E92ftw

1st Place: 335i
-Engine and handling helped keep its place at No.1

2nd Place: C350
-Vast improvement over W203, but lacking in the horsepower department.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..1.*

Schwabenländle

Anyone heard talk of the 350 CGI (215 kW/292 hp) from the CLS being used for the new C350?

MidniteBluBenz

I heard the same thing, but I heard the rating was 300+ iirc. They'll probably bring it in as a cycle update for the '09 or '10 model year.

Good write up. I agree w/ them choosing the 335i. I haven't spent much time driving a 335i and I've haven't even sat in a C350, but that twin-turbo engine in the BMW is too sweet; + the dynamic abilities of the 3 Series keep it ahead of the C350 imo.

Can Drive 55

I tend to agree with the assessment. I think the 335i is sportier, but I still prefer the C class, without question.

GPI

+1.

MercedesFTW

The 335 is more $$$ too right?

ultraseven

The base price of the 335i sedan is 39,675 with destination, and adding most options sans navigation brings it to 47,275

trisonics

Why is Leather 'optional' and not standard on a 40,000 $$$ BMW??

QQQ

Hope they come sooner than later.

GDawgC220

Think that is bad? Try why isn't leather standard on a 51k E-Class?

Stormin

And it's an option that BMW charges for on the 5 series as well...

The only German company not charging for leather on their mid level sedan is Audi with the A6.

Drop-a-Daimler

I agree you have to pick the 335 here but I don't think it's a very apples-to-apple comparison. Maybe a 328. The 335i has only 11.9 lbs./hp yet the C350 weighs in with 12.8 lbs./hp. The poor 328i has 14.5 lbs./hp. so the C350 kind of falls in the middle. There's just such a huge performance (and in reality price) gap that it's tough to see these going head-to-head. But then again, it is the top (non-M) 3-series vs. the top (non-AMG) C-class so I guess it's inevitable. I want to see the new V8 M3 vs. the C63. Bye-bye Bimmer. And if you load up a C350 it will be $49K but a loaded 335i is $56K so the price difference is more like $7K. ANd on the show room floor, if you actually go out and try to buy each of these (as I did recently), the difference is far greater. You can nab a C350 loaded with nav and xenons for $40K OTD (if you can find one on a lot) because they will deal on them. The BMW guys will bend you over and make you squeal if you test drive a 335i and you are lucky to get OTD for under $60K. It is more like $10K for similar cars when you start running the numbers. I was haggling for a 335i convertible and it came out to be exactly $30K more than I a quote I had in-hand on a loaded '06 C350 in January. The soft top and 32 HP didn't seem worth $30K. Maybe with an ECU tune and headers it would be a much closer dance. I am definitely going to see!

e1000

30K more!!!!!!!! wow. Should be easy to outrun a 335i with 30K in mods

the 335i coupe would compare to a CLK550 though CLK550 is no slouch this year.

Spoonie

Out the door for $60K? Why are you comparing a Convertible car with a Sedan? That isn’t really a fair comparison. You should be comparing the 335 SEDAN with the C350, not the Convertible. You agree? If you were to compare convertibles, then the comparison would be between the CLK350 Convertible and the 335 Convertible. The CLK is much more expensive then the 335 and much slower. The CLK is more luxurious if you are into that kind of thing.

MercedesFTW

There just isn't a direct comparison really...

335i is a sportier car than the C350, no doubt about it, but it is also more money. The 335i convert becomes a GT cruiser IMO, when it gets the retractable hard top, which the CLK550 is comparable with, more or less, but then the CLK is also much more money.

I guess what I'm saying is...test drive everything until you find the right fit. Took me a year, and about...half a million dollars worth of cars of test driving to find the C55.

dmg3

When MB can match the 0-60 of the 335i for the same price, then we'll think about ya.

Stormin

No everyone lives in a world where the 0-60 time influences their purchase.

Most BMW drivers must though, it seems to be the only feather in their hat.

tee_tz

Let's not make excuses. Give credit where credit is due.

The 335 Sedan's MAIN COMPETITOR is the C350 and the C350's MAIN COMPETITOR is the 335. Hands down the 335 wins in performance. However, if performance is not your only determinate then the C350 makes sense.

All in all, I completely agree with the review, BMW has raised the bar with the 335 - not just against Mercedes-Benz, but industry wide. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi should be offering cars with better performance than Nissan's and Toyota's and I think the 335 has done that for BMW. It's time for Mercedes to get serious and make a better engine for the C350 cause at the moment it's behind the 335, IS350 & G35.

Sorry, but I tell it as it is. So while I think the W204 looks better than the 335 Sedan, I'd probably wait for the updated engines before spending $45K.


Tee_Tz.

GDawgC220

I agree. I hope that MB will be coming out with something more powerful for the C350. The next A4 is said to have a force fed V6 (most likely a twin turbo set up) putting it around 330hp. I don't think they want to be at 268hp it's German counterparts are at 300hp (335i) and 330hp (A4).

Cal

Agreed. Performance-wise, the 335i has raised the bar. Even the Japanese alternatives are not quite up there (hp is comparable, but not actual performance like 1/4 mile, etc). Competition is great for us consumers. It won't take MB that long to upgrade it's engines on the W204 C-class.

dmg3

Actually the 335's main competitor was the IS350 and G35, as the c350 never sold and the smaller c sold for entry level status. But you're right. I DO think the C63 is the dart in the Bimmer M's sweet spot, and a clear winner.