Hi Guys,I wish to invite comments to help decide which is a better long term car for a lady. An E46 BMW325i (2,494cc double VANOS injection) or a Merc C230K (1,796cc with supercharger). Both cars are CKDs with about the same engine output.Namely which one has:-a. Less problems.b. Cheaper to maintain and service (parts).c. Lower consumption.d. Longer expected engine and other major components life.e. Expected usage is about 25,000km per year.
E46 BMW 325i or W203 Merc C230K
- Thread starter voltan
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325i for me. my family had c class to many problems to list and built quality bad. we had c200k 02 model . heard that even the newer facelift still got problem. e46 built to last and straight six so much better than that 4 pot.my two cents.
adliz
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merc.. 230k shud be the facelifted version right? that one looks nice..
power wise, can get similar experience to the bmw.. just put the trottle booster, a LOT of difference when put on merc.. road tax shud be way cheaper.. also, the cross-drilled brakes are superb!!
interior is simple but feels expensive..
power wise, can get similar experience to the bmw.. just put the trottle booster, a LOT of difference when put on merc.. road tax shud be way cheaper.. also, the cross-drilled brakes are superb!!
interior is simple but feels expensive..Performance Werkz
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go for the c230k kompressor.
especially the advantgarde version. smooth,powerful and sleek. 192HP and i think it has a higher torque compared to a 325.
i have both but not a 46 version of 325, its a 325 E36 2.5 (M).
the c230k has a very good top end, nearly out of breath runnin away from it...
im not too sure bout the problems in a c230k as it is still a very new car.
parts? havent change any of the parts yet in the c230k.
c230k has the best consumption.! Excellent !
ill let you know after 25000km. =)
anyway goodluck in yyour purchase.
cheers!
especially the advantgarde version. smooth,powerful and sleek. 192HP and i think it has a higher torque compared to a 325.
i have both but not a 46 version of 325, its a 325 E36 2.5 (M).
the c230k has a very good top end, nearly out of breath runnin away from it...
im not too sure bout the problems in a c230k as it is still a very new car.
parts? havent change any of the parts yet in the c230k.
c230k has the best consumption.! Excellent !
ill let you know after 25000km. =)
anyway goodluck in yyour purchase.
cheers!
KL2DC
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Wha...W203 over E46. Ridiculous? And recommended by fellow UDM BCM member, you guys ought to be ashamed of yourselves...
I read that Autocar Asean shootout and imho I did not agree with the review, there was a lot of talk about brand prestige...puh-lease. I think those editors got blinded by the 3 pointed star.
I've spent some seat time behind the wheel of the e46 325i and the W203 C230s both when it was the 1.8 supercharged 4-banger and the new uprated 2.5 V6 with the 7-G transmission.
To answer your questions...
A) Well, its not news that MB has taken a nosedive in quality and reliability surveys. Case in point, I have friends who own both and the C230 spend more time in for warranty repairs then the e46. Now don't get me wrong, both are not Lexus perfect but the e46 always seem better built and more confidence inspiring.
B) Not sure, but in the US all UDMs since late 90's come with 4 yr 50k miles free maintenance/warranty. Irl this could be a washout...both should be about the same. Although the W203 will have the edge in road tax...2.5 vs 1.8.
C) Depends on how you drive...I am thinking the 4-cylinder.
D) The e46's engine is less stressed than the blown 4-pot in the C230.
My quick review on the W203. Looks great, feels solid and decent space but interior materials not up to snuff, reliability issue and controls seem less fluid than the e46. You should really go out and test drive these cars to see what you prefer...good luck!
I read that Autocar Asean shootout and imho I did not agree with the review, there was a lot of talk about brand prestige...puh-lease. I think those editors got blinded by the 3 pointed star.
I've spent some seat time behind the wheel of the e46 325i and the W203 C230s both when it was the 1.8 supercharged 4-banger and the new uprated 2.5 V6 with the 7-G transmission.
To answer your questions...
A) Well, its not news that MB has taken a nosedive in quality and reliability surveys. Case in point, I have friends who own both and the C230 spend more time in for warranty repairs then the e46. Now don't get me wrong, both are not Lexus perfect but the e46 always seem better built and more confidence inspiring.
