BMW 3 Series or Mercedes C Class?

[Dragnet 5]

I am looking to buy a used compact saloon and have narrowed it down to a BMW 3 Series M Sport 320D or Mercedes Benz C Class AMG Line 250D. My all round commute is 70 miles and is a mixture of motorway and A road.
I appreciate it comes down to personal preference but would be grateful for any observations, experiences, advice on options, etc.
My budget is £15000 - £20000.
Many thanks.

[Reciprocating mass]

When you go and try a few shake the steering wheel left to right when your sat in it any knocks felt through your feet or hands walk away

[Shiv_P]

Buy a B9 Audi A4. It's better than both especially for commuting.

[anonymous-user]

320D

Don’t buy an Audi. They’re awful.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Mercedes everytime especially with that interior.

[Jag_NE]

I have had both as courtesy cars, more than once. The MB interior is definitely more modern but I don’t like the stuck on iPad at all. I think the BMW’s is more dated but feels better quality, all of this is super subjective. I much prefer the drive of the BMW. Both common as muck. The Mercedes cars tend to have a more practically shaped boot. I’d go BMW with my money or an Infiniti q50

[MrGTI6]

Both very good cars, but the Merc would be my pick. If you can, try and find one with the Burmester sound system.

[snowandrocks]

If you do decide on a c-class, check what size of fuel tank it's got fitted. I have a 17 plate c200 on hire at the moment and it only takes about 30 litres to fill from the reserve light! Google suggests Mercedes have fitted a small tank to some models to take advantage of EU rules about testing taking place with a full tank.

It is surprisingly economical for a petrol but it's quite annoying having to fill up so frequently!

[AI1694]

B9 A4 if you’re not arsed about handling, way it drives etc.

[cerb4.5lee]

I personally much prefer the C-Class interior(apart from the stuck on Nav) and the 3 series interior is as ordinary as they come. I do prefer the way the BMW drives though. Both are high volume sellers so surely that bodes well and their reviews are both good.

[ZX10R NIN]

Jag_NE said:

I have had both as courtesy cars, more than once. The MB interior is definitely more modern but I don’t like the stuck on iPad at all. I think the BMW’s is more dated but feels better quality, all of this is super subjective. I much prefer the drive of the BMW. Both common as muck. The Mercedes cars tend to have a more practically shaped boot. I’d go BMW with my money or an Infiniti q50

I agree with the above in reality if I'm going for a mile muncher out of the two it's the Mercedes, but I would also say look at the Q50 is a good shout when it comes to age/spec/mileage & they're a nice place to be.

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[toon10]

yonex said:

320D

Don’t buy an Audi. They’re awful.

This. The 320D is a fine car. I used one to get from Heathrow to Newcastle and it was really comfortable for the mSport version and was a nice place to sit and good to drive. I've driven to Hemel from Newcastle in an Audi A4 avant and it was uncomfortable and felt bland and dare I say it, a coupe of generations behind the BMW. Even the famed interior was all a bit black and plastic for me.

I've not driven one of the newer generation of C-Class but my next door neighbour sold his not long after he bought it. He didn't gel with it at all and couldn't wait to move it on.

If you were going larger, I'd maybe take the E class over a 5 series if it is just for motorway munching but at that size, I'd go with the BMW .

[florincmf]

Dragnet 5 said:

I am looking to buy a used compact saloon and have narrowed it down to a BMW 3 Series M Sport 320D or Mercedes Benz C Class AMG Line 250D. My all round commute is 70 miles and is a mixture of motorway and A road.
I appreciate it comes down to personal preference but would be grateful for any observations, experiences, advice on options, etc.
My budget is £15000 - £20000.
Many thanks.

I have my 320d Blue Performance 2016 for sale if you think it can be of any interest to you. I am going for the lease option with a new car so I don't need a second as my girlfriend doesn't drive. 😊

[SWoll]

I'd vote for neither and get a 5 series. Wife had a C-Class for 3 years and never impressed me, 3 series is OK but feels cheap inside in comparison to the 5.

The BMW drivertrain is much better than that in the Mercedes also. Smoother engine and much better ZF gearbox. The 7G i was always a bit slow and twitchy IME.

Not sure the new E-Class would be in budget with the 9G and updated interior as a massive step up from the C-Class in all ways?

[Jag_NE]

SWoll said:

I'd vote for neither and get a 5 series. Wife had a C-Class for 3 years and never impressed me, 3 series is OK but feels cheap inside in comparison to the 5.

The BMW drivertrain is much better than that in the Mercedes also. Smoother engine and much better ZF gearbox. The 7G i was always a bit slow and twitchy IME.

Not sure the new E-Class would be in budget with the 9G and updated interior as a massive step up from the C-Class in all ways?

I agree with this advice. The 5er tends to be better value (doesn't cost much more used than the equivalent 3er). I also agree that the 7G is not as good as the ZF, my 7G has always had some weird characteristics.

Alternatively, the Infiniti Q70 does everything the 5er does and more, at a lower price.

[Dragnet 5]

Thanks guys - really useful.

I am leaning slightly towards the BMW but will make a final decision when I test drive both. I have heard that the BMW M Sport is not as comfortable as the Merc so is it worth going for the adaptive suspension option on the BMW or just sticking with the standard sports suspension?

Also, is it worth going for the Harman Kardon upgraded sound system or is the standard one good enough?

[toon10]

Dragnet 5 said:

Thanks guys - really useful.

I am leaning slightly towards the BMW but will make a final decision when I test drive both. I have heard that the BMW M Sport is not as comfortable as the Merc so is it worth going for the adaptive suspension option on the BMW or just sticking with the standard sports suspension?

Also, is it worth going for the Harman Kardon upgraded sound system or is the standard one good enough?

The standard BMW sound system is rubbish. The HK isn't much better but it is louder. The sound quality is not great. I'd rather have a BMW with HK but I'd hate to be the first person to pay for it as an option as it's just not worth the money in my opinion.

[ZX10R NIN]

Dragnet 5 said:

Thanks guys - really useful.

I am leaning slightly towards the BMW but will make a final decision when I test drive both. I have heard that the BMW M Sport is not as comfortable as the Merc so is it worth going for the adaptive suspension option on the BMW or just sticking with the standard sports suspension?

Also, is it worth going for the Harman Kardon upgraded sound system or is the standard one good enough?

Neither are great, to be honest if you want decent sound then visit a specialist & have the speakers upgraded.

[VAGLover]

Mercs are for people who deal drugs or drive a taxi - get my drift

[pavarotti1980]

VAGLover said:

Mercs are for people who deal drugs or drive a taxi - get my drift

Isnt that the same person?.....;)