Cameron Reddy

Facing a decision. What were your reasons for picking the E-Class over the BMW 5 series?

MBE50003

which E class?
I think the E just has more class to it rather than the BMW which is more sporty. Plus i love the new facelift e class. if your going E550 then theres no point in comparing. After owning turbo cars i know they canbe hell, i prefer N/A at this point in time. ONLY turbo's I would consider would be the MBZ ones on the 65 series b/c well they know what theyre doing with them.

Dema

I had the same thoughts, indeed why to pick E class. The car are mostly equal, 535 doesn't have sharp handling as 3 series have and not fast either. So criteria of selection will be just styling, and price. I consider E class styling better, I also like that Mercedes engineers do attention to details, so every control on right place, easy reachable and so on. However you won't go wrong if choose 535. Good luck with your purchase.

gnma

I'm shopping for a E500 now. If it weren't for the family, hands down it'd be a BMW - why? two words - manual transmission. And if you need AWD, the 535Xi gives you that and a six speed. Doesn't get any better than that IMHO. Good luck with your decision!

Jlight

After being a BMW guy for many many years, I am now sold on a E320 Bluetec. I like the 5 series but I don't think it is more of a Sport Luxury and the E Class is more Luxury Sport - in that order... I find the interior of the 5 Series to be very bland - even after the refresh. I do like that you can order the vented 20 way seats on the 5 Series however there is something about the E Class that just has me sold that it's time to jump over to MB. PLUS I can get the Bluetec so for me MB it is!

Both are great cars though!

Cameron Reddy

I put this same question to the Bimmer crowd and most are echoing the sport verses luxury theme.

But, lots of Bimmer folks cite horror stories that they either had or know of with E-Class owners. Brake systems needing to be replaced 4 times... stuff like that.

Yikes!

Incendiary

Test drive them both. See which you yourself like more.

Our W211 has been fine. No problems whatsoever. Probably because we bought the extended warranty when we bought the car, thinking it'd be a nightmare mechanically/electronically. Murphy's Law, right? Buy warranty, nothing goes wrong. Don't buy it, and it'll be the Consumer Reports case report on shoddy Mercedes workmanship.

Anyway, point being, not all MB are unreliable, and you should therefore decide for yourself which one you like more.

AndrewAZ

If your under 35 get the 5 series, its more sporty. If your over 35 get the E its more comfortable and less bone jarring to drive. At the time the 5 series was more than the E350 and I felt it was an odd car inside, I think the 3 series is a better designed car.

tommy25000

MB all the way baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

b_rashed

ive always been a bmw guy. i was going to get an 04 530i but couldnt get a good deal on one then i seen a good deal on an e500 but im not having a great time with mine right now as seen in one of my posts.

airactivist

I just went through the same sort of dilemma, the BMW 550i, or the MB E550. While the styling of the Bimmer didn't really bother me, it didn't impress either. Neither did the driving dynamics. I've never owned a BMW, but have always heard from owners and from their advertising about how sure-footed and dynamic the vehicles were to drive.

I exhaustively test drove both before coming to my conclusion.

Trying to be objective, I just couldn't see the advantage of the 550i. It was indeed, pleasurable to drive and extremely well put together, but I really couldn't feel any edge over the Benz.

The E550 seemed to have far more speed and grunt-level torque, handling and cornering in my view were virtually identical, and to risk heresy, the MB had a slight advantage to me. Could be just the way I drive, which is not Formula 1 caliber in style or application, but I "know it when I feel it."

There was also another important factor: Price.

In my area, a P2'ed AMG Sport Packaged '08 E550 was about $3,000 less than a comparably equipped '08 550i.

Still breaking my baby in with about 600 miles after about two weeks of ownership and consistently thrilled every time I push the button to go.

Jlight

Being a BMW guy, I did hear the same issues. My conclusion after doing a LOT of research is that indeed the earlier EClass (prior to the 2006 redesign) may have had some issues which from what I know are now non-issues. Again both great cars no doubt about it just depends on what you are looking for.

GDawgC220

If you're looking to do some tuning, the 535i/xi would be the better of the two, IMO. With some of the mods that the 335i guys are doing to the motor, it is pretty easy to get some more power out of it. The 6-speed manual would be a plus in my book if you were looking to row your own gears.

Either the E or 5, both are good choices, each has their own strength and weaknesses.

Cameron Reddy

I'm 48

In my 30's I was an avid bicycle racer... so I do understand a thing or two about going fast around corners, acceleration, quick handling... Got the "go fast" stuff out of my system... for the most part

Anyone think hard about features the Bimmer has that the E doesn't: heads up display, real-time traffic, lane departure warning, night vision, active cruise control... ???

Tariq

honstly the 5 series is girlish more its made for a man, morever i dont like the shape it still looks ugly..

yobroe

I was comparing a 545i to an E500 when I was shopping a month ago. I am a hard core BMW fan from way back and I was dead set on getting the 545. Then I test drove them both extensively. Every 545 I drove had problems with the I-drive--that was the main issue. Keep in mind that I was comparing '04 lease return cars. BMW may have fixed whatever was going wrong with that year. Anyway, the Mercedes felt like it was built better, and all the Benzes I drove had lower miles (not sure if BMW allows for more miles on their leases or not). The BM's all had at least 10k more miles on them.

With the power and torque the Mercedes had, along with an interior that was much more beautiful-artistic-flowing, compared to the BMW's futuristic choppy plasticky space ship design...and the lower miles, I am now in my first Mercedes. Granted this car does not handle like the BMW did, but for me, it is the right car---and it just flat moves.

