Mercedes vs BMW
Hello, I have decided to replace my nine year old BMW series 3 and am undecided. As a tow car I need a 2 litre engine and am tempted with another series 3 as my current one is excellent. However, the "C" class Mercedes has turned my head and I've had a favourable test drive in one.
My stipulations are: Petrol engine (my annually mileage doesn't justify a diesel, and in any case, I prefer petrol) and a manual gearbox. Entry level models will do, I don't need all the bells and whistles.
I've seen examples on the internet around 16/17 plate.
Which would members go for, "C" Class or Series3?
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Neither actually but it’s your call.
We don’t know what you tow or the facts and figures relating to your van and the cars so it’s near impossible to help I’m afraid. Just go with what seems to suit you best. 👍
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Doesn't reflect my personal experience of owning 4 Kia cars over the past 12 years. Service at MK Kia has always been excellent, far better than most other marques of cars I have had.
I don't know anything about the cars mentioned by the OP so can't really offer an opinion but I have always found diesel cars to be better than petrol for towing. Maybe they have improved since my last one which was a 4X4 Vauxhall Cavalier with the SRI engine nearly 30 years ago
David
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We are now on our fourth Kia from two different dealerships, and have had great service from both,not that so far there has been any breakdowns, all service related and never a problem,
So i think i would take what you have been "told?" as scepticle
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so if it was one dealer why on earth post:
Look at Kia's,7 yr warranties not that they are normally needed.
I've been told otherwise and their service is rap [silent C]
as if it covers all of Kia's dealers?
btw Kia came second in the 2018 JD power survey (Lexus was first)
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All hearsay then as that is not the norm,
When at least two people i have been as you "told" had a problem with their over 7yr old sorrento was giving fuel starvation problems,the dealers ,both different areas ,found debris in the fuel lines,Kia found the linings of the fuel tanks were degrading so they changed free of charge the complete fuel systems and sent a recall to all their franchises to check all they had sold
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hi dtoms
I have owned a c class merc a 2.7 cdi estate towing a bailey borduex .it towed brilliant and made the hills of Devon and Cornwall very flat. I have never owned a BMW but my son say's they are brilliant he owns an m3 2011 and is just buying a x5. I only think that driving a diesel is better for the torque and mileage. best of luck getting your new tow car.
Dave
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The OP wanted to know about two comparable cars .... a C Class Merc & a 3 Series BMW. Why are you all still babbling on about a predominately FWD SUV?
I've not driven a recent manual Merc, but they don't have a good reputation, hence the majority are (proper) autos. I wouldn't image there's much to choose between them.
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Personally i would go Mercedes, based on a colleagues experiences of towing with Beemers and Mercs. I would also very strongly advise diesel AND automatic . I am not sure Mercedes sell manuals on the C class anymore. My colleague above started oyt towing with a 3 series petrol estate and it was woeful, swapped to a 5 series diesel manual, two gearboxes later (known weakness) swapped to merc diesel auto, best towcar of the 3 by a country mile.
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No experience of BMW but my brother has an 08 C Class AMG. Speaking as a passenger, it is the most uncomfortable cramped car I think I've ever been in.
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In the latest PC Magazine (August edition) their 2018 Tow Car of the Year awards makes interesting reading, differing in many ways to the Clubs' awards!
BMW 520d Touring xDrive M Sport is their overall winner, but X3, Jag F-Pace, Audi Q5, Jag XF, and others all rated 5 star tow cars and they're all diesel.
As previously stated, you don't mention what weight you need to tow, so I would suggest a visit to your nearest newsagent?
There are so many good vehicles to choose from these days and decisions made in 'Awards' are so minute, they could be judged on the toss of a coin.
Personally, I wouldn't choose any German brand - but that's my choice - preferring a 7 year warranty and the last 14 years of absolutely trouble free motoring, the last 3 years towing 1800kgs, however, if you must have petrol, the new Kia Stinger is their award winner
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The OP asked the question BMW or Mercedes, but then the majority of posts began a discussion about the relative merits of Kia's!
Personally I have used Mercedes ML's since 2010 and both cars that I had proved to be outstanding towing vehicles. With a wheel literally at each corner they are very stable indeed and never seem to be affected when HGV's overtake etc. I was warned that Mercedes were expensive to maintain, but I have not found that to be the case.
Like many others that have responded, I would state that Diesel provides a far better power delivery for towing as the Torque delivery is lower down the rev range. Having towed with an automatic gearbox since 2011 I would never go back to manual. especially when towing. But I would always check that the vehicle has a transmission Oil cooler!
I once owned a Mercedes E class estate 2.2 litre diesel. The engine was fine but the transmission suffered in the heat of the south of France towing a heavy caravan. -No transmission Oil Cooler! Luckily I was able to force gear changes using manual override! But never again will I tow without an oil cooler!
TF
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You sure there wasn't an AFT cooler? 😞 I'd be very surprised if it didn't. Traditionally they tend to be incorporated within the main radiator.
(Though i have to admit that after 6 yrs of owning my R320 I've yet to look where it is)
I've yet to tow anything proper with anything but can auto ..... why would you 😉
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In my experience over all too many years, I have formed the opinion that there is nothing to compete with a dedicated individual gearbox Oil Cooler separately mounted infront of the normal Radiator.
All I can say is that the dreadful feeling of insecurity experienced whilst towing a heavy caravan over the massive central with a gearbox that was clearly feeling the heat, is something that I do not want to repeat!
I'm sorry, but bitter experience has always taught me to "Never take chances" so ever since that worrying episode, I have always used a towing vehicle with big advantages of weight, power, stability and a very solid transmission. Daft? Possibly ! But the confidence that it gives me is priceless!
TF
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I am really impressed with my 3 series as a tow car. It has plenty of power, is economical, comfortable and tows really well. Mine is the 320d touring which I have had for 3 years now and I can find little fault with it. I would definitely not hesitate in recommending, however I have no experience of a petrol model and guessing you would need a 340i to be able to tow comfortably in terms of power. 😀
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The Merc's use a Torque Converter gearbox which is pretty well bomb proof. Cant speak for BMW but I think they use a Torque Converter too. sadly the lighter VW and Audie's use the lighter DSG boxes that are not so strong (IMHO). I can't speak from experience of the Korean makers, but I think they are OK, but not as strong as Mercedes or BMW.
Each to his own. But I want to have total confidence that my tow car will not let me down! My great friend Murphy tells me that he has caught many a careless traveller out!
TF
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We have both, a BMW & a Mercedes, both are suitable for towing, the only negative I find with Mercedes is their service policy. BMW service works on mileage done and type of driving, generally around 17000 to 19000 miles, Mercedes is Annual so it comes up for a service if you've done 1000 or 20,000. this I find quite strange for a modern car.
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