B) Not sure, but in the US all UDMs since late 90's come with 4 yr 50k miles free maintenance/warranty. Irl this could be a washout...both should be about the same. Although the W203 will have the edge in road tax...2.5 vs 1.8.
C) Depends on how you drive...I am thinking the 4-cylinder.
D) The e46's engine is less stressed than the blown 4-pot in the C230.
My quick review on the W203. Looks great, feels solid and decent space but interior materials not up to snuff, reliability issue and controls seem less fluid than the e46. You should really go out and test drive these cars to see what you prefer...good luck!
It's I who is persuading my lady to consider to part with her BMW mindset to a Merc, as it is my current wheel. This suggestion was taken better after viewing and testing the recent "cheaper" CKD E90 320i/325i. In real daily world usage, she and I agreed we were quite disappointed with the new models. The interior ambience and detailing are real letdowns and has lost the wrap-around feeling of a 3 series BMW since her E30 days. Further the suspension/seat to performance/comfort ratio is worse off than her E46. In term of acceleration-brake response in normal usage, the gains in the new 325 is barely noticeable. Mainly in the lighter steering when parking. The 320i – forget it for it is not worth even if AB swaps it with her E46 for free.
Real world wear & tear components like tyres, brake pads, brake discs, wheels, bushes etc are much more pricey on the new BMW. For sure her E46 is almost trouble free throught her use, much much lesser than her E30/E36.
That’s how she finally agreed to peep at the C230K. Its cockpit ambience, though not as good as the E30/E36/E46, is better than the new E90s. Parking is even better than the E90 325i.
So that’s why the query on the unknowns. She just doesn't want to jump from a 99+% reliable wheel to a problematic C230, even if it equals her E30 and E36.
Real world wear & tear components like tyres, brake pads, brake discs, wheels, bushes etc are much more pricey on the new BMW. For sure her E46 is almost trouble free throught her use, much much lesser than her E30/E36.
That’s how she finally agreed to peep at the C230K. Its cockpit ambience, though not as good as the E30/E36/E46, is better than the new E90s. Parking is even better than the E90 325i.
So that’s why the query on the unknowns. She just doesn't want to jump from a 99+% reliable wheel to a problematic C230, even if it equals her E30 and E36.
A
Alvin
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Next year new C class wor! Better to hang on to the E46 since there is no problems right?
Thanks Guys,
I’m looking for evidence of weaknesses in the W203 1.8L C230K. Facts where possible.
E.G. in the current CKD C Class, I found out:-
1. That there is an ignition related issue whereby one of the plugs may not fire precisely thus leading to ever so subtle vibes and minor power loss.
2. To get the car to drive arrow straight hands free is a black art for the alignment specialist.
3. The effect is uneven tyre wear being more pronounced in the C230K if the combination of wheel castor/camber/alignment isn’t near perfect.
4. The compressor service life, though much improved since the 2005 facelift, has yet to be proven.
or something like that .....
I’m looking for evidence of weaknesses in the W203 1.8L C230K. Facts where possible.
E.G. in the current CKD C Class, I found out:-
1. That there is an ignition related issue whereby one of the plugs may not fire precisely thus leading to ever so subtle vibes and minor power loss.
2. To get the car to drive arrow straight hands free is a black art for the alignment specialist.
3. The effect is uneven tyre wear being more pronounced in the C230K if the combination of wheel castor/camber/alignment isn’t near perfect.
4. The compressor service life, though much improved since the 2005 facelift, has yet to be proven.
or something like that .....
KL2DC said:
Yeh, but what happens after that. Even while you are in the free scheme, when in reality nothing is free. Once in the early 90s I went through the same 2 years free maintenance with BMW Concessionaire on my 525i. Believe me, the frustration to get a service slot of your choice and finally getting the car back if your complaints involve in FOC part changes were horrendous. You were treated like 3rd class non paying cheepos way after paying owners of older cars and even old bangers.
You could even read it in the eyes of the mechanics and service advisors.
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