+1. Poor soul.

 

- A few features which either doesn't have e.g. panoramic roof, shift paddles, color options, power steering column and others.

Yes, you can have a panorama roof and the adjustable steering wheel column on a C350

Jorg

 

335i doesn't have a pano roof or power steering column whereas the C350 doesn't have shift paddles or the color options. I was giving examples of differences between the two cars and things people liked or disliked about either. And yes the C350 has power steering column adjustment here in Canada.

 

Quick bit from a convert. I'm getting out of my 330i 6spd manual to go into a C300 7spd auto. 255hp to 228hp. Why not a C350? Because I didn't feel the need to spend the money (I'm admittedly cheap, and we just bought my wife a Q7 4.2 so now I feel like being really cheap).

The 3.0 in the 330i is admittedly more powerful and seems a lot more technologically sophisticated (magnesium block, etc) but the 3.0 in the C300 seems like it has a nicer torque curve. That along with the 7spd made it feel infinitely nicer around town.

 

I am really surprised that since the price difference now, for the 2008 models, which is huge, but it did not enter the decision making with the importance that I thought it would have.

Jorg

 

Hi,

I'm considering the C350 but am concerned over maintinence costs. I know someone who was a bmw mechanic about 12 years ago and said, that at least at that time, BMW's and MB's chewed up rotors which required replacement with nearly every break pad change. He said they had to do that on most cars that came in.

Alot can change in 12 years. Can anyone speak towards the reliability of the C class in the last few years and what you anticipate the maintinence will be with the new model?

Thanks

 

Ahh.. Nice to know I wasn't alone!
You can't imagine how hard it was to choose and how torn i was between the two!

Weigh your preferences & think clear & good about what you REALLY need.. (take note, Need, not Want)

Needless to say, too, I am loving my BlackMerc a lil more each day!

 

Let the horsepower race continue!!!
Just read in Automobile Mag - coming this summer, 2009 BMW 335i to have:

355 horse power!!!

after all, can BMW allow the Infinit G37 and IS350 to "out do" BMW in the power dept?

What does this mean for MB C350? 300hp will now just be "catching up" to the competitors.
Patrick

 

My buddy has a 335i coupe, which I love. He said, had the W204 been out when he was shopping, he would have purchased it over the BMW. He cited style and practicality as the main reasons. I'd be happy with either, but the BMW is a bit bland in appearance.

 

FYI, BMW 335i is actually underrated from the factory and makes approximately 330hp in stock form (270whp stock). From a performance standpoint, the BMW easily trumps the 268hp C350. Also, there is a Dinan ecu upgrade that raises the boost slightly, making close to 400bhp. This upgrade is BMW-authorized and is performed at a BMW dealer, thus, the 4-year warranty remains intact. C-class's saving grace is the C63, which is much faster than both the 335i and M3 and is IMO, the only C-class that is worth the money.

 

Comparasion
BMW
32 more hp
$10,000.00 more

 

Probably one of the best reasons to get the 335i. And it's only about $2,200 for the upgrade.

 

correction. The 335i gets shift paddles if you get an auto tranny

 

+1

 

Inside the USA, the most common comparison made with the C350 is the 335i. I don´t feel this comparison as being too fair (for Merc). Outside the USA, another trim is offered by BMW, called the 330i. Given that it has the same horsepower as the C350 and that it does not have two turbos to give it a head start, I believe this is a more appropriate comparison. I found a comparison among the A4 3.2 FSI Quattro, the 330i and the C350. It´s an article posted by the most “prestigious” German car magazine. For those of you who aren´t afraid of deciphering some German jargon, go ahead and check this page out. The page also offers a a PDF comparison panel which you can download.

http://www.autozeitung.de/online/ind...?render=118167

 

While BMW starts more than the C class, optioned up as I want it the BMW is 2k cheaper.

I am looking at both cars too. I am a BMW afaciendo, so lets get that over with, I own a 2004 X5 4.4.Owned a BMW since college. However, I am not in love with the bangle bimmers. I do like the X5, I don't like (hate even...) the 5series.

