jj1400

But MB SUV do have more reliability issue compare to MB sedan. So that makes people think of place of assembly

StuttgartUSA

It has more to do with design and components than assembly point. urban legend of final assembly point location has anything to do with quality .

tasho3

Thank you, but that on the picture is a C300, the C63 got sold last year!

MBfinatic

I wanted and E46 m3 until the owner showed me the service records..He handed me a bible.. Everyone I know with a bmw has had problems. My dads last 7 series leaked oil all over the driveway the first night he got it from the dealer. I like bmw but until they can make their cars last without spending a fortune I won't consider one.

C300CA

This morning, while waiting for my other car in the alignment service, I went to the BMW dealer lot, sat in a 2012 328, looked and touched around. It has nicer interior compared to my 2011 C, not by a huge amount. It seems to have more controls here and there maybe more options. I feel the space is slightly tigher than the C.

I used to slam all doors to check the closing sound every time when I get hands on a car. Funny thing is this 328 rear doors and the front passenger side door sound as rich as the C, the driver door does not sound the same at all; it has much more "metalic" sound, or no cushion (?), kind of like my 86 Sentra but with a little less tin sound.

I didn't test drive it, as I am not buying. It's an I-4 but not sure if turbo charged or not.

MB-JIM

One question was whether an E should be considered instead of a C. My opinion is that unless you need the added cabin and trunk space you should get the C and have a car you enjoy driving. I have a 2012 E350 that is a very elegant car, with all the goodies, but I would rather drive a C. In fact, I'm going to sell my 2012 E350 and order a 2013 C Class. I far more enjoy driving my 2006 C350 than my new E350. I'm looking forward to all the improvements in a W204 over my W203. The new C, however, will replace my E350 not my 06 C350 which I hope to continue to enjoy for many more years.

Domm

The BMW I-4 is a "twin turbo" meaning it has one turbo and direct injection technology to give the power of two turbos.

The E, along with the 5 series, are great cars if you expect to be driven or care about passenger comfort. If you decide not to opt for the more powerful engine, then the entry level should suffice. It's really your call since the E class and C are both great cars. Maybe C63 AMG?

Sportstick

Actually, "twin turbo" refers to being a dual scroll turbo, not one turbo plus D.I.
Here is BMW's own explanation:

"Twin-scroll turbo system design addresses many of the shortcomings of single-scroll turbo systems by separating those cylinders whose exhaust gas pulses interfere with each other. Similar in concept to pairing cylinders on race headers for normally aspirated engines, twin-scroll design pairs cylinders to one side of the turbine inlet such that the kinetic energy from the exhaust gases is recovered more efficiently by the turbine. For example, if a four-cylinder engine’s firing sequence is 1-3-4-2, cylinder 1 is ending its expansion stroke and opening its exhaust valves while cylinder 2 still has its exhaust valves open (while in its overlap period, where both the intake and exhaust valves are partially open at the same time). In a single-scroll or undivided manifold, the exhaust gas pressure pulse from cylinder 1 is therefore going to interfere with cylinder 2′s ability to expel its exhaust gases, rather than delivering it undisturbed to the turbo’s turbine the way a twin-scroll system allows.

The result of the superior scavenging effect from a twin-scroll design is better pressure distribution in the exhaust ports and more efficient delivery of exhaust gas energy to the turbocharger’s turbine. This in turn allows greater valve overlap, resulting in an improved quality and quantity of the air charge entering each cylinder. In fact, with more valve overlap, the scavenging effect of the exhaust flow can literally draw more air in on the intake side while drawing out the last of the low-pressure exhaust gases, helping pack each cylinder with a denser and purer air charge. And as we all know, a denser and purer air charge means stronger combustion and more power, and more power is good!

But the benefits of twin-scroll design don’t end there. With its greater volumetric efficiency and stronger scavenging effect, higher ignition delay can be used, which helps keep peak temperature in the cylinders down. Since cooler cylinder temperatures and lower exhaust gas temperatures allows for a leaner air/fuel ratio, twin-scroll turbo design has been shown to increase turbine efficiency by 7-8 percent and result in fuel efficiency improvements as high as 5 percent."

Domm

I've been corrected I knew it had something to do with a single turbo but now I know the technical information

alphaforcex

I am in the same boat and looking fwd to my first BMW purchase in Sep. We have a GL now and I used to have a C sport sedan too. That car was fun and had no problems the 7 years that I owned it. Was looking for '11 C300 but I found it a little too boring and the interior was not attractive either. Waited and tried the '12 C250 and it was ok. The interior is better but that's about it. I then test drove the 328i and the drive was really day and night. The 3 drove and handled much better. However, the service department really concerns me. Their reviews on the internet are really bad most of the time and I am not talking about 1-2 dealerships as there are several in the area.

