DB3

Hello all!

I am from the UK and am buying a new car. I have deducted my choice to a Mercedes-Benz W124 E200 and a BMW E34 520i.
I am not really bothered about speed or posing power, I just want a safe, reliable car.
Which of the two would you say has the better build quality?
My friends dad has an E34 and it seems very solid to me but the press always refer to the W124 as "Vault like" in build.
Can anybody enlighten me?


Thanks

bamberger_1

just check the resale value of the used cars in the market then you know what the better value is. It will come down to MB. For most people it's a question of image what they are driving. The settled non fancy MB or the "Sporty" BMW. I think qualitiywise there is more or less no differnce, but keeping up the value there is.

DB3

Thanks for the advice.
Just out of interest, which is the most common car on the german roads out of Mercedes and BMW?

Mustard

Just had a similar dilemma - replacing my 5-series with a new Merc or new BMW. Test drove several and decided on the BMW 320d. It really did have a better screwed-together feel and a far better ride and handling than a C-class I drove, which just felt less able and less special.

Interestingly, the second hand value of BMW's is very strong here - the C-Class is not as good although forecourt prices are very optimistic.

I had a W124 and is was a very solid car but honestly very, very unreliable. If you can, go up to a 525i or diesel - the 520i is a bit sluggish.

Sacrilege on this MB site I suppose - but I guess the fact that Merc's were available from stock while BMW 3-series have a 4 - 6 month wait in the UK is some sign that others agree.

EiknujZneb

Read THIS

Holson

The BMW is a six-cylinder and the Benz E200 uses the 16V I-4 engine. That engine in one word "sucked". I don't know how much better the 16V engine is but I had a 230E w/ the 8V 2.3L engine. The car was so gutless. Mileage suffered too because it needed to be floored a lot! The diesels make more sense due to their torque.

The E420 though, is a completely different 124. It still has the same old school (OLD) feel but the V-8 makes it feel more modern in moving around the city.

I wouldn't go with another 4-cylinder 124. I'd go with either a six/eight or a diesel (5 cyl)

I like the way the E34 looks and I'm sure is a more fun to drive car. The interior doesn't feel as expensive though. I was considering a 1991 BMW M5 for a bit. But the aftermarket (noisy) Remus exhaust really turned me off. The A/C also sucked and the interior wasn't really that great.

me, I'd go with the 520i
good luck!