Austin_KC

*sigh* so i'm faced with one of the toughest decisions.

So today I went to my local BMW dealership to look at their preowned 328i's and they had some preety nice deals going on. I could probably get in a certified preowned 2008 with 5000 miles for 27-29k. I then visited my local benz dealership and they didn't have alot of used c300's but they had some in the lower 31-32k region with 5000-7000 miles.

I like performance, but I also like comfort and luxury too. I would have to say that BMW wins in the performance and benz blows them out of the water in luxury. I'm 17 years old so the BMW might be more age appropriate. It would be an everyday car, so I want comfort and like being able to have 4 seats. The only thing that I like most about the benz is the multimedia, BMW's you have to pay a **** load for the nav package, when the mercedes isn't too bad. I love the body of the C300, I think it looks very sporty and aggresive, my family has had alot of BMW's, so I can't say I totally love the BMW exterior, but they are both wonderful cars.


I have heard that with mercedes you have more trouble getting it serviced.

One last thing, would it be easy to find aftermarket performance upgrades for the C300? I know BMW's can be easily upgraded but I haven't seen alot of C300's with upgrades.

So if you guys could just give me some insight on what previous experiences you have had with both cars, or any opinions are welcome.

Thank you

Sorry that its so choppy its like 2 am

akbro93704

At least in my town and school, the C-class has become a lot more popular with the younger crowd than the 3-series. The BMW has the performance but lacks in the visual department...they're kind of boring looking, especially without the sport package. You have to pay a crapload for options on a 3-series...the C300 comes standard with a sport package, power seats, etc whereas the 3 has a lot of it optional. Just my two cents.

Austin_KC

Thanks for the info

Glyn M Ruck

Instead of spending & arm & a leg on mods - why not just get a C350? I think the 328i is average. I hate what Chris Bangle has done to BMW styling & the interior is really bland. The inline 6 engine is the car's strongest point - but for the rest

Austin_KC

I have looked at C350's, the only problem is I can't go over 30-31k at the moment, and I don't think I could get a good used one for less than that. The multimedia package is very important to me, and I could get that in the C300 for probably a little cheaper than a c350 without. I could be wrong though.

C300Kid

Lots of us young C300 drivers on here. I was torn between the same two cars and in the end went with the Benz. I was a die-hard BMW fan and MB hater..but this car really won me over.

I haven't really had time to look into aftermarket yet, but I bet there will be decent support soon..as the car gains popularity.

As for service....I'm not sure what you mean. The BMWs come with the free maintenance for 4 years and the MBs don't, but aside from that the service is comparable.

Good luck!

Austin_KC

I ment maintenance, thanks for clearing that up . Around here (Kansas City) I haven't really seen any young C300 drivers, and most of the drivers that I see in them are chicks :S?

C300Kid

Chicks tend to go for small sedans..I see more chicks than dudes in 328s too. In fact I have a few friends with 328s and all are girls. lol

Akbro and I are both young dudes with C300s..and there a bunch more on here.

Glyn M Ruck

Just as another encouragement - In the latest JD Powers survey here. Benz W204/Lexus IS250/Honda Jazz tied in top position for least faults per 100 vehicles sold - BMW 3 Series came like 12th

Frissen

You are 17, get GTI or a 135i

len56

You guys live in rich places :P

I live in a pretty wealthy town, there are lots of expensive cars, but those are mostly older people who own them, few teenagers have them. I'm one of the lucky, young ones . Had to work for it though.

The BMW 3 series is/looks nice, and I would take it any day over the last C generation, but the new generation C Class is sex on wheels.

Also, the C300 has more torque than the 328i. So it's slightly more responsive. The BMW wins the handling, obviously.

Also, the interior on the C is a nicer place to be.

I love both companies, they're so german. But I'm slightly more of a Mercedes guy.

I would take the C.

PS: Neither of them look like 'chick' cars to me. The Mercedes is goddamn aggressive looking :P

whiteongrey

Benz - you live in the interior and you like it best. You'll get more respect in the Benz too.

Austin_KC

I think i've decided on the C, I was gosh dang lucky today. Was sitting at a stoplight and had an lol moment when I saw a 2008 328i and a 2008 c300 sitting next to each other, the C stood out way more and looked way more aggresive than the BMW. I think the Mercedes fits me more. Now its deciding between a c300 with options or a basic c350.. Is it possible to get the almost same or same display screen installed in the non-nav package? Later down the line of course, after I have some more money saved up.

len56

Well if it's 3rd party, it wouldn't look that great. Check it on youtube.

I'm not sure if your dealer can install a GPS unit and the whole MM package at the dealership though...

Glyn M Ruck

You can retrofit the Command - It's just expensive.

Nuru

It is, but if you know what the prices actually are and have some decent negotiation skills, you can shop effectively. I purchased the Comand Head unit, the Monitor/front vent/switches, and the Axial Fan/ducting and a couple of the harnesses all for $1100. Now I have to install it.

From conversing with others who have done the retrofit, the hardest part is getting the Axial Fan installed (so far I have not run into anyone who has done it, they are just taking a chance the units won't overheat), the existing Head unit harness will work, but you need to get an adapter for the Monitor power cable or rewire that connector. You also need to get the retrofit GPS antenna and install. I retrofitted NAV into my previous Benz, and so this is my second go at it. I hope I am successful.

However, if you have the option when buying the car, I agree with the others who said buy it with the car. I was being a bit cheap and got a good price on my car, but in hind sight, I probably should have spent the extra cash and got it factory installed.

Glyn M Ruck

Interesting - Good luck

FrankW

between C300 and 328. I would take the 328 under few condition. It must have sport package and it must have premium package and your choice of auto or manual. NAV optional since iDrive is retarded to use.

Sportstick

Before anyone takes a recent/current 3 series over a C, they should google "bmw run flat" and read about those wonderful tires and the class action lawsuit....there are many links to read.....

Glyn M Ruck

The 3 Series is also one of the last 4 door, 2 seaters on the market!!

FrankW

LMAO...decision on buying a car based on "tires"

just for the heck of it I "google" it. I'll agree that the RFT on the Bimmers are horrible especially the RE050 RFT, but 99% people that are complaining has no clue what the hell they are talking about other than just complaining.

Glyn M Ruck

Yeah! If I were to buy a BMW - I would just take that run flat crap off.

C300Sport

I contemplated having to do that if I went with the 328...only problem is I wanted a spare without giving up half my trunk space. I am sure that after the dust settles from the class action suit, the redesign will once again offer a spare.

Nuru

Thanks!

Sportstick

Hey Frank....glad to entertain you.....being more than 50 miles away (RFT limit) from a BMW dealer when a flat happens, maybe on a weekend, as RFTs are very hard to find elsewhere, is SO entertaining....or just put a non-RFT spare in the trunk...whoops...no luggage room anymore...guess no need to take any trips....

Yeah, a lot goes into deciding what car to buy.....but before we get to how much fun it is......you should be able to live with it.....and the engineers at BMW who picked low performing RFTs and then finished it off by not packaging even a space for a spare blew it for alot of us who don't always stay close to home.....