SolidGranite

Say it isn't so K-A!!! I think you'll be quite disappointed after having your new 550i in the shop once or twice a month for warranty issues. Better get used to driving a 3-series!!!

BenzE350

Even more surprising would be to see K-A lean towards the S6 and get a car that can compete with the M5 for 550i pricing.

420hp twin turbo V-8, torque vectoring sport dif, dual-clutch auto, rear-biased quattro, air suspension, and that nifty pop-up nav with google earth that he loves.

K-A

Lol. . I will say I am however pissed at the pics of the W212 facelift. I expected more foresight and confidence from M-B designers rather than practically redesigning the entire W212 for a mere facelift, screwing pre-facelift buyers who expected a technically relevant looking car for 7 years (of course, subjectively, the pre-facelift might very well be the much better looking version of the two).

SolidGranite

Fair. However, I think we should all reserve final judgment until actually seeing the face lifted version in person. It's very typical of MB owners to snap judge design changes before seeing it for themselves in person. Myself included. I remember when pictures of the w212 came out and many many owners hated the new design until seeing it on dealership floors for a bit.

ImInPA

Like all E Class sedans before it, it will be great.

Dr.Tom

Just joined this forum and this thread is so relevant to me right now. I am on my 3rd E500series. I presently have a 2010 E5504Matic with just about every option including a custom interior. The lease expires soon.

I would would never consider the BMW 5 series but I am seriously considering the BMW 650ixGrand Coupe. And I need to make my decision within the next week or so. I am really torn about this decision because the BMW seems to offer alot more features.

Tom

BenzE350

The Grand Coupe may be the best looking car BMW ever built.

A real stunner.

hyperion667

I liked it too at first, and I guess I still do......from a visual standpoint.....
but then I saw one in person at a dealer, and the thing is HUGE!!!!!
It is the biggest GD thing I have ever seen!!!
didn't sit in the thing though......
it's a friggin' land yacht!!!! lol
and not like this one..........

hyperion667

heehee

K-A

Agreed. By far the nicest 4 door on the market, and makes other "4 Door Coupes" look overtried and un-elegant, IMO.

However, if I had to pick one, I think the 6 Coupe with M-Pack is BMW's nicest. Both would be at the top of my choices if my Lease on the E was up right now.

hyperion667

I think you're both on drugs, that thing is a hideous boat!

K-A

I hated it first too, but when I saw it in white with M Sport Package I fell in love. Though, I've started to really like BMW's design language lately. I think my tastes are going back to their roots of "simple elegant slick design". The 6 GC isn't without its awkward elements, still carries some of that BMW bloated look, looks a little too long and low (like a hot dog), which the M Sport Package helps, but I really think it's my favorite 4-Door right now.

I've fallen in love with the 5 Sedan as well. Not saying I like it more than the W212 necessarily, but I've accepted that ever since I first saw it, that sensuous sheetmetal and smooth design really spoke to me. I just wish that front wasn't so bland and characterless.

hyperion667

KA, I say this from the heart: GET HELP!

K-A

Maybe time to visit my local Mercedes Dr.(Dealer)?

SolidGranite

LOL!!

Seriously, I can't hardly ever tell the difference between a 3, 5 or 7 when I see one on the road. All bland and very similar to each other. You'd never mistake a C, E and an S.

K-A

I know, that's the big problem with BMW. It's already bad enough to spend "all that money" (for me at least) on a car that you have to see everywhere, but even worse when it looks like 2 other high selling cars. Talk about homogeny and "blending in".

At least BMW doesn't ***** out their M Package as much as M-B does their AMG Package (M-B is shameless about how much they've diluted the effect and novelty of the "AMG look"), so if you get a 5er with M Pack, and do some mods to it, it actually does look pretty damn striking and stand out, but I guess modding anything extensively makes it stand out.

Arrie

I bet the de-badgign started with BMW. Without badges a poor guy's 3 looks like money guy's 5. 7 is a bit bigger though...

BM2BZ

in fact, i don't have any problem identify any bmw. probably i had them for years. but audi is a different story .

BenzE350

Seriously?

You don't think the C, E and S all look alike?

hahahahahaha

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicl.../model-C300WZ4
http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicl...E/model-E550W4
http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicl...-S/model-S550V

jvc300

C'mon, You can't tell a 'C' from an 'E' Seriously? An 'S' stands out from both of them. .

I have to see the badge on a bimmer to tell if it's a 3 or a 5.

hyperion667

+1....

but maybe it's just us....
the BMw crowd might be able to tell the difference...
but I agree, it's really easy to tell a C from S from E.......
the S is the boat, the C is the small one, and the E is the one that actually
looks like a sedan

but then again: it's tough to know if an E is a 3 or a 5 from the front.....but we still know it's an E

BenzE350

Yes, take off the tinted shades.

Sure a Mercedes enthusiast can easily tell the differences between the E, C and S. And the BMW fan can easily differentiate between he 3, 5 and 7. Same with the Audi folks and the 4, 6 and 8.

But these companies are all selling the same sausage different length concept.

Go ahead and show the 3 Mercedes pictures that I linked in my previous post to just about anyone that doesn't spend time on automotive forums - and watch their heads nod in agreement with me.

BenzE350

The first one is the little car, the last one is the big car, and the one in the middle - why that's the midsize car.

Yes, MB, BMW and Audi all have different size sausages.

http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...=22188&ll=true
http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...modelcode=135D
http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...modelcode=137D

BM2BZ

the e stands out the most and people should be able to tell the difference right away because of the quad headlights. and may i say it's the best looking out of the three ? but it'll be more difficult after the facelift .

same as the 3, you can tell the difference right away because of the headlights but unlike the e, the best looking, it's actually the worst looking in their current lineups.

SolidGranite

I know the ins and outs of all 6 vehicles in question in addition to having driven them all quite a bit as well. Yes, the MBs look similar but the variance is far greater when compared to BMW. A close friend of mine (car enthusiast) who's owned several 3s, a 5 and an M5 also frequently has problems seeing the differences on the road. He'll say to me, "I love the paint on that 5 series," only to later find out its a 7 after seeing the badge.