|
In Reply to: BMW vs Mercedes posted by William Zimmer on May 28, 2000 at 18:20:26:
: Thanks
I currently have a '97 E420 and I had a '97 540i/6. These were the first years for both these vehicles. Concerning the E420, all I can say now is "what was I thinking!". It's a nice car, decent power, ok transmission. It would make someone proud to own it if they:
a. Never owned a previous model MB
b. Never rode in the 540i
c. Fell in love with the oval headlight arrangement.
My wife drives the E most of the time now, but I can tell you the steering is incredibly "loose" and overpowered. Even with 18" AMG Monoblocks, the suspension is floaty (remember, MB sport package does nothing to aid suspension, but just adds wheels & appearance items!)
The car is slightly larger inside and generally feels MUCH larger to drive compared to the 540i. Thats not a good thing.
Quality of paint vs BMW is about the same. I would think both are the water based junk we have come to accept the last few years. A slight airborne object hits and it's immediately down to the primer...
MB wood seems a little nicer than the BMW but thats so subjective. What is not as nice is the coverings for the doors. In the quick Florida rain showers, your constantly opening and closing the doors and getting them slightly wet. The E doors have begun to peel their "skin" around the main handle post you grab to close them. I can only imagine a couple more humid summers and I will have to have the doors re-skinned.
Another point I have never figured out is what I call "oil can thunk". It happens in a situation such as turning onto a higher elevation driveway. As a single front wheel starts to drive up, you hear a "tink-tonk", like an oil can would make. Dealer says he can't find anything abnormal, and I've begun to think its part of the unibody design. I believe it's simply flex, and not something wrong with the vehicle. It's just that the BMW 5 series body never does this!
As far a reliability, the BMW is better. For one, I have NEVER felt the 540 or M5 engine with a lumpy idle. The E420 & 430 engines (we have a '99 ML430 also) have a distinct "miss" to them at various times. I've had in to the dealer numerous times for an idle that jumps up and down on the tach in 300rpm swings! It can be felt in the brake pedal as well. Maybe it's been refined for 2000, maybe not present in the 6cyl. engine?, who knows.
So why do I have it? My wife likes the styling, we both like the safety of the car with our two kids, and we thought it was a good buy then.
I'll even say this, the ML430, which everyone thought was a big lemon (so I got a great lease deal), puts a smile on our face every time we drive it compared to the lonely E!
Maybe the 540i just raised our expectations so high, the four door MB sedan just can't compare anymore. I just know I've had a '97 540, '99 540 and an '00 M5 in the meantime and now think of the E as the "pace car".
Aussie2U
© 1997 -
2008
Jump Internet Inc. All rights reserved.
