Mercedes is no longer a proper premium brand

[Carabosse]

If you want to drive there, buy a BMW.

If you want to be taken there buy a Mercedes-Benz.

I've heard put this way:

A BMW shows you're on your way up.

A Mercedes-Benz shows you've arrived!

As a jumper from BMW to MB, I rather like that.

 

[st4]

If you want to drive there, buy a BMW.

If you want to be taken there buy a Mercedes-Benz.

What about the actual build quality issues?

In what ways are bmws inferior to MB cars. Certainly the BMW resists rust better. Are the mechanicals poorer?

 

[roop_the_loop]

Certainly the BMW resists rust better.

I'm not in any way doubting or disagreeing with you (even if this does seem quite a sweeping statement...), just curious as to why that might be? Does MB use inferior steel (and if so, why), or do they not know how to protect it from the elements (ditto), or are they just generally not so good at building cars? In other words, what do BMW engineers know that MB ones don't?

Or could it be that some BMW models at various times in history have been less prone to rust than some MB models, but that taken as a whole both makes are largely subject to the same laws of nature, etc.? (I really don't know, I'm genuinely curious as to the causes behind this.)

 

[st4]

Mercedes persist with a silly wheel arch liner that traps dirt between the arch and the liner.

Paint chips off a MB more easily than on a BMW and the metal/body work just simply isn't as solid or substancial feeling.Try a E60 5er next to a 211 or an E90 next to a 204. The body work is better in the BMW

 

[Carabosse]

On the other hand BMW paintwork comes in for criticism. The paint used appears to be quite soft and chips easily. That in turn can lead to rust issues if neglected.

 

[st4]

^^^
All I know is out of 3 MBs and 2 BMWs the BMW resisted chipping, scratching and peeling from the body work better

 

[Pappilo]

To me, Mercedes is an aspirational brand. In the society where I am from, It is and has always been an aspirational brand. I can name 10 songs of the top of my head where the Mercedes Benz is referenced with success.

It is now affordable to commoners like me and thank goodness for that!

 

[Ductman]

On the point of paint chipping, I've noticed in recent years that my cars do seem to be more susceptible to stone chips for some reason, although I wouldn't say it is limited to just Mercedes. Is it the water based paints that are used nowadays to satisfy the H & S Gestapo, or is it a result of our road surfaces becoming more beaten up every year and not being repaired quickly enough, thus leaving gravel and stones on the road to get flicked up at you from the car in front?
I have said before that my 07 CLK seemed to have a decent enough quality finish, with no rust after my 5 years with it but it did eventually have way more stone chips on the front than I would have liked to see. Too early to say with the current car though, but the stone chips aren't any less.

 

[rhud]

On the point of paint chipping, I've noticed in recent years that my cars do seem to be more susceptible to stone chips for some reason, although I wouldn't say it is limited to just Mercedes. Is it the water based paints that are used nowadays to satisfy the H & S Gestapo, or is it a result of our road surfaces becoming more beaten up every year and not being repaired quickly enough, thus leaving gravel and stones on the road to get flicked up at you from the car in front?
I have said before that my 07 CLK seemed to have a decent enough quality finish, with no rust after my 5 years with it but it did eventually have way more stone chips on the front than I would have liked to see. Too early to say with the current car though, but the stone chips aren't any less.

Might be colour-related. My metallic black seemed very prone to chips, whereas current silver hardly at all.

 

[st4]

Might be colour-related. My metallic black seemed very prone to chips, whereas current silver hardly at all.

I've had, like you both black and silver mercs. I felt the black paint was more brittle too but in reality the cars chip and have fronts that are textured like a teenagers face

 

[SAABfan]

I have to agree with you st4. My "old" CLK is from 1999 and fair enough, it's now 14 years old, but the rust around the arches is pathetic for a car that was around 40k when new.

I'll get it all fixed, but it's still a real shame. A car as good looking as the W208 deserved better quality panels.

Other than that, the car has been the best I've ever owned. Still works perfectly in every way, after 14 years.

That's what you get when you buy a Merc. Build quality from the 1990's cars imo was brilliant. The W202 C-Class is another great car that you can pick up now for buttons. The rust is the only black mark imo.

Would I ever swap my 14 year old CLK320 for a new Focus?
Never. In fact I don't want to drive anything else at the moment.

The W208 is a car I always loved when it was new, but couldn't afford.
It looks great, has a big boot, is well built and has a great V6 engine.

I hope to keep mine forever tbh and can see myself still driving it in another 10 years. I'll be sourcing a nice S-Class too though.

Not many people keep and run a Focus for 15 years+ and why would they as most cars are throwaway these days.

Mercs are different imo.

 

[Ductman]

Hmm, might be to do with darker colours I guess. Last car was Obsidian Black and current car is Cavansite Blue, so both very dark colours. Oddly enough though, my SL which is 24 years old Nautic Blue and never needed a respray, has virtually no stone chips on the front at all, so could it be to do with the paint type now used?

 

[PeterCLK]

One of the reasons I changed my 2004 CLK (cost me 40k new) was that rust was starting to appear on the wheel arches. Also, there were signs that the electrical gremlins were reappearing.

 

[st4]

I really hate rust. If Mercedes didn't rust they would out perform the other German marques IMHO. Scanning BMW forums is most intesting

 

[Carabosse]

The latest E-class models, according to claims, mark a return to old Mercedes values. Let's hope they are right!

I assume it all went to pot when MB linked up with Chrysler?

 

[Winslow]

I don't thinks so much it is Mercedes have got cheaper it's the other stuff that have got more expensive. Can't believe what some people pay for their Nissan Kumquats etc makes my w212 seem a reasonably prices car.

 

[EmilysDad]

.... their Nissan Kumquats ....

Someone else listens to Mr Clarkson :lol::lol::lol:

 

[ampwhu]

having just purchased my first Mercedes last weekend and driven it to work this week, I have been met by my colleagues with positive comments only.

Don't get me wrong, they don't drive Protons, Fords or Vauxhalls, they all drive German cars.

the car park is full of the latest BMW and Audi variants, all of which are company cars. I decided against a company car and wanted my own. They wouldn't do a Mercedes on this scheme.

All (except the MD with his 5 series) stated that a Mercedes has just that little bit more than a BMW. Especially all these new 1 series that my colleagues think are cool!

 

[EmilysDad]

.
All (except the MD with his 5 series) stated that a Mercedes has just that little bit more than a BMW. Especially all these new 1 series that my colleagues think are cool!

Surely the model has to be included in this, not just whether it's a 3 pointed star or a blue & white propeller? That would suggest that the base models of either MB or BMW are 'better' than the 'DeLux' model of the Best of the Rest car makers. Is a Lexus always more prestigious than all other Toyotas?

 

[ampwhu]

Surely the model has to be included in this, not just whether it's a 3 pointed star or a blue & white propeller? That would suggest that the base models of either MB or BMW are 'better' than the 'DeLux' model of the Best of the Rest car makers. Is a Lexus always more prestigious than all other Toyotas?

the equivalent other brands don't have the same style as a Mercedes.

read into that what ever way you want.

There is something about these cars that other car makers don't have.