BMW 3 series 2003 vs Mercedes C class 2011
| Body: | Coupe | Estate car / wagon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gearbox: | Automatic | Automatic | |
| Engine: | 2.5 Petrol | 2.1 Diesel | |
| Petrol engines (BMW 3 series) are generally quieter, smoother, and better suited for short trips due to quicker warm-up times. Diesel (Mercedes C class) engines, on the other hand, offer superior fuel efficiency and torque, making them ideal for long-distance driving and heavy loads. Read more: Petrol vs. Diesel: Fuel Economy and Key Differences. | |||
| Camshaft drive: | Timing chain | Timing chain | |
Performance | |||
| Power: | 192 HP | 120 HP | |
| Torque: | 245 NM | 300 NM | |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h: | 8.4 seconds | 11.1 seconds | |
|
BMW 3 series is more dynamic to drive. BMW 3 series engine produces 72 HP more power than Mercedes C class, but torque is 55 NM less than Mercedes C class. Thanks to more power BMW 3 series reaches 100 km/h speed 2.7 seconds faster. | |||
Fuel consumption | |||
| Fuel consumption (l/100km): | 9.5 | 5.1 | |
| Real fuel consumption: | 10.5 l/100km | 6.2 l/100km | |
|
The Mercedes C class is a better choice when it comes to fuel economy. By specification BMW 3 series consumes 4.4 litres more fuel per 100 km than the Mercedes C class, which means that if you drive 15,000 km in a year, the BMW 3 series could require 660 litres more fuel. By comparing actual fuel consumption based on user reports, BMW 3 series consumes 4.3 litres more fuel per 100 km than the Mercedes C class. | |||
| Fuel tank capacity: | 63 litres | 66 litres | |
| Full fuel tank distance: | 660 km in combined cycle | 1290 km in combined cycle | |
| 870 km on highway | 1460 km on highway | ||
| 600 km with real consumption | 1060 km with real consumption | ||
| Mercedes C class gets more mileage on one fuel tank. | |||
| Read the article "Fuel Efficiency: How to Reduce Fuel Consumption" to learn more about fuel economy. | |||
Engines | |||
| Average engine lifespan: | 440'000 km | 390'000 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 BMW 3 series engine could be longer. | |||
| Engine production duration: | 7 years | 15 years | |
| Engine spread: | Installed on at least 3 other car models, including BMW 5 sērija, BMW X3, BMW Z4 | Installed on at least 7 other car models, including Mercedes E klase, Mercedes A klase, Mercedes Vito | |
| In general, the longer and for more car models an engine is produced, the better its serviceability and availability of spare parts. Mercedes C class might be a better choice in this respect. | |||
Dimensions | |||
| Length: | 4.49 m | 4.61 m | |
| Width: | 1.76 m | 1.77 m | |
| Height: | 1.37 m | 1.46 m | |
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BMW 3 series is smaller. BMW 3 series is 12 cm shorter than the Mercedes C class, 1 cm narrower, while the height of BMW 3 series is 9 cm lower. | |||
| Trunk capacity: | 410 litres | 485 litres | |
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Mercedes C class has more luggage space. BMW 3 series has 75 litres less trunk space than the Mercedes C class. | |||
| Turning diameter: | 10 meters | 10.8 meters | |
| The turning circle of the BMW 3 series is 0.8 metres less than that of the Mercedes C class, which means BMW 3 series can be easier to manoeuvre in tight streets and parking spaces. | |||
| Gross weight (kg): | 1`955 | 2`185 | |
| Safety: | |||
| Quality: | average | above average | |
| Mercedes C class has fewer problems. According to annual technical inspection data BMW 3 series has serious deffects in 265 percent more cases than Mercedes C class, so Mercedes C class quality is probably significantly better | |||
| Average price (€): | 4600 | 6000 | |
| Pros and Cons: |
BMW 3 sērija has
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Mercedes C klase has
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