It's interesting...when I bought my coupe I did a side by side comparison online.
I have the printout, but not able to find it now online.

The C class coupe had more features for less money AND more power.

I looked at a new stripped 325, and it still cost more than the
coupe nicely appointed.
The coupe has a number of additional standard features, especially in 2002.

That being said, it's interesting that bimmer is less expensive, but don't expect maint. to be less than the MB.

If you are a DIY'er, as pointed out the C230 isn't too hard to work on.
Properly maintained, it can last a very long time, but it's critical to catch things early before they become a disaster.
Leaking tranny orings,, leaking cam sensors, and leaking radiators leaking coolant to the tranny, all can cause huge bills, but if caught early, not such a big deal.
Flushing the tranny regularly will allow it to last 200K miles....or more I've been told.
But fluid, filters and gasket is almost $200.
The 6 speed is a good tranny, but benefits from a different tranny oil in terms of shifting.

The M111 is pretty indestructible.
Personally, I fully expect my next car with be another lower mileage coupe, but as stated, I wouldn't pay more than the bimmer.

The coupe is nice for hauling stuff, camping trips and the like, tons of storage. A great compromise between a full on sports car, and
sport ute.
But modding can be expensive. Well, so would the bimmer.

Handing leaves a lot to be desired, sway bars and springs help alot, but at 70K + miles, you'd want new shocks anyway.

If you go with a 2002 Coupe, try to get a warranty of some kind, get it checked well,
and like someone said, 8 grand would be more in line with current prices, though, thankfully they've actually been going up!
Finally the coupe is getting some respect !
It can be a great car....or for some, a nightmare.

I found that the mechanics broke as much as they fixed, and were often responsible for new issues, after fixing old ones.
Get one thats had all the bugs worked out...like mine..ha, but not for sale!

 

well, city = beirut (i think beirut beats paris & london & .. in traffic

 

is your highway millage in slow moving traffic. if so then that makes more sense. and i have never calculated a all city drive so i really don't know what i get there. i like to drive like an a$$ in citys as fast as possible light to light. usually because i am pissed that i had to drive in to dc during rush hour. on a 60% highway 40% city drive i get like 26 or so average. i just did the same drive twice in one day and did it about a week apart and got an average each time of 25.9 and 26.2. i still fell like your car should get like 26-27 but then their are a lot of factors that change constantly so we cant really compare millage accurately unless you drive the cars on the same route at the same time.

 

no my highway mileage is not in slow moving traffic, i would estimate my highway 20mpg as :
50% highway at 100-140km, 25% at around 60-80 and 25% in slow moving traffic.. the instant mpg figures i get are between 25 and 17
and about my city mpg, the 9mpg im getting is not an average over a period of time, its the lowest mpg i get in 1 trip (traffic, lots of traffic), otherwise my city average (day & night) is around 15mpg.
the highest mpg (instantly) i ever got was 27 and i was going down without using the throttle
my average over the last 2000 miles was 16.7 l/100k, thats 14.08 mpg

 

I get about 20 mpg driving city roads.

 

My 02' Coupe AT gives me about 19-20mpg in the city (stop and go) and 29-30mpg on highways. How the hell do you guys manage to get 30 in the city???

 

I think my average according to 'puter is 22.
Mods and WOT bring the mileage down a little, if I was
more stingy with the pedal, but mine is so damn touchy compared to stock.

I do a lot of short trips, and the mileage sux when the engine is cold.

 

I know this is a matter of preference but to me the BMW is a better looking car than the benz. The benz coupe looks unfinished and unattractive from the back unless you do some mods. You wouldn't need to do anything to the BMW to make it look good. But thats just me.

Also, many people are saying how the benz has more power but I wouldn't ncessarily say that the benz gives a better feel or ride because it has more power. My c230 has a v6 201 hp and it feels way slower/weaker than the 150hp 4 banger in the 2001 Honda Accord I sold it for. I really dislike the power delivery of my v6, the lag, or super soft steering feel. While I haven't driven the exact model BMW you are looking at I did drive a 2006 z4 which only had 184 hp/175tq and the car felt a lot stronger than it actually was.

Also, I don't think many would argue that the BMW is a better handling vehicle and has a more attractive stance. Anyway, I'd say go for the beemer. Good luck which ever way you go.

 

Id say go with the bmw but offer 8. The c230's like everyone mentions had annoying problems til about 05/06, the bmw however is said to have a cooling problem a lot at around 100k, so maybe get it checked out if possible.

 

Get the COUPE...no contest. Although much as others have said, you can probably get another grand or so knocked off the price.

Coupes are good cars, great handling, fun to drive, and very practical. I can get 29mpg on my near 20 miles ride home from work- and its not on the freeway. Just down suburban streets. And a 300 dollar pulley adds another 35+hP. The 325 is already sucking wind against a stock coupe. With a pulley, the Coupe has very respectable accelleration.

Reliability wise- I had the sway bar links problem, and went thru a lot of keys, and blew the read differential- on stock power no less- ...but in seven years of ownership- those are the only problems. I would buy another in a heartbeat- one more thing...the BMW is way dated looking because there's a newer version of it out. The Coupe is timeless- its successor isn't sold here.


My C230 has the 'four banger' and is faster than the V6 Accords. I know from personal experience. Your car is much slower than any of the supercharged 4s found in an MB.

[QUOTE]
I really dislike the power delivery of my v6, the lag, or super soft steering feel.
[QUOTE]

Pretty much as I remember them. I hate the V6 powered C Class cars...Only the C350 and C32 are memorable.

 

still living in the outland I see. did you bother read what he's looking for in the first post? DD...not a track car. power not an issue.

C sportcoupe is practical? maybe if you only have 1 person in the car all the time. decent handling...not great.

sorry, but the M112 and M272 are far more refined then the M111. As much as people hate the M271 it is also more responsive and more refined then the M111k that I've driven in W202, CL203, and R170 form.

stock vs stock 325 performance is very much on par with the CL203 even with less hp. It has far better gearing in both manual or auto.

 

Efff, Frank, I'm going to call you on this. You bring a 325 to me. Chipped whatever. I'll put it up to my 2.3L M111. I have a six pack that says I crush him in the quarter. My car sucks off the line, but at the 1/4, I'm feeling better.

Don't need the M112 argument. You won't get a M112 for 8k.

You have a mean C32, I won't hold a candle to it. but Many a BMW 3 series has been taken at the on ramp by me.

Okay, now I'll really insult myself. A few days ago I crushed a Toyota Corolla, both off the line and in the twisties. Poor boy had the big muffler and thought he was Senna.

Ed

Happy motoring all.

 

lol Ed, i said stock vs stock 325 would fare alright against the 111. what if I find a supercharged 325Ci? 2.5L supercharged vs 2.3L supercharged. if he hasn't sold his car already because of his newborn. lol