German Car Zone

My father will like that

Seems like a good idea

The FL is much better than the old one but still no where as good looking as the avantgarde C inside-out,and when the C gets the new engines it's gonna better than ever

Overall the BMW looks better and will be the better drive, I'm certain. But the gap isn't as huge as everyone's making out and the Merc at least is elegant and classy - as a Mercedes ought to be.

I'm so anti this meaningless facelift of the 3er though. I still hate the tail-lights and that new lower bumper treatment was inspired by dried prunes - all wrinkly and convoluted. Get some botox for pete's sake. I love BMWs but this effort is inconsequential. Hopefully the sport bumper treatment will restore some much needed crispness to the nose.

The C-Class doesn't escape unscathed either; that D-Pillar that tapers into the body work makes the car look roof heavy and unsporty. They are, after all, competing in a sporty segment no?

Interior-wise both cars look fantastic and premium. I still love that BMW dashboard design. I'm a big fan of the horizontally partitioned instrument panel. It just looks and feels so solid - like a big slab of granite in a premium kitchen. The Merc's interior is of equal quality and the interior design still more conservative - despite it being newer. It's nice and will have better mainstream appeal possibly. The BMW's dials put the Merc's to shame. They fill the instrument binnacle perfectly and don't look like antique swiss clocks lost in a sea of silver.

In the end - both are very special, premium purchases - one being better than the other in characteristics at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Pity the A4 Avant 2.0 TDI wasn't in the test because that's a serious contender in its own right.

I love how the new 3er just looks great no matter what engine or trim level it has. Something upclass about it, love the facelift. And those rear lights looks great in real life, very aggressive.

Like I said time and time again, I absolutely love the 2.0d engine. In my opinion, the BMW wins hands down. However, the A4 would be very interesting to look at. In sedan form, I think it's an ok car. In Avant form, one of the best looking station wagons out there currently.

One thing I noticed about the MB is the positioning of the window buttons. That's how the pre-FL E60 used to be and they got so many complaints they had to move it down. I personally hated it too, because you had to bend your wrist very akwardly. No idea why MB went with that.

I couldn't disagree more here

I've always thought of BMW dials to be very old looking and lack innovation and sophistication while MB and to a lesser extent Audi put much more effort making them looking just contemporary and avantgarde.

^ Lemme guess, my continental neighbour... that's a Merc in your avatar?

Martin 1 : Tarek 0

I'm just playing with you guys. I think that the new C is a big improvement from the last one. It has tons of presence and I'm sure we can all say we are glad that MB brought their legendary quality back.

Haha

...but it really has nothing to do with fantaics,it has always been my opinion about the dials

Clocks still look crap though, like a set of cheap, no name brand gauges on an expensive ScubaPro regulator assembly.

Why does Mercedes seem to be quite nonchalant about their engines, it's always the case when compared to the cutting-edge BMW ones. In terms of fuel consumption and power.