justthinking

Funny you should say this...E300 does exist, there are even E200 and E250...
w204 isn't any better...lots of under powered model such as C180, C200, C220 were sold elsewhere...
Same goes for BMW, you have no idea what some ppl will pay for the MB & BMW mark even if it means they only get the chassis but not the engine...

JimPap

How about a Buick?

I am kidding but am a bit skiddish about cars that are several model years old that have too few miles. Sounds like the odometers have either been rolled back or disconnected.

Sorry, but if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Jdiggs

528 No question.

LILBENZ230

Get the 528i. The 3.0L I6 is a gem.. so smooth and so, so refined. That's not a knock against the M272, which is also a good engine. I can't believe someone on here said that a Mercedes is a Mercedes and brushed off BMW.. fanbois..

A 528i is more car than a C300 or C350, plain and simple. I've driven an X5 with that same engine and it wasn't fast but it was more than adequate.

jctevere

Haha, Its not that I am a fanboy. I appreciate the BMW cars for all that they are, they just aren't for me. Its just that where I grew up BMWs were a dime a dozen and everyone had them; but if you had a Mercedes, well, that meant something.

In every single Mercedes me and my family have ever owned, from the two w204s, one 2003 sl500, 2008 ml and the 98 sl and 2003 c-class we no longer have, all still drive just like the first day, and I have not come across another brand that can achieve the same... From jaguar, BMW, audi, cadillac, hummers, lincolns, have had them all. Not to mention that the styling is timeless. What other cars do you see that can be 8+ years old and still not only look brand new, but better looking than most brand new cars...

hitokiri89

I agree that Mercedes is far ahead in the design department . When i see a bmw nothing moves me about it , they all look the same to me be it the 3 all the way up to 7 ( 6 and z are excluded for obvious reasons ) I like the 1 series from a performance stand point and think its best looking they make but i would rather a Mercedes any day . And no the 5 series will never be more fun to drive than the c350 . First the car is much heavier than the c so driving pleasure is down on the 5 right there . My aunt has the same 5 in question and my cousin has the current 328i and neither are at all pleasurable to drive in comparison to my 350 . In terms of engine quality ... it seems odd to me that BMW seems to change their engines all to frequently . I think the M division stuff is great ... real performance cars even the 335 is great but their entry level engines are just no fun . Something about BMW for me just says no , i don't feel any passion from the BMW's i have driven more of a mechanical very serious feeling . Also you cant compare the x5 which is a suv with a compact sedan at all . Its like comparing chips to ice cream .

Pete7874

Just for the record, 328i is not an entry level engine anywhere but the US. In other parts of the world, there is 316d, 318i, 318d, 320i, 320d, 325i. These are what I would call entry level. US gets some of the best of their engines actually, starting with the 328i which is a 3-liter unit of course, and when revved up sounds much more composed and less trashy than a comparable C300 engine, at least in my opinion.

Jdiggs

I find this post laughable... But I guess its a Mercedes forum. A 5 will dominate a C class in every category its not even a debate. And as far as weight goes theres like a 50lb difference between the two.

hitokiri89

Dude I've raced the 528i and beat it easily ... The 528i is slow . In terms of weight even just 50 makes a difference . Have ever drove a 528i or for that matter c350 ? If you have you know the gap left by the c350 . It's 230 hp going up against 268 hp . You disregard facts simply because you like one badge over the other . Both companies make the best cars in the world and each class and model have their purpose . The 528i is not meant to compete with the smaller c class .

noka

Having owned many BMW's (various flavors of 3- 5- and 7-series) I can tell you that everything is debatable. I'm not disappointed with the C300 for what I need it to do. IMO: Both MB and BMW make great cars (as do Audi, Porsche and VW). OK, I'm partial to German automobiles.

Jdiggs

Ya its all about all straight line power in sub 270hp cars LOL are you being serious dude? You do realise that theres more to cars then all out power? NVM don't answer that just don't hurt anybody with that monster of yours ya hear.

Jdiggs

I agree the C-class is a great car its just not a 5 series and can't compete with one except MAYBE in a all out drag race which is a dumb point to bring up since none of these cars are made for that purpose anyway.

