I just went through the same in July and ended up with an '05 C320 4matic.

Very satisfied. Not sure of the '06's though.

Good luck!!

 

I tried the 3 series, it is a nice car and it is faster than the Benz and also seems to be handling better. However, it does not have the looks and the feeling of the C-Class. When you are driving the C-class, you are feeling that you are driving a luxurious car at least by seeing the MB sign in front of you. I was a BMW fan, and I have the C-Class. I do not think that I would return back to BMW after getting the feeling of a Benz.

For the other part, I think that there is a higher possibility that you will encounter more problems with the 3 series because it is a new car. It is always said that when a car goes through a main change, the newly produced ones in the first year has more problems. Sometimes this does not happen but it is usually the case. When the new C-Class was launched in 2001. The 2001s had a lot of problems compared to the 2002s and 2003s. So I think you should also consider this while thinking about the 3-Series.

Also dont forget that the C-Class will go through a face change in 2007, this might also affect your decision. Good luck ! Keep us posted about what you did.

 

my experience is that -- every time when someone asks me what car to buy, they are already pre-determined inside. even if i have a boat-load of bad news of the car they are about to buy....they will buy it any way at the end.

buying car is about reflecting one's ego and stupidity; not about smartness. otherwise every smart one will drive an ES330 and be problem-free.

no sir. people want a conversation piece when they purchase a car. bmw buyers say they bought the ultimate driving machine. benz owners say they bought the car other cars are measured against.

let's be honest here. even pt cruiser owners have their own justification. so you figure.

so, i wonder, what does the bmw forum tell you? logically, mb forum is not gonna say a whole lot of good about beamers!

 

My experience too!

And since I'm on the MB forum........MB has made progress in correcting the reliability issues of '01, '02, and '03. To be honest, I'm more of a 'ultimate driveing machine' fan, but I love my C280 Sport. I've written in 'owner's reviews' of the C280 Sport , " It's the perfect mix of sport and luxury", so I guess I agree with what others have posted here.

Never the less it should be considered that BMW will likley hold it's value better than the Benz; if that is important to you. And from what I read, BMW gives you more in terms of warrany.

But, like Fly_Major_Fly implys, there are lots of intangibles that persuade people to drive the cars they do.

 

I stopped by the MB dealer yestersay and saw an 06 C280, they are bringing the nameplat back, price with 4matic a little under $43K, about the same as my 99 C280 when new and I don't hve 4matic, and my doesn't have the heated seats, rain senitive wipers option, so relatively, the new C280 might be a bargain, the 06 seemed to be loaded with options also, and from just looking in the widnow, it looke kinda neat, in design of the interior. I saw a road test of the C320, theyt praised the car, but also said the interior was cheap looking. For the top of the line model, whatever happend to MBTex like I have on my dash and no the"cheap hard plastic of the 320? Money?

I think BMW has at least kept the new look, BMW, that is you can still tell a Bimmer is a Bimmer. Some fo the new MBs look like Huyndai's in front and VW's in back or have the Bangle's (BMW desigher) look in the rear. That's is why I also own a 99 C280, it looks like a Mercedes should look.

 

IF you want to drive it trouble free for 10 years, you had better look at a Lexus!

 

IF you want to drive it trouble free for 10 years, you had better look at a Lexus! I have never owned a BMW but have friends that have and they enjoyed them. I have owned a 2002 SLK 320 MB. They are attractive automobiles but I couldn't keep mine out of the shop. 8 times in 10 months for electrical problems.

 

That would drive me nuts! I read an article recently that indicated MB has successfully (is successfully) addressing quality problems.
In 2003 MB has plunged to 14th in JD Power ranking of initial reliability of luxury autos. That was MB's lowest rank ever. However, the 2005s (I'm not sure what model they were reviewing) were back in 5th place. The new head of MB has set a goal to be #1 again in JD Power. BTW, to impove quality they removed some 600 electronic gizmos across the line that surveys told them owners never used!
I think the new MBs are much more reliable then the cars in the early years after the turn of the century.

 

Obviously opinions on this subject vary, but I looked at both and just couldn't justify paying $2300 + more for this...







than I paid for this...





However I have never been as happy with the customer service you get from the MB dealership service department compared to the BMW dealers.

 

something is catchy on that bmw menu.

the feel is really different driving between E46 and C230.

i feel that the E46 is small, crampy and very light (although it looks good on the picture, not as sturdy and strong in real). the ignition coils always go faulty, the lower front suspension bushings gets easily worn, etc. it got 6 cyl compare to 4 on C230... so that makes up the price.