Abboushi

i would go with a 5 only because the 5 will hold its alue more it will/ and has ore aftermarket back then w211 plus the force induction makes it easy for power upgrades and will handle much better then an E with air suspension if i could do it again i would go 545i or 535i but I love my e nothing like it but the 5 is more sport then luxo it all depends on you.

gqmagic

While some of the 6 series and 8 series look good,
a BMW as never been a consideration for me.
I've had 4 MBZ

JCsE350

Before I bought my MB, I had came across to the same question whether to purchase a 535i or E350. Since I've already own a 3-series (E46), I like the power of the bi-turbo but I like the styling of the E350. And since I have not own a MB before, I decided to go for a E350. Either one, both make are great car.

Walla

Ok here goes.(based on South African spec cars)

535 vs E350? one is a Turbo and the other not. Can't be done..

550 vs E550. E550 thank u.

the 550 has the STUPID active steering, and does not ride all that well when the roads get bumpy. I drive is a Mess on the E60 fixxed on the E90. Like changing the AC outlet vents from Dash to say feet or Windscreen took some time. The BMW u have to Dosh up XXX for a couple of things that come STD on the Merc and the BMW is about a 1000 Dollas more than the E550. The E has more power a smoother gearbox a better ride and a couple of things extra.

On the E350 and 530, more of the same bar Airmatic and Active steering..

In 2004 my Mom traded her E39 530D on a E60 525. End August she had enough of the E60's poor ride and Constant I drive software issues. So it got traded at the Merc dealer as a Dep on a W211 and a Pajero (Think it's called a Mitsu Montera in the US), both cars were orderd for 1st Q 2005.

The E200k arrived(yes yes the cheap 1.8L S/C) and 1st thing was a Brabus k4 kit, power went up from 120Kw to around 145Kw.. All of a sudden a 523/5/8's have to stay well clear of it, She will run up to 255km/h and yet when driven like a old lady return 46 MPG. It has chewed through 2 sets of rears and the 3rd set is about to get ripped off in the short distance of 46 000miles and this is with ESP on most of the time.. Nothing has gone wrong that can be called design flaws only things that broke were due to the poor roads the cars drives on. Not a Rattle not a drop of oil, not a Failure, NOTHING has gone wrong.. The car was delivered after the SBC recall. Only one issue with the car. SBC is truly scary, u have tons of brake force but thanks to pedal so dead, u have no idea how much of it is being used..

Spoke to my Mom again tonight when we drove past a W124 320E(she had one for 60 000miles) and asked her what car she prefers. She said the new one cauz it has not broken, and the W124 is regarded as one of the Best mercs ever.. So that is a Vote of confidance from a Lady that has had a W123,2 W124's a W140 and a W220.. We had a couple of BMW's 3 E46 and, E39 and E60 and out of all of them she likes the W211 the most..

But horses for courses..

U want a thrilling drive if u can call it that, get a E60, u want a Big saloon that does what big saloons do best get the W211. U want something as big but utterly boring get a GS300/350

NCE500

I have always loved the driving dynamics and the way BMWs handle, but until they do away with I-Drive and the IMHO butt ugly Bangle bungle styling (which somehow appears to manifest itself at it's absolute worst on the 5 series) I will not consider one. One other shortcoming, which may or may not matter, is rear seat room, which is pretty tight on the 5 series.

The 07 up E-class is very well engineered, refined, and reliability is again what it used to be.

Good luck with your choice.

MotorWerkz

I was in that position, in dilemma whether I should get 5 series or E class, and I endep up getting E class.

E class is simply more elegant and luxurious compared to 5 series and that's what I'm looking for in a car I was going to purchase. 5 series is sporty and the interior is too japanese for my taste. Although 5 series might be more enjoyable to drive.

joelaff

My decision was simple: I value my wife's life. The 5 series BMW got the worst of ten luxury cars tested in side impact crash tests.

That is simply not worth the risk. All I had to do was imagine myself at the funeral whimpering how I should have bought the Benz... (morbid, I know, but safety is paramount). I decided to not even try the 5 series. I drove just about every other luxury car, and the E550 was the clear winner to me. The Infiniti M45 was pretty slick, though. The Lexus ES looks like a Camry, and I don't want to drive a car that looks like 7 million other cars on the road.

If you ever have someone you care about in the passenger seat and make left turns... I would forget the 5 series.

araycho

I got my E series a couple of weeks back. I test drove the 535, Lexus GS and the A6.
Well, I am 28 and still the E series was the car of my choice. The 5 series was sporty but the automatic transmission was hardly as good. The tech stuff suck (Lexus is the best!!) especially with the I-drive. The E series felt the best in terms of a smooth ride, safetly and a superb acceleration (on a need basis).
My suggestion is, get a 5 series only if you get the manual tranmission and want to feel the road. BMW with an auto tranmission used for daily commute did not impress me at all.

Cameron Reddy

I have to agree with you guys on the crash test and looks issues. I think the current C and E class cars are the best looking on the road, bar none. Pre Bangle, the 5 and 7 series held that honor, IMO. And the Bangled 5 series is the worst mess of all. The 535 Xi wagon is better looking than the sedan... and that fact tells you a lot!

Appears Bangle couldn't futz up the wagon's rear end like he undoubtedly wanted.

Still, might not the heads up display, night vision, automatic cruise control with crash warning, and lane departure warning outweigh the crash test differences?