www.leftlanenews.com has a nice story 5/5/06 on Mercedes quality

it's uses German road assistance based stats.

middle fingers to the bimmer owners...
ha ha ha
just kiddin!

__________________
~there is no spoon~

1984 300CD Turbo Diesel (soon to be "powered by VEGGIE") - dolphin silver

1999 e430 Sport blk/blk, my sexy ***** ;-)

(my other girls)
1992 300CE 24V 3.0L (w124) (R.I.P. "she was killed 7/12/03 by some ricer kids speeding in a honda accord")
1990 Acura Integra RS (w/94' engine)
1966 Cadillac Sedan de Ville (Hardtop)

BMW seems to be drifting a bit off its focus.

This gearbox and I drive do NOT appeal to the purists.

Yes the V10 is an incredible engine, but MANY people think the last 5 series was the apogee of BMW, and it has gone sidesways since then. Or downhill.

Yes it is the MOST coveted car in the world right now, and everyone who can afford one and wants it, buys it.

There will be REAL trouble if BMW forces you to get I drive in the 3 series.

If you are the "Ultimate Driving Machine" you shouoldn't ask your pilot to fiddle with computers, fancy shifters, cupholders, and Video Games "DISTRACTO".

I tried a 540i Sport, about 6 years ago, and it was exhilarating. Nothing like it. They do drive that well. Plus they look fabulous.

And though it is more of a cruiser than a street fighter, the 2000 740 is is the sexiest and shapeliest 4 door sedan, bar none, I have EVER seen!!

And Chris Bangle - responsible for the Fiat Multipla, now there's some styling for ya! gives us the 1992 Bangle Butt Beemer 7 series, and is finally forced to back off from them a bit. Z4 looks like a mess, do you count how many angles intersect at the A pillar. Flame styling, give it a rest.

I hope BMW gets wise. Don't know, for sure though, wouldn't be the first time the Germans followed a leader, lemming like, to disaster

__________________
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)

The way BMW is going buy an Audi. The new 3 series isn't that bad really. You can order a 5 series without that stupid active steering crap, and the I drive. Although it would be a base model.

Look at the bright side, M gets rid of all that stupid crap so buy an M car!

MB went the way of the I Drive as well, frankly I don't understand why buttons were replaced? They worked!

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Yes... The 5 series cars are wonderful........ I honestly wish that they did not screw them up so much in the most recent model...... Im not much of a fan of nav systems and the twin hump dash that your forced to get with them........

ADAC, a prominent German automobile association that provides breakdown assistance to motorists, says Mercedes passenger cars are among the most reliable in Germany. The most reliable mid-sized car was the Mercedes C-Class, with the E-,S-,M-,CLK-, and SLK-Class also receiving top scores. That statistics are based on the 3.75 million breakdown assistance calls provided by the organization in 2005.

Looks to me like a spectacularly flawed means of determining automobile reliability.

If you know a better way than the statistics ( 3.75 mill. service calls ) of the most respected German Automobile Club, let us know.

__________________
2007 C 230 Sport.

While both brands are great luxary brands, I peronally think BMW makes the better car in Germany. My 98 5 Series has been flawless. Sure the engine died in its first year and was relaced under warrenty, its has been flawless otherwise while my mercedes has been a nightmare for breakdowns. My wifes VW is even worse. VW is having alot of problems now with their new models and they are the worse built german car in my opinion.

Best to Worse
1)BMW
2)Mercedes
3) Opal
4)VW (incl. Audi, Por.)

Okay.
We just need another 3 749 999 examples.

__________________
2007 C 230 Sport.

Agreed. Much of the flaws with MB vehicles don't manifest themselves in breakdown issues...especially since limp-home mode has been around for over a decade.

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Two middle fingers wayyyyyyyyyy up to bimmer downers.

__________________
Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!

BMW has lost its rather simplistic performance oriented piloting accomodations for more power luxury features that arecomplicated, and are unnecessary- Styling has also become overdone....

Mercedes has lost the quality control of yesteryear, and has begun to make cars for the masses that are getting harder and harder to distinguish from the rest of the cars on the road. They have also added more complicated systems that are unnecessary.

In my eyes both marques have become less desireable in similar ways as mentioned above... but they both still retain the same driving characteristics that they always have had.

Mercedes are luxury oriented with an edge on performannce.
BMW's are performance oriented with some luxury.

If you can get these charateristics in an OLDER model of either marque, without so many flaws, over done styling (BMW), or generic styling(MB), than why even consider buying a new MB or BMW..... seems to me knowing both marques current flaws, the purchase of one is purely to have a car that appears to be better and newer than the neighbors car.

Purists know better.

I agree... the 2000 BMW 7 series- is a FAR better car than the current 7.
And I'll say the same about the last gen S class over the current S class (though id prefer a cherry 1991 W126 over either!)

I have no doubt that my W123 (obviously) and W202 will last longer than a W203, or the upcomming W204....
And My BMW E9 coupe has proven to be more solidly and simply built than newer more complex cars, and has lasted longer than many already. Yet all cars perform exceptionally, offer great accomodatiions, and have features of necessity and some for indulgence..

I'll proudly stick my middle finger up TODAY to both Marques, and pray for a return of the traditional corporate values both companies used to posess before they decided to build cars loaded with bull**** features and horrid or bland styling.

Consumerism is at an all time peak- a time when the masses determine what is important in a product, while designers and engineers opinions take a back seat.

__________________
Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

1. Two fingers down the throat

2. Long sustained look at 2002 BMW 7 series

__________________
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)

I think the new 7 Series and Mini Seven Looking 5 series are just amazing cars interms of styling. These are car's that look great and are ahead of their time, I've driven the new 7 and its a much better car then the last 7...did i mention it looks amazing???!. I still like the New S-Class over the new 7, but I think BMW beat Mercedes this time with styling....but then again this isn't a car that would appeal to the rich older clientle that mercedes sells the S-Class to.

In the end, I think the new 7 is aimed more towards the appealing rich young exectutive while the S-Class continues to be a big draw for classy older exectutives. I just think they no longer compete againest each other as they both target a different demographic of rich people. I think BMW did this on purpose, there's only so many expensive car's you could sell to one pool of people.