BMW 530d vs Mercedes E280 CDI

Take for example the Mercedes E280 CDI and the BMW 530d. It isn't as classy looking as the Mercedes, and while the Mercedes screams expensive, the BMW looks a little sportier. The wheels on the BMW are 1" bigger than the Mercedes (17"), and the Mercedes has front and rear fog lights while the BMW only has front fog lights. The BMW has some features that the Mercedes does not have. The Mercedes also has ESP. The BMW really has better shifting for a sports car.

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Despite the past models having nearly duplicate features on the inside, the E280 and 530d have very different interior features. While the BMW keeps it simple while adding hints of luxury with additions such as the dark wood design, the Mercedes has quite a few different gadgets and the typical wood grain design that exudes luxury. Both are fantastic options, it is just up to what the buyer is looking for. If you want something that has a feel of traditional luxury, then go for the Mercedes-it tends to be the choice of older people. In contrast, the BMW is not as traditional, and younger people often find it more appealing due to the relaxing interior inside and the technological advances that are not featured in the E280. Sitting down in both cars is pleasant. Both have electric driver's seats, although they did not have a memory feature, which was surprising.

The BMW actually has an electric front passenger seat as well, while the Mercedes does not. Both vehicles are also equipped with a driver's assistance program. In the Mercedes this system is called COMAND, and though it is efficient, it requires the driver to pay more attention to the screen, which can be dangerous while driving. While it does offer the capability to play DVDs or watch TV, it is not very user-friendly, and to change through menus, the driver has to push buttons that are in the area of the speedometer, which makes you have to continually look away from the road to change between menus. The 530d, on the other hand, has the ever popular i-Drive program, which can control many different aspects of driving without the driver having to pay hardly any attention to the system, making it a safer option to use for sure. Some people have reported problems with this i-Drive system, but like anything else, if you give it some time and really practice with using it, you will become more proficient in using it and find that it is a very valuable component to have in your vehicle, especially since it can also play DVDs!

For as long as I can remember, BMW and Mercedes have been in competition in the luxury car market, and things have not changed at all. They always attempt to keep ahead, or at least even with the other. If BMW comes out with a specific feature on a newly released vehicle and Mercedes does not already put that feature in their vehicles, then you will most likely be able to find it as a standard feature the next time Mercedes releases a new car. That is just the way that they work with one another. For this reason, there is not much difference in the interior features offered by the two manufacturers. However, this is not the case when it comes to driving capabilities. Take for example the Mercedes E280 CDI and the BMW 530d. Both of these vehicles are classified in the luxury sedan area, but both of them could use some updating in the aesthetics department if they want to continue competing with the other contenders. Even then, they both have elegant styling, which has come to be expected from both Mercedes and BMW. Like the interior of the BMW, which I will discuss below, the exterior is a little more daring in design, making it more appealing to certain people and less appealing to others. It isn't as classy looking as the Mercedes, and while the Mercedes screams expensive, the BMW looks a little sportier. Just looking at it lets you know that it means business when it comes to driving. The Mercedes, on the other hand, is obviously designed to exude luxury. Though it does have options for sportier features, the overall look is one of prestige.

In reference to the satellite navigation systems that are available in both vehicles, the BMW definitely takes the prize. Both of the systems are practical and efficient, but the amount of time that the Mercedes took to figure out a way to get somewhere was absolutely ridiculous. If you are trying to figure out directions while driving the vehicle, not only will you be driving dangerously because of having to look at the screen, you will almost be there by the time it finally gives you directions. For this reason, the BMW system is better. Even then, it is not that special, which makes the Mercedes system even less special. The BMW Heads Up display system enables drivers to see information on the screen without diverting their attention from the road. They can find out directions as well as general speed information by using this system. No matter which car you get into first, you will not be disappointed. The seats are sturdy and comfortable and there are plenty of nice things to look at. As I stated in this paragraph, the BMW is a little more modern, which would obviously draw the attention of younger buyers and drivers, but that is not to say that an older person would not come in and fall in love with the BMW! It is just really up to the preference of the person sitting in the car.

