Advice E class 320 cdi or 530d
Discussion
As the title suggests, a bit of buying advice needed if anybody has experience of both cars as a comparison. Looking for around a 04 plate E class saloon 270/320 Cdi W211 or a BMW 530d E60, A bit of un-biased advice would be appreciated. This is posted in both Merc and Bmw forums as i realise that each forum will be biased towards its own brand, Thanks in advance.
Edited by ROBTVR on Wednesday 14th October 20:42
Edited by ROBTVR on Wednesday 14th October 21:03
I own an E220, not E320, but I had considered the 520/525D when I purchased, so I was in a similar position.
I've read the views over in the BMW section. The first seems a bit blinkered and biased, based on the view that the BMW is the better looking car, the 5 series may be a great car, but it's ugly, lets face it! The E-Class has been known to have gearbox problems (torque convertor specifically), but as far as I'm aware if you change the gearbox oil rather than assuming its sealed for life then you should be fine.
As for the second view, regarding rust, post 2003 cars were galvanised so you should have no issues here with a 2004 car.
If you want a car that looks good, has a good turn of pace, sounds good (the 6 cyl Merc diesel engines have a great engine note for a diesel), has a well laid out and attractive interior, and can be driven the length of the country in complete comfort, buy the Merc.
If you don't mind having your spine crushed by jarring suspension, can put up with the BMW haters, don't mind paying extra for absolutely everything as standard spec isn't great, and can put up with the I-Drive sat nav, the BMW might be for you
I've read the views over in the BMW section. The first seems a bit blinkered and biased, based on the view that the BMW is the better looking car, the 5 series may be a great car, but it's ugly, lets face it! The E-Class has been known to have gearbox problems (torque convertor specifically), but as far as I'm aware if you change the gearbox oil rather than assuming its sealed for life then you should be fine.
As for the second view, regarding rust, post 2003 cars were galvanised so you should have no issues here with a 2004 car.
If you want a car that looks good, has a good turn of pace, sounds good (the 6 cyl Merc diesel engines have a great engine note for a diesel), has a well laid out and attractive interior, and can be driven the length of the country in complete comfort, buy the Merc.
If you don't mind having your spine crushed by jarring suspension, can put up with the BMW haters, don't mind paying extra for absolutely everything as standard spec isn't great, and can put up with the I-Drive sat nav, the BMW might be for you
They are completely different cars, just take them out for a test drive and see what you think.
I have had both, the 5 series is definitely a step up in just about every respect.
However, if you want something to waft round in and don't really care about driving dynamics then the Merc is great.
I am in an A6 estate at the moment, and I am considering another Merc, I have a 123d M-Sport which has just replaced the M3 and the Merc estates are a great partner to the BMWs, best of both worlds, however I wouldn't want the Merc as my only car, where as if I had to go back to one car I think it would be another 535d sport touring. Which I think says it all.
The other thing that put me off the Merc was the narrow mindedness of the Merc forum guys, on the dedicated BMW forums everyone always praises the Mercs for the areas in which they excel, but on the Merc forum they just seemed to slag anything that wasn't Merc, it got pretty tiring.
Same with the Audi forums, they keep telling you there isn't much between a BMW and an Audi drive wise, which is complete crap!! Only someone who had never owned a BMW would talk such tosh!!
The problem for me with the W211 was they tried to make it more dynamic to compete with BMW but didn't manage it, and to be honest that is not what you buy a Merc for, they have said that they have gone back to the comfort crusier with the new E Class and you can really tell, it feels like a proper Merc again in the old skool sense, I would love the new estate when it comes out, the saloon gobbles the miles in a way not many cars ever manage.
I have had both, the 5 series is definitely a step up in just about every respect.
However, if you want something to waft round in and don't really care about driving dynamics then the Merc is great.
I am in an A6 estate at the moment, and I am considering another Merc, I have a 123d M-Sport which has just replaced the M3 and the Merc estates are a great partner to the BMWs, best of both worlds, however I wouldn't want the Merc as my only car, where as if I had to go back to one car I think it would be another 535d sport touring. Which I think says it all.
The other thing that put me off the Merc was the narrow mindedness of the Merc forum guys, on the dedicated BMW forums everyone always praises the Mercs for the areas in which they excel, but on the Merc forum they just seemed to slag anything that wasn't Merc, it got pretty tiring.
Same with the Audi forums, they keep telling you there isn't much between a BMW and an Audi drive wise, which is complete crap!! Only someone who had never owned a BMW would talk such tosh!!
The problem for me with the W211 was they tried to make it more dynamic to compete with BMW but didn't manage it, and to be honest that is not what you buy a Merc for, they have said that they have gone back to the comfort crusier with the new E Class and you can really tell, it feels like a proper Merc again in the old skool sense, I would love the new estate when it comes out, the saloon gobbles the miles in a way not many cars ever manage.
gizlaroc said:
The other thing that put me off the Merc was the narrow mindedness of the Merc forum guys, on the dedicated BMW forums everyone always praises the Mercs for the areas in which they excel, but on the Merc forum they just seemed to slag anything that wasn't Merc, it got pretty tiring.
What forum were you on? I'm a member at mbclub.co.uk and have found everyone quite level headed and helpful, most are aware of and acknowledge the various faults of Mercs, they even have a 'MB defectors to other marques' sub-forum!I for one don't think the MB is the best built, most reliable, best driving car in it's class, but overall taking into account absolutely everything, its the one for me, it's far from perfect but I can live with faults!
Talking about which I'm off to MB to let them investigate a rather nasty sound coming from the engine bay today
yellowbentines said:
What forum were you on? I'm a member at mbclub.co.uk and have found everyone quite level headed and helpful, most are aware of and acknowledge the various faults of Mercs, they even have a 'MB defectors to other marques' sub-forum!
Likewise. I find the people on the MB forums far less 'fanboy-ish' than the 
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