So I am going to try it for a few years (going to lease it) and see how it goes.

C300CA

I attended MB test drive event in the San Francisco area. C63 was one of the cars I tested. It is a flying speed car but noisy during strong acceleration.
Considering my driving style, its price, I'd buy E-Class instead if I do have money.

jj1400

JIM why do you want to sell the 12 E350? I guess it is relatively new since now it's only May! I had a 2010 E350 (sold), I never test drive a new 2012 E nor a C350. But if I were you I will keep the 12 E for a while. how do you think the E compare to a C300 (not 350)?

Sportstick

Setting aside the economics, I completely understand his thoughts. We have a C and an E in the garage, and I prefer the C. The E comforts my wife, who is the primary driver, but if you enjoy driving and are not looking just to be as comfortable as you can while you have to drive somewhere, the C is much more entertaining! I feel about 10 years older when I slide behind the wheel of the E.

jj1400

what year is your E? is it a 350? since i had the E 2 years ago I can't remember how it feels. The C 300 is 230 Hp while the 2010 E is 268, the new 2012 E 350 is 302hp. Do you feel any different in power? ( Although I can't remember the feeling but I can tell it is not-so-much different). The E is heavier

Sportstick

Yes, the one in my signature....08 E350 4MATIC...very nice car, but fun/entertaining is not part of the description. It is comfortable, solid, roomy, refined, smooth, reliable, etc...just not Hard to make direct comparison with my manual trans in the C, but the C "feels" faster. With my suspension mod (Eibach antisway bars), it's just an overall different kind of experience, and one which I prefer.

MB-JIM

My main problem, with the E350, is that I feel more like I'm steering a luxury car rather than having a car that fits me and is more like a sports car. I had this same problem in 2005 when I owned a 2005 E350. I had the E 350 in for service and took a C350 out for a drive. I had gone a block when I realized the C350 was more my style. I went back and ordered a 2006 C350 that I picked up on tourist delivery. I have enjoyed every mile in the C350. Now, I simply can't get that same feeling of control in the E350. It is very elegant but that is it.
I believe that a fully equipped W204 will be almost as elegant and give me the ride that I appreciate.

MB-JIM

One other observation, my wife said I drive like an old man in the E350
and like I'm having fun in the C.

Sportstick

Ditto and Bingo!!!!!!

C300CA

How about driving an S? Will driver look like an oldest person? Is it the size of a car?

Sportstick

It's not about "look like". It's how it feels and is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Most S buyers are older, and with MB buyers less enthusiastic/driver-oriented than BMW anyway, plus the longer wheelbase and higher mass, the S will be calibrated to feel the most luxuriously comfortable, but even less nimble and entertaining than the E, which is less than the C, which is less than the 3 series.....

MB-JIM

It's not how you look but how you feel driving. How often do you see an aggressive S Class owner? I have owned several S Class cars, some years ago, when I had to haul important customers but no more.
Many young drivers buy the most expensive car they can own even though they would probably have more fun with a C Class. If you like a coupe or cabriolet, the E350 models are very nice.

jj1400

GOOD POST!

Fung63

jj1400 is there a reason you got rid of your 2010 e class? or was lease up? What i am getting at is if you got rid of the previous E for a negative reason.. you might as well pass on it now. You going for the C class is a good idea as you havent had one yet... go try something new! a c350 is min for what you should get... as your previous cars are all more powerful.

However, also from your list of previous cars, you seem to chose larger vehicles... so maybe that should be in consideration. the C class will be by far the smallest ride you have.

either way, you said you are picking up the C... grats on it!

StuttgartUSA

really how much better handling? So you took the cars to the autocross? That's the only place will the real behavior differences of both the C and 3 will come out. And I am telling you as a guy who has tons of track time the differences are very suddle. Stop reading road and track theses guys are automotive morons. They test these cars in ways that do not even replicate what would be illegal aggresive driving on legal roads. I have had the privledge of driving both of these cars in Germany where there are a lot more driving Dynamics at play that allow more aggresive driving and I can honestly say that for the average driver which 99% of people are there is no diffrence at all.

Yes in my opion the BMW was a slightly better performance wise but not enough to make me say damm this is truly the better car. The Merecedes did excell at two things that made the BMW had no chance at, comfort and interior.

Stevedotmil

^ Good points. I had an 08 Z4 and traded that in for my C Class. I really enjoyed the driving dynamics of the Zed but the comfort and build quality of my MB was a good trade off. Nothing some sways, brakes, coils, and good wheels and tires can't fix. Plus I got the 6M in my C which I wanted to go back to after having the Steptronic if the Z.