LILBENZ230

One serious overrev in most cars will give you issues. Honda builds arguably the world's best four-cylinder engine (like the K-series) and you overrev one of them once and you're looking at a rebuild. Driver error can't be considered in reliability. It's like saying "One serious crash, and it's broken".

The N52 is a good engine. It must be way different over in SA, too, about not being able to give them away after 5 years. Values are retained stronger than Benz in the USA.

LILBENZ230

We were all calling it E92.. the sedan is the E90.. I edited my posts.

Glyn M Ruck

Yep! - In SA BMW's are not considered robust vehicles. They have rev limiters but still knock the hell out of their valves & seats. The average BMW that is enthusiastically driven is probably 20% down on power in SA at 30,000Km & has experienced at least one electronic diff failure.

This would never happen on a Benz.

Yes the markets are different. Our highways are better than the US - our byways are worse.

BMW's don't seem to like the sustained high speed cruising we do here.

Honda engines have proven as bullet proof as Toyota in this market.

LILBENZ230

What is up with that? I'm not doubting your word, but seriously - are they built somewhere else? Edmunds/InsideLine had a long term 2008 135i and it was more powerful at 15,000 miles than it was new. It's abilities (speed, handling, braking) hadn't diminished at all after nearly 30,000 hard auto-journalist miles. It was also noted to be in the top 3 of their most reliable long-termers of all time back then. They also had a used E46 2002 M3 in their fleet from 49,000 to 73,000 miles and it had a few issues but they lavished it with praise for how well it aged and how it could still keep pace with new 335i and 135i cars 7 years later.

E46 M3s that are 5 and 6 years old now are still pulling mid to high 20s in retail here.

Glyn M Ruck

Different conditions. Can you believe that my late '03 C240 at 57,000Km has a resale value of $26,000 here. An equivalent BMW 3 Series would not get anything like that. Or Volvo or whatever. Same in Asia.

OneOfaKindTrini

I said e90, didn't I? The bmw 3-series model has always been one of the most attractive cars out there.

LILBENZ230

I didn't see you make any reference to chassis code.. but I agree, the 3-series is the benchmark by which all other cars of that class are measured, including the W203 and W204. Actually I always thought it was only fair to compare the W203 to the E46 and the E90 to the W204.

OneOfaKindTrini

The E46 bmw's were excelent and bmw outdone theirselves when they introduced the E90 and the 335i. IMo BMW is one of the best car manufacturer's out.

Glyn M Ruck

In the eyes of the beholder. Outside the US the older 3 Series was always considered attractive - The Bangle era cars are disliked by most.

Discussions that are a matter of taste are fruitless. Americans have a distorted sense of style in the eyes of ROW. That does not make ROW correct in America. Only in ROW. People must buy what they like & be happy. We don't have to agree to remain friends. Imagine if we all liked the same women/woman

As an example I don't like larger wheels on the 203 & 204 (19"/20") - others love them. To me they make the car look too short. A matter of balance & taste.

LILBENZ230

True, true. I hate modded cars, think lowering is stupid, hate AEM sound systems, and blue lighting. But lots on here love this stuff. It would indeed be bad if we all liked the same exact thing. Diversity makes the world go round.. haha

splinter

The later evolution of the lineup with its M272 and all the trimmings is a lovely combination. Mom’s seems so refined.
Taken her two years to accumulate 10,000 miles. Thankful she’s still sharp and full of vigor at 80.

Lacks the thrust and roadholding capabilities of my earlier rendition, though.
Slow down Johnny!

Glyn M Ruck

Wonderful when the old folk are still independent. My dad drove competently to 89 & passed away peacefully. My mom came home in her Alfa in her early 80's and informed us that she was giving up driving. She had scared hereself in the village doing shopping. Handed in the keys & that was it.

W203E35

In the end Mercedes will always BMW. Wait till Mercedes' Turbo engines come out . Let's not forget AMG's 5.5 Turbo engine, once released will probably be banned in the US because no one will ever buy a BMW ever again and it will cause BMW to close some factories then slowly BMW will go out of business and contribute to a more economic downfall. But then Obama will unban it in the US because he always loved Mercedes. Then the BMW guys will have no choice but to join the Mercedes guys. Then one day when a Mercedes guy is driving he will see a BMW guy hitchhiking and will give the BMW guy a lift which the BMW guy will touch his radio. Then a fight will break out. Then people will have to separate into groups (gangs). There will be the Mercedes side and BMW side. Then one day a Chevy will rear end a Ford and they will get into an argument and a fight will break out. Then there will be Chevy VS Ford and then one day a Toyota driver will go to a Honda drivers house and accidentally fart and the Hinda driver will take this as a sign of disrespect then all the Japanese car drivers will choose side and Mitsubishi will come along and make fun of Subaru and they will break into 2 side then Audi and Porsche will want some action too and they will join BMW and then Chrysler will want some action too so he will call up his Dodge buddy but the Dodge buddy will say "If you come back you will have to give the Bail Out Money Back" so then Chrysler will say let me join my Half German brother Mercedes and there will be an ongoing battle which will spread throughout the world and this is how the world will end in 2012.

jcnash

WTF??....LOL

bdgdl08

My grandpa drive until he passed away. He bought my car new when he was 89. He still ran his own farm. He died suddenly at 91 without any pain. That's how I want to go.

LILBENZ230

Karo.. that post makes me nervous about coming to SoCal.

moonrkr23

the benz, hands down

aigooalex

i love my c230 sport! got around end of nov. and driven a little more than 5k til now! no problems and feels super solid! i never driven an E90 but it looks solid as well. my neighbor in front of me has the E90. BMW drivers have ego issues though.
the only downside i have about my w203 is that i wish i had more power =(

LILBENZ230

Care to elaborate? I'm a BMW driver.

samaritrey

LOL we know

jk but you know about most bmw drivers don't you. They seem to have something stuck up there *** and drive like idiots. along with some other interesting character traits. i guess since you have a mercedes and a bmw you are one of the good bmw drivers you have atleast 1/2 a brain.

LILBENZ230

I wouldn't assign any owner character traits to any particular brand. I've never gotten that. The stupidest drivers I encounter drive a wide range of vehicles, none of which are nearly as expensive as a BMW.

samaritrey

maybe that is just in my area because half the cars are bmw's it seems.

howardyudoing

my consensus: everyone drives stupid at least once in their lives. unless you're my mom.

back to topic. i think the 07 c230 is a fine machine and its beauty is timeless.

W203E35

All I got to say is I agree with Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear "BMW drivers have no friends"
lool

vega619

Anybody have a recommendation for lowering springs and intake on a 07 c230 sport?