BMW 3 series 1985 vs Mercedes E class 1989
| Gearbox: | Manual | Manual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine: | 2.5 Petrol | 2.6 Petrol | |
| Camshaft drive: | Timing belt | Timing chain | |
| Timing belt usually needs to be replaced more often than the chain, but it is usually significantly cheaper. Timing belt motors are generally quieter and less vibrating than chain motors. | |||
Performance | |||
| Power: | 170 HP | 160 HP | |
| Torque: | 226 NM | 220 NM | |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h: | 8.3 seconds | 9 seconds | |
|
BMW 3 series is more dynamic to drive. BMW 3 series engine produces 10 HP more power than Mercedes E class, whereas torque is 6 NM more than Mercedes E class. Thanks to more power BMW 3 series reaches 100 km/h speed 0.7 seconds faster. | |||
Fuel consumption | |||
| Fuel consumption (l/100km): | 8.9 | 10.9 | |
| Real fuel consumption: | 10.1 l/100km | 10.9 l/100km | |
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The BMW 3 series is a better choice when it comes to fuel economy. By specification BMW 3 series consumes 2 litres less fuel per 100 km than the Mercedes E class, which means that by driving the BMW 3 series over 15,000 km in a year you can save 300 litres of fuel. By comparing actual fuel consumption based on user reports, BMW 3 series consumes 0.8 litres less fuel per 100 km than the Mercedes E class. | |||
| Fuel tank capacity: | 62 litres | 70 litres | |
| Full fuel tank distance: | 690 km in combined cycle | 640 km in combined cycle | |
| 610 km with real consumption | 640 km with real consumption | ||
| Read the article "Fuel Efficiency: How to Reduce Fuel Consumption" to learn more about fuel economy. | |||
Drive type | |||
| Wheel drive type: | 4x4 - AWD (all-wheel-drive) | Rear wheel drive (RWD) | |
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BMW 3 sērija has 4x4: Viscous coupling locking central differential with 37% front / 63% rear torque split. The viscous coupling is integrated into the planetary central differential. It locks the differential in the event of wheel slip and transfers up to 90% of the torque to the axle with traction. The viscous locking rear differential distributes torque between the rear wheels. | |||
Engines | |||
| Average engine lifespan: | 470'000 km | 630'000 km | |
| Engine resource depends largely on regular maintenance and the quality of the oils and fuels used, but under equal conditions the average life of a Mercedes E class engine could be longer. | |||
| Engine production duration: | 15 years | 8 years | |
| Engine spread: | Used also on BMW 5 sērija | Used only for this car | |
| In general, the longer and for more car models an engine is produced, the better its serviceability and availability of spare parts. BMW 3 series might be a better choice in this respect. | |||
| Hydraulic tappets: | no | yes | |
| The Mercedes E class engine has hydraulic tappets (lifters), providing quieter operation and no need for periodic adjustment, but they are more complex in design and can cause serious engine damage in case of failure. | |||
Dimensions | |||
| Length: | 4.32 m | 4.74 m | |
| Width: | 1.66 m | 1.74 m | |
| Height: | 1.40 m | 1.43 m | |
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BMW 3 series is smaller. BMW 3 series is 42 cm shorter than the Mercedes E class, 8 cm narrower, while the height of BMW 3 series is 3 cm lower. | |||
| Trunk capacity: | 404 litres | no data | |
| Trunk max capacity: with rear seats folded down |
425 litres | no data | |
| Turning diameter: | 11 meters | 11.2 meters | |
| The turning circle of the BMW 3 series is 0.2 metres less than that of the Mercedes E class. | |||
| Gross weight (kg): | 1`695 | 1`900 | |
| Safety: | no data | no data | |
| Quality: | no data | high | |
| Average price (€): | 4600 | 3600 | |
| Pros and Cons: |
BMW 3 sērija has
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Mercedes E klase has
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