Ask the Car People.SM


MB E350 vs. BMW 530xi vs. Audi A6

19 messages,  Last post on Sep 19, 2012 at 7:46 AM

You are in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 2 of 2

#11 of 19 Re: MB E350 vs. BMW 530xi vs. Audi A6 [abacomike] by mastermugu

Nov 02, 2011 (4:51 pm)

Replying to: abacomike (Nov 02, 2011 1:41 pm)
abacomike,
 
I need to pipe in...I've always been a Mercedes lover/owner and have never considered a BMW up until recently. Due to lack of Mercedes inventory, I shopped around and ended up jumping to the other side and traded my E Class in for a new 535 a couple of months back and could not be any happier. I've driven the new E Class and there is no real comparison to the new 5 Series, the BMW out performs in all areas and has so much more value.
 
The drive is completly different, the technological offerings are far more supreme and the fact that the maintenance has been included in the base price of the car for the first 50k miles is huge bonus. I've recieved more compliments on the BMW in the past two months than I have ever recieved in all my years of driving Mercedes.
 
Not sure if I'll ever go back to Mercedes...
 
MasterMugu
--Camarillo, CA

#12 of 19 MB350 vs xxx - make sure you look at the e350 Bluetec by ghstudio

Nov 02, 2011 (7:55 pm)

I drove every comparable car in August because I hated my 2011 Infiniti M37 and I bought myself out of the lease. I ruled out the BMW 5 series pretty quickly because of something that most folks don't think about....the seat belt cut across my wife's neck (she's 5'0") and there is no way to adjust the height...that ruled the car darn quickly. Additionally, our local dealer has a pretty poor reputation in the service area. I liked the A6, I loved the jaguar, but the resale is a killer (not my estimate..I use leasing residuals to compare estimated resales) since I don't keep any car more than 3 years. I liked the e350 (gas)...very solid and quiet, but the 2011 didn't have the pep of the BMW. I live in SW Florida where we have no hills or curves so you can buy a car with outstanding cornering ability and the only time you'll use it is turning a corner at a traffic light. Finally, I stumbled on the incredibly high residual of the e350 bluetec (Diesel) and on a 2 year lease, it was hundreds of dollars a month less than any of the competitive cars. I test drove one, I was amazed at how well the car drove and handled and it was a no brainer decision. It is an incredible car...if you are considering leasing your next car....take an e350 bluetec out for a test drive and get a lease price on it.

#13 of 19 MB E350 vs. BMW 528 vs. Lexus GS by lawcar

Jan 08, 2012 (11:47 pm)

Well, it was almost anti-climactic after the several weeks of research, test drives, posting and reading on this website. I have been driving my black exterior/almond interior 2012 E350 which I picked up last week and really like it. While the black exterior does get dirty sooner than my medium gray BMW 528i, this color combination is very rich and elegant, yet sporty at the same time. Even though the car is black, it looks bigger than it is.
     My salesman was very helpful and spent about 45 minutes going through the car with me, from programing the nav system, syncing the contacts on my cell phone, adjusting the memory seats (driver and passenger) and the list goes on (even the emergency release inside the trunk). I felt that the time was sufficient, and look through the owner's manuals for more details or to find out something that I may have forgotten from his walk-through. Using the different gadgets helps me learn them.
     I got the sport package with the P1 package, lane change/blind spot assist and AMG wheels. The nav system is easy to use, as is the radio. The voice control is pretty incredible and very responsive.
     The cabin is beautiful: the almond seating contrasts beautifully with the black dash and black carpet and walnut burl. The adjustable seats with memory for both driver and passenger are very supportive but comfortable.
     The E350 definitely feels more solid than my 528i. It has a very nice ride, smooth yet sporty with good steering and handling. I think the 528 has a little more responsive handling, but that might be due to the lighter feel of the car.
     I'm very happy with the E350. I've owned several Lexus (ES300 and GS 300) and two BMW's (325 and 528) and I like the E350 more than any of them. All of them are great cars and I certainly am not knocking any of them. I think the E350 has features of both the Lexus and BMW. It has creature comforts of the Lexus (all of which the BMW does not have) but more personality than the Lexus. The sport package gives it good styling and handling more akin to the BMW, but it is much finer in detail, and roomier in front and back. The BMW is what I would consider a luxury sport car, whereas the E350 is more of a sporty luxury car.
     To all of you who are considering what to get, just read the comments of those who post on this site, see the cars in person and test drive them yourself, and get the car and features that suit you the best. Enjoy the experience.