Between the two cars, I have to say I like the more classic C class lines. It's my wifes car, and she is leaning to the C class. I think handling comes down the way it always has. The BMW drives sportier than the merc.

 

I drive w204 C. Go with 335i vs. C350. no room for doubt. The choice becomes tricky only when you are comparin the low end c300 and 328i. Thats when C becomes the better choice. But 335i is just so much more for a car the c350. Engine alone is crazy on this thing.

Also with that kind of power, i would like the telepathic handling of an e90

 

I dont understand what value do you think you have added by posting all that crap above? Mr. BMW650i

Your just an idiot with alot of time I guess

 

This "peon" should learn to spell before he attempts to sound authoritative and "powerful" ("Lord" of ultimate driving what? ).

 

Thanks For The Review TEAShea

 

Oops, I am still researching, but just realized the C350 does not come with 4matic, the 335 does (xi). I guess I cannot compare them as all wheel drive is something I desire. I must compare the C300 4matic to the 335xi, not the c350. Advantage, BMW....

 

Guys lets not take BMW vs Benz so personal. I love both cars myself, if you know these two brands, its very simple.

Bmw wins in proformance, more focus on driver excitment.
Benz wins in luxury department, focus on ride quality and passenger experince.

Dont get me wrong, both offer luxury and profomance, but each one of them excell in there own area's

So what do you want? for me Benz offers enought driveing excitment, But I like to roll in style and BMW dosent give ME enought luxury.

Pound for pound C350 4matic premium package takes down 335 similar opptions for ME.

But im in the 30's and married, If I was 20's single I would choose BMW.

 

I'm currently in my 20s (late) and single. And I do like BMW products in general. In fact, I've always been a BMW admirer/fanboy all my life. But when it came time to choose a new car, I went with the MB. One picture of an Arctic White with Pano did it. First time I chose a car purely on the basis of looks. I just lament the fact that stupid MB doesn't have a 6-speed option in the C350.

The guy up there is just retarded though.

 

Both cars are two very different automobiles.

BMW is fast, especially after the Dinan Flash upgrade, I'm hitting 4.2 sec 0-60 times and high 12 second 1/4 miles. Of course the car is putting out close to 390 hp and 420 lbs of torque. I call it my American V-8 killer. The Mercedes is well a Mercedes, great car built like a tank, but no speed demon. I enjoy both cars.

 

A lot of valid points, but I just wanted to add something from recent experience. My parents have been driving benzes for the past 15 years or so (but bought their cars from different dealerships, not from a "favored" one) and my sister owns a 335i coupe, and I've owned e30 and now z4 coupe. So I've driven quite a bit of BMWs and MBs and I like them both. They are all built to cater their "heritage", what their brands have always been known for.

But something I wanted to add is the dealer experience. Lately I feel that BMW corporate to BMW salespeople think the car sell themselves. They've always built nice cars and they certainly have a trend going for them so more and more people just want the white and blue badge in their garage.

After 15 years of driving just benzes, parents thought they'd have a change for once and started shopping for a 5er. They didn't know the dealer hours so they just dropped by and it happened to be 10 minutes before they closed. Not knowing it, my dad approached a salesperson about a white 5er my mom was standing by and asked what the price was. The response he got was "the price is on the sticker, and btw, we are closing in 10 minutes". Now they are swearing they won't own a bimmer, understandabily so. If I were with them, I'd have *****ed them out.

So they get in their car and go over to the MB dealer nearby and they were very helpful even though now they were closing in 5 minutes! Needless to say, they picked up a new C350 there (they wanted the E but I told them the design will change in 2 yrs and that they should drive all MB models ).

I as a owner of a BMW, I feel mistreated too. Sometimes I bring my car in for some service, I get "did you purchase the vehicle from us?" question all the freaking time! I was like "why do you guys always ask me that? Will my answer affect how you service my car?" and they go speechless.

I just thought I'd add my 2cent here.