Some of the standard features that are included in the vehicles are very similar, such as cruise control, electric windows and locks, front and rear parking sensors, automatic climate control, and leather upholstery and steering wheels. The wheels on the BMW are 1" bigger than the Mercedes (17"), and the Mercedes has front and rear fog lights while the BMW only has front fog lights. Other features that the Mercedes that are different are the halogen headlights, the auto dimming rear view and driver side mirrors, and a 6 disc CD player. The BMW has some features that the Mercedes does not have. One of the things it has that is the most different is the Datadot technology, which I reviewed in another vehicle. Datadots are distributed over a vehicle and are the size of a grain of sand, containing pertinent information about the car so that if it is stolen and chopped up for parts, the parts can be linked back to the vehicle. Hopefully the car will be in one piece-if that is the case, it can simply be searched in the database if it has Datadot technology. The BMW also has Bluetooth phone capability, which is another near feature. Like the Mercedes, it has a 6 disc CD player, but it also has a single disc CD player in the center. The safety features on the vehicle are almost identical. They both have multiple airbags for both the driver and front and back seat passengers, Brake Assist, the Anti Lock Brake System brakes, and Electronic Brake Distribution. The Mercedes also has ESP. The BMW, on the other hand, does not have ESP, but does have Dynamic Stability Control.

If you are trying to pick a car that will take you on a road trip with a car full of passengers, then your best bet is probably the BMW 530d. It has a mass amount of space for rear passengers, leaving enough room for them to go on a long road trip! In addition to the wonderful space, both cars have an unbelievable fuel efficiency, which makes them both viable options for a road trip. No matter what the circumstances, you will be averaged around 7.5L/100KM to 8L/100KM, which means a lot less trips to the gas station and a lot less money spent on gas!

The engines are almost identical-both 3.0 Liter, turbo Diesel engines. The Mercedes is a V6 with a 7-speed gearbox and the BMW is a 6-cylinder with a 6-speed gearbox. In this particular comparison, the BMW does exert more power than the Mercedes, which perhaps has something to do with why the car is designed in such a manner as it is! The BMW also has more get up and go than the Mercedes, not only because of the slightly stronger engine, but also because the Mercedes actually weighs more than the BMW. Even with all of the driving power that the BMW has, the Mercedes has the advantage when it comes to smoothness in the shifting department. This is surprising considering the BMW has been recognized for its shifting. In this situation, that just doesn't matter. The Mercedes is better at smooth shifting, but that almost is not what you want in a sports car. 

The BMW really has better shifting for a sports car. There are some programs that are part of the vehicles that change the way that they drive significantly. Unfortunately, the steering on the Mercedes is not one of the strong points. If you use the parameter steering assistance, you will most likely end up getting frustrating with the lack of real steering that you get to do-it almost does too much for the driver. Even so, some people like that feature. My preference is the BMW in this steering aspect, though, if you don't consider the bulky steering wheel that is very out of place in such a sporty vehicle. Nevertheless, the BMW's steering handles better than the Mercedes on different types of roads, making it the hands down champion in the steering department. You might still see some oversteering problems, but that is nothing compared to the lack of steering that the Mercedes has. Luckily, the 

Mercedes redeems itself when it comes to slamming on the brakes. Both cars perform equally when the brakes are applied at full force. One of the nice things about the BMW for other drivers is that it has an additional brake light on the back of the vehicle so that sudden stops will not automatically cause auto accidents.

Unfortunately, it is not just that easy to pick between the two. You might pick the BMW, but when you find out it is almost $15,000 more expensive than the Mercedes at a whopping $115,000, you might opt for the Mercedes. In all honesty, it is hard to say which one actually surpasses the other in ability. Each has its own strong and weak points, and it ends up being up to the person who is going to be driving it. The styles of the two are very different. If you are looking for a more luxurious car that works for sporty driving fairly well too, then you can go for the Mercedes and save about $15,000. You still have to be able to cough up $100,000 though, which is a pretty penny. If you would rather have a trendier car that is keeping up with the day's technologies, then you might want to go for the BMW, but keep in mind you have to fork out a significant amount more money. The BMW has a lot of power and the ability to be upgraded for not that much in cost, while the Mercedes could be upgraded but it did cost quite a little bit to do so. All in all, if you are in the market for a sportier luxury vehicle, test drive both cars, do your research, and decide if one of these two is right for you!

source :  http://www.motorpoint.com.au/bmw-530d-vs-mercedes-e280-cdi.asp