Wow, that’s a tough one. There are so many factors involved in buying a used car, so lets go on the assumption that both makes of the cars you are comparing are in the same “great” shape; meaning in “excellent condition” and have similar mileage; and both have been fully & regularly serviced by the Dealer or Factory Authorized Garages and all of the maintenance records are intact & up to date.
Right off the bat, let me say that even though I’m patriotic & supportive of America’s auto industry, I’m truly a rabid fan of German engineering, having owned several Mercedes, BMWs and Porsches over the years… and I’m not your typical “Auto Enthusiast” in that I’ve had a “need for speed” since before I could drive. My first car was a ‘38 Chevy “dragster” with a ”Big Block” Pontiac racing engine ~ and I’ve even gone so far as to “engine swap” a radically “souped up” Chevy 350 V8 into a tiny Porsche 914 race car, making it faster than a Ferrari 308 GTB on the track!
I work with guys in the Film Industry who build race cars and “stunt cars” for the movies (”Days of Thunder”, “Driven”, “Talladega Nights”, “Bad Boys 1&2″, Nick Cage’s Ferrari in “The Rock”, “Gone in Sixty Seconds”, etc.). So like I said, I’m not your “run of the mill” Auto Enthusiast. That being said, here’s “my slant” on your question.
Each of these fine German auto-makers now offers a wide variety of models to choose from (all of them exceedingly luxurious & offering exceptional high performance) ranging from two-seater sports cars to 4-wheel drive SUVs. We’ve had several of each over the years.
Both Mercedes & BMW are truly exceptional cars offering incredible styling; luxurious comfort, superb handling & exhilarating performance. Both manufacturers are committed to remarkable engineering that provide truly outstanding reliability and when well-maintained, guarantee their cars will last for decades of driving pleasure. Note that Mercedes was the very first manufacturer to have an odometer to measure mileage in the “hundreds of thousands of miles.”
So, now to the nitty-gritty, both cars are wonderful vehicles, but for my money, the better buy is the BMW because it’s far less expensive to maintain and repair in the long run. I’m saying this from experience. BMWs are also (from a mechanic’s point of view) far easier to work on. Also, have been specifically designed to be easy to service; whereas Mercedes in recent years have “over engineered” their exquisite vehicles- you actually need special tools (available only at “authorized” MB dealers & garages) in order to make simple or even minimally complex repairs (like replacing a serpentine fan/drive belt).
Sorry Mercedes but, for a guy who is used to doing his own minor repairs, I think ALL cars should be designed so that anyone who can, should be able to buy a replacement fan belt at a Pep Boys and put it on all by themselves in the Pep Boys parking lot, rather than have to have the car towed to a dealer over 100 miles away. But then again, that’s just my opinion.
If money isn’t a big concern for you, then it’s all a moot point as both cars have that unique “mystique” and prestige of being Europe’s finest. But in the long run, having owned three (3) BMWs & three (3) Mercedes (we currently own an exceptional “European Touring Version” of a “5 Series”), I’ll vote for the BMW as the best bet.
But again, it’s a very personal decision that the primary driver has to make. The last Mercedes we (meaning I) owned, was a gorgeous 500SL (two-seater roadster) convertible. I loved it. My wife hated it because there wasn’t enough room for her and our grandkids.
Another issue or point I can share with you is that the BMWs offer incredible performance combined with better over-all gas mileage than a similar Mercedes. BMW has perfected their 5-speed automatic transmissions (combined with their high performance six cylinder engine) to such a degree that they shift quickly and offer outstanding performance without having to “floor” the gas pedal. We get just under 30 MPG at approximately 70 MPH… and for a large “four door” the car handles like a sports car.
Anyway, either car is a delight to drive and a pleasure to own. And if you get one thing out of this Blog, it’s this… Be sure to buy a “certified” used car from your MB or BMW dealer. You’ll pay quite a bit more for it than you would if you buy from a “private party,” but in the long run, that extra expense is well worth it compared to the agony of owning a “money pit” that you could be buying if you buy a car with an unknown history.
