If you are in the market for a new or pre-loved luxury automobile, you know you can’t go wrong with either of these brand-established European automakers. Both BMW and Mercedes Benz rank high in reliability, quality, and safety as well as performance and other key metrics today’s savvy drivers demand. What are the key differences between these two high performing vehicles?
Safety: Both BMW and Mercedes Benz Rank Best in Class
If safety is your number one concern, both the BMW and Mercedes Benz are ranked as some of the safest mid-size vehicles on the road today. Specifically, the Mercedes C-Class and GLE rank 9.3 and 9.7 out of 10 respectively, with the E-Class garnering a perfect 10. Not to be outdone, BMW has two perfect 10s for its 2 Series and the X1 as well as a 9.9 for its i3 model.
In addition the BMW S-Series received a rare perfect score in testing from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Despite this, the smooth-driving Mercedes is generally viewed as the safer vehicle due to its superior equipment that comes standard on all C-Class cars.
Both automobile manufacturers offer anti-lock brakes, side-curtain airbags, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and traction with stability control as standard.
Mercedes Puts Advanced Safety Features as Standard
However, only the Mercedes Benz adds a backup camera, automatic braking (to prevent collision), Attention Assist (alerts drowsy drivers to pay attention), and PreSafe, an improved restraint systems for collisions. Similarly, Mercedes Benz offers more technology options from partially autonomous steering to Wi-Fi hot spot and a larger screen.
The 3 Series and C-Class are relatively similar when comparing safety options, but the win goes to Mercedes Benz by a nose thanks to its standard versus add-on safety features.
Power & Performance: Both BMW and Mercedes Offer Top Scores
In terms of power and performance BMW does outperform its Mercedes rival with more makes and models ranking at the upper echelons by most established ranking systems such as the one by J.D. Power. In the most recent study (2017) BMW has several models ranking 8.8 or higher, including the X4, 3 Series, 2 Series, X6, 4 Series, 5 Series and X5. Mercedes has 3 vehicles in these top ranks including the S-Class sedan and the SL and CLS. In terms of overall reliability, the study put the two vehicle makes neck and neck.
In regards to power, both Deutschland auto manufacturers offer turbocharged 4-cylinder engines that have about 240 horsepower. However, the BMW S-Series offers three different engine varieties and has rear-wheel drive standard, something Mercedes does not offer. All and all, BMW offers more powerful engine options while providing superior fuel efficiency and control when compared to the Mercedes.
Compare Cost of Ownership and Auto Repair for Mercedes Benz and BMW
Let’s consider the luxury sedans Mercedes Benz C-Class and the sporty looking BMW 3 Series in terms of total cost of ownership and auto repair. Both top selling vehicles are considered “entry-level” models because they allow drivers to enter the luxury market without going broke, especially by purchasing used or late model.
When comparing BMW and Mercedes Benz auto repair costs, BMW auto repair will cost you more by about 15 to 20 percent overall. This is particularly true for most drivetrain components such as engine, transmission and suspension system repair. However, both the Class C Mercedes Benz and 3 Series BMW auto repairs were less expensive than automotive repairs for higher end models of these models.
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If you look closer at these Mercedes Benz and BMW auto repair costs, you can see that the greatest cost discrepancy has to do with specialized auto repair while routine auto repair, maintenance, and oil changes are more comparable in price.
For the record German automaker Audi has higher auto repair costs than either BMW or Mercedes Benz perhaps in part because there are far fewer vehicles and thus parts on the road in total. However, both BMW and Mercedes Benz vehicles have higher costs of ownership when compared to non-luxury brand ones, but that goes without saying.
Mercedes and BMW Both Rank Low in Common Auto Repairs
It is worth mentioning that even though BMW and Mercedes have higher automotive repair costs, they don’t have a high number of auto repairs in general. For instance for the Unusually Common Auto Repair Issues category, neither BMW nor Mercedes had a vehicle in the top rankings (though BMW had a window regulator replacement and an idler pulley replacement in the 10 and 12 spot respectively).
Both BMW and Mercedes Benz have tremendously high resale value making them a fantastic investment. So even though BMW and Mercedes are both going to cost you some more money up front, they retain their value over time and provide you with piece of mind that is second to none.
