BMW 3 series 2003 vs Mercedes C class 2011
| Body: | Coupe | Estate car / wagon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gearbox: | Manual | Automatic | |
| Engine: | 3.0 Petrol | 3.5 Petrol | |
| Camshaft drive: | Timing chain | Timing chain | |
Performance | |||
| Power: | 231 HP | 306 HP | |
| Torque: | 300 NM | 370 NM | |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h: | 6.5 seconds | 6.1 seconds | |
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Mercedes C class is a more dynamic driving. BMW 3 series engine produces 75 HP less power than Mercedes C class, whereas torque is 70 NM less than Mercedes C class. Due to the lower power, BMW 3 series reaches 100 km/h speed 0.4 seconds later. | |||
Fuel consumption | |||
| Fuel consumption (l/100km): | 9.1 | 7.1 | |
| Real fuel consumption: | 9.9 l/100km | 9.7 l/100km | |
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The Mercedes C class is a better choice when it comes to fuel economy. By specification BMW 3 series consumes 2 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 300 litres more fuel. By comparing actual fuel consumption based on user reports, BMW 3 series consumes 0.2 litres more fuel per 100 km than the Mercedes C class. | |||
| Fuel tank capacity: | 63 litres | 66 litres | |
| Full fuel tank distance: | 690 km in combined cycle | 920 km in combined cycle | |
| 910 km on highway | 1170 km on highway | ||
| 630 km with real consumption | 680 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: | 460'000 km | 420'000 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 | 16 years | |
| Engine spread: | Installed on at least 6 other car models, including BMW 5 sērija, BMW X5, BMW 7 sērija, BMW X3, BMW Z4 | Installed on at least 6 other car models, including Mercedes E klase, Mercedes ML, Mercedes CLS, Mercedes SLK | |
| 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. | |||
| BMW 3 sērija 2003 3.0 engine: The BMW M54B30 is a 3.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-six producing about 231 hp, produced between 2000 and 2006. It is widely regarded as one of BMW’s more successful engines of that era, known for smooth operation and strong performance. With proper maintenance, these engines often ... More about BMW 3 sērija 2003 3.0 engine | |||
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`930 | 2`210 | |
| 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 (€): | 4400 | 6000 | |
| Pros and Cons: |
BMW 3 sērija has
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Mercedes C klase has
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