The bottom line is the OP wanted to know which car he should get and I said he should get the 5 series as did many others in this thread but for someone to even try and front like a C-class is on the same level as a 5 series is laughable. Again this is not a stab a Mercedes-Benz I've had a few Benz's and driven everything from the C300 to owning a CL55 & CL65 so I'm no Mercedes hater at all. But I've also owned alot of BMW's from 3-series to 7 series and M's so I know what I'm talking about. But the the C-class is what it is and the same goes 5 series and it is better then a C-class thats all.

noka

I think it depends on what what you want and expect in the car you purchase. By the way, with the exception of my E39 M5, I find the steering and tracking on the highway much better in the C than most of my other BMW's (including my E36 M3). What many refer to as a superior BMW steering and road feedback is also interpreted by some to be 'twitchiness' and requiring constant attention, overcorrection, etc. Some people like that, some don't. I find the 5-series (and many BMW designs in the past several years) to be hideous and literally 'butt-ugly'. I don't think the 5 is a better car than the C in every aspect. The pros and cons need to be weighed. Just MO.

hitokiri89

I think in terms of suspension and driving comfort I give it to the 5 series but in terms of performance I give it to the c . Like Nokansaud it depends on what you want . I like a sportier drive so naturally I pick the c class , if I were on the market for a larger easier going carbon would go with an e class or 5 aeries if ut weren't so ugly . If the op is still here I say if you heed the space as you said you have a kid than go with the 5 series .

FrankW

rule out the subjective opinion such as how the car looks. the 5 or the E in their respective generation has always been much better than the 3 or the C. comparing the 5 to the C disregard of the engine size there's just no comparison.

steering feedback wise...some people like them and some people don't, but i can say that the W204 steering feedback is pretty good, but still not quite the same as the E90. as far as how the car tracks on the freeway...imo...MB has always been better.

i actually like the E60 now that the F10 is out. to me at least the F10 looks somewhat dull and cheap. might be because of the cheap white plastic in the headlight or might be because BMW choose to go with less chrome with the F10 to make it sportier.

as far as a spotier drive hikitori is saying... I've drove a 535i with sport pkg. I can tell you it feels like a better handling car then the W204. the E60 feels better balanced while the W204 feels more nimble but sometimes lacks the confidence in the corners.

noka

I can respect that opinion. I have no direct long-term experience with the E90, having never owned one (but I did drive it several times). I know one person with the E90 M3 and one with the E60 M5 and they would argue all day over which car is better.

Back more to the original points: I would say if someone has kids and/or likes to drive people around in the back with more comfort, go for the bigger car. If you like nimble and don't care about rear-seat leg room, go for the smaller one. I find MB and BMW about the same in the reliability department, and MB a few notches above in the exterior design area. It's great we have so many choices but when you're the one torn between two (or more), it can be a bit frustrating at times, especially with such a diversity of opinions.

pining_garcia

I'll go with the C300! I just like the comfort and lightness when I drive the C class. The steering wheel of the bimmers just feels heavy for some reason.

FrankW

I'll take the E60 M5 all day... as for the E90/92...a buddy of mine and his gf kept lemoning theirs, so I've drove the E92 2007 335i, E90 2008 335i, E92 2008 M3 DCT, E90 2009 335i M-tech, and lastly 2010 E90 M3. I must say that the M3 really drives vastly better than the 335. steering and suspension composure are much much better. from the i-drive stand point they feels the same as the 5/M5, but everything else the E60/M5 just feels like a much better built car.

and +1 on the second part. I think which car is better is pretty clear, but which is better for the guy who wants to buy it it is up to the guy.

Acapulco Bill

A year ago I was deciding on either a new 528i or a new C300 Sport. However, since I first saw the Bangel-ized 5-series in Germany in May 2004, I never liked the style and 5 years later I still think the body style is not beautiful like E46, or the E31 which arguably was BMWa best looking car.

Also, in 2009, I had spent around $13,000 just keeping my two BMWs running, one in San Diego. Another reason for the C300 purchase was that in Mexico, Mercedes has twice the warranty and twice the extended service as BMW offers on a new car, plus the Mercedes was 20% down payment with 0% interest, the BMW was 35% down payment with 18% APR (really, in 2009!). The bottom line was I got a maximum equipment C300 Sport for about $27,000 less than a bare-bones 528i. But even if the price were almost the same, just the warranty was a deal breaker for the BMW. And now after a year, as a car I personally prefer the C to the 5.

Besides, in October 2009 everyone already knew that by June 2010 the new 5 series would be out, and spy photos were already on the net. So I purchaased the C300 Sport. Since then I have had the opportunity to drive the new 528i, and am still totally sure that I made the correct choice with the W204.

That said, the 2008 528i is considered one of the worlds finest cars, PERIOD. Just remember that the C300 is a current-style model, looks fantastic and fresh and will run through 2012, while I feel that the Bangle styling of the 2004-2010 5 series was like buying a dinosaur, excuse me if I offend anyone.

Go out and drive each one more time, then go with your heart. You cant go wrong, they are both fine vehicles. My 2 cents.