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Mercedes is a luxury car. BMW is a drivers car, with some luxury. Everybody needs to decide--do you want more luxury or more driving fun?

In the US on an E class, voice command is not standard (and I believe the only voice command available is for the optional telephone), nor can you have DVD playing capability, and the base MSRP for an E500 is around $2,500 higher than a 545i, so you're paying for something extra...

I bought a '03 E55 when they first came out, thinking it would be a great sport sedan (unfortunately, it was not possible to take an extended test drive). Even with the AMG tuned suspension, it was not a fun car to drive. Incredible power (actually too much power for the car to handle), but numb steering, horrible braking, and a sloppy suspension. And that was an AMG--I can't imagine what an E500 would be like.

My 545i is so much more fun to drive than the E55. Sure--not as much power, but the additional power in the E55 was pretty much wasted.

Everything is a trade off. Porsche drivers complain about the lack of standard features, and the lack of optional features (like Bluetooth). I see BMW as being somewhere between Porsche and Mercedes on the driving/luxury scale.

stream

I don't know what all the fuss is about an in-dash CD changer--I think they're terrible. I had one in my E55 and didn't like it at all. Inserting and removing CDs is so much easier with the 6 CD cartridge, and in the E60 it's conveniently located in the back of the glove box (not that I ever thought going into the trunk of my other cars was so horrible).

beewang

Well.... in that case YOU should buy the Mercedes. I means... really!! Somebody has gotta, it might as well be you <_<

my530i

Most people here keep praising BMW for the drivability and bashing people for complaining lack of features. BMW will be flattered and won't do a $hit to improve or add features. Let's all accept that BMW="great drive" and leave it in our mind. Let's start suggest BMW to do more for us instead of saying "BWM you're great already, so don't do anything else". That's totally BS.
I love BMW, but I want them to improve more in term of feature and quality. If they do, we'll have a true "Ultimate Driving Machine" without swing our eyes to other manufacturers.

Iceman

Then you should get one! Now!! Don't wait... We will still be here in this forum when you sold the MB and bought an E60 because you were unsatisfied with it's quality and drive!
MB is not what they were two years earlier! Currently they suck, from all what I've heard!


MB WAS luxury. They have way too many issues right now.


They improve every day, but not as fast as we wish...

530iii

Yeah but for 2005 in the US Mercedes Benz dropped the free scheduled maintenance! Besides BMW is more reliable, no?

So with them you'll "pay" even more.

I guess it doesn't matter if you've got money to burn.

m630

....only because they know we will pay for them.... im actually a bit suprised in reading the new E90 preliminary sales guide for dealers. where BMW is actually touting about how much they are including standard which i guess is to compete in this segment...

ex, the new 330i will have Logic 7 and xenons standard, which is $2500 in options in the E60...they are giving away something for a change,... suprising that the 3 will have standard xenons and the 5 will not ....we get a cd changer, but its very expensive obviously...

speedracerF4i

NO!!!!! Say it ain't so... :'( :'(
What else E90 has but not E60 :'( :'(

jksanford

Yeah, but then I'd look like every other goober driving a Mercedes...This way I just look like a goober driving a cool car.

EBMCS03

NO!!!!! Say it ain't so... :'( :'(
What else E90 has but not E60 :'( :'(
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Ya seriously! Comparing the E60 to the E90 its lacking standard features... I'm not sure if the argument that it came out 2 years before the E90 qualifies as an argument as why the E60 doesnt have those stuff standard... BMW should have thought about it and included those features... Now it'll seem like the E60 is the lower end of BMWs