| Nice write-up. Here are just my 5 cents
I've been bringing 15 year old low mileage (30 - 80 Kkm) BMWs and Mercedes from Japan to Canada for nearly two years now and have lots of chances to run them side by side. To make an extensive story short, on a long run Benz wins hands down. Here is why:
1.
With the exception of M30 and M50 engines and bodies, BMWs are fragile and do not tolerate neglect or abuse.
2.
MB interioirs do last. the only thing that causes problems - cracked wood as cars come from tropical climate and some of them lived outside.
BMWs, on the contrary, look like shit regardless. As original poster noted - peeling fabrics and sagging headliner being most notorious.
3.
W124 is relatively simple, its main strength - overengineered mechanicals and body. On lower specced cars electronics are virtually non-present. A definite boon on a used motor.
4.
BMWs are focused 'driver's cars', twitchy, sensitive and nervous, always urging you to play. When you don't feel like it - it annoys. MB can be both a player and an effortless A-to-B express. OK, steering is not as sharp, but again, on a long run - it wins.
5.
Had a 300E-24 with 722.3 'box for a year. Was substantially more economical than 535 (a renowned guzzler). 2nd gear start can be overridden, push the accel pedal hard but be careful, as usually somewhat reluctant MB really leaps forward (faster than 535)
As for 525 - IMHO it just does not have enough torque, especialy here, at 1000 m above sea level altitude.
All above said, my last personal purchase and sort of halo car - 1992 400E with 45Kkm (28 Kmiles in American and UK money) - is a true wunderwagen. It does not give you a kick in the butt like say my SAABs 9000 did, but its strength is a sea of torque and effortless cruising power. Oh, and pretty insane speeds arrive quickly and just unnoticed. And no BMW of the same vintage (and I mean any - I drove them all from 318 to 750iL and 850 Alpina) looks as well and expensively constructed and appointed as this 400E. |