#14 of 19 Re: MB E350 vs. BMW 528 vs. Lexus GS [lawcar] by rockypaul

Jan 09, 2012 (9:19 am)

Replying to: lawcar (Jan 08, 2012 11:47 pm)
You made a good call. Is it the 4-Matic?
 
Your next car will be the next gen S-Class!

#15 of 19 Re: MB E350 vs. BMW 528 vs. Lexus GS [rockypaul] by lawcar

Jan 09, 2012 (10:29 am)

Replying to: rockypaul (Jan 09, 2012 9:19 am)
Thanks. It's the standard sedan with sport package. I live in Los Angeles and did not need the all-wheel drive so didn't get the 4-matic. Funny you should mention the S-Class. A dealer I went to had a fleet of thirteen 2012 S-Class hybrid's that were used for the U.S. Open and they were running a special: 13 month lease for $995/month, with a residual of $69,000.00. They were all the same: silver with black interior and were beautiful. However, the short lease period and the fact that they were around $20,000.00 more than I wanted to spend made me pass on it.

#16 of 19 2012 MB E 350 by acctprof1

Feb 20, 2012 (2:47 pm)

I was driving a Lexus GS 350 and wanted a change. I drove the E 350 coupe P 2 and was really impressed. The leather seats are firmer than the Lexus, but the ride is smoother. The seats almost mold to your body. The voice recognition is flawless. The Lexus drove me crazy: me "Show restaurant icons" Lexus "Showing state parks." The Help menu for the voice recognition is great; it walks you through the steps. 10 GB hard drive for music, Hardan Karmon 5.1 surround sound, and USB port for music. Also, the new engine has 302 hp with 28 mpg on the highway at 78 mph and 18+ mpg around town with the Economy setting. I have never owned a BMW so I can't make a comparison.

#17 of 19 Re: MB E350 vs. BMW 530xi vs. Audi A6 [mastermugu] by cyndy23

Aug 14, 2012 (6:49 am)

Replying to: mastermugu (Nov 02, 2011 4:51 pm)
I owned 3 BMWs (3 Series, 5 Series & X3) and loved everyone of them. BMW are very reliable vehicles, and have great performance, however, my feelings are just the opposite as yours. Being a BMW girl I never imagined switching over to a Mercedes until I spotted the new E Class Sports model, test drove it and drove off the lot with it.
 
No regrets on purchasing the E Class Mercedes. Even though I enjoyed my BMW's, and would recommend BMW, but I don't think I will ever go back to the BMW.

#18 of 19 Re: MB E350 vs. BMW 530xi vs. Audi A6 [cyndy23] by rockypaul

Aug 14, 2012 (11:35 am)

Replying to: cyndy23 (Aug 14, 2012 6:49 am)
Same feeling here.
Great comparison test by the way.
We've owned all the cars mentioned in this forum except the Audi.
Waiting for the new S class though. I hate waiting.
I am now going to test the BMW 650 GranCoupe and the Audi S7.
Gotta have a V8.
Best of luck with your new MB.

#19 of 19 MB E350 Vs BMW 5 series by jagost

Sep 19, 2012 (7:46 am)

I have had three BMW, but this time I'm going with MB E350. I do not care for BMW run flat tires. They are more expensive and harder to replace, and in case of a real bad flat, there is no spare tire in the trunk. The second item is the new start\stop feature where the engine shutoff when you put your foot on the break, and when you release your foot off the brake the engine cranks back on. I'm not too comfortable with that. With the MB E350, I love the looks, and the active seats are so much better than the BMW. I think the MB E350 might prove to cost less in the long run and more reliable. But again, I'm 53, and want a smooth and silent running car.

Messages Page 2 of 2

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement