BMW VS Mercedes Benz? (luxury, manual transmission, Audi, engine)

[Milwaukee City]

Considering all factors which brand would you rather buy? If you had to choose from one brand?

[himain]

MB All the way. I've owned 3 of them and have been very happy with them. Plus I worked for them for a while as well

[Milwaukee City]

I should've included Audi but did not. I find it interesting that the latest reliability ratings came out in the luxury category and the magazine had Benz, Audi and BMW all on the bottom of reliability. The article mentioned how basically the 3 brands have been in an arms race do out do each other and pump out models that they have let some engineering and safety and reliability slip. I wish I could find the article for sourcing because none of this does any good without the source. I will keep looking for the article and review, maybe someone else has seen it or heard this.

[Milwaukee City]

I love both brands for style and looks but owning either brand has seemed way to much of a cliche lately with every yuppie and hipster owing either brand, same goes for Audi's. Way too many of them out there, I see BMW's and Audi's as much as I see mini vans. I guess that's why I own a 05 SAAB(9-5 Aero)

[cdelena]

It really depends upon the model and requirements... I can't really vote across the full line.

[Milwaukee City]

Originally Posted by cdelena

It really depends upon the model and requirements... I can't really vote across the full line.

But if you had to vote across the line?

[bomgd3]

Based on my limited experience (driven 3, 5, and C), BMW has better drivetrains. But a biggie for me is that BMW offers manual transmissions, while Mercedes does not.

[banger]

I am torn on the decision.

As bomgd3 posted, I personally love the quality of MB, but DEMAND the option of a "stick".

Soooo, Benz is out for most models.

[TheViking85]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

I should've included Audi but did not. I find it interesting that the latest reliability ratings came out in the luxury category and the magazine had Benz, Audi and BMW all on the bottom of reliability. The article mentioned how basically the 3 brands have been in an arms race do out do each other and pump out models that they have let some engineering and safety and reliability slip. I wish I could find the article for sourcing because none of this does any good without the source. I will keep looking for the article and review, maybe someone else has seen it or heard this.

That's interesting, the European E90's have been amongst the most reliable cars overall, not only in the luxury segment, but altogether, their diesel models do significantly better than comparable Toyotas for instance.

In any case, I voted BMW, MB doesn't offer as complete of a package imo.

[mathjak107]

same reason i went with bmw,the total maintaince package