:p

dtanesq · #6 09-27-2002, 02:42 PM

I agree with G-Benz. I own both marques. In fact, I'm contemplating replacing the 525i with a 540i 6-speed.

It's a seat of the pants evaluation and highly personal to the individual behind the wheel. The seat of my pants doesn't feel the same things someone else's does and what I like to feel from a car might put off someone else. Some folks, for example, thought my E34 was too harsh due simply to its 16 inch BBS wheels and 50-series Michelin tires. I loved it. Add the Eibach springs and Bilstein HDs and I've got a real teeth remover. Adding 100 horses (i.e., the 540i) would be heavenly and rowing my own transmission would make it all that much more fun....until I was sitting in stop and go traffic, when I'd be pining for the set-it and forget-it of the TE.

I notice Kuan likes Guinness. Personally, I like Newcastle or my friend's home-brewed IPA, but if I'm eating Mexican food, Dos Equis Amber on tap can't be beaten. Who's to say which one of us drinks a better beer?

By the way - I wouldn't call anyone debating this issue a bozo.

BenzOnline · #7 09-27-2002, 04:04 PM

just tell him BMW sucks!

#8 09-27-2002, 05:48 PM

Quote:

so he had just gotten back from riding in a BMW 530 (I think) with the dealer and came back saying how perfect the car was it could shift automatically as well as manually and it's so superior to the Benz and no Benz can compare, it had a traction control system and the car just hugged the corner no body roll or understeer oversteer, etc.

Based on these fairly uninformed statements, that is why I referred to said person as a bozo. As I said previously, Kia sedans have manumatic trannies...why is that a bragging point?

If this person thinks a regular 530i automatic is such an awesome machine, this person needs to be taken for a ride in an AMG Benz to gain perspective on what "new Benzes can do".

Since you own both, I wouldn't question your personal judgement or stance on the issue...I agree re: BMW=sporty car; MB=luxe car (with some exceptions). I've driven both also (friend has an E30 325iX) and I think it's a fun little car.

The person who was originally named in the thread who rode in the 530i and sang its praises afterwards seems a little uninformed, and I'm sticking with that.

-Sam

pentoman · #9 09-27-2002, 06:05 PM

I've driven all of the mainstream BMWs, IMO the difference is this:

With a BMW, they're nice and everything, but there's always something nagging in the back of your mind that the car's not quite as good as it could be. Wether it's exploding engines, (see http://members.roadfly.com/jason/m3engines.htm ) the never-as-could-as-it-could-be ride quality, lack of that super-stable feel at speed on bumpy narrow roads etc. etc.

Perhaps this causes SOME drivers to feel insecure (I hate that word) about the car, so they have to go telling everyone how amazing it is, and that your car is a piece of crap compared to theirs.
Maybe they are trying to convince *themselves* the car is good, more than you.

For many of us, owners of some of the best Mercedes ever made, we never get that nagging feeling, and are quite happy with the cars, but don't think we have to shout about how good they are, or degrade other people by telling them their car is worse. We all appreciate the qualities of BMWs, but are more than happy with what we have.

Obviously what I'm saying is not the blanket truth, blah blah blah

I think your friend (girl/boy friend??) is experiencing post-BMW insecurity

Cap'n Carageous · #10 09-27-2002, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snoopy572

For a minute I felt like we were gonna pop open a beer and wear old Chevy and Ford baseball caps and talk with an accent

Good comment!! My Dad can beat up your dad!!! Give it up. This is subjective and will never be settled

! I'd like to know what accent are you referring to?

royaiii · #11 09-28-2002, 02:21 PM

M3 finally shows what a peice of crap motors BMW makes. 11.5 compression in a street car with 8500 redline, c'mon now. Once the engines fail, they dont break a gasket but they blow a hole through an iron block at 4,000 miles! Or the new 7, that owners are actually suing BMW for lemons or buy backs. Stay away. Be glad you stuck with MB

Holson Adi · #12 09-28-2002, 04:03 PM

Hey I never thought that the M3 engine problem was serious!... damn it sounds like a 240D...but it sure sounds somewhat sweet when revved...

pentoman · #13 09-28-2002, 06:07 PM

I think combined with the high rev limit and high compression, is the fact that it is a long stroke unit. As the piston is moving through a longer stroke than on a short stroke engine, it travels further in the same time and so gains much more momentum, so stresses more at the end of each stroke.

later!

Snoopy572 · #14 09-29-2002, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cap'n Carageous

So your girlfriend is a guy??:p

Yea i noticed that, lol I meant her brother-in-law.

royaiii · #15 09-29-2002, 05:44 AM

What BMW has to do now, is to really restructure at how they are building cars. How they are dealing and dealt with these problems have been real disappointing. Dealers are clueless about anything and everything about these new motors. The s54 in the m3 should be at least pulled out and compression reduced. What does BMW do, "okay everyone, start pouring BMW 10w-60." At least once Ford goofed up on the cobra, they fixed everyone's car.

BMW used this 11.5 ratio because they knew AMG had a bullitproof 350 hp motor coming out. I think the ratio for the s54 should not be more than 10:1, blown gaskets are the next step for these 11.5 m3s as they age. What is real disheartening, is that these problems have occured to so many people so early in the life of the car. I just wish one of these m3s would have blown their engine while Car & Driver was testing them. C&D has turned into almost a posterboard for BMW.

Oh, the harmonious i6 sounds really good when the engine is knocking and pinging from a gaping hole out of the block. Show me a MB I6 motor which has a hole in the side of it at 4k miles or dare I say it 400k miles.